Abstract: A process for sterilizing a filtration device which comprises employing therein a hollow fiber type module having hollow fibers of heat resistant polymer with a heat distortion temperature of 70.degree. C. or higher under a load of 18.6 kg/cm.sup.2 and with a pore diameter of less than 0.45 .mu.m and having a difference in average linear expansion coefficient between the sealing material for fixing the end portions of the hollow fibers in the module case, at a temperature of 20.degree.-121.degree. C. of 7.times.10.sup.-5 /.degree. C. or lower, and passing steam from the raw water side of the module to the filtrate side thereof, while withdrawing all or a part of the raw water and filtrate which partially fill the module or alternatively after withdrawal of raw water and filtrate.

Abstract: A automatic air pump for car wheel tires, especially those without tubes, utilizes an air piston with a cylinder fixed on a rim which enables its piston plate to contact and be pushed by the interior tire surface successively by the wheel rotation compressing air into the tire chamber until the pressure grows sufficient and the piston rod no longer touches the interior tire surface. If a static wheel is also desired to be pumped full of air automatically, a compressor and a pressure-gauge piston can be added. When the tire pressure grows insufficient, the compressor can be started by detaching a metallic plate from two metallic projections caused by the interaction of the piston rod and the interior tire and air is sucked into the cylinder and flows into the tire chamber sufficiently. Then a piston plate of a pressure-gauge piston is lifted up making an electric connection to cut the electricity from the compressor and the piston rod recovers its original position.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus is provided for growing biomass from a supply of nutrient in a manner which permits precise control of the biomass growth environment. A reaction vessel includes a media-free compartment and a media compartment which retains biomass support bodies. A screen separates the two compartments. Nutrient is circulated through the media compartment, passed through the screen and is oxygenated and/or re-circulated between said compartments. As shown in FIG. 3, additional pairs of media-free and media compartments can be connected in series to provide a single reaction vessel. Suspended or packed biomass support bodies can be used and can be continuously or intermittently removed for cleaning.

Abstract: A skimmer system is provided for structures having a floor, two side walls and at least one open end, the structure being semi-submersibly positionable in a moving liquid stream. The skimmer system comprises at least one side trough having a bottom, an interior trough wall and an exterior trough wall. The exterior trough wall is coincident with the interior side of one side wall of the structure and is provided with at least one opening communicating betweeen the interior of the trough and the exterior of the structure. The interior trough wall is provided with at least one opening communicating between the interior of the trough and the interior of the structure.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of batch filtration using a filter aid such as diatomaceous earth for example. The invention is characterized in that the filtration cycle of the filter includes a pulsed reversed flow stage in which fluid is pumped into the filter outlet with all the filter inlets closed. The filter drain is opened for a short time during the pulse. Loosening, breaking up and mixing of the filter cake and layer of filter aid is thus effected thereby extending time between cleaning or backwash stages when the filter aid is replaced. The life of each batch of costly filter aid is thus extended.

Abstract: A filter arrangement is provided which includes preferred fluid sealing between a top plate thereof and a housing. Generally, the filter arrangement includes a housing, a top plate and an internal filter. The top plate encloses an end of the housing, retaining the filter therein and directing fluid flow appropriately across the filter. Engagement between the housing and the top plate is such that a gasket may be used to provide sealing of an operable combination of the filter arrangement with an associated filter head, with respect to flow space between the housing and top plate by means of a simple gasket position externally of the filter arrangement. Several embodiments have shown, and in at least one the housing edge terminates in a groove in the top plate, in which a sealing gasket may be positioned. Positive engagement between the top plate and the housing is provided by a variety of projection arrangements.

Abstract: An aeration/flotation reactor, of particular usefulness in the treatment of biomass-containing liquids, comprises a foam tube which terminates at the top in a collecting vessel and overlaps, or is inverted over, an inner rising tube which is preferably coaxial. The latter tube delimits an inlet chamber positioned, at the bottom of the foam tube, to receive liquid and finely divided gas bubbles. The lower end of the foam tube is enlarged, preferably into a funnel-shape, and runs into the lower region of an outer tube, the upper end of which is connected, via a return tube, to the inlet chamber below the axial rising tube. The outer tube, which is open at the top, is provided with a T-shaped liquid outlet having a dip connector, which extends below the liquid level, and with an outlet level immediately above the junction of the return tube, The upper end of the foam tube can be extended telescopically, thus permitting adaptation of the device to liquid/gas systems characterized by different foam properties.

Abstract: An apparatus for pollution control in treating the effluent employs an evaporation stage where the effluent solutions are heated to 150.degree. Fahrenheit. The resulting steam and vapors are then oxidized by photoysis and photolytic catayzed ozone before the steam and vapors are discharged through a rubber coated dryer duct. The apparatus is comprised of two main units, a lower evaporation sump unit and an upper photolysis and blower unit. The sump is manually filled through a port located in the top of the blower unit. The operator will then switch the main power switch to "ON" and activate the system. This includes activation of an ultraviolet lamp, blower and heat belts. The heat belts are fixed around the base of the sump.

Abstract: A dispersion of air or oxygen in liquid sewage and/or or sludge is admitted tangentially into the lower portion of an upright vessel wherein the dispersion rises and is compelled to flow through eccentric flow restricting passages in several superimposed horizontal partitions so that the dispersion is repeatedly induced to form a turbulent helical flow. The rising dispersion flows around a tube which returns a portion of the dispersion into the lower part of the vessel and causes the remaining portion to overflow into a receptacle having an outlet at a level below the open top of the tube. The dispersion which descends in the tube is readmitted tangentially into one or more chambers which are separated from each other by the partitions in the vessel and communicate with each other by way of the respective flow restricting passages.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing and observing spatial patterns in chemical reaction comprising a vessel having a laminate positioned in said vessel forming a chamber. The laminate comprises a polymer gel layer (or other porous medium) sandwiched between a transparent layer and an array of capillary tubes. The capillaries in the array are perpendicular to the gel surface in order to allow access to the gel from the chamber only in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the gel.

Abstract: In a vessel such as a swimming pool, a turbine device is positioned on the bottom of the vessel to create an upward flow of water. The upward flow carries with it any larger debris, which are thereafter carried along the edge of the vessel and recovered by a skimmer. The turbine device is powered by the suction stream of a fluid circulation pump and filter system. Suction is thus created along the bottom of the vessel, which removes small debris. The upward flow of the turbine device is created by a plurality of spaced outlets which surrounds an impeller inlet. The outlets form high velocity streams which are spaced in a manner to exclude large debris from entering the impeller inlet.

Abstract: A fluidized-bed type activated-sludge treatment of sewage or industrial waste water characterized in that a fine powder of a granulated blast furnace slag is added to an aeration tank of the activated-sludge treatment installation to facilitate the treatment. In a fixed-bed type activated-sludge treatment of the sewage or industrial waste water, the granulated blast furnace constitutes the main constituent element of a ceramic material to be mounted in the aeration tank so as to serve as a fixing carrier for the activated sludge.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in augmenting the separation of oil and water flowing comingled in a stream having a conduit through which the stream of comingled water and oil passes, an assembly of nodules formed of catalytic metal alloy, the nodules being generally cylindrical and having longitudinal notches on the external cylindrical surfaces and the nodules being arranged in subassemblies, each subassembly being formed of three nodules affixed to each other in a layer such that a longitudinal notch of each nodule mates with a longitudinal notch of the other two nodules to provide a central opening through the subassembly, and a central axial shaft received within the central opening retaining a plurality of the subassemblies. The complete assembly is positioned within the conduit so as to be engaged by the water and oil flowing therethrough. Each nodules being formed of an alloy of copper, zinc, nickel, lead and tin which augments the separation of the oil and water.

Abstract: A vessel for effecting multiple treatment steps needed to regenerate spent hydrocarbon conversion catalyst. Regeneration is accomplished in a moving bed of catalyst, where catalyst is passed through several treatment zones in the regeneration vessel. Catalyst is contacted with a hot oxygen-containing gas stream in order to remove coke which accumulates on the catalyst while it is in a hydrocarbon conversion zone. After the coke is burned off in a combustion zone, catalyst is passed into a drying zone for removal of water formed in the combustion zone which has remained on the catalyst instead of being carried off with combustion gases. Water removal is accomplished by passing a hot dry air stream through the catalyst. This air stream is introduced into the bottom of the regeneration vessel and is heated by exchange of heat with catalyst, thereby effecting the required cooling of the catalyst. Before passing into the drying zone, the air is heated further by heating element located in the vessel.

Abstract: Apparatus for the treatment of water supplies with the gas of the type comprising, in sequence, the following elements: (a) a vacuum regulator 2 for providing a low pressure supply of the gas from a high pressure source; (b) a monitor system 3 to signal unwanted pressure changes; (c) a gas flow meter 4; (d) an output flow control valve 5 coupled with a vacuum relief valve 6 to ensure the gas pressure stays above a required level; (e) a differential control valve 8 serving to maintain a constant pressure differential between the output flow control valve and the mixing device, (f) a gas and water mixing device 9, is improved by arranging that at least two successive elements (a) to (f) are directly abutted for gas flow through aligned openings. Abutted elements are conveniently housed in monolithic blocks.

Abstract: A single control valve and associated conduits for operating a reverse osmosis assembly that includes a reverse osmosis cartridge, a reservoir that has a movable barrier therein that subdivides the interior into first and second confined spaces of variable volume, and a manually operated purified water dispensing valve, so that as the first confined space approaches a filled condition with purified water, the single control valve throttles the flow of pressurized feed water to the cartridge to minimize the use of feed water in the operation thereof, with the maximum backpressure to which purified water is subjected in discharging from the cartridge being that due to the weight of reject water in the second confined space, and a membrane in the reverse osmosis cartridge being fast-flushed with feed water to remove foreign material therefrom when the purified water dispensing valve is discharging purified water.

Abstract: A method of protecting the internal surface of a pipeline against corrosion resides in introducing into the pipeline a composition comprising 0.01 to 1 part of a phosphate and a silicate. The phosphate can be sodium polyphosphate or monosubstituted potassium phosphate. The silicate can be an alkaline metal silicate or silicon dioxide. The weight ratio of the phosphate to the silicate varies from 9-50:1, respectively, and the composition includes up to 100 parts of water. The composition is formed by fusing the phosphate and the silicate at a temperature of about 800 to 10000 degrees C. and cooling the fused composition until a vitreous structure is formed. The composition is then introduced into a pipeline containing water having a P.sub.2 O.sub.5 concentration of about 0.3 to 3.5 milligrams per liter.

Abstract: Aqueous or partly aqueous systems are treated against the corrosion of metals, especially ferrous metals, in contact therewith, and/or against scale deposition therefrom, by adding to these systems from 0.1 to 50 000 ppm of 2-hydroxyphosphonoacetic acid having the formula I ##STR1## or a water-soluble salt thereof.

Abstract: Organic acids are prepared from their salts electrodialytically. At the same time, another acid is converted electrodialytically into the corresponding salt. Both electrodialytic conversions take place in the same electrodialysis unit. If the salt of the organic acid has been fermentatively prepared as, for example, malate from fumarate, it is possible both to prepare malic acid by electrodialysis and also to prepare fumarate from fumaric acid for the fermentation. Through coupling substrate and product streams in the electrodialysis, a closed circuit is formed.

Abstract: Coated carbon composite parts to be tested for oxidation resistance are heated in a closed oven filled with an oxidizing atmosphere. During the heat cycle the carbon dioxide content of the oven atmosphere is measured by an analyzer such as a gas chromatograph. These measurements on the amount of CO.sub.2 emitted by the part provide information on the onset of oxidative failure. It forms a nondestructive test when detection of excessive carbon dioxide concentration is used to reduce the temperature and flood the oven with inert gas so the part may be saved and reprocessed. This technique can be combined with conventional weight measurements before and after oxidation to identify the part constituent, carbon composite or protective coating, that failed.