Abstract: A subsoil methane collection and treatment system (10), which includes a subsoil distribution layer (13) for receiving methane, a subsoil biofilter layer (14) above the distribution layer which contains a biofilter (18) such as compost to convert the methane to carbon dioxide and water, a subsoil ventilation layer (15) above the biofilter layer, in which the carbon dioxide is diluted with air, and a vent (17) to the atmosphere from the ventilation area for venting the diluted carbon dioxide. The layers may be defined by horizontal arrays of load bearing prefabricated structural modules (1). The system (10) may collect methane from the ground beneath and/or be fed with methane collected from beneath a building (19) adjacent the system.

Abstract: A subsoil methane collection and treatment system (10), which includes a subsoil distribution layer (13) for receiving methane, a subsoil biofilter layer (14) above the distribution layer which contains a biofilter (18) such as compost to convert the methane to carbon dioxide and water, a subsoil ventilation layer (15) above the biofilter layer, in which the carbon dioxide is diluted with air, and a vent (17) to the atmosphere from the ventilation area for venting the diluted carbon dioxide. The layers may be defined by horizontal arrays of load bearing prefabricated structural modules (1). The system (10) may collect methane from the ground beneath and/or be fed with methane collected from beneath a building (19) adjacent the system.

Abstract: A device for separating particulate matter from a fluid in which such particles are dispersed by causing the fluid to flow longitudinally through a conduit of uniform cross-section and in which a plurality of elements are disposed, with the first of the elements being disposed at an input end of the conduit and sealed against the inner wall thereof. The fluid is caused to flow through the conduit at a velocity such that the particles are fluid-borne. The remainder of the elements are offset laterally inward of the conduit wall by a distance which increases as a function of each element's numerical position after the first element and they are equally spaced apart in a longitudinal direction to provide a gap between successive pairs thereof. Each element, except for an outtake orifice, includes an inner surface disposed at an oblique angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the conduit.

Abstract: A device for separating multiple-component fluids includes a truncated cone structure having a conical main section defined by a plurality of coaxially aligned and axially spaced rings of progressively diminishing inner diameters as viewed in the direction of movement of the fluids being separated. The largest ring is located at that end of the conical main section at which the fluid is admitted thereto, and the smallest ring is located at that end of the conical main section at which separated solid particles are discharged. Each ring has an inside surface which is convexly curved in a radial cross-section along the axis of the cone structure and faces in part counter to and in part across the direction of fluid flow. The inside surface of each ring meets the bottom surface of that ring in a sharp edge, with the tangent to the bottom surface at that juncture making an angle of at most 90.degree.