Abstract: The present invention describes a method and device for pretreatment of organic material, more specific bio mass, for energy conversion, where said method comprises a first preheating step with a preheating vessel (4), a hydrolysis step with a hydrolysis reactor (5) and a pressure reducing step with a pressure reduction vessel (6), where the transfer of said organic material from the preheating vessel (4) to the hydrolysis rector (5) is effected by gravity and by creating a vacuum in the reactor (5). This method results in a very fast transfer of material from the preheating vessel (4) to the reactor (5). In addition, the filling volume of the reactor (5) is being controlled by a high frequency pressure sensor and supply of steam (3A) to the top of the reactor in order to provide the necessary head space. The invention also describes a device for performing said method.

Abstract: The water purification system for flow-coupled installation with a tap water inflow for producing a relatively purified water outflow includes a purification unit having a tap water inlet port for receiving tap water inflow and a purified water outlet port for dispensing purified water outflow from said purification unit. A particulate catalyst retained within the purification unit is in flow through relation relative to said the water inflow and purified water outflow and catalyzes contaminants as the tap water inflow travels through the purification unit. A particulate agitator associated translates vibration to the particulate catalyst for substantially preventing channeling therein during relatively slow tap water inflow through the purification unit.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there are provided systems and methods for contacting two or more fluids, useful, for example for purifying or infusing a fluid (by allowing efficient and/or uniform addition of components to or removal of components from the fluid). The components may be undesirable components to be removed from a fluid, or a desired component or components to be added to the fluid, for example, each of which is referred to herein as “component”. In this regard, the disclosed embodiments provide for the purification or infusion of a fluid by passing a liquid and a fluid through a contacting zone which facilitates intimate mixing of the liquid and the fluid. A differential of partial pressure, activity, fugacity or concentration of the components between the liquid and the fluid facilitates the transfer of the components between the liquid and the fluid in the intimately mixed liquid and fluid.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved magnetic filter device (1) for separating a fluid and magnetizable particles. The invention also relates to a method for separating a fluid and magnetizable particles, particularly by making use of a device (1) according to the invention.

Abstract: Provided is a method of restoring arsenic-contaminated soil. In the present invention, arsenic may be easily separated from soil particles by washing the arsenic-contaminated soil by using a basic solution and simultaneously irradiating the soil with ultrasonic waves. Also, since iron oxide and manganese oxide are exposed to the basic solution by dissolving a portion of the surface of a silicate mineral using the basic solution, a residual form of arsenic may be removed.

Abstract: A method for purifying a substance in a solution in a simple streamlined process using a magnetic porous particle. For easy small scale purification of a substance, the magnetic porous particle is coated with either a hydrophilic or hydrophobic liquid and transferred into a second liquid containing the substance under conditions which allow said substance to partition into the first liquid within said magnetic porous particle. Finally the magnetic porous particle is removed from said second liquid, wherein the first and second liquid are substantially immiscible and the partition coefficient P of the substance between the first and second liquid is greater than 1.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and a device for treating a catalyst discharged from bubbling bed hydrogenation of residual oil. Provided is a process for treating a catalyst discharged from bubbling bed hydrogenation of residual oil, comprising the following steps: (1) adjustment and control to reduce viscosity; (2) desorption and separation by rotational flow; and (3) separation and resource utilization of an oil-water-catalyst three phase. Also provided is a device for treating a catalyst discharged from bubbling bed hydrogenation of residual oil.

Abstract: A separator device for removing particles from suspension in a liquid includes a housing having first and second chambers with apertures for ingress and egress of liquid into the first chamber. Means are provided for setting up a swirl of liquid within the first chamber. Apertures enable flow of liquid between the first chamber and the second chamber. Means are also provided for setting up a swirl of liquid within the second chamber. The swirl in the second chamber is in substantially the opposite direction to the swirl in the first chamber, and there is no substantial flow in the second chamber which is in the same direction as the swirl in the first chamber.

Abstract: A rigid flow control device includes a porous rigid body having an outer surface and an inner surface. The body defines a flow path and is formed from a material operatively arranged with a surface energy less than that of the fluid for passively impeding an undesirable component of the fluid more than a desirable component of the fluid.

Abstract: A velocity reducing filter port is provided herein. More specifically, provided herein is a pool filter comprising a filter housing having a sidewall and a bottom wall defining an inner chamber, an inlet section positioned in the sidewall of the filter housing, an outlet section positioned in the sidewall of the filter housing, and a flow controller attached to the inlet section, the flow controller having a flow controller inlet, a flow controller outlet, and a wall therebetween, wherein the flow controller inlet has an inlet cross-sectional area and the flow controller outlet has an outlet cross-sectional area greater than the inlet cross-sectional area.

Abstract: The invention relates to the hydrolytic breakdown of plant biomasses via hydrohalic acids, preferably so-called hydrochloric acid. Ligneous biomasses were preferably hydrolyzed in the past because other types of biomasses, for instance straw, are only able to be filled into the reactors with a very low density and they tend towards compacting in the course of the process. The invention solves this problem with two modifications. First of all, pelletizable biomasses are completely or partially loaded in the form of pellets and a heavily increasing filling density is achieved because of that. Secondly, the hydrolysis reactors are tilted, preferably arranged between 30° and 60°, and compacting is prevented. The economic effectiveness of both modifications is to be determined in practical tests for every pelletizable biomass. It is possible that one of the two modifications can be omitted.

Abstract: Improved screen filter modules, related compartmentalized filtration modules, and related filtration processes, suitable for filtering fluid to eliminate suspended particulate matter, such as living cells or microcarriers anchoring living cells, or to separate particulate matter based on size. The improvement is the presence of a barrier that channels redirected filtrate to the portion of the filter most susceptible to clogging by the particulate matter and induces flow patterns that act against clogging.

Abstract: A raw-material supply device for supplying a biomass raw material under pressure, wherein the device is provided with: a screw body, provided inside a screw feeder and adapted for compressing, rotating, and transporting the powdered biomass raw material using a motor from a normal-pressure feed section for the fed biomass raw material to a high-pressure discharge section; and a pressing plug provided on the tip section side of the screw body, the pressing plug having a plug tip for maintaining a high-temperature/high-pressure field against the discharge force of compressed consolidated biomass.

Abstract: Methods and systems for fractionating lignocellulosic biomass including hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin, including exploding the biomass cells to devolatilize the biomass, hydrolyzing the hemicellulose to produce a liquid component including hemicellulosic sugars and a solid component including less than 10% hemicellulose, separating the liquid and solid components, vaporizing the cellulose in the solid component, and condensing the cellulosic sugar vapors. The methods and systems may vaporize the cellulose in a continuous steam reactor at a temperature of about 400-550° C. and a pressure of about 1-3 bara. Electromagnetic and/or electroacoustic treatment such as ultrasound and/or microwave treatment may be applied to the biomass immediately before or during cellulose hydrolysis.

Abstract: A Hydrodynamic separation device using curved channels is provided. High aspect ratio channels improve the focusing dynamics of the hydrodynamic separator and leads to improved channel design choices.

Abstract: Example embodiments relate to a separator system comprising a compartment body defining an interior cavity, the interior cavity formed by interior walls of the compartment body. The separator system may further comprise an input section operable to receive an input mixture for housing in the interior cavity. The separator system may further comprise an output section. The separator system may further comprise a particulate-directing subsystem. The particulate-directing subsystem may comprise a disturbance assembly arranged along at least a bottom portion of the interior cavity. The disturbance assembly may comprise at least one rotary member operable to rotate in a first rotary direction and a second rotary direction. The particulate-directing subsystem may further comprise a discharge assembly arranged proximate to the output section. The discharge assembly may be configured so as to encourage particulates of the input mixture present in the interior cavity to pass through the output section.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating magnetic material from a slurry is disclosed, the method including the steps of providing a first moving surface, depositing the slurry onto the first moving surface, attracting at least a portion of the magnetic material of the slurry onto the first moving surface by first magnetic means, arranging the first moving surface such that liquid from the slurry is removed due to the portion of the magnetic material being attracted to the moving surface by the first magnetic means to form a magnetic material cake, separating an inner portion of the magnetic material cake from an outer portion of the magnetic material cake, with respect to the first moving surface, such that the inner portion has a lower liquid content than the outer portion.

Abstract: An orifice condensate trap (i.e. a condensate removal device (10) having a condensate drainage channel (26) with a constricted passage (30) therein) in which a magnet (50) is disposed upstream of the orifice to capture impurities, e.g. magnetic particles, suspended or otherwise carried in the condensable gas or condensate. The magnet may be used in tandem with a mechanical filter, e.g. strainer. The magnet may be formed as part of a cap or plug (48) for closing an access opening (36) opposite to an upstream opening of the constricted passage (30). For example, the plug (48) may be formed of magnetic material, e.g. a magnetic variant of stainless steel.

Abstract: A de-sanding tank with a conical bottom. The de-sanding tank includes an enclosed tank having a vertical wall that extends down to a flat bottom. A conical bottom is disposed within an interior of the tank. The conical bottom is secured to the vertical wall forming an enclosing space bounded by a wall of the conical bottom and the vertical wall and flat bottom of the tank. A solids outlet is disposed at a lower tip of the conical bottom configured for removal of solids. The conical bottom is supported by a foam structure located within the enclosing space.

Abstract: A microfluidic system includes a magnetic source (150) and two chambers (110) that are connected by a channel. The chambers and the channel are filled with different fluids such that a non-zero surface tension is created at the associated fluidic interfaces. Moreover, the magnetic source (150) is arranged to provide at least two separate magnetic gradient regions (GR) and to allow for the attraction of magnetic particles (MP) present in one of the chambers into these different regions. The magnetic forces (F) generated by at least one of the gradient regions (GR) is strong enough to allow for pushing or pulling magnetic particles through the fluidic interfaces. The magnetic source may be realized by a permanent magnet (150) of hexahedral shape. A method achieves dispersion and re-accumulation of an ensemble of magnetic particles in the microfluidic system.