Abstract: A silicon oxide removal apparatus for removing silicon oxide contained in an inert gas discharged from a silicon single crystal manufacturing apparatus, including at least: a contact means for bringing the inert gas discharged from the silicon single crystal manufacturing apparatus into contact with a strongly alkaline solution; and a neutralizing means for neutralizing an alkaline material contained in the inert gas brought into contact with the strongly alkaline solution. As a result, there is provided a silicon oxide removal apparatus and a facility for recycling an inert gas for use in a silicon single crystal manufacturing apparatus that can more effectively remove the silicon oxide contained in the inert gas discharged from the silicon single crystal manufacturing apparatus at low cost and enable recycle of the inert gas in which the silicon oxide has been effectively removed.

Abstract: Aspects include a valve comprising a flowing liquid, operable to control a flow of gas through a port. Certain aspects include reaction chambers operable to react gases, and in some aspects gases are substantially contained within an envelope comprised of a flowing liquid. Certain embodiments control gas entrance into a chamber with a valve comprised of a flowing liquid controlling gas flow through a port. Various gas scrubbing systems are described, including systems comprising reaction chambers operable to react gases that yield substantial amounts of solid reaction products. Methods for controlling gas flow are disclosed. Systems and methods include sequential steps of wet-scrubbing, reacting and further wet-scrubbing a gas stream.

Abstract: Particular embodiments disclosed herein relate to methods, compositions, and systems relating generally to heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, and more specifically, to HVAC systems that transfer sensible and/or latent energy between air streams, humidify and/or dehumidify air streams. In certain embodiments, a polymeric membrane is utilized for fluid exchange, with or without an additional support. Certain embodiments allow for individual regulation of air temperature and humidity.

Abstract: An air scrubber for removing oils and contaminates from air has an underside inlet for the introduction of contaminated air. The contaminated air passes through a reduced aperture passageway which prevents retrograde flow of contaminates or cleaning fluids contained in the scrubber. The contaminated air is thereafter directed upwards through a scrub reservoir having a plurality of apertures, such that the contaminated air passing through the apertures forms jets which cause interaction between the cleaning fluid and the contaminates, thereby creating droplets containing cleaning fluid with entrapped contaminates, and cleaned air. The droplets and air are directed to a mist eliminator having a plurality of chevron V structures which capture the droplets and return them to the main reservoir. A circulating pump moves cleaning fluid from the main reservoir to an upper reservoir which spills into the cleaning reservoir.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for liquid-liquid extraction. The apparatus can include a housing having a first section, second section, and third section. One or more sieve trays can be disposed in the first section, and one or more gratings can be disposed in the second section. A hydrocarbon feed inlet can be disposed adjacent the second section, wherein each grating has a plurality of openings formed therethrough. The openings having at least three sides. The first section can be disposed at a first end of the second section, and the third section can disposed at a second end of the second section.

Abstract: A method for processing pre-combustion syngas includes, in an exemplary embodiment, providing an absorber unit having a membrane contactor having a plurality of micro-pores, channeling pre-combustion syngas along a first surface of the membrane contactor, channeling an amine based solvent along a second opposing surface of the membrane contactor, and contacting the solvent with the syngas such that the solvent and the syngas contact at gas-liquid interface areas, defined by the plurality of micro-pores in the membrane contactor, to separate CO2 from the flue gas by a chemical absorption of CO2 into the solvent to produce a solvent containing CO2.

Abstract: In an air filtering apparatus for generating electrolytic water, infiltrating the electrolytic water into a gas-liquid contact member, and blowing air to the gas-liquid contact member by an air blowing fan, thereby filtering air, including a drain pipe for discharging the electrolytic water and a drain tank for receiving and stocking the electrolytic water discharged from the drain pipe which are mounted in a housing, the drain tank has a vertical tank body and disposed so as to be taken in and out through the front surface of the housing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for improving the efficiency of an aqueous froth filter. An array of saturated mesh assemblies interacts with an incoming contaminated air stream. As the air stream flows through the saturated mesh assemblies, an aqueous froth is generated immediately downstream of each mesh assembly. As the bubbles of the froth move downstream towards the next saturated mesh assembly, the velocity of the air stream causes at least some of the bubbles to burst. The bursting bubbles rupture into hundreds or thousands of micro-droplets. The micro-droplets are used together with the aqueous froth to coalesce with or otherwise bind with contaminants in the air stream. An optional feature is that massive particles greater than three microns in diameter are removed by inertial impaction, whereby those heavy particles collide with the walls of serpentine shaped vanes of a mist eliminator. The method and apparatus are capable of filtering chemical and biological warfare agents out of an air stream.

Abstract: Aspects include a valve comprising a flowing liquid, operable to control a flow of gas through a port. Certain aspects include reaction chambers operable to react gases, and in some aspects gases are substantially contained within an envelope comprised of a flowing liquid. Certain embodiments control gas entrance into a chamber with a valve comprised of a flowing liquid controlling gas flow through a port. Various gas scrubbing systems are described, including systems comprising reaction chambers operable to react gases that yield substantial amounts of solid reaction products. Methods for controlling gas flow are disclosed. Systems and methods include sequential steps of wet-scrubbing, reacting and further wet-scrubbing a gas stream.

Abstract: A device is provided for extracting water from atmospheric air (8) having a free-flowing adsorbent or absorbent (3, 13), in particular a saline solution (3), having a hygroscopic salt for the adsorption or absorption of water, the adsorption or absorption being provided at least along an adsorption or absorption section (7), which realizes a high yield of (potable) water per unit volume of the structure or of the absorbent/adsorbent (3), a decrease in the assembly effort and a stabilization of the process. This is achieved according to the invention in having a free-flowing adsorbent (3, 13) or absorbent (3, 13) disposed at least along the adsorption or absorption section (7) essentially on a guide element (1, 16, 19, 22, 24) for guiding the adsorbent (3) or absorbent (3), in particular on a presettable track.

Abstract: A low-maintenance scrubber inlet device is provided for delivering effluent gases to gas scrubbers. The scrubber inlet device may comprise an interior volume configured to receive effluent gases and direct the effluent gases into the scrubber while maintaining the temperature of the effluent gases. In some instances, a heated gas is introduced to maintain the effluent gas temperature. The scrubber interface device is configured to deliver the effluent gas stream from the inlet manifold to the gas scrubbing system, and to have a very low susceptibility to clogging.

Abstract: In an aerosol separator for removing dust particle and droplet aerosols from a flow of contaminated gases, comprising an essentially vertical channel section through which the contaminated gas (exhaust gas) is conducted upwardly, and into which an easily vaporizable liquid is sprayed, in finely divided droplets, a densely packed tube bundle of essentially identical straight tubes consisting of a process-suitable inert material is arranged supported on a perforated conical support structure such that moisture contained in the gas flow is deposited on the inner and outer tube surfaces and flows downwardly counter to the gas flow through the tube bundle and is collected in a gutter mounted to the inner wall of the tube bundle at the bottom end thereof for conducting the condensed liquid together with the contamination of the gas out of the aerosol separator.

Abstract: Methods of using microchannel separation systems including absorbents to improve thermal efficiency and reduce parasitic power loss. Energy is typically added to desorb methane and then energy or heat is removed to absorb methane using a working solution. The working solution or absorbent may comprise an ionic liquid, or other fluids that demonstrate a difference in affinity between methane and nitrogen in a solution.

Abstract: A separation column (12) for an emission control system, the column including: an exhaust gas inlet (41) for receiving polluted exhaust gases therethrough; a first packed bed (37) at a predetermined first level above said exhaust gas inlet; first liquid distribution means (39) above said first packed bed for distributing liquid onto said first packed bed; a second packed bed (38) at a predetermined second level below said exhaust gas inlet; second liquid distribution (40) means below said first packed bed and above said second packed bed for distributing liquid onto said second packed bed; cooling means (46) between said second liquid distribution means and said second packed bed for cooling liquid from said second distribution means and entrained exhaust gases; an exhaust gas outlet (35) above said first packed bed for discharging cleaned exhaust gases therethrough; and a contaminated liquid outlet (36) below said second packed bed.

Abstract: There is provided a liquid-to-gas contact device comprising: a liquid-to-gas contact medium which is a honeycomb structural body formed of a porous material including a plurality of through channels defined by a plurality of partition walls and extending through the structural body in an axial direction, and including a plurality of flow passages extending through the honeycomb structural body from an outer peripheral surface side and formed isolatedly from the through channels; and a container which includes a gas inlet, a gas outlet, a liquid supply port, a storage tank for liquid, and, if desired, a liquid discharge port and in which the liquid-to-gas contact medium is to be stored. A capillarity phenomenon function possessed by the liquid-to-gas contact medium is used to provide the device which has a superior thermal efficiency and which can be constituted to be simple and compact.

Abstract: The invention creates a new type of scrubbers: drum scrubber. In the drum scrubber, processed gas passes through a wet fiber filter, but unlike previously invented fiber-bed scrubber, the fiber is constantly cleaned. The cleaning is achieved by using filter material as a surface of the rotating drum, partially immerged in a liquid. While periodic immersion of filter fiber in liquid might achieve appropriate particle removal for some applications, better cleaning is provided by creating a reverse flow of liquid through the filter material. In addition, filter material could be sprayed with liquid from either within the drum or from outside of the drum, or both. Also, ultrasound could be used to release particles trapped within fibers while fibers are immerged in the liquid. This solves the plugging problem normally associated with wet filter and allows its use in most applications, including applications with a high dust load.

Abstract: An air filtering apparatus for purifying air. The air filtering apparatus includes an enclosure for coupling to ducting of a ventilation system. The enclosure has an interior defined by a top wall, a bottom wall, a pair of side walls, a first end wall, and a second end wall. A plurality of filters comprises a pair of wet filters and a pair of dry filters positioned in the interior. A pair of pump members supplies water from an enclosure reservoir to each of the wet filters. A supply assembly supplies water to the enclosure reservoir. A drain assembly drains the enclosure reservoir at preset intervals. A fan member forces exterior air through each of the filter members and outwardly through a duct aperture in the first end wall. A control assembly controls each of the pump members and the drain assembly to coordinate a purge sequence of the enclosure reservoir.

Abstract: An apparatus for contacting large volumes of gas and liquid together on a microscope scale for mass transfer or transport processes wherein the contact between liquid and gas occurs at the interfaces of a multitude of gas bubbles. Multiple porous tubes assembled in a bundle inside a pressure vessel terminate at each end in a tube sheet. A thin film helical liquid flow is introduced into the inside of each porous tube around and along its inside wall. Gas is sparged into the porous media and the liquid film so that an annular two phase flow with a uniform distribution of tiny gas bubbles results. The gas flow is segregated from the liquid flow without first passing through the porous media and through the liquid film. Nozzles at the lower end of the tubes divert liquid flow to a vessel and redirect the gas flow in a countercurrent direction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for wet filtering machine exhaust is disclosed.

Abstract: An exhaust cleaning device for removing a portion of carbon containing molecules from exhaust. The exhaust cleaning device includes a tubular member which is elongate and has a first end and a second end. The first and second ends are placed in communication with an exhaust system. The tubular member has a middle section and two legs. A cleaning assembly for cleaning the exhaust includes a plurality of apertures extending through the middle section of the tubular member. A housing is attached to an outer surface of the bottom half of the middle section and covers the apertures such that the apertures extend into the housing. A container is extendable into the housing. A filter member is removably positioned in the container. A water pump sprays water into the tubular member such that the water binds to carbon containing molecules in the exhaust and deposits the molecules in the filter.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for wet filtering machine exhaust with a desirable scented oil mixture is disclosed. Preferably, the machine exhaust filtered is the exhaust from office machines, such as printers, photocopiers, and facsimile machines, which expel ozone, particulate matter, and toner pollution into the ambient air.