Abstract: The present invention relates to novel cartridges and modules for separation of fluid mixtures, especially for gas separation, to a process for production thereof and to a method of use thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel cartridges and modules for separation of fluid mixtures, especially for gas separation, to a process for production thereof and to a method of use thereof.

Abstract: Invention for extraction and accumulation of energy from displacement of an agitated fluid includes buoyant body, camshaft, flywheel, and platforms. Buoyant body floats upon agitated fluid surface and is constrained to vertical translation. Buoyant body translation is converted to flywheel rotation via bearings which engage helical cam tracks of a camshaft. Camshaft is torsionally engaged with flywheel. Buoyant body and camshaft are fitted with unidirectional rotary clutches. Upon action of rising wave, buoyant force is exerted upon buoyant body, displacing body vertically and causing bearings to apply torsion to camshaft, driving camshaft and flywheel into rotation. Upon wave recession, buoyant body descends under self weight via freewheeling action of unidirectional clutches. Flywheel may be filled with or emptied of fluid to adjust its rotary inertia during operation. Buoyant body has a tapered shape and may be filled with or emptied of fluid to adjust its interface with agitated fluid.

Abstract: A membrane filtration device has a multiplicity of hollow fiber membranes, or fibers, unconfined in a shell of a module; a first header and a second header disposed in vertically spaced-apart relationship; said first header and said second header having opposed ends of each fiber sealingly secured therein, all open ends of said fibers open to a permeate-discharging face of at least one header; permeate collection means to collect said permeate, sealingly connected in open fluid communication with a permeate-discharging face of at least one of said headers; means to withdraw said permeate; said fibers, said headers and said permeate collection means together forming an integrated combination wherein said fibers are essentially vertically disposed and ends of individual fibers are potted in closely spaced-apart relationship in cured resin; with opposed faces at a fixed distance; each of said fibers having a length from 0.1% to less than 5% greater.

Abstract: This invention relates to synthetic excitatory amino acid prodrugs and processes for their preparation. The invention further relates to methods of using, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising, the compounds for the treatment of neurological disorders and psychiatric disorders.

Abstract: A membrane module is made by inserting ends of membranes into a container and injecting resin directly into a space between adjacent membranes. The container may be a header shell having ducts for injecting the resin from outside of the header to the space between the adjacent membranes. The ducts may pass through a part of the header which forms a permeate cavity. The permeate cavity may be filled with a fugitive material while the resin is being injected.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel crystalline forms of {2-[1-(3,5-bistrifluoromethylbenzyl)-5-pyridin-4-yl-1H-[1,2,3]triazol-4-yl]-pyridin-3-yl}-(2-chlorophenyl)-methanone, compositions thereof, intermediates thereof, methods of using the same, processes for making the same, and processes for making intermediates thereof.

Abstract: A filtration device is provided for withdrawing permeate essentially continuously from a multicomponent aqueous substrate containing growing microorganisms in a reservoir. A vertical skein of fiber is scrubbed with coarse bubbles which emanate from a conversion baffle positioned under the skein. The substrate is aerated with fine bubbles in a size range small enough to transfer oxygen to the substrate efficiently. The baffle traps the fine bubbles and converts them to coarse bubbles which are effective to scrub the fibers. In the most preferred embodiment, the finished headers of the skein are derived from composite headers comprising a fixing lamina of resin in which the fibers are potted near their terminal ends, and a fugitive lamina of fugitive powdery material in which the terminal ends of the fibers are potted. The fugitive lamina is removed, preferably by dissolving the powder, e.g. finely divided common salt in water.

Abstract: A membrane filtration device has a multiplicity of hollow fiber membranes, or fibers, unconfined in a shell of a module; a first header and a second header disposed in vertically spaced-apart relationship; said first header and said second header having opposed ends of each fiber sealingly secured therein, all open ends of said fibers open to a permeate-discharging face of at least one header; permeate collection means to collect said permeate, sealingly connected in open fluid communication with a permeate-discharging face of at least one of said headers; means to withdraw said permeate; said fibers, said headers and said permeate collection means together forming an integrated combination wherein said fibers are essentially vertically disposed and ends of individual fibers are potted in closely spaced-apart relationship in cured resin; with opposed faces at a fixed distance; each of said fibers having a length from 0.1% to less than 5% greater.

Abstract: Modules of ultrafiltration or microfiltration membranes are arranged in a tank open to the atmosphere to substantially cover the cross sectional area of the tank. A filtration cycle has permeation steps and deconcentration steps. During permeation, supply of feed substantially equals feed removed and little if any aeration is used. During deconcentration, aeration with scouring bubbles is provided with one or both of backwashing and feed flushing. In feed flushing, feed water is supplied to the tank from below the modules. Excess tank water created during deconcentration flows generally upwards through the modules and out through a retentate outlet or overflow at the top of the tank.

Abstract: Hollow fiber membranes are potted by injection molding a thermoplastic material into a cavity containing the fibers. The cavity is formed in part by the interaction of a mold and a layer of an adhesive pre-applied to a bundle of the membranes.

Abstract: An apparatus for filtering a liquid in a tank has a plurality of elements and a frame for holding the elements while they are immersed in the liquid. The elements have a plurality of hollow fibre membranes attached to and suspended between an upper header and a lower header. The membranes are in fluid communication with one or more permeate channels in one or more of the headers. Releasable attachments between the headers and the frame allow the frame to releasably hold the elements by their headers. The size and configuration of the frame determines the positions of the upper and lower headers of each element relative to each other. Connections between the permeate channels and one or more permeate collection tubes attached to the frame are releasable and resealable connections which are made or broken automatically by the movements involved in inserting or removing an element into or out of the frame.

Abstract: A membrane module may have, or may be fitted with, a transparent or translucent cover over a block of potting material holding hollow fiber membranes. To locate a defective fiber, a liquid may be placed over the ends of the membranes while the separating surfaces of the membranes are exposed to a gas and a pressure differential is applied to produce bubbles of the gas in the liquid through a defect requiring repair. The location of the defective fiber is revealed by the bubbles. The module may be repaired by closing the potted end of the defective fiber. The pressure differential may be applied by suction on the cover. The separating surfaces of the membranes may not need to be installed in a pressure vessel. The end of the defective membrane may be sealed by manipulating devices from outside of the cover such that the cover does not need to be removed. The cover may also be used to create a permeate cavity, or other part of a header assembly, used in normal operation of the module.

Abstract: An element for use in ultrafiltration or microfiltration of potable water has a large number of small diameter hollow fibre membranes attached between two headers. Side plates attached to the sides of the headers define vertical flow channels containing the membranes. The elements may be placed side by side and stacked on top of each other to form cassettes having continuous vertical flow channels through the entire cassette. The membrane modules or cassettes may be arranged to cover a substantial part of the cross sectional area of an open tank. Tank water may flow upwards or downwards through the flow channels. A tank may be deconcentrated by at least partially emptying and refilling the tank with fresh water while permeation continues. Excess tank water created during deconcentration may flow generally upwards through the modules and out through a retentate outlet or overflow at the top of the tank.

Abstract: An apparatus for filtering a liquid in a tank has a plurality of elements and a frame for holding the elements while they are immersed in the liquid. The elements have a plurality of hollow fibre membranes attached to and suspended between an upper header and a lower header. The membranes are in fluid communication with one or more permeate channels in one or more of the headers. Releasable attachments between the headers and the frame allow the frame to releasably hold the elements by their headers. The size and configuration of the frame determines the positions of the upper and lower headers of each element relative to each other. Connections between the permeate channels and one or more permeate collection tubes attached to the frame are releasable and resealable connections which are made or broken automatically by the movements involved in inserting or removing an element into or out of the frame.

Abstract: A method of chemically cleaning normally immersed suction driven filtering membranes involves backwashing a chemical cleaner through the membranes while the tank is empty in repeated pulses in which the chemical cleaner is pumped to the membranes separated by waiting periods in which chemical cleaner is not pumped to the membranes. The duration and frequency of the pulses is preferably chosen to provide an appropriate contact time of the chemical, preferably without allowing the membranes to dry between pulses and without using excessive amounts of chemical. In other aspects, such membranes preferably used for filtering water to produce potable water in a batch process are backwashed with a chemical cleaner substantially at the same time as the tank is being drained. The chemical cleaner is optionally supplied in pulses.

Abstract: An apparatus is described for withdrawing filtered permeate from a substrate contained in a reservoir at ambient pressure. The apparatus includes a plurality of membrane assemblies. Each assembly has a plurality of hollow fiber filtering membranes, immersed in the reservoir, at least one permeating header with the membranes sealingly secured therein, and a permeate collector to collect the permeate sealingly connected to the at least one permeating header and in fluid communication with lumens of the membranes. The membranes of each assembly extend generally vertically upwards from a first header during permeation. One or more sources of suction are provided in fluid communication with the lumens of the membranes of each assembly through the permeate collectors and apply sufficient suction to withdraw permeate from the lumens of the membranes. An aeration system for discharging bubbles assists in keeping the membranes clean.

Abstract: An immersible permeate collection assembly has an enclosure with walls and a port adapted to be connected to a source of suction. A solid body having a first face and a second face is attached to the enclosure and forms a permeate collection zone with the enclosure. A plurality of hollow fibre membranes are potted in the solid body with open ends in fluid communication with the permeate collection zone. A gas tube passes through the solid body from the first face to the second face. A first end of the gas tube allows a gas flowing through the gas tube to exit the gas tube. A second end of the gas tube communicates with a structure defining a pathway between the air tube and an air port adapted to be connected to a source of pressurized gas.

Abstract: A membrane module has a first solid body having a plurality of passages extending through it and a second solid body. Hollow fiber membranes extend between the solid bodies. A permeate manifold communicates with the lumens of the membranes through their ends. The membranes are arranged into a plurality of spaced bundles in the first solid body. A passage is located between adjacent bundles. An apparatus for withdrawing permeate from a substrate has a membrane module immersed in a tank containing a substrate at ambient pressure. The module is oriented such that the solid bodies are generally vertically aligned with the second solid body above the first solid body. A source of suction is connected to the permeate manifold for withdrawing permeate. A gas distribution system supplies a gas to the passages through the first solid body. The gas may be provided continuously or intermittently during permeation.

Abstract: A filtration device is provided for withdrawing permeate essentially continuously from a multicomponent aqueous substrate containing growing microorganisms in a reservoir. A vertical skein of fiber is scrubbed with coarse bubbles which emanate from a conversion baffle positioned under the skein. The substrate is aerated with fine bubbles in a size range small enough to transfer oxygen to the substrate efficiently. The baffle traps the fine bubbles and converts them to coarse bubbles which are effective to scrub the fibers. In the most preferred embodiment, the finished headers of the skein are derived from composite headers comprising a fixing lamina of resin in which the fibers are potted near their terminal ends, and a fugitive lamina of fugitive powdery material in which the terminal ends of the fibers are potted. The fugitive lamina is removed, preferably by dissolving the powder, e.g. finely divided common salt in water.