Abstract: The invention concerns a cooking accessory (1) for a domestic or household electrical cooking appliance, designed to be used in a cooking vessel, comprising a operation element (2) and a work tool (8) mounted on the operation element (2). The invention is characterized in that the work tool consists of flexible wires (3) defining a cage capable of being deformed against a wall of the cooking vessel to match the shape of said wall. The flexible wires (3) are mounted in a crossed manner between the operation element (2) and a holding element (9). The invention also concerns a domestic or electrical household appliance comprising such an accessory.

Abstract: Desalinization of seawater is accomplished through the use of a forward osmosis process, which relies on a series of steps involving the opposition of various aqueous solutions across semi-permeable membranes. The process takes advantage of solutes having highly temperature dependent solubilities, as well as the relatively temperature indifferent solubility of NaCl(aq), the primary solute present in seawater. At least one utilized solute has a solubility directly dependent on temperature, and at least one utilized solute has a solubility inversely dependent on temperature.

Abstract: A method for removing iron-containing contaminants from condensate from a power generating plant includes passing the condensate through a plurality of pleated filter elements contained within a housing, including direct the condensate through a pleated hydrophilic film comprising ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. The invention is capable of removing fine particulate matter and provides long filtration cycles between backwashing.

Abstract: An apparatus for filtering plasticized thermoplastic synthetic plastic material is provided. The apparatus provides increased transport of thickened material toward the discharge channel. The apparatus includes at least one filter element having an inflow side that is brushed over by scrapers to guide waste residues along the surface of the filter element to the discharge channel. A non-perforated zone facing the scrapers includes grooves. The non-perforated zone is also brushed over by the scrapers.

Abstract: Abrasive components and clear fluids are separated from an aqueous chemical mechanical slurry used for planarization of semiconductor materials, to permit the reuse of the clear liquid effluent in non-process applications as well as for gray water for irrigation, process cooling water, or as make-up water for a reverse osmosis system, or safe disposal in the industrial waste stream, as desired. A solids detection device determines the concentration of abrasive solids in the aqueous waste effluent stream, and a diverter receives and diverts the entire aqueous waste effluent stream to at least one reuse water collection tank when the abrasive solids concentration is below a desired threshold, and diverts the entire aqueous waste effluent stream to at least one concentrate water collection tank when the abrasive solids concentration is greater than or equal to the threshold. With the additional use of ion exchange, the resulting water stream can be reused in high purity water applications.

Abstract: In an aircraft, tap water is filtered, vaporized and injected into a trim line of an environmental control system. Filtering is performed by a reverse osmosis filter. Hot, humidified air leaving the trim line is supplied to a cabin of the aircraft.

Abstract: The method relates to the operation of a cross-flow filtration installation for a product. This installation includes a filtration module (6), a pipeline (3) for the inflow of the product, a pipeline (9) for removing the product, a pump (4) with an electric motor (12) for recirculating the product, and a control valve (5′) for setting the conveying flow (Q1) of the pump (4). In order to make possible the maximally possible filtration output, based on the installation, along with a high proportion of solids of the product, without endangering operational safety by means of overloads, the strength of the operating current (i1) of the electric motor (12) is measured. The operating current (i1) is adjusted to a maximally, permissible value via a regulator (20) by setting the conveying flow (Q1) of the pump (4) by adjusting the flow control valve (5′).

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for treating produced water to lower the total dissolved solids of the water for safe discharge to the environment. The produced water is passed through a weak acid cation resin in H+ form to remove cations in the produced water and then preferably through a decarbonator to remove formed CO2 and to provide a first discharge stream. The cation loaded resin is then regenerated using a dilute acid, preferably diluted with produced water, to regenerate the resin to the H+ form. The resultant acid regenerated waste stream is discharged to a reject deep well. The acid regenerated resin is then rinsed, preferably with produced water, to remove residual salts to form a residual salt containing rinse stream. This salt stream is passed into a reverse osmosis unit to form a high salt containing reject stream which is discharged to a waste deep well and a low salt containing product discharge stream which may be safely discharged to the environment.

Abstract: The manufacture of a plastic material, particularly provided with fibers, is frequently carried out in an extruder (10). Various problems have arisen in this connection. For example, problems arise in working long or endless reinforcement fibers, for example rovings (27), into the plastic. On the one hand, the fibers are so badly broken up that they have only very small lengths. On the other hand, it has proved difficult to impregnate the fibers sufficiently. According to the invention, in order to feed in fibers, the plastic is moved in batches past a pre-plastifying worm (11). This is achieved by a secondary worm (18) located next to the pre-plastifying worm (11).

Abstract: A method of treating an aqueous stream having inorganic material dissolved therein, the method comprising the steps of: (a) adding organic solvent to the aqueous stream in an amount effective to form an inorganic precipitate comprising at least a portion of the inorganic material; (b) removing at least most of the organic solvent from the aqueous stream by vacuum membrane distillation; and (c) after step (b), removing at least most of the inorganic precipitate from the aqueous stream.

Abstract: A method for separating gold and/or silver from copper or other contaminant metals is provided in which a suitable filter membrane (64), particularly a nanofilter, is used to form a retentate (134) containing most of the multivalent metal cyanide complexes and a permeate (135) containing most of the precious metal cyanide complexes. The process is particularly applicable to the recovery of gold and/or silver from ores containing these metals and one or more contaminant metals. The precious metal can thereafter be recovered from the permeate (135) and the metal in the multivalent metal cyanide complex from the retentate (134).

Abstract: An asymmetric membrane comprising a tubular polymer film in combination with a tubular braid on which the film is supported, requires the braid be macroporous and flexible, yet sufficiently strong to withstand continuous flexing, stretching and abrasion during use for microfiltration (MF) or ultrafiltration (UF). The specifications for a braid of a long-lived membrane are provided. A membrane is formed by supporting a polymer film in which particles of calcined &agr;-alumina are dispersed, on the defined tubular braid.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of removing salt from seawater to produce potable freshwater. In the preferred embodiments, a large metal cylinder, with open top and bottom ends, is anchored to the sea floor offshore. Several pressure hulls are attached to the side of the cylinder. Within each pressure hull there are several reverse osmosis devices (RODs), each containing a membrane that will allow water molecules, but not sodium and chlorine ions, to pass through. Due to the pressure differential, freshwater passes through the membranes by reverse osmosis, and is pumped out of the pressure hulls to a storage facility onshore. After equilibrium is reached, the pumps for the brine can be turned off, as gravity will cause brine to flow down from the pressure hulls through an opening in the bottom of the cylinder.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for removing strong oxidizing agents from liquids. An exemplary embodiment of the apparatus includes an inlet for receiving an input stream having a first concentration of a strong oxidizing agent. The input stream flows into an irradiation unit in fluid communication with the inlet. While resident in the irradiation unit, the input stream is irradiated with UV radiation to substantially reduce the first concentration, thereby forming a first product stream having a second concentration of the strong oxidizing agent. The first product stream then passes through a treatment unit in fluid communication with and positioned downstream of the irradiation unit where the second concentration is substantially reduced, thereby forming a second product stream having a third concentration of the strong oxidizing agent. The treatment unit is selected from the group consisting of a softener unit, a reaction vessel containing a bed of metal redox media, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A filter tube for use in earth coated type filters includes a flexible permeable tubular sheet internally supported by a helical spring. The internal spring is connected between opposite ends of the filter tube to support the full length of the tube wall. One end of the tube is connected to an external spring and anchor plate. In a slack position, the tube end folds over an end collar connected to the spring. Extension of the anchor plate applies tension to stretch the spring and tube to a taut position during a cycling operation which oscillates the tube to dislodge accumulated material.

Abstract: A method for collecting, from whole blood, platelets suspended in plasma. By centrifuging the blood at a high enough rotational speed, the platelets are separated from the plasma and the red blood cells. In a preferred embodiment, some of the plasma is removed while the centrifuge is being spun to keep the platelets separated from the plasma. Then, the speed of rotation is altered so as to cause the platelets to mix with the remaining plasma. The platelets can then be collected with the remaining plasma.

Abstract: Multicomponent hollow fiber membrane tubesheets are disclosed that provide for improved membrane performance, particularly at high operating pressures. The multicomponent tubesheets have an epoxy resin having, when cured, different degrees of hardness in different portions of the tubesheet. Methods for producing such multicomponent tubesheets are also provided.

Abstract: A water treatment device wherein the water during treating is brought into contact with a treatment medium (29), whereby this treatment medium (29), either by means of a regeneration medium (42) or not, is regenerated regularly and whereby, a regulator (59) is used which is provided, with a hydraulically driven first monitoring mechanism (24) with which the water consumption can be controlled and the start of the regeneration cycle can be ordered, and with a hydraulically driven second monitoring mechanism (25) with which the regeneration cycle is controlled and characterized in that both monitoring mechanisms (24-25) are driven by means of the same volumeter (23).

Abstract: A process for making a reinforced, continuous, geometrically symmetrical microporous filtration membrane comprising a porous support material and a continuous microporous membrane having a middle region disposed between an upper region and a lower region, wherein said support material is embedded within said middle region and said middle region has a pore size at least about 50% greater than the pore size of at least one of said upper region and said lower region.

Abstract: A reverse osmosis membrane element is provided that can treat a raw liquid throughout a wide raw liquid pressure range from a low pressure to a high pressure, comprising a reverse osmosis membrane, a permeated liquid passage conduit provided on one surface of the reverse osmosis membrane, and arranged to face it, and a water permeable fabric provided between the reverse osmosis membrane and the permeated liquid passage conduit; it is preferable that the water permeable fabric has an average surface roughness of 2-2 &mgr;m, that is has a pure water permeation coefficient of 0.5-5.0 m3/(m2.MPa.min) and that it is a nonwoven fabric.