Abstract: A system for removing contaminant particles from a gas such as air includes an assembly of vortex air cleaners and a depth filter which are disposed in series in a passage through which the air flows so that the larger particles and liquid droplets are removed from the air by the cleaners and the finer particles and finely divided liquid particles are removed by the filter. The vortex air cleaners are arranged side by side in two perpendicular rows and the direction of the rotational flow imparted by each is of the opposite hand from the direction of flow imparted by each adjacent cleaner so that, in the regions where the flows from two adjacent cleaners interact, the flow vectors from the two cleaners are in the same direction. This maintains the rotational flows as the air travels to and enters the filter with the result that plugging of the upstream side of the filter is virtually eliminated and the full depth of the filter is effectively utilized.

Abstract: The present invention is a large scintillator array multiplexing apparatus and method in which individual scintillators are coupled to fluorescent optical converters that absorb the light emitted by the scintillators and emit at longer wavelengths. Loss of light is minimized by maximizing total internal reflection of the longer wavelength emissions by the use of reflectors and mirrors. The wavelength-shifted radiation is conducted to electro-optic detectors which, when activated, directly encode the location of the scintillator that has been excited by ionizing radiation. Using this method, scintillator arrays consisting of thousands of individual scintillators can be built without undue complexity or cost and the resolution of the imaging system can be enhanced beyond the range possible using prior art methods.

Abstract: A method of promoting the transport of water through medium and coarse grained soils comprising the step of applying to the medium or coarse grained soil a soil amendment composition at a level of less than 20 parts per million parts by weight of dry soil, and preferably less than 5 ppm. The composition comprises a substantially linear, substantially water-soluble hydrophilic polymer having a molecular weight greater than 50,000. A preferred polymer is poly (ethylene oxide) having a molecular weight of 300,000 to 7,000,000.

Abstract: A method of promoting the transport of water through medium and coarse grained soils comprising the step of applying to the medium or coarse grained soil a soil amendment composition at a level of less than 20 parts per million parts by weight of dry soil, and preferably less than 5 ppm. The composition comprises a substantially linear, substantially water-soluble hydrophilic polymer having a molecular weight greater than 50,000. A preferred polymer is poly (ethylene oxide) having a molecular weight of 300,000 to 7,000,000.

Abstract: A soil conditioning composition of extended useful life in soil comprises a substantially linear, substantially water-soluble hydrophilic polymer having a molecular weight greater than 50,000 and at least one functional group disposed along the polymer chain. The polymer chain comprises one or more polymer chain segments characterized by an absence of the functional group therein and a minimum length, the minimum length of the polymer chain segment being at least one micrometer when the polymer chain segment is secured to one of the functional groups only at one end thereof and at least two micrometers when the polymer chain segment is secured to a respective one of the functional groups at each end thereof. The functional group is more capable of attaching the polymer to a solid soil phase than is the polymer chain segment, whereby the polymer includes at least one portion adapted to secure the polymer to a solid soil phase and at least one portion adapted to extend into an aqueous soil phase.