Abstract: A self-flushing, magnetic separator technique including feeding the medium to be separated to one end of a matrix in a container; collecting separated fluid from the other end of the matrix; accumulating at least one matrix volume of the separated fluid in a chamber in the container adjacent one of the ends of the matrix stopping flow to and from the matrix, trapping the accumulated fluid in the chamber; and in one embodiment introducing a pressurized drive fluid to the chamber and venting the other end of the matrix to urge the accumulated fluid to move through and flush the matrix.

Abstract: Separating more magnetically susceptible particles from less magnetically susceptible particles carried in a fluid medium including simultaneously subjecting the medium to a magnetic field and a mechanical force field for separating the medium into a first flow in which magnetically susceptible particles magnetically flocculate under the influence of the magnetic field to form larger particles and a second flow which is adjacent and in communication with the first flow, and which moves locally transversely of the first flow; urging the larger particles from the first flow toward the second flow by means of the magnetic field and the mechanical force field and entrapping the larger particles entering the second flow by means of localized regions of high magnetic field gradient located along the path of the second flow.

Abstract: A pressure support unit for limiting strain in a superconducting winding including a restraining member surrounding the superconducting winding; and a pressure compartment, having at least one segment for receiving pressurized fluid, disposed between the superconducting winding and the restraining member; and a pressure support system comprising a plurality of such pressure support units.

Abstract: A seal assembly for sealing the edges of a compartment and an adjacent surface which move relative to each other, including a resilient, transverse seal at the front and rear edges of the compartment arranged transversely of the direction of relative motion between the surface and compartment, each transverse seal extending a distance beyond the compartment greater than the distance between the surface and the compartment for enabling each transverse seal to bend rearwardly relatively to the direction of motion and firmly, sealingly engage the surface; and a resilient, longitudinal seal at each side edge of each compartment arranged generally longitudinally to the direction of relative motion between the surface and compartment, each longitudinal seal extending a distance beyond the compartment greater than the distance between the surface and compartment for enabling each longitudinal seal to be bent inwardly of the compartment, firmly, sealingly engage the surface and firmly clamp and sealingly engage the t

Abstract: A multiple matrix assembly for a magnetic separator including a container; a plurality of magnetic matrices arranged in a longitudinal stacked array in the container; each matrix having a feed area and a collection area on opposite longitudinal ends transverse to the longitudinal axis of the container and the flow through it; and having a peripheral portion surrounding it and extending longitudinally between the feed and collection areas, the matrices being disposed with the feed areas all facing in a first direction and their collection areas all facing in a second direction; inlet and outlet means in the container for feeding to and collecting from the matrices; and receptacle means, disposed between each pair of adjacent matrices, each of the receptacle means including a transverse member proximate and coextensive with a one of the feed and collection areas and a peripheral member extending longitudinally in one of the first and second directions from the transverse member along and sealingly engaged with

Abstract: An air-precluding flow-regulating device for maintaining a predetermined flow rate through a conduit from a site of higher to a site of lower elevation, comprising: a section of normally collapsed soft resilient tube forming at least a part of the conduit and having a length at least as great as the variation in back pressure expressed in head at the site of lower elevation, said tube being disposed to contain the ambient pressure level within its length.

Abstract: A multiple matrix assembly for a magnetic separator comprising a plurality, M, of magnetic matrices arranged in a longitudinal stacked array each matrix being fed by a number, p, of inlets and having its product collected by a number, p, of outlets; at least one partition means including a transverse member between each adjacent pair of matrices; a container for receiving the matrices and the partition means; each partition means and the longitudinal ends of the container including a number of ports, P, equal to p .times.

Abstract: A vortical flow distributor for uniformly, vortically distributing incoming fluid in a plane transverse to the primary flow direction, including an outlet and at least one smaller inlet; a plenum chamber disposed between the inlet and outlet and having an area corresponding to the area of the outlet and having a length in the primary flow direction which is substantially less than its width; and a flow diverter aligned with each inlet for directing the incoming fluid to a plane transverse to the primary flow direction, and establishing a tangential flow with radial components for producing over the plenum chamber area a pattern of distributed vorticity which finally dissipates the flow velocity.

Abstract: A flow control unit for a magnetic matrix in a magnetic separator including at least one expander section, each expander section including a channel element having at least one port, a plurality of channels extending radially outwardly from each port and terminating in a plurality of first holes; and a spreader element including a plurality of second holes equal in number and aligned with the holes of the adjacent expander section, a plurality of ducts associated with each of the second holes and a plurality of passages, one interconnecting each of the ducts with a respective one of the second holes.

Abstract: A magnetic separation method for recovering single cell protein from single cell organisms including dispersing magnetic seed in a fluid medium containing single cell organisms, to allow the attachment of the seed to the single cell organisms in the mixture to occur; submitting the resulting mixture to a magnetic separator to attract and hold by magnetic forces the seed and attached single cell organisms to concentrate the single cell organisms in the magnetic separator; lysing the entrapped single cell organisms to break the cell walls of the single cell organisms and release protein from the single cell organisms into the fluid medium; and recovering the released protein by discharging the fluid medium from the magnetic separator while the seed and remaining portions of the cells attached to the magnetic seed are held by the magnetic forces.