Abstract: A method for cleaning debris from a floor of a cooling tower collection basin can include expelling a fluid from a first side of the basin floor to a second and opposite side of the basin floor where the fluid and debris are removed. The fluid may be expelled through radial openings in sweeper headers and may be removed through openings in a suction manifold. The method may further include removing the debris from the fluid.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a copper recovery apparatus includes a precipitation tank, a mixing tank, a filter-aid feeder, a solid-liquid separator includes a filter, a cleaning-water supply line, a cleaning-water discharge line, a separation tank, and a filter-aid return line. The precipitation tank is configured to receive copper ions-containing water to be treated and an alkali to prepare treated water containing a precipitate of copper compound. The solid-liquid separator is configured to allow the treated water to be passed through the filter on which the precoat layer is deposited to separate the precipitate retained on the precoat layer from a filtrate.

Abstract: An assembly for filtering a fluid includes a first rotatable shaft with a first set of splines. The first rotatable shaft has an internal cavity containing the fluid. Also included is a second rotatable shaft with a second set of splines mated to the first set of splines. The second rotatable shaft includes at least a portion of a supply hole. The first rotatable shaft and the second rotatable shaft are configured to convey the fluid from the internal cavity through a tight clearance between the first set of splines and the second set of splines, to filter the fluid, and then out the supply hole.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus (10) for removing magnetic particles (53) from a liquid flowing from an oil or gas operation and method of use. The apparatus (10) comprises a plurality of magnet assemblies (20), each having a first condition in which an operable part is active to attract magnetic particles (53) to the magnet assembly (20), and a second condition in which the operable part is inactive and magnetic particles (53) are not attracted to the magnet assembly (20). A drive mechanism (13) moves the magnet assemblies (20) between exposure to a flow path of from a liquid (40) flowing from an oil or gas operation and a collection location (54). An activation means (36) moves the magnet assemblies (20) between the first condition and the second condition.

Abstract: A method and system are for separating a suspension into solid and fluid components. The suspension is centrifuged about a substantially vertical axis of rotation to concentrate solid components in a first lower flow stream and fluid components in a first upper flow stream. The first upper flow stream may be centrifuged about a substantially vertical axis of rotation to concentrate solid components in a second lower flow stream and fluid components in a second upper flow stream. The first lower flow stream, the second lower flow stream, or both, may be centrifuged about a substantially horizontal axis of rotation to separate water from stackable dry tailings. The method and system may be applied to separation of tailings or other suspensions.

Abstract: The present invention provides an annular centrifugal contactor, having a housing adapted to receive a plurality of flowing liquids; a rotor on the interior of the housing; an annular mixing zone, wherein the annular mixing zone has a plurality of fluid retention reservoirs with ingress apertures near the bottom of the annular mixing zone and egress apertures located above the ingress apertures of the annular mixing zone; and an adjustable vane plate stem, wherein the stem can be raised to restrict the flow of a liquid into the rotor or lowered to increase the flow of the liquid into the rotor.

Abstract: A magnetic particle filter for a hydraulic control line is disclosed. A filter array is positioned to surround a portion of the hydraulic control line and includes alternating magnets and spacers having different interior diameters forming a ribbed interior surface. The corners between the spacers and magnets trap particles, magnetic and non-magnetic, thus removing them from the hydraulic control line.

Abstract: The invention relates to a magnetic particle manipulation apparatus for moving magnetic particles within a tubular device, wherein the tubular device includes a gel-like medium layer and a liquid layer alternately stacked within a vessel and is filled with the magnetic particles. The magnetic particle manipulation apparatus of the invention includes a vessel holding portion, a vessel pressing portion and a magnetic field applying portion. The magnetic field applying portion includes a magnetic force source. At least one of the magnetic field applying portion and the vessel holding portion includes a moving mechanism capable of moving the magnetic force source. The vessel is pressed by the vessel pressing portion. The magnetic force source is moved relatively to the vessel holding portion by the moving mechanism, so as to move the magnetic particles.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device comprising at least three hydrocyclones and a pump. The pump comprises a centrifugal turbine, an electric motor capable of driving the turbine in rotation, a distributor capable of collecting the water recirculated by the turbine and introducing the water into the hydrocyclones. The distributor comprises at least one distribution channel for each hydrocyclone, each channel extending from an inlet orifice formed in a central circular housing to an outlet orifice formed in a wall of a hydrocyclone, and discharging into the hydrocyclone tangentially to the wall of this hydrocyclone. The centrifugal turbine is housed inside the central housing of the distributor, opposite the inlet orifices of the channels.

Abstract: A de-sanding tank with a vertical exterior wall and an interior conical bottom with a solids outlet located at a lower tip of the conical bottom. Downwardly and tangentially oriented water jet nozzles within the tank cause a swirling action to remove solids. An enclosing space located between the vertical wall and the conical bottom has a honey-combed structure of closed pore foam as reinforcement for the conical bottom. Compartments within the honey-combed structure fill with water as the vessel is placed in service to add support for the conical bottom. Water enters the compartments via downwardly facing bottom openings that fill a common void located at the bottom of the enclosing space and then into the compartments. Weep holes provided between the top of each compartment and the interior of the tank allow the air from the compartments to enter the tank as the compartments fill.

Abstract: A water treatment device and methods of treating water such as cooling tower water, swimming pool water, and hot tub or spa water, are described. The water treatment device utilizes ultraviolet radiation, a magnetic field, and ozone fortified air to treat the water, typically resulting in reduced microbial contamination and reduced alkalinity in cooling tower water. Cooling tower water may consequently be run at higher cycles of concentration while reducing or eliminating deposition of minerals on cooling tower components. Swimming pool water and hot tub water treated with the water treatment device typically requires less chlorine, and chlorine levels are typically more stable than without the device.

Abstract: A filter element is provided for a filter element stack. The filter element includes a carrier body (4), at least one spacer which can be subjected to throughflow and at least one filter membrane covering this. The spacer at least partly is formed by a knitted fabric of plastic threads which on one side is covered by a membrane of plastic material, to which it is fixedly connected, and forms a filter material (8) to be fastened on the carrier body (4) with a positive fit (FIG. 5).

Abstract: An arrangement for melting and cleaning a substance, such as natural sugar. The arrangement comprises a mesh belt for transporting the substance through a heating station for heating the substance so that a dissolved phase of the substance is separated from impurities in the substance through the mesh of the mesh belt substantially simultaneously.

Abstract: The process of producing maple syrup from maple sap can include concentrating the maple sap to a sugar content of between 30 and 50° Brix using membrane filtration, including increasing a differential pressure of the membrane filtration in accordance with an increasing of an osmotic pressure as the sugar content increases to eventually reach the sugar content of between 30 and 50° Brix; and subjecting the concentrated maple sap having a sugar content of between 30 and 50° Brix to evaporation until it transforms into maple syrup.

Abstract: Methods and systems for promoting hydrogen gas distribution within cellulosic biomass solids during hydrothermal digestion. One exemplary method can comprise providing cellulosic biomass solids in a hydrothermal digestion unit in the presence of a digestion solvent and a slurry catalyst capable of activating molecular hydrogen; and heating the cellulosic biomass solids and the digestion solvent in the presence of molecular hydrogen, thereby forming an alcoholic component derived from the cellulosic biomass solids, at least a portion of the molecular hydrogen being introduced to the hydrothermal digestion unit via a plurality of spaced apart fluid inlets vertically disposed about the height of the hydrothermal digestion unit.

Abstract: Methods and systems for promoting hydrogen gas distribution within cellulosic biomass solids during hydrothermal digestion. On exemplary method can comprise: heating a first portion of cellulosic biomass solids being contacted by a continuous liquid phase and a second portion of cellulosic biomass solids being contacted by a continuous gas phase in the presence of an upwardly directed flow of molecular hydrogen and a slurry catalyst capable of activating molecular hydrogen in the continuous liquid phase; conveying at least a portion of the continuous liquid phase and at least a portion of the slurry catalyst to a location within the continuous gas phase above at least a portion of the cellulosic biomass solids; and after conveying the continuous liquid phase and the slurry catalyst, releasing them such that they contact the second portion of cellulosic biomass solids.

Abstract: A fluid handling and separation system has an inlet conduit for receiving a helical fluid flow, a housing connected to the inlet conduit, a collection conduit disposed within the housing in axially alignment with the inlet conduit, and a diversion conduit in fluid communication with the interior of the housing. The housing encloses the collection conduit to form an annular space between the interior surface of the housing and an exterior surface of the collection conduit. Upon receiving a helical flow via the inlet conduit, a radially outward portion of the helical flow is separated from a radially inner portion of the helical flow. The radially outward portion of the helical flow is diverted through the diversion conduit while the radially inward portion of the helical flow is received by the collection conduit. Such a system allows for separating the helical fluid flow by density of materials or fluids within the helical fluid flow.

Abstract: A closing valve unit for a centrifugal cleaner arrangement including first and second connecting members configured to connect a cyclone to a centrifugal cleaner group, and a movable valve sandwiched between the first and second connecting members, the moveable valve including apertures commensurate with openings to feed and reject conduits of the cyclone and to openings to feed and reject conduits of the cyclone cleaner group, wherein the movable valve has a first position in which the apertures are aligned with the cyclone and cleaner group feed conduits and with the cyclone accept and cleaner group accept conduits, and a control element connected to the moveable valve and configured to move the moveable valve between the first position and the second positions.

Abstract: A system includes a hydrocyclone liner. The hydrocyclone liner includes a head section having a fluid inlet formed in a first sidewall of the head section and an overflow outlet. The hydrocyclone liner also includes a separation section having an underflow outlet. A sleeve is disposed about at least a portion of the head section, a portion of the separation section, and an interface between the head section and the separation section.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for processing magnetic particles, which selectively interact with a substance present in a liquid medium. The particles are collected with a probe (2) comprising a hollow shield (4) and a probe magnet (3) moveable up and down. The lower end of the probe with the collected particles is placed on a release location (7) of a plate (6), below which release location there is a release magnet (8). The surface of the release location is dry or has a liquid film or a drop on it. In accordance with the invention, very high concentration ratios can be achieved.