Abstract: A suspension and transmission device for use with an elevator system comprises one or more strips that provide load carrying, transmission or traction, and load carrying redundancy or safety functions for the elevator system. In one version a single strip comprised of polymer and composite materials provides these functions. In another version multiple strips comprised of polymer and composite materials provide these functions. In another version, a strip comprises a hollow interior portion. In another version one or more strips incorporate materials that can be detected when using the strip to monitor the condition of the one or more strips.

Abstract: A rotating drum screen method for separating solids from thin stillage obtained from ethanol fermentation, the thin stillage comprising one or more of solids and suspended solids. Thin stillage is chemically treated with an anionic polymer to form stable particles of one or more of solids and suspended solids. Introducing the treated thin stillage into a rotating drum screen system. The drum screen includes a filter screen that retains at least a portion of the solids within a hollow portion of the drum screen and which produces a liquid effluent that is discharged from an outer surface of the drum screen. The retained solids are removable from the drum screen via a solid discharge end. A head box is disposed within the hollow portion of the drum screen and has a plurality of fluid flow channel dividers dividing and directing an influent stream outwardly against the drum screen.

Abstract: A rotating drum screen method for separating solids from thin stillage obtained from ethanol fermentation, the thin stillage comprising one or more of solids and suspended solids. Thin stillage is chemically treated with an anionic polymer to form stable particles of one or more of solids and suspended solids. Introducing the treated thin stillage into a rotating drum screen system. The drum screen includes a filter screen that retains at least a portion of the solids within a hollow portion of the drum screen and which produces a liquid effluent that is discharged from an outer surface of the drum screen. The retained solids are removable from the drum screen via a solid discharge end. A head box is disposed within the hollow portion of the drum screen and has a plurality of fluid flow channel dividers dividing and directing an influent stream outwardly against the drum screen.

Abstract: A rotating drum screen system for separating solids from an influent material stream includes a housing having an influent inlet, a solid discharge end and an area between the influent inlet and the solid discharge end. A hollow portion of a drum screen positioned lengthwise in the area between the influent inlet end and the solid discharge end receives influent. The drum screen includes a filter screen that retains at least a portion of the solids within the hollow portion of the drum screen and which produces a liquid effluent that is discharged from an outer surface of the drum screen. The retained solids are removable from the drum screen via the solid discharge end. A head box is disposed within the hollow portion of the drum screen and has a plurality of fluid flow channel dividers dividing and directing an influent stream outwardly against the drum screen.

Abstract: Methods and systems for forming stable particles from suspended solids produced by ethanol fermentation are disclosed. The methods include providing a fraction from ethanol fermentation containing solids and suspended solids. The pH of the fraction is adjusted, if necessary. A reducing agent is added. A high molecular weight anionic polymer is added to form stable particles of solids and suspended solids. Lastly, the stable particles are free drained to separate them from a treated liquid portion. The treated liquid portion is added as backset to the fermentation process while the recovered solids are further processed into useful products.

Abstract: Systems and methods for treating vinasse are disclosed. The methods treat vinasse to generate useable water. The methods include providing vinasse, reacting the vinasse with persulfate to generate an oxidized mixture, reacting the oxidized mixture with peroxide to generate a peroxide-treated mixture, adjusting the pH of the peroxide-treated mixture to above about pH 6 to generate a pH-adjusted mixture, reacting the pH-adjusted mixture with an inorganic coagulant and a low molecular weight cationic polymer to generate solid particles, and removing the solid particles to generate a liquid fraction.

Abstract: A suspension and transmission device for use with an elevator system comprises one or more strips that provide load carrying, transmission or traction, and load carrying redundancy or safety functions for the elevator system. In one version a single strip comprised of polymer and composite materials provides these functions. In another version multiple strips comprised of polymer and composite materials provide these functions. In another version, a strip comprises a hollow interior portion. In another version one or more strips incorporate materials that can be detected when using the strip to monitor the condition of the one or more strips.

Abstract: A suspension and transmission device for use with an elevator system comprises one or more strips that provide load carrying, transmission or traction, and load carrying redundancy or safety functions for the elevator system. In one version a single strip comprised of polymer and composite materials provides these functions. In another version multiple strips comprised of polymer and composite materials provide these functions. In another version, a strip comprises a hollow interior portion. In another version one or more strips incorporate materials that can be detected when using the strip to monitor the condition of the one or more strips.

Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing biofouling of microfiltration membranes that are biofouled with biological substances are disclosed. The methods include providing impound water containing biomolecule-based exopolymeric substances, reacting with calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide, encapsulating the exopolymeric substance into filterable non-tacky particles by reacting with an inorganic coagulant and a low molecular weight polymer, and microfiltering to remove the filterable non-tacky particles encapsulating the exopolymeric substances. The filterable non-tacky particles encapsulate the exopolymeric substances and prevent the exopolymeric substances from biofouling the microfiltration membranes.

Abstract: Systems and methods for treating contaminated water from gas wells by adding an inorganic coagulant and a low molecular weight polymer to the contaminated water to increase the size of solid particulates in the water and to thereby allow the solid particulates to be filtered or to otherwise be removed from the water are disclosed herein. While the inorganic coagulant can be any suitable coagulant, in some cases the coagulant is selected from aluminum chlorohydrate, polyaluminum chloride, aluminum sulfate, and ferric sulfate. Similarly, the polymer can comprise any suitable polymer, such as epi/dma, a condensation product of epichlorohydrin and dimethyl amine. The described systems and methods can clean the contaminated water so that the water can then be treated in a variety of other manners, which may include reverse osmosis, deionization, treatment with mixed bed deionizers, electro-separation, fraction distillation, distillation, and other suitable water cleansing processes.

Abstract: Methods and systems for forming stable particles from suspended solids produced by ethanol fermentation are disclosed. The methods include providing a fraction from ethanol fermentation containing solids and suspended solids. The pH of the fraction is adjusted, if necessary. A reducing agent is added. A high molecular weight anionic polymer is added to form stable particles of solids and suspended solids. Lastly, the stable particles are free drained to separate them from a treated liquid portion. The treated liquid portion is added as backset to the fermentation process while the recovered solids are further processed into useful products.

Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing biofouling of microfiltration membranes that are biofouled with biological substances are disclosed. The methods include providing impound water containing biomolecule-based exopolymeric substances, reacting with calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide, encapsulating the exopolymeric substance into filterable non-tacky particles by reacting with an inorganic coagulant and a low molecular weight polymer, and microfiltering to remove the filterable non-tacky particles encapsulating the exopolymeric substances. The filterable non-tacky particles encapsulate the exopolymeric substances and prevent the exopolymeric substances from biofouling the microfiltration membranes.

Abstract: Systems and methods for treating contaminated impound water are disclosed which include a pretreatment stage wherein contaminated water is oxidized, pH adjusted, treated with a coagulant, and treated with a polymer to form a flocculent comprising bulk solids and fine particles. The oxidizing step may include two or more stages, one of which is a treatment with ferrous iron generated from iron filings or steel wool. Bulk solids are removed, and the liquid portion containing fine particles is applied to a low pressure microfiltration unit to remove the fine particles resulting in a microfilter effluent. The microfilter effluent may be directly fed to a reverse osmosis (R/O) unit. The R/O reject may be recycled to another R/O unit (second pass). The R/O permeate may be blended as needed with the microfiltration effluent to provide the final discharge effluent with reduced contaminant levels and maximized throughput.

Abstract: A system and method relate to magnetic hoisting member monitoring in an elevator system having an elevator car, a hoisting motor, and a magnetic hoisting member. A monitoring system is used that includes a magnetic field producer, a giant magneto-resistance sensor, a housing unit, and an indicator system. The housing unit is structured to position the magnetic hoisting member of the elevator system relative to the magnetic field producer and the giant magneto-resistance sensor.

Abstract: One or more drum winches wind and unwind flat suspension members to raise and lower an elevator car within a hoistway. Support structures on opposite sides of the hoistway support the winch(es). The flat suspension member may be attached to a termination point on the elevator car. In other examples, a single flat suspension member is simultaneously taken up by a winch on either side of the hoistway, passing down the sides and around the bottom of the elevator car. In a third example, a single winch takes up and lets down the flat suspension member, which passes down the side of the elevator car, around the bottom corners using deflector sheaves, and up the opposite side to a termination point mounted on one of the support structures. The profile ratio of the flat suspension member is at least about 10:1, 50:1, or at least about 90:1.

Abstract: A process for improving the yield and efficiency of an ethanol fermentation plant that receives organic fermentable feedstock material, prepares the feedstock for fermentation, ferments the feedstock with yeast to produce ethanol, and produces stillage as a byproduct of ethanol fermentation. The process steps which can be operated independently or in combination, may include, but are not limited to, degrading fatty acids in the fermentable feedstock material prior to fermentation; degrading cellulose and hemicellulose present in the feedstock prior to fermentation; adding a surfactant to the fermentable feedstock; separating a liquid fraction from the stillage; recycling the liquid fraction to be combined with the fermentable feedstock; recovering a solid fraction from the stillage; and introducing at least a portion of the solid fraction to an anaerobic digester to produce methane.

Abstract: Systems and methods for treating contaminated impound water are disclosed which include a pretreatment stage wherein contaminated water is oxidized, pH adjusted, treated with a coagulant, and treated with a polymer to form a flocculent comprising bulk solids and fine particles. The oxidizing step may include two or more stages, one of which is a treatment with ferrous iron generated from iron filings or steel wool. Bulk solids are removed, and the liquid portion containing fine particles is applied to a low pressure microfiltration unit to remove the fine particles resulting in a microfilter effluent. The microfilter effluent may be directly fed to a reverse osmosis (R/O) unit. The R/O reject may be recycled to another R/O unit (second pass). The R/O permeate may be blended as needed with the microfiltration effluent to provide the final discharge effluent with reduced contaminant levels and maximized throughput.

Abstract: An apparatus for the anaerobic digestion of solid waste is disclosed. The apparatus includes a pre-digestion treatment chamber and an anaerobic digester chamber coupled to the pre-digestion treatment chamber. A liquid suspension of solid waste is pretreated under aerobic conditions by heating to a desired pre-digestion temperature. One or more chemical or biological additives are added to the suspension of solid waste to improve the anaerobic digestibility of the solid waste. This may include enzymes to destruct poorly digestible solids and/or materials to provide a desired C:N ratio in the solid waste. The apparatus may include mixers, heaters, chemical or biological additives as needed, various sensors and probes, and a control system to monitor and control the anaerobic digestion process and maintain microbial health of the digester.

Abstract: A suspension and transmission device for use with an elevator system comprises one or more strips that provide load carrying, transmission or traction, and load carrying redundancy or safety functions for the elevator system. In one version a single strip comprised of polymer and composite materials provides these functions. In another version multiple strips comprised of polymer and composite materials provide these functions. In another version, a strip comprises a hollow interior portion. In another version one or more strips incorporate materials that can be detected when using the strip to monitor the condition of the one or more strips.

Abstract: A rotating drum screen method for separating solids from thin stillage obtained from ethanol fermentation, the thin stillage comprising one or more of solids and suspended solids. Thin stillage is chemically treated with an anionic polymer to form stable particles of one or more of solids and suspended solids. Introducing the treated thin stillage into a rotating drum screen system. The drum screen includes a filter screen that retains at least a portion of the solids within a hollow portion of the drum screen and which produces a liquid effluent that is discharged from an outer surface of the drum screen. The retained solids are removable from the drum screen via a solid discharge end. A head box is disposed within the hollow portion of the drum screen and has a plurality of fluid flow channel dividers dividing and directing an influent stream outwardly against the drum screen.