Abstract: Provided is a method of processing a plastic, the method comprising introducing a plastic slurry having particles with a particle size of less than 20 mm into a macerator, the macerator comprising an inlet configured to receive a flow of plastic slurry, an outlet, three or more concentric bodies that rotate relative to each other, each body comprising a plurality of apertures to define a flow path through each body, wherein the plastic slurry traverses the flow path from the inlet to the outlet via the at least one aperture of each body to produce an outlet plastic slurry. Also provided are systems for processing plastic, comprising the macerator. Also provided are methods of manufacturing a composite wood product that comprises plastic particles.

Abstract: The invention relates to macerator for processing a slurry, the macerator comprising an inlet configured to receive a flow of inlet slurry comprising particles having an average particle size of less than 20 mm, an outlet, two or more bodies that rotate relative to each other, each body comprising a plurality of apertures to define a flow path through each body, wherein the slurry traverses the flow path from the macerator inlet to the macerator outlet via the at least one aperture of each body to produce an outlet slurry.

Abstract: The invention relates to macerator for processing a slurry, the macerator comprising an inlet configured to receive a flow of inlet slurry comprising particles having an average particle size of less than 20 mm, an outlet, two or more bodies that rotate relative to each other, each body comprising a plurality of apertures to define a flow path through each body, wherein the slurry traverses the flow path from the macerator inlet to the macerator outlet via the at least one aperture of each body to produce an outlet slurry.

Abstract: The present invention relates to egg chambers for use in collection, inspection and selection of eggs for in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures. The egg chamber, in use, provides an effectively closed and fluid filled system which minimizes the environmental changes that a harvested egg is exposed to, thus maximizing viability. The egg chamber comprises a vessel which can be made airtight, comprising at least one side wall, an upper wall and a lower wall, at least a portion of the upper wall being transparent and at least a portion of the lower wall being light permeable; a first inlet with a sealable port; a first outlet with a sealable port; a filter with a pore size appropriate for egg collection disposed within the vessel between the first inlet and the first outlet and configured to separate the vessel into a first internal chamber and a second internal chamber.

Abstract: Systems for controlling processing of an event are provided. A system may receive a request to initiate an event and the request may cause activation of access and process control functions of the systems. The system may receive event details and requirements may be extracted from the event details. The requirements may include data and/or document requirements necessary to process the event to completion. The event details may be compared to the extracted requirements to determine whether one or more requirements are met. If so, the event may be processed. If not, processing of the event may be suspended and the event may be transmitted to a computing device to prevent further processing of the event. Additional information may be received and evaluated to determine whether the requirements are met. If so, the system may transmit an instruction to the computing device to release the event for further processing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to egg chambers for use in collection, inspection and selection of eggs for in vitro fertilisation (IVF) procedures. The egg chamber, in use, provides an effectively closed and fluid filled system which minimises the environmental changes that a harvested egg is exposed to, thus maximising viability. The egg chamber comprises a vessel which can be made airtight, comprising at least one side wall, an upper wall and a lower wall, at least a portion of the upper wall being transparent and at least a portion of the lower wall being light permeable; a first inlet with a sealable port; a first outlet with a sealable port; a filter with a pore size appropriate for egg collection disposed within the vessel between the first inlet and the first outlet and configured to separate the vessel into a first internal chamber and a second internal chamber.

Abstract: A centrifugal blower comprising a cooling air path having an inlet communicating with a blower space and an outlet communicating with the inlet of the motor airflow path, the cooling air path having an upstream portion that extends axially in the direction from the opposite end of the motor toward the drive end of the motor, and the cooling air path having a downstream portion that extends axially in the direction from the drive end of the motor toward the opposite end of the motor.

Abstract: An interrupt controller and interrupt controlling method are provided for prioritizing interrupt requests generated by a plurality of interrupt sources. The interrupt controller comprises an interrupt source interface operable to receive interrupt requests generated by a first plurality of interrupt sources, and a daisy chain interface operable to receive a daisy chain interrupt request output by a further interrupt controller based on a second plurality of interrupt requests generated by a second plurality of interrupt sources. The daisy chain interface includes a priority input operable to receive a daisy chain priority signal indicating a priority associated with the daisy chain interrupt request. Prioritization logic is operable to receive the daisy chain priority signal and to apply predetermined prioritisation criteria to determine the highest priority interrupt request selected from the daisy chain interrupt request and the interrupt request generated by the first plurality of interrupt sources.

Abstract: An interrupt controller and interrupt controlling method are provided for prioritizing interrupt requests generated by a plurality of interrupt sources. The interrupt controller comprises an interrupt source interface operable to receive interrupt requests generated by a first plurality of interrupt sources, and a daisy chain interface operable to receive a daisy chain interrupt request output by a further interrupt controller based on a second plurality of interrupt requests generated by a second plurality of interrupt sources. The daisy chain interface includes a priority input operable to receive a daisy chain priority signal indicating a priority associated with the daisy chain interrupt request. Prioritization logic is operable to receive the daisy chain priority signal and to apply predetermined prioritisation criteria to determine the highest priority interrupt request selected from the daisy chain interrupt request and the interrupt request generated by the first plurality of interrupt sources.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating liquid and associated liquid vapor from a gas stream by contacting liquid brine in concurrent flow through and across a plurality of stages and direct contact with a bed of calcium chloride within an upper portion of the apparatus to remove a final portion of liquid from the gas stream. The improvement being in the tapered bed of desiccant material and the stage configuration. Each of the stages has an upper tray and a lower tray connected thereto with a central conduit connected to the upper tray enabling liquid brine to traverse from the upper to the lower tray. A plurality of mixing housings extend from above the liquid level in the lower tray to slightly above the upper tray and each has a base housing coaxial therewith and of a larger diameter which extends from the lower tray to slightly below a lower end of the corresponding mixing housing.

Abstract: A system for regeneration of a liquid disiccant which utilizes a reboiler and still column to remove a major portion of absorbed water and then exposes the hot, partially dehydrated desiccant to a flow of dry, inert flue gas and a partial vacuum, in order to remove additional water from the desiccant.

Abstract: A gas-liquid separator of the centrifugal type wherein the mixture is first introduced into a top chamber of a vertical vessel where it is given a spinning motion forming a vortex with liquid initially separated and drained to an intermediate chamber and then to a lower chamber for removal. The remaining gas-liquid enters a centrally located vortex tube where additional entrained liquid is skimmed off at a slot open to the intermediate chamber. Additional separation occurs as the gas and remaining liquid entrained therein strikes a conical surface and other diversion baffles.

Abstract: An improved horizontal vapor-liquid separator providing a separation chamber, a horizontal inlet conduit having internal vanes for imparting a helical motion to fluid flow therethrough, a series of at least three pipe separators coaxially aligned with the inlet conduit and spaced apart to form annular orifices for the collection of heavier droplets forced to the inner peripheries of the piping by the centrifugal force, a conical baffle located in the path of the flow discharged from the end of the last separator pipe for coalescing final traces of liquid by impingement, and a vapor exhaust conduit coaxially aligned with the inlet conduit. A second chamber located beneath the separation chamber collects the liquid by gravity flow and utilizes a liquid level control system to maintain a vapor barrier while discharging the collected liquid at the same rate of accumulation.

Abstract: An electric treater for separation of a water-in-oil emulsion, which utilizes both AC potential applied to electrodes as well as DC potentials. A plurality of trays are provided through which the emulsion passes in series. One or more of these trays is supplied with AC potential to a series of insulated electrodes. Another tray is provided with a DC potential obtained from one half of a secondary winding of a transformer, through a rectifier, and at least a third tray is provided with a second DC potential derived from the opposite end of the secondary winding through a separate rectifier. The oil to be treated first passes through the tray or trays which have the AC potential, and then passes successively through the two trays which have the pulsed DC potential.

Abstract: An improved type of centrifugal separator for separating liquids such as oil and/or water from a mixture of gas and liquid. It consists of an upright cylindrical shell divided by transverse dividers into three chambers. The mixture of gas and liquid is introduced through a tangential diverter into the lower chamber to produce a high velocity vortex of gas and liquid. A central axial vortex tube penetrates and is sealed through both transverse dividers. This vortex tube is comprised of two spaced longitudinally aligned portions which define a gap between them. The gap is positioned inside the central chamber. The upper end of the vortex tube extends into the top chamber and is sealed into a first mist extractor. The lower end of the vortex tube extends into the lower chamber.Due to the vortex action the liquid is thrown outwardly against the inner wall of the shell, the gas forming a high velocity vortex column along the central axis of the shell.