Abstract: The present invention is a process for removing waxy haze from and improving the filterability of base stocks including heavy mineral oil base stocks, gas-to-liquids (GTL) and hydrodewaxed or hydroisomerized waxy feed basestocks by filtering the waxy haze causing particles out of the base stock employing a filter characterized by a high surface area of pores accessible to the haze wax particles which have particles dimensions of no more than about 5 microns.

Abstract: Fluid treatment arrangements and methods involve a plurality of fluid treatment modules and a core assembly that extends through the plurality of fluid treatment modules. Each fluid treatment module has a feed region, a permeate region, and a fluid treatment medium separating the feed region from the permeate region. The feed region extends along a feed surface of the fluid treatment medium, and the permeate region extends along a permeate surface of the fluid treatment region. Feed fluid is directed along the feed region of each module, and a portion of the feed fluid passes as permeate through the fluid treatment medium, into the permeate region, and then into the core assembly. One or more control mechanisms are fluidly coupled to the permeate region of one or more fluid treatment modules to control a flow parameter in the permeate region of the module.

Abstract: Fluid treatment arrangements and methods involve a spirally wound fluid treatment pack. The fluid treatment pack includes a fluid treatment medium, a feed region, and a permeate region. The feed region extends along a feed surface of the fluid treatment medium and the permeate region extends along a permeate surface of the fluid treatment medium. The fluid treatment pack is spirally wound around a core assembly to form a plurality of windings of the feed region, a plurality of windings of the fluid treatment medium, and a plurality of windings of the permeate region.

Abstract: The present invention is a process for removing waxy haze from and improving the filterability of base stocks including heavy mineral oil base stocks, gas-to-liquids (GTL) and hydrodewaxed or hydroisomerized waxy feed basestocks by filtering the waxy haze causing particles out of the base stock employing a filter characterized by a high surface area of pores accessible to the haze wax particles which have particles dimensions of no more than about 5 microns.

Abstract: Fluid treatment arrangements and elements and methods for making and using fluid treatment arrangements and elements are disclosed. A ribbon including a permeable fluid treatment medium may be spirally wound in a plurality of windings to form a fluid treatment element having a disk-shaped body. At least two and as many as many as fifty or more fluid treatment elements may be positioned along a core assembly with spaces between at least some of the adjacent fluid treatment elements to form a fluid treatment arrangement. For some embodiments, fluid flowing between the exterior of the fluid treatment arrangement and the interior of the core assembly may flow through a permeable fluid treatment medium having a first fluid treatment characteristic and a permeable fluid treatment medium having a different second fluid treatment characteristic.

Abstract: A separation device comprises a cylindrical separation pack including a spirally wound porous medium, a feed channel including a shear region, a plurality of permeate passages extending along the permeate side of the porous medium opposite the shear region and perpendicular to the feed channel, a feed inlet, a retentate outlet, and a plurality of permeate outlets.

Abstract: Fluid treatment arrangements and methods involve a plurality of fluid treatment modules and a core assembly that extends through the plurality of fluid treatment modules. Each fluid treatment module has a feed region, a permeate region, and a fluid treatment medium separating the feed region from the permeate region. The feed region extends along a feed surface of the fluid treatment medium, and the permeate region extends along a permeate surface of the fluid treatment region. Feed fluid is directed along the feed region of each module, and a portion of the feed fluid passes as permeate through the fluid treatment medium, into the permeate region, and then into the core assembly. One or more control mechanisms are fluidly coupled to the permeate region of one or more fluid treatment modules to control a flow parameter in the permeate region of the module.

Abstract: Fluid treatment arrangements and methods involve a spirally wound fluid treatment pack. The fluid treatment pack includes a fluid treatment medium, a feed region, and a permeate region. The feed region extends along a feed surface of the fluid treatment medium and the permeate region extends along a permeate surface of the fluid treatment medium. The fluid treatment pack is spirally wound around a core assembly to form a plurality of windings of the feed region, a plurality of windings of the fluid treatment medium, and a plurality of windings of the permeate region.

Abstract: A separation device comprises a cylindrical separation pack including a spirally wound porous medium, a feed channel including a shear region, a plurality of permeate passages extending along the permeate side of the porous medium opposite the shear region and perpendicular to the feed channel, a feed inlet, a retentate outlet, and a plurality of permeate outlets.

Abstract: Fluid treatment assemblies and elements may include a plurality of axially extending pleats and may be used to treat fluids, including gases, liquids, or mixtures of gases, and/or solids, in a crossflow mode of operation. For example, some fluid treatment assemblies and elements may be used to remove one or more substances from the fluid and may then function as separators, including filters and concentrators. Other fluid treatment assemblies and elements may be used to transfer substances between two fluid streams and may then function as mass transfer devices.

Abstract: Separation device comprising a feed channel including a shear region, permeate passage(s) extending perpendicular to the direction of the feed flow and a porous medium positioned between the shear region of the feed channel and the permeate passage(s). Separation process comprising generating a shear layer in a feed fluid and passing permeate into the permeate passage(s).

Abstract: A shear separation system or method uses shear lift forces and permeate drag forces to separate substances having a size less than a predetermined separation size from substances having a size greater than the separation size. The balance of the drag forces and lift forces affects a predetermined separation size in that the balance of forces reads the transmembrane passage of substances larger than the separation size yet allows substances smaller than the separation size to pass through the permeable membrane. The shear separation device, method and system can be employed to separate or concentrate from a process fluid substances larger or smaller than the predetermined separation size.

Abstract: A shear separation system or method uses shear lift forces and permeate drag forces to separate substances having a size less than a predetermined separation size from substances having a size greater than the separation size. The balance of the drag forces and lift forces affects a predetermined separation size in that the balance of forces retards the transmembrane passage of substances larger than the separation size yet allows substances smaller than the separation size to pass through the permeable membrane.

Abstract: A method of making a dynamic swirl filter assembly comprises disposing a stack of filter elements within a rotatable wall, wherein the rotatable wall is substantially free of structure which extends substantially across a surface of the filter elements.

Abstract: A dynamic swirl filter assembly having a rotatable filter housing for applying a fluid sheer layer to the surface of the filters therein to enhance filtration. The dynamic swirl filter assembly utilizes a rotatable filter housing to provide a fluid shear boundary layer immediately adjacent the surfaces of a plurality of stationary disc type filtering elements. The fluid shear boundary layer generates lift, thereby preventing particulate and/or colloidal matter of a given size from contacting the surface of the plurality of stationary disc type filter elements.

Abstract: A dynamic filter system comprises a dynamic filter assembly including one or more filter elements and one or more members disposed within a housing. The filter elements and the members are interleaved and arranged to rotate with respect to one another.

Abstract: A dynamic filter system comprises a dynamic filter assembly including one or more filter elements and one or more members disposed within a housing. The filter elements and the members are interleaved and arranged to rotate with respect to one another.

Abstract: A filtration system and method. The filtration system comprises a manifold having an inlet, a plurality of filter elements mounted to the manifold, and a scheme for convectively cooling the filter elements to limit the temperature of the filter elements to a predetermined temperature. The filtration method comprises the steps of passing a fluid through a plurality of filter elements and convectively cooling the filter elements to limit the temperature of the filter elements to a predetermined temperature.