Abstract: A desander for use with a separator for removing sand and other particles from gas under pressure including a diverter manifold including an inlet opening and an outlet opening. The inlet opening is configured for receiving the gas. The outlet opening is in fluid communication with a housing. The housing includes processing equipment for separating sand, particles, and/or liquid from the gas. The diverter manifold includes a flow diverter. The flow diverter is configured to redirect the path of the gas and its contaminants. The diverter manifold is also designed to slow down a velocity of the gas entering into the inlet opening prior to entrance of the gas into the housing of the separator to reduce erosion of the processing equipment and to facilitate separation of the sand and particles from the gas. A method of removing sand, other particles, and liquid from gas under pressure is also provided.

Abstract: A fluid strainer assembly and a method of reducing an amount of fluid used during a cleaning cycle of the fluid strainer assembly including: a body defining a chamber; a screen positioned within the chamber; and a backwash port associated with an internal portion of the screen and rotatable about a central axis to cause a tangential flow and backflow of backwash fluid in order to dislodge and remove foreign material collected on the inner surface of the screen to flow into the backwash port and exit out a discharge outlet and backwash pipe, wherein the backwash port is configured such that the area of draw is determined by the equation: i) CS×1.875×1.5?A; and ii) A?CS of backwash pipe, where CS represents the internal transverse area of the backwash pipe and A represents the area of draw of the backwash port.

Abstract: A desander for use with a separator for removing sand and other particles from gas under pressure including a diverter manifold including an inlet opening and an outlet opening. The inlet opening is configured for receiving the gas. The outlet opening is in fluid communication with a housing. The housing includes processing equipment for separating sand, particles, and/or liquid from the gas. The diverter manifold includes a flow diverter. The flow diverter is configured to redirect the path of the gas and its contaminants. The diverter manifold is also designed to slow down a velocity of the gas entering into the inlet opening prior to entrance of the gas into the housing of the separator to reduce erosion of the processing equipment and to facilitate separation of the sand and particles from the gas. A method of removing sand, other particles, and liquid from gas under pressure is also provided.

Abstract: A fluid strainer assembly and a method of reducing an amount of fluid used during a cleaning cycle of the fluid strainer assembly including: a body defining a chamber; a screen positioned within the chamber; and a backwash port associated with an internal portion of the screen and rotatable about a central axis to cause a tangential flow and backflow of backwash fluid in order to dislodge and remove foreign material collected on the inner surface of the screen to flow into the backwash port and exit out a discharge outlet and backwash pipe, wherein the backwash port is configured such that the area of draw is determined by the equation: i) CS×1.875×1.5?A; and ii) A?CS of backwash pipe, where CS represents the internal transverse area of the backwash pipe and A represents the area of draw of the backwash port.

Abstract: A high temperature filter and a self-cleaning filtering system for filtering media, such as biomass materials, are provided. The filter and filtering system is particularly useful in the filtration of syngas in a plasma arc gasification process to remove char and other particles of down to a submicron size from the syngas. The filter is formed from a pleated metal mesh material including end caps secured by a high-temperature metallic paste or adhesive, such that the filter is capable of withstanding operating temperatures up to 2000° F. The system includes a backflush unit for injecting cleaning media therein to remove trapped char and other debris from the filter. At least two filtering systems can be placed in parallel so that one system can be cleaned while the other is operating. A method for filtering media is also disclosed.

Abstract: A high temperature filter and a self-cleaning filtering system for filtering media, such as biomass materials, are provided. The filter and filtering system is particularly useful in the filtration of syngas in a plasma arc gasification process to remove char and other particles of down to a submicron size from the syngas. The filter is formed from a pleated metal mesh material including end caps secured by a high-temperature metallic paste or adhesive, such that the filter is capable of withstanding operating temperatures up to 2000° F. The system includes a backflush unit for injecting cleaning media therein to remove trapped char and other debris from the filter. At least two filtering systems can be placed in parallel so that one system can be cleaned while the other is operating. A method for filtering media is also disclosed.

Abstract: A high temperature filter and a self-cleaning filtering system for filtering media, such as biomass materials, are provided. The filter and filtering system is particularly useful in the filtration of syngas in a plasma arc gasification process to remove char and other particles of down to a submicron size from the syngas. The filter is formed from a pleated metal mesh material including end caps secured by a high-temperature metallic paste or adhesive, such that the filter is capable of withstanding operating temperatures up to 2000° F. The system includes a backflush unit for injecting cleaning media therein to remove trapped char and other debris from the filter. At least two filtering systems can be placed in parallel so that one system can be cleaned while the other is operating. A method for filtering media is also disclosed.

Abstract: An automatic strainer assembly for straining a slurry comprises an inlet for receiving the slurry, a horizontally disposed strainer body in fluid communication with the inlet, and a rotatable strainer member received within the body having an inner surface and an outer surface. One or more scrapers are positioned for removing material from the outer surface of the strainer assembly. A collection vessel is positioned substantially below the body for receiving material scraped from the outer surface of the strainer member. A transport member can be provided for returning the scraped material to the slurry supply for reprocessing thereof. An outlet expels the strained slurry. A manual or automatic washdown system is provided for removing the slurry from the strainer member. A radial bearing assembly and radial seal are associated with the drive shaft of the strainer member to prevent galling. A method for processing a slurry is provided.

Abstract: An automatic strainer assembly for straining a slurry comprises an inlet for receiving the slurry, a horizontally disposed strainer body in fluid communication with the inlet, and a rotatable strainer member received within the body having an inner surface and an outer surface. The strainer member defines a plurality of passageways for strained fluid to pass therethrough. A scraper is positioned substantially adjacent to and contacting the outer surface of the strainer member for removing material from the outer surface of the strainer member. A collection vessel is positioned substantially below the body for receiving material scraped from the outer surface of the strainer member. A helical member is mounted on an internal shaft or auger is located within the strainer member for contacting the slurry to increase mixing and promote flow of the slurry through the system.

Abstract: A high temperature filter and a self-cleaning filtering system for filtering media, such as biomass materials, are provided. The filter and filtering system is particularly useful in the filtration of syngas in a plasma arc gasification process to remove char and other particles of down to a submicron size from the syngas. The filter is formed from a pleated metal mesh material including end caps secured by a high-temperature metallic paste or adhesive, such that the filter is capable of withstanding operating temperatures up to 2000° F. The system includes a backflush unit for injecting cleaning media therein to remove trapped char and other debris from the filter. At least two filtering systems can be placed in parallel so that one system can be cleaned while the other is operating. A method for filtering media is also disclosed.

Abstract: An automatic strainer assembly for straining a slurry comprises an inlet for receiving the slurry, a horizontally disposed strainer body in fluid communication with the inlet, and a rotatable strainer member received within the body having an inner surface and an outer surface. The strainer member defines a plurality of passageways for strained fluid to pass therethrough. A scraper is positioned substantially adjacent to and contacting the outer surface of the strainer member for removing material from the outer surface of the strainer member. A collection vessel is positioned substantially below the body for receiving material scraped from the outer surface of the strainer member. This collection vessel can include a transport member for returning this scraped material to an initial slurry supply for reprocessing thereof. An outlet is provided in fluid communication with the horizontal strainer body to expel the strained slurry.

Abstract: An apparatus for cultivating photosynthetic organisms is provided. The apparatus can be used in a renewable energy system. The apparatus comprises a chamber for growing photosynthetic organisms in a liquid medium; a device for holding the photosynthetic organism; a carbon dioxide source; a medium intake source; and a system for providing movement of the liquid medium within the chamber. A system for cultivating photosynthetic organisms comprises a plurality of apparatuses for cultivating photosynthetic organisms, wherein the plurality of apparatuses are interconnected in parallel, series, or a combination thereof, in order to increase algae production. Also described is a method of cultivating a photosynthetic organism.

Abstract: An automatic strainer assembly for straining a slurry comprises an inlet for receiving the slurry, a horizontally disposed strainer body in fluid communication with the inlet, and a rotatable strainer member received within the body having an inner surface and an outer surface. One or more scrapers are positioned for removing material from the outer surface of the strainer assembly. A collection vessel is positioned substantially below the body for receiving material scraped from the outer surface of the strainer member. A transport member can be provided for returning the scraped material to the slurry supply for reprocessing thereof. An outlet expels the strained slurry. A manual or automatic washdown system is provided for removing the slurry from the strainer member. A radial bearing assembly and radial seal are associated with the drive shaft of the strainer member to prevent galling. A method for processing a slurry is provided.

Abstract: An automatic strainer assembly for straining a slurry comprises an inlet for receiving the slurry, a horizontally disposed strainer body in fluid communication with the inlet, and a rotatable strainer member received within the body having an inner surface and an outer surface. The strainer member defines a plurality of passageways for strained fluid to pass therethrough. A scraper is positioned substantially adjacent to and contacting the outer surface of the strainer member for removing material from the outer surface of the strainer member. A collection vessel is positioned substantially below the body for receiving material scraped from the outer surface of the strainer member. A helical member is mounted on an internal shaft or auger is located within the strainer member for contacting the slurry to increase mixing and promote flow of the slurry through the system.

Abstract: A rising stem plug valve has a valve body housing that receives a plug. A handle assembly is attached to the plug for rotational movement of the plug between operative positions. A control assembly is attached to the plug for unseating and seating of the plug within the valve body. The plug includes at least one plug portion having openings corresponding to an interior configuration. Ring cords substantially surround the openings in the plug to create a seal therearound. The plug may include upper and lower plug portions with an untapered portion located between them. An O-ring is located on the untapered portion of the plug to maintain separation between the upper and lower plug portions.

Abstract: A rising stem plug valve has a valve body housing that receives a plug. A handle assembly is attached to the plug for rotational movement of the plug between operative positions. A control assembly is attached to the plug for unseating and seating of the plug within the valve body. The plug includes at least one plug portion having openings corresponding to an interior configuration. Ring cords substantially surround the openings in the plug to create a seal therearound. The plug may include upper and lower plug portions with an untapered portion located between them. An O-ring is located on the untapered portion of the plug to maintain separation between the upper and lower plug portions.

Abstract: A rising stem plug valve has a valve body housing that receives a plug. A handle assembly is attached to the plug for rotational movement of the plug between operative positions. A control assembly is attached to the plug for unseating and seating of the plug within the valve body. The plug includes at least one plug portion having openings corresponding to an interior configuration. Ring cords substantially surround the openings in the plug to create a seal therearound. The plug may include upper and lower plug portions with an untapered portion located between them. An O-ring is located on the untapered portion of the plug to maintain separation between the upper and lower plug portions.

Abstract: A device for filtering and disinfecting a fluid, such as waste water, is provided. The device includes a housing having an interior and a fluid inlet conduit in flow communication with the interior of the housing. An ozone source is in flow communication with the interior of the housing. Additionally, a method of filtering and disinfecting a fluid is provided. Filter media is introduced into a housing to form a filter bed. The fluid to be filtered is directed into the housing such that the fluid flows through the filter media to form a filtrate. Ozone is directed into the housing such that the ozone contacts and disinfects the filter media and the filtrate.

Abstract: A water purification system is disclosed using a recirculation loop to extract water from a vessel, injecting ozone into the extracted water and then introducing the water/ozone mixture into the vessel to blend the ozone with all of the water in the vessel.

Abstract: A high temperature filter and a self-cleaning filtering system for filtering media, such as biomass materials, are provided. The filter and filtering system is particularly useful in the filtration of syngas in a plasma arc gasification process to remove char and other particles of down to a submicron size from the syngas. The filter is formed from a pleated metal mesh material including end caps secured by a high-temperature metallic paste or adhesive, such that the filter is capable of withstanding operating temperatures up to 2000° F. The system includes a backflush unit for injecting cleaning media therein to remove trapped char and other debris from the filter. At least two filtering systems can be placed in parallel so that one system can be cleaned while the other is operating. A method for filtering media is also disclosed.