Abstract: A technique using a curved channel of a spiral device to introduce a centrifugal force upon neutrally buoyant particles flowing in a fluid, e.g. water, to facilitate improved separation of such particles from the fluid is provided. As these neutrally buoyant particles flow through the channel, a tubular pinch effect causes the particles to flow in a tubular band. The introduced centrifugal force perturbs the tubular band (e.g. forces the tubular band to flow in a manner offset from a center of the channel), resulting in an asymmetric inertial migration of the band toward the inner wall of the channel. This allows for focusing and compaction of suspended particulates into a narrow band for extraction. The separation principle contemplated herein implements a balance of the centrifugal and fluidic forces to achieve asymmetric inertial equilibrium near the inner sidewall.

Abstract: An electrocoagulation system including a dosing unit, a mixing unit and a buffer tank is provided. The dosing unit receives a fluid from an external source and injects an electrochemically generated coagulant into the fluid using one or more pairs of electrodes. The mixing unit mixes the coagulant with the fluid and is separate from the dosing unit. The buffer tank holds the fluid until particles contained in the fluid grow to a predetermined size.

Abstract: A transformational approach to water treatment is provided that incorporates membrane-free filtration with dynamic processing of the fluid to significantly reduce treatment times, chemical cost, land use, and operational overhead. This approach provides hybrid capabilities of filtration, together with chemical treatment, as the water is transported through various spiral stages.

Abstract: A mobile HEB and TEP mitigation device includes a mobile body capable of movement within or upon a body of water. Located within the mobile body is a hydrodynamic separation system which includes a water inlet, a hydrodynamic separation unit and a collection tank. The hydrodynamic separation unit includes two outputs, one for a clean stream output line containing clean water and arranged to re-circulate the clean water, and another for a concentrate stream output line, the concentrate stream output line configured to place concentrated water containing potentially harmful bio-organic materials into the collection tank. Also included on the mobile body is a power source and an engine/steering unit, wherein the steering portion of the engine/steering unit provides a capacity to move the mobile body in an intended direction. The mitigation device may also be used as an embedded part of an on-shore arrangement.

Abstract: Fluidic structures for facilitating particle separation in curved or spiral devices are provided. The contemplated systems relate to various fluidic structures, implementations and selected fabrication techniques to realize construction of fluidic separation structures that are of a stacked and/or parallel configuration. These contemplated systems provide for efficient input of fluid to be processed, improved throughput, and, in some variations, adjustable and efficient treatment of output fluid.

Abstract: This invention is based on size and mass separation of suspended particles, including biological matter, which are made to flow in a spiral channel. On the spiral sections, the inward directed transverse pressure field from fluid shear competes with the outward directed centrifugal force to allow for separation of particles. At high velocity, centrifugal force dominates and particles move outward. At low velocities, transverse pressure dominates and the particles move inward. The magnitudes of the two opposing forces depend on flow velocity, particle size, radius of curvature of the spiral section, channel dimensions, and viscosity of the fluid. At the end of the spiral channel, a parallel array of outlets collects separated particles. For any particle size, the required channel dimension is determined by estimating the transit time to reach the side-wall. This time is a function of flow velocity, channel width, viscosity, and radius of curvature.

Abstract: Trapping structures are provided for particle separation devices that make use of traveling wave fluid flow. These trapping structures are operative to capture and collect separated particles and present them for extraction. The extraction can be accomplished in conventional manners, such as through the use of suitable sized pipettes.

Abstract: Provided is a standalone integrated water treatment system for a distributed water supply including a filter input, a coagulation system in operative connection with the filter input, wherein the water is subjected to a coagulation process to create pin floc from suspensions in the water. A maturation buffer tank in operative connection with the coagulation system aggregates floc in size within the water. A spiral separator separates the water into two water streams, a first stream of water having most of the floc removed, and a second stream of water which includes a concentrated amount of the floc. An optional filtration system is configured to receive the first stream of water and perform a filtration operation thereon. A sterilization system is configured to perform a sterilization operation on the first stream of water. The water is then output from the sterilization system as potable water.

Abstract: A method and system for splitting fluid flow in an outlet of a particle separation device is provided. The system may include static or passive mechanisms or subsystems. These mechanisms could also be modular and interchangeable to provide for preset fluid split divisions of 20:80, 30:70, 40:60, 50:50, . . . etc. In other forms of the presently described embodiments, the system is adjustable and variable. In still another form of the presently described embodiments, the system allows for differential pressure control at the outlets to facilitate the flow of varying size particles or particle bands in the respective channels or paths.

Abstract: A system to facilitate separation and concentration of particles based on centrifugal force on suspended particles, including biological matter, which are made to flow in a vortex structure is provided. The centrifugal force urges larger particles to collect along outer portions of the vortex flow. Conversely, within a vortex structure, a radial hydrodynamic pressure drop is also amplified to urge smaller particles toward inner portions of the vortex flow. This force created by the pressure can reach magnitudes that encourage a sharp cut-off and improved resolution discrimination between particle sizes. Thus, separated streams of particles can be collected with both increased concentration and purification.

Abstract: An improved technique for particle separation is provided. A serpentine structure is utilized in a continuous fluid flow environment to allow for suitable separation of particles to occur in a manner that does not require external application of forces to initiate the separation. The geometry of the serpentine structure and associated forces generated in connection with fluid flow therein suffice.

Abstract: Trapping structures are provided for particle separation devices that make use of traveling wave fluid flow. These trapping structures are operative to capture and collect separated particles and present them for extraction. The extraction can be accomplished in conventional manners, such as through the use of suitable sized pipettes.

Abstract: Systems and methods are used to concentrate and extract platelets from blood, where an aggregation arrangement is configured to aggregate red blood cells in the blood. The aggregated red blood cells are provided to a separation arrangement which is configured to separate the aggregated red blood cells from platelets in the blood plasma. Finally a concentration arrangement is configured to concentrate the platelets for extraction and further use.

Abstract: A xerographic micro-assembler system, method and apparatus that includes a sorting unit that is adapted to receive a plurality of micro-objects. The micro-objects can also be sorted and oriented on the sorting unit and then transferred to a substrate. The system, method and apparatus can also include a device for detecting errors in at least one of the micro-objects on the sorting unit and a protection means for preventing an improper micro-object from being transferred to the substrate. The system, method and apparatus can also include an organized micro-object feeder assembly that can transfer at least one of a plurality of micro-objects to the sorting unit or directly to the substrate.

Abstract: A mobile HEB and TEP mitigation device includes a mobile body capable of movement within or upon a body of water. Located within the mobile body is a hydrodynamic separation system which includes a water inlet, a hydrodynamic separation unit and a collection tank. The hydrodynamic separation unit includes two outputs, one for a clean stream output line containing clean water and arranged to re-circulate the clean water, and another for a concentrate stream output line, the concentrate stream output line configured to place concentrated water containing potentially harmful bio-organic materials into the collection tank. Also included on the mobile body is a power source and an engine/steering unit, wherein the steering portion of the engine/steering unit provides a capacity to move the mobile body in an intended direction. The mitigation device may also be used as an embedded part of an on-shore arrangement.

Abstract: Trapping structures are provided for particle separation devices that make use of traveling wave fluid flow. These trapping structures are operative to capture and collect separated particles and present them for extraction. The extraction can be accomplished in conventional manners, such as through the use of suitable sized pipettes.

Abstract: An embodiment is a method and apparatus to provide de-ionization. A plurality of cylindrical-shaped conductive membranes are placed in a feed channel having a feed flow with a first flow direction. Each of the conductive membranes encloses a concentration channel having a second flow direction and an electrode positioned inside the conductive membrane. A voltage distribution network coupled to the conductive membranes provides independent voltages across the channels to cause movement of ions in the feed and concentration flows toward the electrode.

Abstract: Provided is a standalone integrated water treatment system for a distributed water supply. A filter input receives water to be treated. A coagulation system is in operative connection with the filter input, wherein the water which has been filtered is subjected to a coagulation process performed by the coagulation system to create pin floc from suspensions in the water. A maturation buffer tank is in operative connection with the coagulation system, wherein floc is aggregated in size within the water. A spiral separator is in operative connection with the maturation buffer tank, and the water is separated into two water streams, a first stream of water having most of the floc removed, and a second stream of water which includes a concentrated amount of the floc. An optional filtration system is in operative connection with the spiral separator and is configured to receive the first stream of water and to perform a filtration operation on the first stream of water.

Abstract: An optical electrical system that converts a photo image pattern to a conductance pattern comprises a photoconductive layer for receiving light image patterns and a conversion layer for converting an electrostatic voltage into a conductance pathway for a current flow. The light image pattern can be generated into a page sized area and generated from a light source comprising an array of projectors coupled together.

Abstract: A coagulation generating system that combines the advantages of conventional and electrocoagulation. In the coagulation generating system electro-coagulation is performed on an input (e.g., salt/brine) solution to generate a concentrated coagulant solution, which is then added to the source water in the same way as a standard stored chemical coagulant.