Abstract: A nut shell filter allows the shell filter media to be scrubbed without being removed from the filter vessel. In order to protect the vessel from pressure surges which can occur during the scrubbing cycle, pressure applied during the beginning of the scrubbing cycle is contained within a scrubber tube such that the filter vessel is not subjected to pressure surges which occur at the beginning of the scrubbing cycle. The scrubber tube and scrubber filter tube may either be disposed within the filter vessel or outside of the filter vessel.

Abstract: A filtering device comprises a vessel for containing filtering media such as nutshells. Associated with the filtering device is an eductor for scrubbing and cleaning the media and removing contaminants such as oil from the media. The eductor includes an inlet port for receiving a motive liquid. Further, the eductor includes an inlet port for receiving media held in the vessel. In operation, a motive liquid is directed into the eductor and this induces media in the vessel into the eductor. By continuously directing motive liquid from an external source into the eductor, this results in the media being fluidized and circulated and recirculated through the eductor, giving rise to a slurry that contains liquid, the media and removed contaminants. A portion of the slurry is discharged from the filtering device while the media is retained in the filtering device.

Abstract: A water treatment apparatus includes a plurality of meshed tubes made of synthetic yarn and provided with cilia; a plurality of tube stack cages containing the meshed tubes; and an aeration diffuser positioned between the tube stack cages and configured to provide air so that to-be-treated influent water moves to the tube stack cages. The hollow interior of the filter media, i.e. meshed tubes, enables water to move in any direction, and the high porosity maximizes the area for filtering of suspended solids and attachment of microorganisms. The resulting efficiency of removal of suspended solids and soluble organic material is far greater than conventional methods. Arrangement of diffusers in the middle of the reaction tank and between the tube stack cages and aeration by them result in perfect mixing in the reaction tank. The load of suspended solids and soluble organic materials is evenly distributed over the entire filer media.

Abstract: The present invention is a gravity continuously operating filtration system for separating impurities from liquids. The liquid flows upward through a bed of filter media in a vessel and filtered liquid (filtrate) is collected above the top of the bed. Dirtied filter media are withdrawn from the bottom of the vessel and returned to the vessel from the top. The dirtied filter media are first conveyed to a separation device by which the bulk of solids are separated from the filter media. The reject liquid from the separation device is discharged as waste. The filter media are then cleaned in a spiral wash path and are then returned back to the system. The described cleaning process is far more effective than other similar filtration systems. Majority of essential components are located outside of the vessel and are convenient to access for maintenance and inspection.

Abstract: An apparatus suitable for generating gaseous hydrocarbon fuel from a carbon based synthesis gas including a reaction chamber having a rotating shaft including a plurality of radial blades mixing and circulating carbon based synthesis gas and particulate catalyst upwardly generating gaseous hydrocarbon fuel, a stripping chamber located above the reaction chamber having a second axial rotating shaft including a plurality of radial blades driving hydrocarbon fuel radially outwardly, a source of hot stripping gas, an annular filter surrounding the stripping chamber and an annular gas collection chamber surrounding the filter. The blades in the stripping chamber are rotated independently at a greater velocity than the blades in the reaction chamber and the reaction is controlled by the temperature of the synthesis gas and the rotational velocity of the mixing blades in the reaction chamber.

Abstract: Contaminants are removed from a quantity of contaminated liquid in a treatment reservoir (2,28) containing a carbon based adsorbent material capable of electrochemical regeneration. The adsorbent material is in the form of a bed supported on a plate (6) at the base of the reservoir. The bed is agitated for a period to distribute the adsorbent material in the liquid and adsorb contaminant therefrom. At the end of the period the agitation ceases, and the bed of adsorbent material is allowed to settle. The adsorbent is then regenerated, during or after settlement, by passing an electric current through the bed to release from the adsorbent gaseous products derived from the contaminant, in bubbles rising through the decontaminated liquid in the reservoir. Various methods of regenerating the adsorbent material are disclosed, as are apparatus in which the method can be applied.

Abstract: The present invention provides a flow-control support for a distributor plate in a composite pressure vessel. The distributor plate includes a thermoplastic polymeric disk having a top side, a bottom side, a perimeter edge and a central opening and a plurality of fluid flow passages through the disk. The flow-control support is disposed between the bottom side of the disk and an inner side of an end of a thermoplastic liner assembly. The flow-control support includes a spirally fluted upper surface that is adapted to direct fluid flowing from a supply pipe disposed in the central opening of a distributor plate that is supported by the flow control support such that the fluid swirls in a space between the bottom side of the distributor plate and an inner side of an end portion of a water treatment vessel. The swirling water insures that fluid is distributed to substantially all of the fluid flow passages through the disk during backwashing operations.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a filtration method capable of prolonging the life of a filter and regenerating it without impairing the efficiency can be provided. Further, a filter regenerating method and a regenerating apparatus, for efficiently regenerating a filter, are provided. The filtration method of the present invention is a method of subjecting a liquid to filtration by using a resin media filter, wherein ultrasonic waves at a frequency of at least 30 kHz are applied to the filter while the filtration is carried out, during the temporary stop of the filtration or after completion of the filtration. Efficient purification is possible by subjecting a polishing composition to filtration by such a filtration method. Further, the filter regenerating method of the present invention comprises applying ultrasonic waves at a frequency of at least 30 kHz to a used resin filter.

Abstract: A separation apparatus comprising, a series of compartments for holding particulate separation material, arranged so as to allow fluid to flow through the compartments in a primary direction from a first compartment in the series to a last compartment in the series, feed means for directing a flow of the fluid into the first of the series of compartments in the primary direction, barrier means for preventing flow of particulate separation material between compartments in the primary direction, and a pumping assembly arranged to pump a mixture of the particulate separation material and the fluid from the first compartment into a recovery stage.

Abstract: A filtration unit that includes a casing that has a closed bottom and is immersed in a water storage tank (or water storage pond) into which raw water is introduced, the casing being composed of a introduction port which introduces the raw water in the water storage tank into the casing, an active carbon supply device which adds active carbon to the introduced raw water, an agitator which agitates the raw water inside the casing to which active carbon has been added, a filtration module which filters the raw water, a back flow preventing device which prevents the raw water inside the casing from flowing back into the introduction port and being discharged into the water storage tank, and a discharging device which discharges the raw water from the casing.

Abstract: A cleansing tank 38 and a screw conveyor 32 are removably mounted to a mounting opening 22 of a filtration tank 2. When the cleansing tank 38 and the screw conveyor 32 are to be removed, they can be extracted to the exterior of the filtration tank 2, by detaching a base 28, which axially supports the screw conveyor 32, from a rim 24. Purified water is backwashed through a purified water discharge pipe 60 when the cleansing tank 38 and the screw conveyor 32 are extracted and inserted through the mounting opening 22. This causes filtration media 14 to float, thereby reducing the resistance thereof.

Abstract: Systems and methods for extracorporeal processing of blood or other body fluid for the treatment of conditions, such as sepsis, autoimmune disease, or toxemia related to kidney failure, liver failure, or drug overdose are provided. In an extracorporeal treatment system, a fraction of a body fluid is passed into a treatment fluid, at least a portion of which is then passed through a sorbent suspension reactor for treatment by a sorbent suspension. The treatment fluid circuit can be maintained at a fixed volume, which enables accurate fluid balance between the patient and the extracorporeal circuit. Some or all of the treatment fluid, optionally also containing nutrients and/or therapeutic agents, is returned to the patient. In a peritoneal dialysis system, dialysate is passed into a patient's peritoneal cavity, recovered from the cavity, passed through a sorbent suspension reactor in accordance with the invention, and returned to the cavity.

Abstract: The present invention is a media-based fluid filtration system that extends the time between backwashing operations and prevents the agglomeration of filtered particles at the top of the media bed through the use of a plurality of rotating vanes and associated tines that continuously agitate the upper portion of the filtration media to create a fluidized bed. The fluid stream to be filtered is introduced at the top of a generally cylindrical filtration chamber at a tangential angle to induce a helical flow inside the chamber. The chamber contains one or more layers of filtering media such as sand, gravel, or the like below the inlet. The incoming fluid stream makes contact with a plurality of pivotally mounted vanes, causing them to rotate. One or more downwardly extending tines are attached to each blade, extending down from the blade into the top layer of the filtering media.

Abstract: A cleansing tank 38 and a screw conveyor 32 are removably mounted to a mounting opening 22 of a filtration tank 2. When the cleansing tank 38 and the screw conveyor 32 are to be removed, they can be extracted to the exterior of the filtration tank 2, by detaching a base 28, which axially supports the screw conveyor 32, from a rim 24. Purified water is backwashed through a purified water discharge pipe 60 when the cleansing tank 38 and the screw conveyor 32 are extracted and inserted through the mounting opening 22. This causes filtration media 14 to float, thereby reducing the resistance thereof.

Abstract: The present invention is a media-based fluid filtration system that extends the time between backwashing operations and prevents the agglomeration of filtered particles at the top of the media bed through the use of a plurality of rotating vanes and associated tines that continuously agitate the upper portion of the filtration media to create a fluidized bed. The fluid stream to be filtered is introduced at the top of a generally cylindrical filtration chamber at a tangential angle to induce a helical flow inside the chamber. The chamber contains one or more layers of filtering media such as sand, gravel, or the like below the inlet. The incoming fluid stream makes contact with a plurality of pivotally mounted vanes, causing them to rotate. One or more downwardly extending tines are attached to each blade, extending down from the blade into the top layer of the filtering media.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for acoustically enhanced particle separation uses a chamber through which flows a fluid containing particles to be separated. A porous medium is disposed within the chamber. A transducer mounted on one wall of the chamber is powered to impose on the porous medium an acoustic field that is resonant to the chamber when filled with the fluid. Under the influence of the resonant acoustic field, the porous medium is able to trap particles substantially smaller than the average pore size of the medium. When the acoustic field is deactivated, the flowing fluid flushes the trapped particles from the porous medium and regenerates the medium. A collection circuit for harvesting the particles flushed from the porous medium is disclosed. Aluminum mesh, polyester foam, and unconsolidated glass beads are disclosed as porous media.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a screen apparatus having a function of dilute water which is suitable for a centripetal type screen which rotates inside the screen. A screen apparatus A comprises a tank 1 for receiving paper raw materials including an entrance 1c for the paper raw materials, a selection exit 1d and a foreign matter exit 1e, a cylindrical screen 2 fixed in the tank 1 and dividing the tank 1 into a primary chamber 1a and a secondary chamber 1b, and a stirring member 3 which is rotatably supported inside the screen 2 for stirring the paper raw materials.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to easily produce water having fine clusters and containing little chlorinated material. Said object is attained by a water treating apparatus consisting of a cylindrical body having a water inlet at the upper end and a water outlet at the lower end wherein a water passage is longitudinally formed in said cylindrical body, and a blade member is arranged in said cylindrical body and gives water passing through said water passage revolution force and shear force.

Abstract: A deep bed liquid treatment apparatus and process in which the liquid and a granular media is periodically agitated to create a liquid-media slurry, and outflow of the liquid and entrained contaminants is induced through a separator having an inner diameter screen with openings sufficiently small to prevent the escape of media granules. A rotor is rotated within the separator to create turbulent flow at the screen to dislodge the granules drawn onto the screen openings.

Abstract: A separator (1) for separating dense particulates from slurry includes a sealed housing (2) enclosing a submerged screen bed (33) which allows dense particulates to fall into a hutch (6) from which they may be discharged. The housing has a slurry inlet (4) arranged to deliver slurry to a sump (3) which directs slurry to flow radially over the bed. An annular cavity (23) formed between the housing and bed receives tailings flowing off of the top of the bed. An outlet (7) from the annular cavity allows discharge of the tailings, and a liquid inlet (30) to the hutch provides an upward flow of liquid through the bed. The bed is agitated to assist passage of dense particulates.

Abstract: Method and apparatus by which contaminants are removed from a liquid flowing through a filter vessel having an inlet for providing a contaminated liquid flow into one end thereof and an outlet through which filtered liquid can exit the vessel. A filter screen supports a relatively large quantity of particulate filter media within the filter vessel on the filter screen for normal filter operation and captures contaminants by flowing contaminated liquid through the inlet while filtered liquid exits through the filter screen and outlet, leaving the contaminants on the filter media. The system automatically occasionally cleans the media in a unique cleaning cycle, that includes one or a plurality of closed loop flow paths that fluidizes the media within one filter vessel and cleans the media externally of the filter vessel by flowing the fluidized filter media along the closed loop flow path.

Abstract: A two-stage apparatus for the purification of cyanide-containing waste water allows relatively clean water to be obtained from waste water containing high concentrations of cyanide and solids in suspension. The apparatus in its first stage includes a bioreactor having a biocultivator (27) for cultivating microorganisms. A reservoir means (1) in communication with the cultivator (27) is provided for receiving and treating a mixture of waste water and microorganisms, having a downwardly converging conical base. Oxygenating means (8) are provided in a region proximate the conical base, for supplying oxygen to the mixture. Temperature regulating means (7) and stirring means in the form of a stirrer or pump (6) are also provided. The second stage of the apparatus comprises a sorption chamber (28) in communication with the reservoir means, for containing an ion-exchange resin, activated carbon, charcoal, or other sorption material.

Abstract: The invention provides a reactor apparatus including a fluid bed reactor containing a media bed composed of particulate solids and biomass adhered thereto. The reactor apparatus also includes a biomass monitoring system for measuring changes in the size of the media bed and for activating a biomass growth control system when conditions with the reactor call for removal of excess biomass. The biomass monitoring system includes a vertical tubular member that is supported in the reactor and that serves to isolate a parameter or condition indicative of the size of the media bed. The biomass monitoring system also includes a sensing device for measuring changes in the isolated parameter or condition, and a mechanism for activating the biomass growth control system when signaled by the sensing device.

Abstract: A floating media biofilter is provided, comprising a tank having a bottom and a sidewall, the sidewall having a lower portion inwardly sloping toward the bottom. Floating media are present in the tank for forming a media pack when the tank is filled with liquid, and the media are retained by an upper screen positioned in the upper portion of the tank. An inlet line provides nonfiltered liquid to the tank from an aquaculture environment, while an outlet line above the upper screen delivers filtered liquid back to the aquaculture environment. A weir is employed between the upper screen and the outlet line to collect filtered liquid from the media pack. Backwashing is accomplished by a motorized blade system which causes the media to circulate within the tank with substantially no expansion of the media pack. The circulating media loosens filtered matter and sludge entrained therein so that the waste solids can be removed by a sludge line connected to the bottom of the tank.

Abstract: A process for the treatment of water using a granular bed (3) of granular support materials of a volumic mass less than that of the water to be treated. According to this process, each washing cycle comprises interrupting the withdrawal of treated water and stopping the feed of water to be treated in such a manner that the granular bed (3) floats in a given volume VL of water, admitting cleansing air into the reactor for assuring agitation of the floating bed, interrupting the admission of air in order to permit a separation of the granular materials and sediment by their difference in volumic mass, with decantation of said sediment and flotation of said materials, and evacuating the sediments at the base of the reactor as well as the water contained therein for evacuating the granular bed (3).

Abstract: Apparatus for removal of a desired material from a liquid is described, in which the liquid is cycled through a plurality of liquid treatment containers in a first direction and brought into countercurrent contact with a medium for recovery of the desired material cycled through the treatment containers in a second, opposite direction. After treatment of the liquid, the medium is advantageously regenerated in a plurality of medium regeneration containers. The used medium is cycled through a plurality of medium regeneration containers in a first direction and brought into countercurrent contact with a medium regeneration liquid cycled through the regeneration containers in a second, opposite direction.

Abstract: Regeneration of a granular media is produced by mechanically forming a slurry of the media in a liquid and separation of the liquid from the granular media by rapidly rotating a separator element having small openings through the slurry, as flow of a liquid granule slurry is drawn out through the openings, the movement producing a scrubbing action keeping the openings clear of the granules.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing material from a biological solution consisting of a reactor chamber having an inlet and an outlet, a bioactive compound immobilized on particular supports within the reactor, means for retaining the particular supports within the reactor, means for recirculating the solution and the supports at a high flow rate within the reactor, and means for agitating or dispersing the recirculating solution-support mixture throughout the reactor chamber so as to prevent packing of the supports while not subjecting the solution to excessive or damaging forces.In the given example, an apparatus for the extracorporeal removal of heparin from blood is provided. Heparinase is immobilized on cross-linked agarose beads recirculated at a high flow rate through the reactor. Agitation of the blood-bead mixture sufficient to prevent packing of the beads within the reactor chamber is provided by means of a series of openings in the recirculation tube dispersing the mixture throughout the chamber.

Abstract: A filtration process and apparatus for the removal of solids from liquids is provided having a filter bed vertically disposed in a chamber which has a solids-containing liquid passed horizontally therethrough. The filter bed is regenerated after becoming loaded with solids. During filtering the liquid is divided into at least two partial streams, and each partial stream is conducted through a respective filter bed arranged in a chamber, which is comprised of reticulated particles of polyurethane. After the particles have been completely loaded with the solids, the liquid feed to and the liquid discharge from the respective chamber are interrupted. The solids adhereing to the particles are then transferred by agitation and/or gas treatment into a liquid volume remaining in the chamber, and the liquid volume is discharged together with the solids. The process is especially adaptable to be utilized in wastewater treatment, or for the removal of solids from scrubbing media.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for removing boron compounds from aqueous effluents. The effluents are contacted, under stirring, with a divalent metal sulphate Me.sub.I SO.sub.4 and a divalent metal hydroxyde Me.sub.II (OH).sub.2, the sulphate-hydroxyde couple being selected from the group consisting of BeSO.sub.4 --Ba(OH).sub.2 ; BeSO.sub.4 --Sr(OH).sub.2 ; BeSO.sub.4 --Ca(OH).sub.2 ; MgSO.sub.4 --Ba(OH).sub.2 ; MgSO.sub.4 --Sr(OH).sub.2 ; MgSO.sub.4 --Ca(OH).sub.2 ; CaSO.sub.4 --Ba(OH).sub.2 ; CaSO.sub.4 --Sr(OH).sub.2 ; SrSO.sub.4 --Ba(OH).sub.2 ; ZnSO.sub.4 --Ba(OH).sub.2 ; ZnSO.sub.4 --Sr(OH).sub.2 ; ZnSO.sub.4 --Ca(OH).sub.2 ; CdSO.sub.4 --Ba(OH).sub.2 ; CdSO.sub.4 --Sr(OH).sub.2 and CdSO.sub.4 --Ca(OH).sub.2. The sulfate Me.sub.I SO.sub.4 and the hydroxide Me.sub.II (OH).sub.2, by reaction with each other, cause the sulphate Me.sub.II SO.sub.4 and the hydroxide Me.sub.I (OH).sub.2 to precipitate.The amount of Me.sub.II (OH).sub.2 is at least stoichiometric in respect of the amount of Me.sub.I SO.sub.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for agitating and scrubbing a filter bed in which a tubular arm is disposed in the bed near the top thereof and is adapted for rotation on a vertical central axis. The arm has nozzles extending from opposite sides thereon on respective sides of the center and is caused to rotate in the filter bed by the supply of air under pressure through the arm to the nozzles. Other nozzles can be mounted on the ends of the arm to treat the filter bed outwardly from the ends of the arm. The air supplied to the nozzles may be enriched with oxygen. The filter bed is preferably backwashed by upward flow of water therethrough simultaneously with the agitation and scrubbing of the upper portion thereof with the air jets.

Abstract: A solids-agitating insert for double-ended, invertible tanks including flexible X-members the ends of which are flexed together for insertion through one end-aperture of the tank and retained in the tank when the ends are allowed to spring outwardly within the tank.