Abstract: A separator for separating a multiphase mixture comprising a pressure vessel supported for rotation within a casing containing a gas which may be held at an elevated temperature or pressure. A plurality of vanes is disposed within the pressure vessel. The pressure vessel has an inlet, a first phase outlet and a plurality of second phase outlets disposed radially outwardly of the first phase outlet with respect to a separator axis. A regulator is provided in the form of pressure-activated nozzles to regulate flow through the second phase outlets. In use, a mixture of solids and liquid is fed into the pressure vessel and the pressure vessel is spun within the gas causing solids to accumulate in the vicinity of the second phase outlets. The pressure-activated nozzles are repeatedly opened and closed to expel the accumulated solids.

Abstract: A water treatment system, for example for treating grey water from domestic appliances comprises a water treatment device containing a filter media through which the water passes to remove particulates and bio-matter. The device has a lid provided with a spraying device. The spraying device may, for example, receive treated water along a line, possibly with the addition of an anti-foaming agent. Operating of the spraying device thus serves to collapse any foam generated within the water treatment device. Filter media can be cleaned periodically in a cyclone, after being drawn up through a pipe by means of a jet pump, receiving treated water along a line. Treated water is stored in a storage tank for subsequent use.

Abstract: A separator device comprises a cylindrical separation chamber within which a motor-driven rotor is situated. The rotor has vanes. In operation, an inflowing mixture enters through an inlet and is subjected to centrifugal force imposed by the rotation of the rotor. A lighter liquid fraction leaves through an annular outlet, and a heavier liquid fraction leaves through an annular outlet. Solids pass through a screen to a region where rotational flow is reduced or absent. The solids in the region are fluidized by liquid passing through the screen, and are extracted from outlets. Control means is provided to control operation of the device in response to changes in the incoming mixture.

Abstract: A contactor for reacting a flow of gas with a liquid, comprises a vessel, a first chamber in the vessel and a second chamber in the vessel, the first and second chambers being linked only by a porous wall, and means for directing ultrasonic noise into at least one of the first and second chambers.

Abstract: A framework for generating a semantic interpretation of natural language input includes an interpreter, a first set of types, and a second set of types. The interpreter is adapted to mediate between a client application and one or more analysis engines to produce interpretations of the natural language input that are valid for the client application. The first set of types is adapted to define interactions between the interpreter and the one or more analysis engines. The second set of types is adapted to define interactions between the interpreter and the client application.

Abstract: A water treatment system, for example for treating grey water from domestic appliances comprises a water treatment device containing a filter media through which the water passes to remove particulates and bio-matter. The device has a lid provided with a spraying device. The spraying device may, for example, receive treated water along a line, possibly with the addition of an anti-foaming agent. Operating of the spraying device thus serves to collapse any foam generated within the water treatment device. Filter media can be cleaned periodically in a cyclone, after being drawn up through a pipe by means of a jet pump, receiving treated water along a line. Treated water is stored in a storage tank for subsequent use.

Abstract: A separator for separating a multiphase mixture comprising a pressure vessel supported for rotation within a casing containing a gas which may be held at an elevated temperature or pressure. A plurality of vanes is disposed within the pressure vessel. The pressure vessel has an inlet, a first phase outlet and a plurality of second phase outlets disposed radially outwardly of the first phase outlet with respect to a separator axis. A regulator is provided in the form of pressure-activated nozzles to regulate flow through the second phase outlets. In use, a mixture of solids and liquid is fed into the pressure vessel and the pressure vessel is spun within the gas causing solids to accumulate in the vicinity of the second phase outlets. The pressure-activated nozzles are repeatedly opened and closed to expel the accumulated solids.

Abstract: A functional fluid for the removal of contaminates such as but not limited to, acid causing components in gas, sulfur components and carbon oxides from fluid streams, and removal and treatment of NOX & SOX from post combustion emissions. Also described is the manufacturing process to produce the functional fluid both in a batch atmospheric process system as well as a closed system capable of operating at above or below atmospheric conditions.

Abstract: A separator for separating or partially separating oil, water, gas and solids from hydrocarbon production well fluids comprises a vessel and a cyclone contained within the vessel. An inlet passage passes through a wall of the vessel and into the cyclone, the inlet passage having means for causing the flow to rotate within the cyclone. A first outlet passage for an oil rich phase extends from a position within the cyclone and substantially on a central axis of the cyclone; a second outlet passage for a water phase extends from a base of the vessel; and a third outlet passage for the solids extends from a lower end of the cyclone.

Abstract: A functional fluid for the removal of contaminates such as but not limited to, acid causing components in gas, sulfur components and carbon oxides from fluid streams, and removal and treatment of NOX & SOX from post combustion emissions. Also described is the manufacturing process to produce the functional fluid both in a batch atmospheric process system as well as a closed system capable of operating at above or below atmospheric conditions.

Abstract: A fluidizing apparatus comprises a vessel having an inlet, a plurality of outlets and a nozzle, through which a pressurized fluid can be fed into the vessel. The outlets are spaced at different heights from a base of the vessel and are controlled by valves enabling fluidized solids to be removed in layers from the vessel. In a further embodiment, a single outlet is raised or lowered to a desired position in the vessel.

Abstract: A separator for separating a multiphase mixture comprising a pressure vessel supported for rotation within a casing containing a gas which may be held at an elevated temperature or pressure. A plurality of vanes is disposed within the pressure vessel. The pressure vessel has an inlet, a first phase outlet and a plurality of second phase outlets disposed radially outwardly of the first phase outlet with respect to a separator axis. A regulator is provided in the form of pressure-activated nozzles to regulate flow through the second phase outlets. In use, a mixture of solids and liquid is fed into the pressure vessel and the pressure vessel is spun within the gas causing solids to accumulate in the vicinity of the second phase outlets. The pressure-activated nozzles are repeatedly opened and closed to expel the accumulated solids.

Abstract: A fluidizing apparatus comprises a vessel having an inlet, a plurality of outlets and a nozzle, through which a pressurized fluid can be fed into the vessel. The outlets are spaced at different heights from a base of the vessel and are controlled by valves enabling fluidized solids to be removed in layers from the vessel. In a further embodiment, a single outlet is raised or lowered to a desired position in the vessel.

Abstract: A separator device comprises a cylindrical separation chamber within which a motor-driven rotor is situated. The rotor has vanes. In operation, an inflowing mixture enters through an inlet and is subjected to centrifugal force imposed by the rotation of the rotor. A lighter liquid fraction leaves through an annular outlet, and a heavier liquid fraction leaves through an annular outlet. Solids pass through a screen to a region where rotational flow is reduced or absent. The solids in the region are fluidized by liquid passing through the screen, and are extracted from outlets. Control means is provided to control operation of the device in response to changes in the incoming mixture.

Abstract: A software development tool for programming natural language software applications is described. The software development tool includes a programming language and a compiler. The programming language has a set of programming constructs for facilitating natural language programming. The compiler is adapted to take a software program containing instances of the set of programming constructs and to generate a software application.

Abstract: A lexical semantic structure for modeling semantics of a natural language input on a computer is described. A set of lexical semantic categories is selected to model content of the natural language input. A methodology associates content of the natural language input to one or more categories of the set of lexical semantic categories.

Abstract: A system for developing natural language enabled software applications is described. Resolvable types define abstract representations of linguistic elements and interrelationships between linguistic elements of a natural language input. Resolution semantics define procedural rules for resolving validity of the resolvable types in a natural language enabled software application.

Abstract: The present invention uses a machine-learned statistical model to map between unstructured data and structured data. By using machine learning techniques, the present parsing engine can be very quickly and easily trained for new and different locations or domains and can also accommodate for inputs which are unseen in the training data.

Abstract: A functional fluid for the removal of contaminates such as but not limited to, acid causing components in gas, sulfur components and carbon oxides from fluid streams, and removal and treatment of NOX & SOX from post combustion emissions. Also described is the manufacturing process to produce the functional fluid both in a batch atmospheric process system as well as a closed system capable of operating at above or below atmospheric conditions.

Abstract: A contactor for reacting a flow of gas with a liquid, comprises a vessel, a first chamber in the vessel and a second chamber in the vessel, the first and second chambers being linked only by a porous wall, and means for directing ultrasonic noise into at least one of the first and second chambers.