Abstract: A machine for filtering slurry includes a frame with two drums mounted to said frame for rotation and spaced apart from one another. An endless, perforated drainage belt is disposed around the two drums to define a substantially horizontal drainage surface on the top of the drainage belt. A vacuum pan is located below the drainage surface to apply vacuum to material on the drainage surface, and a raising and lowering system is coupled to the vacuum pan to selectively support the vacuum pan in sealing engagement with the drainage belt and to selectively lower the vacuum pan away from the drainage belt.

Abstract: A machine and process for washing paper stock pulp and other vacuum-filterable materials includes a wash drum mounted in a tank. Two endless filter belts are trained to pass around the wash drum and through wash liquid contained in the tank. A mat of pulp is formed between the two endless filter belts and carried on the wash drum and through the tank for washing therein. Wash liquor is pulled by vacuum through the pulp mat as it travels under the drum thereby washing the pulp mat. After the pulp has been washed it is removed from between the two belts.

Abstract: A system is provided for treating spent geothermal brine to remove silica. The process includes introducing the brine into the reaction zone of a reactor-clarifier and allowing the brine to flow therefrom into the clarification zone of the reactor-clarifier. In the clarification zone, particles settle from the brine and are urged to the center of the tank beneath the reaction zone, and the settled particles are drawn upwardly into the reaction zone by an impeller. The particles mix with the brine in the reaction zone to form a substantially uniform distribution therein to provide nuclei for silica precipitation from the brine. A stream of sludge is removed from the bottom of the reactor-clarifier and disposed of.

Abstract: There is provided a system for treating wastewater having a tank and a partition mounted in the tank to define an endless circuitous channel. An aerator and impeller is mounted in the tank to cause the liquid to flow through the channel. A clarifier is disposed in the channel and has a liquid outlet in its upper portion.

Abstract: A system and process for determining the concentration of nonmethane organic chemicals in a gaseous sample includes a separation system to receive the gaseous sample. In the separation system nonmethane organic chemicals including ethylene and ethane are reversibly retained on a packing material while methane and inert gases pass through the separation system and are vented. Thereafter a carrier gas is directed through the separation system, the nonmethane organic chemicals are released into the carrier gas, and the carrier gas containing the organic chemicals is conveyed to an analyzer for analysis of the organic chemicals.

Abstract: An ultrasonic system for sensing a liquid-fluid interface comprises a support structure (10) to which a transmitting crystal (21) and a receiving crystal (22) are bonded in such a way that the crystals (21 and 22) are positioned opposite each other across a gap (30). Each of the crystals (21 and 22) has a relatively high resonant frequency and a relatively low resonant frequency. An amplifier means (40) and a bandpass filter means (50) are connected to the crystals (21 and 22) to form a feedback loop. In normal operation, the transmitting crystal (21) is excited to resonate at its high resonant frequency in order to cause transmission of an ultrasonic signal across the gap (30) without causing appreciable ultrasonic transmission through the support structure (10) to the receiving crystal (22).

Abstract: A mounting assembly (12) for suspending an electrically conductive support frame for high-voltage electrodes (10) in an electrostatic precipitator comprises an electrical insulator (20) secured to a roof portion (13) of the precipitator and a fastening means for securing the support frame to the insulator (20). The insulator (20) has a bore therethrough, and is positioned circumjacent an aperture in the roof portion (13). The fastening means includes a rod (23), the lower end of which is attached to a horizontal member (11) of the support frame and the upper end of which extends through the bore of the insulator (20). The upper end of the rod (23) is secured to an annular member (25), which bears against a top portion of the insulator (20) to support the weight of the support frame and of the high-voltage electrodes (10) attached thereto.

Abstract: Total organic carbon in an aqueous sample containing halide ion is determined by preparing an aqueous solution containing an oxidizing agent and mercuric monohalide ion without forming an insoluble precipitate, introducing the sample into the solution so formed, irradiating the solution and sample with ultraviolet energy to oxidize organic matter in the sample to produce carbon dioxide, sparging the carbon dioxide so produced from the solution, and measuring total carbon in the carbon dioxide. The aqueous solution is prepared by mixing the oxidizing agent with a solution containing mercuric monohalide ion, which is formed by adding a quantity of mercuric halide and a quantity of mercuric nitrate to an aqueous solution containing nitric acid, where the molar concentration of the mercuric halide is at least equal to the molar concentration of the mercuric nitrate.

Abstract: In a system for filtering fibers and particulates from a gas stream, a fiber separator (10) is disposed to remove fibers in gross quantity from the gas stream. A corona charging apparatus (20) is disposed downstream of the fiber separator (10) to impart electric charge to particulates and to fibers that escape removal from the gas stream by the fiber separator (10). An electrostatic filter medium (30), which may advantageously be mounted on the cylindrical wall of a drum filter, is disposed downstream of the corona charging apparatus (20) to remove electrically charged particulates and fibers from the gas stream. The corona charging apparatus (20) comprises at least one fiber-rejecting corona discharge electrode (21 or 25). The fiber-rejecting electrode (21) comprises a shielding portion (22) facing upstream and a corona discharge portion (23) facing downstream in the gas stream.

Abstract: A separator assembly (30) for an evaporator comprises an ensemble of spaced-apart corrugated vanes (31) mounted in a hollow cylindrical configuration at the outlet (22) of the evaporator. The spacing between adjacent vanes (31) is such as to prevent line-of-sight passage of vapor between adjacent vanes (31) from the outer wall (33) to the inner wall (34) of the ensemble. The upper end of the ensemble of vanes (31) is secured to an annular support member (32), which is secured to the evaporator circumjacent the outlet (22). A closure member (40) is secured to the lower end of the ensemble. The annular support member (32) and the closure member (40) prevent vapor from leaving the evaporator via any path other than tortuous path between adjacent vanes (31) in a direction from the outer wall (33) to the inner wall (34). Droplets entrained in the vapor passing through the separator assembly (30) impinge upon the vanes (31) and are thereby separated from the vapor.

Abstract: A rotary rake structure for use in a settling tank comprises a torque transmitting member and a pair of rake arms. The torque transmitting member is mounted in the tank for rotation about a vertical axis. Each rake arm comprises one or more upper chords and one or more lower chords, the two rake arms being symmetrically disposed on opposite sides of the vertical axis of rotation along a transverse axis generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation. The upper and lower chords of each rake arm are fixedly positioned with respect to each other by truss members. The upper chords of both rake arms are attached to the torque transmitting member so as to permit pivotal motion of each rake arm in a plane containing the transverse axis and the vertical axis of rotation. Scraping devices depend from the lower chords for raking sediment at the bottom of the tank when the rake arms are rotated by the torque transmitting member. The end of each lower chord adjacent the axis of rotation terminates in a flange.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring fluid including a pipet or other similar vessel having an open top end and an open bottom end; a pipet-operating assembly including means for retaining the top end of the pipet; a flexible suction and pressure tube operatively connected to the pipet retaining means; vacuum-operated syringe means connected to the suction and pressure tube for aspirating a preselected amount of liquid into the pipet and for discharging the liquid from the pipet; tubular means for supplying a partial vacuum to the syringe means; and flexible, tubular means for selectively venting the supply of partial vacuum to the syringe means, the pipet-operating assembly including venting valve means for opening and closing the tubular venting means.

Abstract: In combination with an apparatus for centrifugally separating and partitioning differing-density phases of a multiphase fluid including a container and gel-like means initially positioned within an end portion of the container for forming a partition between the differing-density phases, the improvement comprising flow control means initially partially submerged in the gel-like means for directing the flow of the gel-like means along portions of the sidewall of the container, the flow control means having a recessed region formed in sidewall portions thereof to provide an annular space adjacent the upper surface of the gel-like means between proximal portions of the flow control element and the container. The flow control means is submerged to the extent that the upper surface of the gel-like means is positioned within the recessed region forming the annular space.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating feed solution, such as chrome or nickel plating rinse solutions, into a concentrated liquor portion and a solvent portion, comprising vertical shell and tube evaporator means for generating a stream of vapor and entrained droplets; first impingement means for separating a first liquor portion from the stream; second impingement means for separating a second liquid portion from the stream; mesh entrainment pad means for separating a third liquor portion from the stream to form a stream consisting essentially of pure solvent vapor; reduced pressure generating means for drawing the stream from the evaporator tubes through the impingement and mesh entrainment pad; capacitance means for accumulating a preselected volume of the first, second, and third liquor portions above the lower end of the evaporator; and conduit means for recycling liquor from the capacitance means to the evaporator means.

Abstract: A stopper for use with an evacuated blood collecting and separating tube comprising a flange portion, a plug portion depending from the flange portion including a generally frustoconical lateral face and a flat annular bottom face, and a nose portion depending from an inner circumference of the plug bottom face. The nose portion includes a beveled or tapered section having an axial cavity extending through the nose portion into the plug portion. The axial cavity preferably includes a frustoconically shaped lateral face.