Abstract: The present invention provides a porous vessel bioreactor apparatus for use in reaction with immobilized enzymes and/or microbial cells, said apparatus consisting of a vertically elongated reaction vessel having at least one liquid reactant inlet; at least one product outlet on the vessel; at least one porous vessel completely submerged in the reactant, said porous vessel having pore size ranging from 5 mm to 0.2 microns and a vertical length less than a level of the reactants to be maintained in the vessel, and immobilized bio-catalyst particles comprising the enzymes and/or microbial cells placed inside the porous vessel such that the liquid reactant is in contact with the bio-catalyst in both radial and axial directions.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a filter media tower assembly is provided comprising a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is suspended within the second portion. The first portion is a removable media tower or cage for holding filter media, whereas the second portion is a media tower guide support structure that is mounted to a surface of a tank. In a second embodiment, a load cell or a weighing assembly is disposed above the removable media tower. The deployment of this weighing mechanism above the removable media tower provides constant monitoring of biomass build-up on the filter media.

Abstract: A system for treating storm water in situ within a storm water drainage system includes a process chamber and treatment material that is contained within the process chamber. Preferably, the treatment material is a material that is effective in removing heavy metals from storm water, such as zeolite. A first passageway is provided for admitting storm water from the storm water drainage system into the process chamber. A second passageway is provided for returning storm water from the process chamber back to the storm water drainage system. Also disclosed is a method of retrofitting conventional storm water drainage systems so as to render them capable of effectively removing heavy metals from storm water passing therethrough.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a filter media tower assembly is provided comprising a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is suspended within the second portion. The first portion is a removable media tower or cage for holding filter media, whereas the second portion is a media tower guide support structure that is mounted to a surface of a tank. In a second embodiment, a load cell or a weighing assembly is disposed above the removable media tower. The deployment of this weighing mechanism above the removable media tower provides constant monitoring of biomass build-up on the filter media.

Abstract: A passive treatment system for removing metals, especially manganese, from mine drainage and other aqueous solutions. The Hybrid Flow Pond (HFP) is an open, pond-like structure utilizing a horizontal or vertical operational flow path through a bed of treatment media together with a vertical flow path for flushing accumulated solids from the bed. The bed preferably contains basic steel slag, limestone, marble, blast furnace slag, other types of slag, organic material, or mixtures thereof. In another aspect of the Hybrid Flow Pond, a tiered piping system divides an interior of the treatment bed into cells. Each cell has its own header and adjustable riser whose output level can be raised or lowered to change the head experienced by each cell.

Abstract: A water activation device efficiently activates water and maintains its activation performance over a long period of time. The water activation device includes a conductive body having an in-flow opening and an out-flow opening, a cover member that coats the outer perimeter of the body through insulation material and is insulated from water pipes, a plurality of holders overlapped with one another in an axial direction of the body, and a plurality of activation material units each being formed in a cylindrical block containing minerals as a main component. The activation material units are held in a retainer of the holder without contacting with one another. Each of the holders is formed of a retainer having a plurality of flow openings.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a filter media tower assembly is provided comprising a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is suspended within the second portion. The first portion is a removable media tower or cage for holding filter media, whereas the second portion is a media tower guide support structure that is mounted to a surface of a tank. In a second embodiment, a load cell or a weighing assembly is disposed above the removable media tower. The deployment of this weighing mechanism above the removable media tower provides constant monitoring of biomass build-up on the filter media.

Abstract: The invention relates to a filtering apparatus including, inside a filtering tower (1), a filtering section (r), a liquid collecting section (7) and a liquid feeding section (e). The liquid feeding section (e) includes a diffuser (A) attached to an upwardly oriented orifice (5a) formed at a leading end of a liquid feeding pipe (5). The object is to provide an apparatus which allows use of the existing filtering tower without its enlargement and which allows uniform falling of the filtering liquid over the substantially entire top surface of the filter medium layer, thus making it readily possible to maintain the flatness of the top surface of the filter medium layer even when light-weight medium is employed, thereby to allow the filter medium layer as well as the entire filtering apparatus to achieve their desired filtering performance.

Abstract: A device for the deionization of incoming water is disclosed. The device includes a tank and a generally hollow distributor tube in the tank for ingress into and downward movement of unpurified water through the tank. An opening adjacent the bottom of the generally hollow distributor tube and near the bottom of the tank distributes the unpurified water out of the generally hollow distributor tube. A mixed bed of purifying resin is within the tank, and surrounds the generally hollow distributor tube. The unpurified water travels upwardly through the tank where it is deionized to a high purity water by the mixed bed of purifying resin, after egress from the opening. The deionized water passes through a distributor and a filter before leaving the tank through an outlet.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fluid distributing device for distributing fluid into a column and to a fluid collecting device for collecting fluid from a column. The invention relates also to methods of using the devices of the present invention. The distributing device and/or the collecting device of the present invention can be used in fixed or fluidized bed reactors or columns, such as chromatographic separation columns, ion exchange columns, adsorption columns etc. A fluid distributing device comprises a) a first fluid conveying system; and b) a distributing plate, which comprises i) first means for fluid transfer for dividing the fluid flow coming from the delivering points into several partial fluid flows and for distributing the partial fluid flows into the column; and ii) first means for controlling of the partial fluid flows by differential pressure in the first means for fluid transfer.

Abstract: A system for removing material from a flowing liquid, where the system includes one or more cartridges, where each cartridge has an outer permeable wall and an inner permeable wall that form a media region between the walls, where a media is disposed within at least part of the media region to remove at least a portion of the material from the flowing liquid, the cartridge also having an inner cartridge lumen in communication with the inner permeable wall, and a cartridge outlet in communication with the inner cartridge lumen; a cartridge chamber having a treatment region that houses the one or more cartridges, where the cartridge chamber also includes a chamber inlet to accept the flowing liquid, and a chamber outlet to discharge treated liquid; and an actuatable valve positioned outside the one or more cartridges, where the valve controls a flow rate of the flowing liquid within the treatment region by actuating in response to a change in a level of the liquid in the treatment region.

Abstract: An underdrain system having a bottom formed of concrete. The concrete bottom includes a plurality of depressions formed therein. A porous plate is operably associated with at least one of the depressions. An anchor assembly is provided for anchoring the porous plate to the concrete bottom in an efficient and cost effective manner. Preferably, the anchor assembly permits the porous plate to be readily replaced. An optional insert may be used to enhance the distribution of the flow of fluid through the porous plate.

Abstract: An apparatus provides for treatment of primary effluent from residential and commercial establishments to allow subsurface or surface disposable of wastewater. A single tank includes dosing and recirculation chambers 28, 30 having no direct fluid communication therebetween and divided by a vertical chamber wall 32. A filter layer 26 is positioned atop both chambers such that wastewater that is filtered therein then flows into both the dosing and recirculation chambers. The position of the wall 32 determines the proportion of filtered wastewater that flows into each chamber by gravity.

Abstract: An ion exchange resin plant for the demineralizing or softening water with an arrangement that allows the plant to operate continuously. The plant tank is divided into to two separate compartments that work simultaneously. One compartment effects water demineralization while the other compartment regenerates the ion exchanging resins.

Abstract: A distributor/collector system includes a distributor provided with an upper header having upper laterals carrying fluid away from the upper header and a collector provided with a lower header having lower laterals carrying fluid toward the lower header. Flow enters the distributor on one side of the vessel and exits the collector on an approximately opposite side of the vessel. The distance traveled by each fluid particle through the system is substantially the same.

Abstract: A single housing comprising a diluent inlet, a solution outlet, and a plurality of discrete reagent beds comprising at least one reagent in dry form, wherein said reagent is present in the discrete reagent bed in a proportion sufficient for production of a complete hemodialysate solution.

Abstract: A filtration device for liquids is provided and includes a filtration beaker filled with a filtration material and a lid. The lid is connected to the filtration beaker in a liquid-tight manner to define an inner volume, and includes at least one liquid inlet and at least one air vent. A sieve-like textile fabric is disposed in between the filtration beaker and the lid. In order to guarantee secure operation and ensure a good retaining effect with respect to particles having a size of approximately 200 micrometers at different filtration-material fill heights in the filtration beaker, the sieve-like textile fabric has at least one formed part protruding into the inner volume of the lid, whereby air can be found on both sides of the part of the textile fabric which is located farthest away from the filtration beaker.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the raw water-filtering technical field, and is to provide a high speed filtering apparatus which can filter a great amount of raw water containing suspended substances (SS) at a high concentration at a high speed. Floating filter media 2, which are composed of a foamed polymer having an apparent density of 0.1 to 0.4 g/cm3 and a 50% compression hardness of not less than 0.1 MPa and have uneven shapes or cylindrical shapes with sizes of 4 to 10 mm, are charged into an up-flow type filtering tower 1. The raw water containing SS at a high concentration is filtered by passing it through the filtering tower 1 at a linear water-passing speed of 100 to 1000 m/day. While the floating filter media 2 are not compacted, a high SS-capturing percentage can be obtained. Back washing can be also effected at a high linear washing speed of 1.2 to 4.0 m/min.

Abstract: A self contained filter for a recirculating tank is used in a septic system. The self contained filter is a mattress-like filter made of woven material encapsulating aggregate material therein. The weave of the mattress-like woven material is smaller than the aggregate material. In another aspect, at least one mattress-like filter is placed within a tank.

Abstract: A filter facility includes a filter device received in a container and having a housing for receiving a number of filter particles. The housing includes a peripheral partition extended into the chamber from a bottom panel, and a plate disposed on top of the peripheral partition to form a compartment within the peripheral partition and the plate, and to form a peripheral space between the peripheral partition and a peripheral wall of the housing. The housing includes a number of apertures formed in the peripheral wall and the peripheral partition and the plate to increase a flowing area of the fluid through the housing.

Abstract: The invention recites a filter comprising a block including an outer wall defining an inner chamber and a block exterior, and a conduit having a conduit wall, a first conduit end, a second conduit end, and an inner flow path providing fluid communication between the first and second conduit ends. The conduit wall includes an orifice therethrough. The conduit is coupled to the block such that the first conduit end is in fluid communication with the inner chamber of the block and the second conduit end and the orifice are in fluid communication with the block exterior.

Abstract: A safe and practically useful body fluid processor whereby blood taken out from a patient can be directly processed, characterized by having a favorable passage of the blood cell and showing an extremely low risk of the generation and leakage of microparticles. Namely, a body fluid processor enabling direct hemoperfusion wherein the ratio of sedimented particles to the volume of the space in which the particles for processing body fluid are to be packed is 100% or less and the space in which the particles for processing body fluid are to be packed in the body fluid processor is filled with the particles for processing body fluid and a filling liquid at a ratio of 95% or more but not more than 100%.

Abstract: A filter underdrain apparatus and a method for manufacturing such apparatus. The apparatus includes a cover member, a water orifice member and a bottom member, each being individual pieces. The cover is placed over the water orifice member and connected thereto by welding. The bottom member is likewise connected to the cover and water orifice members by welding. A water passageway and an air passageway are defined in the inside of the assembled members. Water egress from the water passageway is provided by holes in the water orifice member and the cover. Air egress from the air passageway is provided by holes in the cover.

Abstract: A self contained filter for a recirculating tank is used in a septic system. The self contained filter is a mattress-like filter made of woven material encapsulating aggregate material therein. The weave of the mattress-like woven material is smaller than the aggregate material. In another aspect, at least one mattress-like filter is placed within a tank.

Abstract: A standard 20 ft or 40 ft sea-freight shipping container is configured as a septic tank, or as an aerobic trickle filter station. The shipping-container is lined with a watertight shell or liner. The liner may be a preferabricated separate structure inserted into the container, and supported from the container walls. Or, the liner may be actually constructed inside the container, again taking mechanical support from the container walls. The openable doors at the end of the standard container are retained, a wall being added to the shipping-container a foot or two inside the doors to form the tank, leaving a utility room for pipework, valves, pumps, etc.

Abstract: A water filtering assembly includes cup-shaped member and a top cover and a space is formed to receive any type of filtering agent which is convenient to be replaced. The cup-shaped member is made of transparent material so that the users may check the water filtering agent to replace with new filtering agent.

Abstract: A process for the removal of oil from oil-contaminated water is efficient, inexpensive, and capable of oil removal to a level where the water may be disposed of by conventional sewage treatment or reused. The apparatus which performs the process consists of an elongate housing having at least one upwardly extending oil collection tower and an oily water inlet mediate the oil or oil-enriched water outlet and the “clean” water outlet. The elongate housing and preferably also the oil collection tube are filled with beads of hydrophobic polymer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel method to produce grade road base material using recycled oilfield waste, called “oil and gas waste,” and aggregate waste and a novel road base material. Hydration and mixing of the waste materials along with a binder, will achieve an irreversible pozzolanic chemical reaction necessary for stabilization into a road base. An asphalt emulsifier may be included in the binder to manufacture asphalt stabilized road base. The entire method is a cold batch process.

Abstract: A wastewater treatment unit (10) including a recirculation chamber (32), a dosing chamber (34) having no direct fluid connection to the recirculation chamber (32), and at least two filter layers (28, 30) in a single tank (12). Each filter layer (28, 30) containing filter media (56) and being located above the recirculation (32) and dosing chambers (34). The wastewater treatment unit (10) also including an influent pipe (50), a recirculation pump (72) located in the recirculation chamber (32), and an effluent discharge pipe (88) connected to the dosing chamber (34).

Abstract: A single housing includes a diluent inlet, a solution outlet, and a plurality of discrete reagent beds comprising at least one reagent in dry form, wherein the reagent is present in the discrete reagent bed in a proportion sufficient for production of a complete hemodialysate solution.

Abstract: A filtration system is provided for removing oil and/or hydrocarbons from blige water that collects in the blige of a marine vessel to ensure discharge of oil-free water into the surrounding waters of the vessel. The filtering medium of the system is composed of a mixture of peat, anthracite and bentonite resulting in a composition that is hydrophobic and olephilic. Due to the chemical composition of the medium, it burns efficiently and can be disposed of in the onboard incinerators of the vessel producing over 17,000 BTU's per pound. Also, the filtration system employs full backwash capability for filtering liquids combined with particulates.

Abstract: The invention recites a filtration tank including a chamber for holding liquid to be filtered, the filtration tank comprising a fluid inlet for providing liquid to the chamber. The filtration tank further includes a fluid outlet and at least one filter block disposed between the inlet and the outlet, wherein the at least one filter block includes a porous cap having an average pore size of up to about 250 microns.

Abstract: A filtering device includes a container having an inlet for introducing liquid to be treated, an annular multi-layered prepacked screen assembly provided in the container and having an outlet for treated liquid. The screen assembly includes three or more cylindrical screens having different diameters and being coexially disposed in the container with their axes extending vertically in the container. An annulus is formed between the respective cylindrical screens. Two or more different filter materials performing different filtering functions are filled one in each of the annuluses between the cylindrical screens.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the use of a resin trap device to remove large resin particles from water in a water purification system to thereby protect downstream ultrafiltration equipment. The present invention includes a resin trap device which comprises a housing and a resin strainer disposed within the housing. The resin strainer includes a plurality of openings having a particle pass size of between about 100 &mgr;m and about 250 &mgr;m, and thus allows water and small particles to pass through the resin trap device and large particles to be retained in the resin trap device. The present invention also includes a water purification system including a water source, a resin bed and the resin trap device, and a method of purifying water using the resin trap device of the invention.

Abstract: There is provided herein a new skimmer apparatus and a new filter mechanism for use in ornamental ponds and the like. According to a first preferred embodiment there is provided a skimmer apparatus which has an enclosing container with a lower terminus that has a perimeter that is larger than that of the upper terminus. This allows the skimmer to be weighted/locked down within the pond itself and substantially reduces or eliminates the risk that the skimmer will float upward if it is emptied of water. Additionally, there is provided a filter which includes a spline and grove combination to firmly attach a pond liner the filter underneath its snout. Further, there is provided a pond filter which contains a true sedimentation chamber within the bottom portion thereof. Finally, there is provided an adjustable-width skimmer snout.

Abstract: Apparatus in fluid communication with a water leg portion of a hydrocarbon-contaminated water, e.g., a water leg portion of an offshore drilling or production platform sump tank for conveying water, separated from oil, into contact with organophilic media canisters such that the hydrocarbons and other organic materials commingled with the sump tank water will be adsorbed onto the organophilic media and detected by the embedded probe in selected canisters. The canisters are provided in a plurality of stacks and are in fluid communication with a header disposed at the bottom of the vessel housing the various stacks of canisters. Solids that do not pass through the canisters are accumulated at the bottom of the vessel and easily drained through a drain port. The water will pass through the media and will be conveyed back to the ocean water without contamination.

Abstract: A biological filtration apparatus comprises: a raw water introducing section for introducing raw water as water to be processed; a biological filtration section, disposed on the lower side of the raw water introducing section, for biologically purifying/refining/filtrating the raw water so as to yield processed water; a support section, disposed on the lower side of the biological filtration section, for supporting the biological filtration section, the support section having a liquid and gas permeability; and a water collecting section, disposed on the lower side of the support section, for collecting the processed water; the biological filtration section including a packed bed comprising a hollow carrier particle, made of a resin, having a true specific gravity of at least 1.01 g/ml but less than 1.2 g/ml.

Abstract: A distributor apparatus arrangement distributes a gas within a vessel that includes an adsorbent bed, the gas distribution occurring with a minimum of gas mal-distribution. The distributor apparatus includes an inlet gas coupler that feeds gas to a conduit oriented adjacent a surface of the bed. A slit opening is positioned in a wall of the conduit and extends along a length of the conduit. The slit has an opening extent near the inlet fluid coupler that is larger than an opening extent of the slit near the distal end of the conduit. The slit opening is oriented towards a wall of the vessel and away from the bed so as to enable gas flow that exits therefrom to impact upon the wall and be deflected thereby to the bed. In a preferred arrangement, the slit is defined by perforations that exhibit a 50% aperture ratio.

Abstract: A column apparatus containing a shallow bed of material between fluid transporting fractals of large active surface area results in highly efficient processing with small equipment size.

Abstract: An aeration and filtration system for eliminating waste products in a fluid body having a surface floor is disclosed. The aeration and filtration system includes a support bed disposed above the surface floor of the fluid body and a filter bed of porous media disposed above the support bed. The system further includes a pump having a plurality of inlets adjacent the fluid body level, at least some of the inlets being a plurality of perforated pipes connected to the pump for drawing fluid to and through the filter bed, and a motor connected to the pump.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the use of a resin trap device to remove large resin particles from water in a water purification system to thereby protect downstream ultrafiltration equipment. The present invention includes a resin trap device which comprises a housing and a resin strainer disposed within the housing. The resin strainer includes a plurality of openings having a particle pass size of between about 100 &mgr;m and about 250 &mgr;m, and thus allows water and small particles to pass through the resin trap device and large particles to be retained in the resin trap device. The present invention also includes a water purification system including a water source, a resin bed and the resin trap device, and a method of purifying water using the resin trap device of the invention.

Abstract: A wastewater treatment unit (10) includes a recirculation chamber (32), a dosing chamber (34) having no direct fluid connection to the recirculation chamber, and at least two filter layers (28,30) in a single tank (12). Each filter layer contains filter media (56) and is located atop the recirculation and dosing chambers. The wastewater treatment unit also includes an influent pipe (50) connected to the recirculation chamber, a recirculation pump (72), a recirculation valve (74), and an effluent discharge pipe (88) connected to the dosing chamber. In operation, the influent pipe directs wastewater entering the unit into the recirculation chamber. The recirculation pump feeds wastewater from the recirculation chamber onto the filter layers. The recirculation valve then directs the filtrate back to the recirculation and dosing chambers. The filtrate is then discharged from the unit via the effluent discharge pipe.

Abstract: A grout-gripping anchor for an underdrain block to be grouted to a filter floor is disclosed. Underdrain blocks have ribs extending outwardly from the exterior walls. The anchor is formed at the distant end of ribs positioned on the bottom exterior wall. The end of the rib widens to form one or more flanges or ledges so that grout covers the ledge when the underdrain block is grouted onto the filter floor. The anchor can be comprised of various shapes, including wedge-shape, rectangular shape or donut shaped.

Abstract: A filter cartridge which can be filled with granular filter material, approximately in the shape of a cup open at the top which can be closed with a lid. This filter cartridge has a base (1) with at least one outlet aperture (2), has a sieve means (12) and side walls (3) and is for filtering liquids, in particular water. In order that even small granulate particles of, for example, .ltoreq.200 .mu.m wide cannot pass through the outlet apertures (2) in the base (1), and nevertheless good through flow of the liquid to be purified is ensured, it is provided according to the invention that 1-64 outlet apertures (2) are provided, each with a fabric insert (12) with plastics frames (11), with a pore size in the fabric of 50 .mu.m to 300 .mu.m, preferably 80 to 200 .mu.m.

Abstract: Epoxy resins, particularly those based on bisphenol A, can constitute the principal film forming polymer component of a storage stable autodepositable composition wherein the particle size distribution of all the film forming polymers in the composition satisfies certain criteria of size distribution, and an accelerator component which is an acid, oxidizing agent or complexing agent is present in amount sufficient to provide an oxidation-reduction potential at least 100 mV more oxidizing than a standard hydrogen electrode. Such dispersions can conveniently be prepared using a two stage process in which a solution of the film forming polymers is emulsified into water to form a preliminary dispersion and this preliminary dispersion is subjected to at least one particle size refinement stage in which the preliminary dispersion is forced through a narrow aperture.

Abstract: A water conditioner includes a tank, and an apparatus for backflushing a bed of particulate material in the tank, which includes a tubular casing, a vertical tube in the casing, a cap on the top end of the casing, suitable valves for causing the flow of particulate material upwardly between the casing and tube, and then through a gap between the casing and cap during a backflush operation, and distributor device including a flexible, collapsible, umbrella-shaped body which is mounted on the casing immediately below the cap, and springs for biasing the body to the open position. Inlet tubes extend outwardly from the bottom of the casing approximately the same distance as the distributor for ensuring even distribution of liquid at the bottom of the bed.

Abstract: An improved method for constructing filter underdrain systems may be provided which uses prefabricated underdrain cells. The prefabricated underdrain cells may have a one piece construction having side walls and a bottom. The side walls may include a porous plate support ledge with a ridge at the center of the ledge. The ridge helps ensure that the sealant forms a uniform and effective gasket when the porous plates are installed.

Abstract: A sewage filtration system for efficiently filtering sewage waste material from smaller residential areas without the use of expensive sewage treatment plants. The inventive device includes a conventional septic tank connected to each building structure's sewage system, a pair of fluidly connected two compartment tanks connected to the conventional septic tanks, and a final phase filtering tank fluidly connected to the pair of two compartment tanks. The final phase filtering tank comprises a tank, a cover, an inlet tube, an outlet tube, a first tube connected to the outlet tube, a second tube fluidly connected to the first tube wherein the second tube is water permeable, at least one sand or gravel layer above the second tube, a layered filter structure above the sand or gravel layer that receives the filtered liquid from the inlet tube.

Abstract: A filter means for liquids with a filter cup (2) filled with filter material (1), the base (3) of which has at least one sieve-like outlet aperture (4) for the liquid, and with a lid (7) which is provided with at least one sieve-like inlet aperture (13) for the liquid, and is joined in a liquid-tight manner to the filter cup (2). In a preferred embodiment a fabric insert (9) is provided between the filter cup (2) and the lid (7). The fabric insert (9) is provided with at least one fabric piece (19) projecting into the filter cup (2) which fabric insert has a pore spacing sufficiently small to prevent passage of particles larger than 200 .mu.m.

Abstract: An underdrain for a media filter used to filter liquids. The media particles rest on a pair of perforated plates having offset perforations. The plates are spaced apart a distance less than the size of the media particles. This allows the filtered liquid to flow through the plates but blocks passage of the media particles through the plates.