Abstract: A filter for a filter vessel which converts the filter vessel to use disposable filters for removing hazardous particulate matter from an aqueous flow. The filter includes a rigid support housing having an input passage for the aqueous flow, an exit passage for the aqueous flow, an internal sealing surface and a locking seal located adjacent to the input passage to securingly engage the filter vessel for the aqueous flow. The invention also includes a sleeveless disposable filter cartridge. The cartridge includes a flexible filtering medium having first and second ends. A terminal seal is affixed to the first end of the filtering medium for sealing engagement with the filter vessel and a wall seal on the second end of the filtering medium for engagement with the internal sealing surface of the support housing.

Abstract: A spiral wound type membrane module is formed of a plurality of membranes wound about an axis of the module to form a roll of the membranes and to form feed water channels between the membranes into which feed water flows via a front end of the roll and from which nonpermeated water flows out via a rear end of the roll, wherein the module is operated such that a differential pressure between the feed water flowing into the channels and the nonpermeated water flowing out from the channels is 0.3 kg/cm2 or less. The pressure of the feed water is kept at PFmax or an approximate value of PFmax which brings a maximum permeate flux at the moment when a predetermined period has passed after starting to supply the feed water into the membrane module continuously at a constant pressure.

Abstract: A three zone, reinforced, continuous, geometrically symmetrical microporous membrane including a porous support material encapsulated within a middle zone disposed between an upper zone and a lower zone wherein at least one of the three zones has a pore size at least about twenty (20%) percent greater than the pore size of the other two zones is disclosed. Apparatus and methods for fabricating three zone reinforced, continuous, geometrically symmetrical, microporous membrane are also disclosed.

Abstract: Particulate inorganic pore material, e.g., controlled pore glass (CPG) embedded porous synthetic resin membrane is prepared by mixing inorganic pore material and an aqueous resin, preferably polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), aqueous dispersion to form a paste-like mass, heating the mass at a temperature between 50 to 70° C., and forming the mass into a sheet by calendering. The sheet is then sintered to produce a rigid porous sheet. The membrane may be functionalized, as by silanization. The membrane is useful for the same purposes as controlled pore glass or functionalized controlled pore glass.

Abstract: In a device for filtering and separating fluids, a plurality of disc-like spaced flow guide elements are disposed in a stack in spaced relationship with filter elements disposed in the spaces between the flow guide elements to which fluid can be supplied through inlet openings to flow over the surfaces of the filter elements. Each flow guide element defines at one end a flow opening for the passage of fluid and at least one channel formed in the flow guide element so as to extend adjacent the opening in a direction transverse to the flow of the fluid from the opening into the space between the flow guide elements to promote fluid flow distribution over the width of the flow path through the device.

Abstract: A wire whisk that is safe for use on non-stick cookware with an array of flexible wire loops, each loop having two ends secured to the inner end of the handle. The whisk has silicone tubing surrounding each wire loop to render it heat resistant but non-abrasive for use on non-stick coating surfaces. Silicone tubing together with internal wire loops preserves the superior whipping action of flexible wire with the non-stick non-abrasive properties of a silicone surface. The wire loops and associated tubing may be disposed in any conventional whisk configuration such as that of a piano whisk; an egg whisk; a flat whisk; a balloon whisk; or a Swedish style/helical wire configuration.

Abstract: An ultra-lean dilution apparatus is provided for proportioning minute quantities of a first fluid, such as a concentrated cleaning solution, for mixing into a second fluid, such as tap water, which provides improved performance and which can be manufactured by assembling several molded components with little or no machining. The dilution apparatus (20) provides a selective pressure drop in a conduit (22) by including a plurality of dilution disks (50a-50f), each dilution disk (50a-50f) having a tortuous path (52a-52f) of sufficient cross-sectional area to be resistant to clogging and having a sufficient number of sharp turns to create a desired pressure drop. While each disk (50a-50f) produces a predetermined drop, the serial configuration of the tortuous paths of the plurality of dilution disks is additive to produce a range of dilution suitable for the chemicals used.

Abstract: A filter useful for the ultrafiltration and microfiltration of aqueous suspensions includes a microporous membrane structure that has pores of size effective to reject particles in the range of about 0.01-10 &mgr;m. At least a portion of the membrane structure in contact with the suspension has a surface energy less than that of polytetrafluoroethylene. Low surface energy can be achieved by coating a microporous substrate with a substance such as fluorine substituted dioxole polymer. The filter has superior resistance to fouling by species suspended in the aqueous suspension and can continuously filter flow of such suspension in excess of 100 L/(m2−h) for more than 150 hours. The new filter is useful in many traditionally fouling prone ultrafiltration and microfiltration membrane applications such as the filtering of shipboard generated graywater waste.

Abstract: Slack end filtering tubes with tensioning members are utilized in an improved bump type filter employing a split inlet with an outlet and tube sheet at the lower slack end and a movable anchor plate at the upper end that can apply an adjustable tension to the filter tubes. The lower tube sheet is angled and has varying length connections to a plurality of filters to permit use of filter tubes of equal size. Movement of the anchor plate adjusts the lengths of the tubes by extending or shrinking the tubes to provide tension or relaxation of the tubes. Shaking the relaxed tubes removes accumulated materials to be flushed out. Tensioning of the tubes provides for filtration at the tubes. Slack end filtering tubes with tensioning members are employed in another embodiment to extract filtered liquid. A first set of filters extends outwardly from a vertical wall with a second set of filters resting along the bottom of the receiver.

Abstract: The present invention uses fish bones and fish hard parts to remediate, clean-up, stabilize, immobilize, or otherwise treat metal-contaminated water, soil or waste of any sort. The fish bones and fish hard parts can be mixed in with soils and wastes, or emplaced as a permeable reactive barrier in a trench or excavation, or emplaced as a liner or barrier surrounding a waste form, disposal site, or contaminated site. All that is needed is intimate contact between the fish bones and fish hard parts and the contaminated waste form, soil particles, or water. In a system of, for example, soil, waste, groundwater, surface water, waste streams, or the digestive tracts of animals, the presence of fish bones and fish hard parts reduces the amount of metal that can mobilize and migrate out of the system. Fish bones and fish hard parts remove metals from waters passing through the system or originating within the system.

Abstract: Disclosed is a modified centrifugal contactor for separating solutions of near equal density. The modified contactor has a pressure differential establishing means that allows the application of a pressure differential across fluid in the rotor of the contactor. The pressure differential is such that it causes the boundary between solutions of near-equal density to shift, thereby facilitating separation of the phases. Also disclosed is a method of separating solutions of near-equal density.

Abstract: There is provided in accordance with the invention a method for filtering comprising the steps of: providing a filter assembly comprising a depth filter and at least one microporous membrane; determining an optimal fluid velocity of the filter assembly by the steps of: operating identical filter assemblies at different constant fluid velocities, each for a time duration which terminates when a given total pressure drop is reached thereacross; noting the total throughput for such time duration; and based on the total throughput for each of said different constant fluid velocities, establishing a functional relationship between fluid velocity and total throughput for said filter assembly; and operating the filter assembly at a constant fluid velocity which corresponds to a desired total throughput.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for producing potable water from an aqueous feed such as seawater utilizing a pressure vessel designed for operation in the range of about 250 psig to about 350 psig having reverse osmosis (RO) separation elements disposed upstream of at least one nanofiltrate separation element. The supply of seawater at such pressure creates no permeate flow through the RO membranes, so the seawater flushes the feed side of the RO elements on its way to the NF element where very substantial permeate flux occurs, producing a NF permeate substantially depleted in divalent ions and optionally moderately depleted in monovalent ions. The NF permeate is collected in a holding tank having liquid level switches, and when a desired level is reached, a control system causes the pump to draw suction from the holding tank while shutting off feed from the seawater source.

Abstract: A multi-stage apparatus and a process for recycling used engine coolant employs a combination of filtration, dissolved air floatation, centrifugation (hydrocyclone separation), semi-permeable nano filtration, reverse osmosis, and continuous deionization for separating ethylene glycol, with or without propylene glycol, and water from used engine coolant. The engine coolant is pre-filtered through a series of filters. The filters remove particulate contaminates. This filtered fluid is then subjected to dissolved air floatation and/or centrifugation to remove organic petroleum contaminants. Then, it is pressurized prior to being passed through semi-permeable nano filtration. The nano filtration separates the feed stream into a ultra filtration solution and a concentrated waste solution. The concentrate solution is returned to a centrifuged coolant tank for continuous circulation through the nano filtration device.

Abstract: An apparatus for mixing a fluid feed stock, such as a heavy oil, and particles of a catalyst for gasifying the heavy oil in a reactor, comprises the reactor having in the upper portion a circular port through which the particles are fed, a moving bed-forming section disposed on and in communication with the reactor for forming the particles into an annular or cylindrical high-velocity moving bed by dropping the particles downwardly into the reactor, while dispersing the particles radially, an external fluid feed section located so as to spray the feed stock over the entire upper outer periphery of the annular or cylindrical moving bed passing through the reactor, and an internal fluid-feed section located so as to spray the fluid over the entire upper inner periphery corresponding to the outer periphery of the annular moving bed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for fractionating organic circuit board manufacture process solutions by means of at least one very fine filtration step. In the process of the present invention, the dissolved substances present in the process solutions are separated, for example by ultrafiltration, from the organic process solvent, e.g., ethyidiglycol, to permit their respective reuse. The process of the present invention advantageously provides for considerable savings in terms of costs of material and energy and also for a considerable reduction in or even complete avoidance of waste.

Abstract: This disclosure sets out a method and apparatus for recovery of cesium formate in water solution after use in a drilling process where trash and other debris accumulate in the drilling fluid. It incorporates a first stage centrifuge, a second stage centrifuge and a membrane separator serially connected, and incorporates a feedback loop. A feedback loop iteratively redirects solids and heavy weight concentrate after processing and recycles it to enhance recovery by enhanced removal of cuttings and trash in the stream. In addition, cuttings and other solids removed from the fluid stream are introduced into a wash tank, mixed with water, and the cuttings are further processed to remove remnants of the cesium formate. These recovered cesium formate remnants are passed through an evaporator to regain the density loss attributable to the dilutive wash water. The cuttings can then be thrown away without throwing away the valuable cesium formate in the drilling solution.

Abstract: A filtration system for a cross-flow membrane filter which reduces the deleterious effects of concentration polarization and membrane fouling, thereby increasing the average transmembrane flux. The filtration system includes a feed supply for providing a feed solution; a feed pump connected to the feed supply; a cross-flow membrane filter connected downstream of the feed pump for separating the feed into a permeate and a retentate, the cross-flow membrane filter including at least two membrane ports and at least two permeate outlets; a valve manifold assembly located between the feed pump and the cross-flow membrane filter; and a control system for controlling the valve manifold to selectively reverse the flow of the feed through the cross-flow membrane filter.

Abstract: In an apparatus for the filtering and separation of flow media rich in foreign matter (raw media) by a membrane separation structure, wherein the flow medium is separated into a retentate enriched with foreign matter and a permeate depleted of foreign matter and wherein at least the permeate is discharged from the apparatus, a membrane separation structure forming a flow medium flow channel is formed by at least one membrane module mounted between two support elements, which are removably disposed in the flow medium spaced from one another in the flow direction of the flow medium through the apparatus.

Abstract: The filter element assembly includes a three-way valve member internal to the assembly. The filter element comprises a primary filter construction defining an open internal volume, a first end cover, a second end cover, and a valve construction. The valve construction is positioned within the primary filter construction open internal volume and includes a valve member movable between first, second, and third valve positions. The first valve position blocks fluid flow through a bypass, such that fluid only flows through the primary filter construction. The second valve position permits fluid flow through a secondary filter construction. The third valve position permits fluid to bypass both the primary and secondary filter constructions, and proceed directly to the open internal volume and into an outlet. Methods for filtering are provided.