Abstract: A device for separating magnetic particles from a fluid stream including an enclosure, an inlet and an outlet conduit communicating with the top portions of the enclosure, and a baffle interposed therebetween causing fluids passing from the inlet to the outlet to traverse to a lowermost portion of the enclosure, in proximate location to a magnetic source whereby the intimate contact thereon causes magnetic particles entrained in the fluid to be removed.

Abstract: A biogas generator which includes a medium conducive to the growing of plants that are floating and of the family that includes water hyacinths, lily pads, and elodea; a conveyor for transferring the free floating plants from the growing area to a decomposition area including a canopy adapted to entrain therewithin biogas given off by decomposing plants constrained thereunder, and an instrumentality for scavenging the biogas generated therein to a remote area for subsequent use and or compression.

Abstract: A method for removing the excess sodium and byproducts of reaction which occur during the destruction of PCBs from oil. A predetermined quantity of water is mixed with the decontaminated oil and the byproducts, which include sodium chloride and polyphenyl polymer, to form sodium chloride and sodium hydroxide. Centrifuging removes most of the oil from the remaining aqueous mixture which then is agitated and treated with carbon dioxide gas to form less hazardous sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate. Any excess carbon dioxide gas is vented to the atmosphere and the sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate is collected into containers for disposal. Small amounts of oil remaining in the aqueous waste mixture that is discharged from the centrifuge is decanted from the remaining material in a waste separator due to its lighter specific gravity. A pump intermittently injects waste from the waste separator into a converter where it reacts with the carbon dioxide gas.

Abstract: An improvement is provided in the operation of a long vertical shaft bioreactor in the treatment of waste which comprises circulating waste liquor and oxygenating gas through the bioreactor in which the uppermost portion of the shaft (the surface basin) is under supra-atmospheric pressure. The use of a pressurized surface basin subjects the waste to improved oxidizing conditions in a critical zone of the bioreactor and results in more effective biodegradation of the waste. By precise control of surface basin pressure, adequate levels of oxygen in the waste are maintained for biodegradation purposes while unwanted gas, such as carbon dioxide and nitrogen, are disengaged. The pressure on the surface of the waste in the basin is controlled so as to ensure that the concentration of oxygen in the waste is subsaturated and retained while the unwanted gas concentration is super saturated and becomes disengaged.

Abstract: A kit for collecting spilled oil is provided in a single, easily transportable container of components including a flattened floating sock skimmer postionable in the water with a partially submerged open front and an open rear downwardly facing into the water, a crane to facilitate assembly and deployment of the skimmer, a power unit, and towable bags for use in containing oil collected by the skimmer; the container not only provides storage for the components but also functions as a means for separating oil and water removed by the skimmer.

Abstract: A mobile, self-contained, self-powered three stage apparatus is disclosed for separating solids from a liquid. Three stack separator pods are mounted over a housing on a mobile platform. A plurality of hydrocyclones are readily mounted with respect to the separator pods to provide for separating the solidds therewithin. Each successive separator pod contains a greater number of smaller diameter hydrocyclone so as to enable the separation of smaller diameter of particles. Each separator pod also includes degassing capabilities. A plurality of holding tanks act as reservoirs for the fluid and solid mixture prior to and subsequent to each separator pod. A system of internal weirs allows overflow of liquids from a holding tank containing cleaner mixture to a holding tank containing a greater proportion of solids, whereby liquid equilibrium is maintained within the system.

Abstract: A deck drainage system for removing oil containing fluid from an offshore facility includes a plurality of drains communicating with a liquid seal strainer for preventing a back flow of gas through the drain assembly. The liquid seal strainer is provided at each deck of the offshore facility with a vent provided downstream of the liquid seal strainers but upstream of a further treatment of the collected rain water and oil containing fluid. Preferably, the collected fluid is passed through a skim pile where oil is separated from the water and recovered. The clean water is then passed directly into the body of water beneath or adjacent the offshore platform. The vent located downstream of the liquid seal strainers but upstream of the skim pile preferably is provided with a flame arrestor for preventing a flash back of an inadvertent flame to the liquid seal strainer.

Abstract: The operation of an anaerobic methanogenic filter is controlled by measuring the rates at which oxygen demand (O.D.) is fed to the anaerobic filter and at which methane is generated by the filter, estimating therefrom the O.D. of the effluent of the anaerobic filter and controlling the feed rate to the anaerobic filter in accordance with that estimated value. Also disclosed is a means for eliminating long term bias that may be present in the signals fed from sensors to the circuit used for estimating the value of a variable of a process.

Abstract: The invention concerns the separation of granular products of different density in a pneumatically pulsated liquid medium. To control the pulsation amplitude, the level of separation of two layers of the product is detected by a sensor which emits a corresponding control signal and the pulsating air is intermittently vented. The beginning of the venting is controlled after the air inlet valve has been opened completely, the termination of the air venting is controlled at the same time as the closing of the air inlet valve, and the duration of the venting is determined by the control signal from the level sensor. This signal is transmitted to a first input of a computer receiving the control signal and a second input receiving the output signal from a memory unit wherein the air inlet valve opening and closing program is stored, and the output signal of the computer controls the venting.

Abstract: A device for filtering a liquid, provided with a chamber for the circulation of liquid, divided into at least two compartments by a filtering-unit mounted across the liquid path. That device comprises, in an area where the air present in the liquid or separated therefrom has accumulated, a one-way valve for exhausting air, should any overpressure take place in that area. The valve is provided with an obturator integral with a float driven by the free level of the liquid. That obturator cooperates with two opposed valve-seats for closing a passage made in the wall of the filtration chamber.

Abstract: Continuously operating inside flow filter for placement within a pressure tank, comprising one or several filter cartridges filled with a filtering mass and an alkalizing mass placed around a sludge cylinder fitted upon a bottom grating, and the pipe system associated with the equipment, with valve control. Both the water filtering and the flushing have been arranged to take place by operating one single three-way valve known in itself, in such manner that during filtration this valve and the drain valve in the bottom of the tank is closed and the water flows from the water mains through the three-way valve and a check valve and through a pipe into the lower part of the tank in among the mass, whereby the iron will be precipitated.

Abstract: A fluid filtering device is provided which is particularly suitable for connection with the suction line of a hydraulic pump. The fluid filtering device comprises an elongated tubular cylindrical housing open at each end and which has at least its lower end submerged in a reservoir of the fluid to be filtered. An elongated filter assembly includes an extension tube and tubular cylindrical filter element detachably coaxially connected at one end to the extension tube. The filter assembly is axially insertable into the housing so that the filter element is positioned below the fluid level of the reservoir. Upon insertion, both axial ends of the filter element sealingly engage the interior walls of the housing while the filter element is spaced radially inwardly from the housing and thus forming an annular outlet chamber. Fluid flows from the bottom housing, through the filter element, to the annular chamber and out through a fluid connector open to the annular chamber.

Abstract: To seal the top cover of a vacuum travelling web filter, the top cover is lowered, by gravity, with a depending rim fitting against an upstanding rim of a filtrate chamber pan; the contaminant chamber above the filter web is closed off, and supply of filtrate is inhibited. Upon starting of the pump, a vacuum will result within the two chambers, drawing the cover tightly against the filtrate pan and, when a sufficient vacuum has been reached indicative of sealing engagement, supply of contaminant can be opened to draw contaminant into the upper chamber. As the filter cake builds up, further change in pressure in the contaminant chamber will result which, when a predetermined operating pressure level is reached, causes interruption of supply of contaminated fluid, and opening of an air vent valve to dry the resulting filter cake.

Abstract: The specification discloses an improved shut off valve for a canister and lid assembly used as part of a medical suction apparatus. The valve includes a cylindrical plunger made of a soft rubber-like material and having an upwardly facing concave disc integrally formed on the top of the plunger. When the fluid within the canister rises to a predetermined level, the plunger floats upwardly forcing the disc into a sealing relationship covering and blocking a suction port. Alternately, the soft rubber plunger may be dimensioned for use as a plunger cap for the upper end of a hard plastic plunger.The soft rubber plunger and integral concave disc are formed in a composite die, including a disc die and a plunger die. Rubber is injected into the composite die through a bore to form the plunger and integral concave disc. To remove the rubber concave disc from the disc die, air is injected into a bore while the disc die is simultaneously moved away from the plunger die.

Abstract: Processes are provided for accomplishing wet oxidation using a reaction zone wherein the gas phase (oxygen) is allowed to pass therethrough at a flow rate independent of the liquid phase (waste water) flow rate so that more oxygen can be supplied to a given volume of waste water than is possible for a conventional reactor of the equivalent size. A high efficiency wet oxidation is provided by which the process technology can be practiced either in a single stage or multistage. The reactor is directed to operate at temperatures ranging from about 350.degree. to 600.degree. F. at pressures ranging from about 800 to 2200 psig and the reactor provides a gas phase/liquid phase separation feature.

Abstract: A sewage gas collection reservoir is provided with a valve and distribution system. Combustible gases are produced by anaerobic bacteria in mixtures of organic matter which are trapped by the cone shaped reservoir at the top of the mixture from which the gas is drawn past a valve, then past a water trap, then past an activated charcoal filter and fed into an ordinary household gas line by the vacuum created by the flow of the household gas supply. A one way valve is provided at the activated charcoal filter to prevent a reverse flow into the system and reservoir.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a deairing system for use in a bedside-console-type dialysis machine.The system includes a selectively adjustable flow controller, a deairing tank, and a suction pump for drawing dialysis solution from the flow controller through the deairing tank and to the pump. The pump is also connected to the deairing tank for applying a negative pressure and for removing gas from the dialysis solution.The tank is provided with a baffle-and-ball-type check valve arrangement for preventing flow of dialysis solution through the gas line. A recirculation loop is provided in conjunction with the pump and includes an air separation tank downstream of the pump and a negative pressure valve which connects the upstream side of the pump and recirculation tank. The air separation tank cooperates with the pump to assure efficient operation of the pump by minimizing the air drawn through the recirculation loop and to the pump from the separation tank.

Abstract: Toxic heavy metal ions are removed from water by electrochemical replacement as the water flows through a tandem bed of (a) activated zinc and then (b) magnesium alloyed with a minor amount of manganese to inhibit corrosion. The zinc is activated by contact with a noble metal salt. Preferably, fine granules of zinc and Mg/Mn are used. Clogging is prevented by intermittent vacuum degassing of the beds. The activated zinc and the Mg/Mn advantageously are prepackaged and stored in cartridges which become part of the processing column. The Mg/Mn cartridge has a non-reactive atmosphere of e.g., argon, retained by frangible or soluble barriers that hermetically seal the ends of the cartridge. The barriers are torn away or dissolved by the initial water flow when the cartridge is installed. System scale-up is simplified by a "half-length" concept characteristic of the present invention.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing ammonia nitrogen from wastewater at any given temperature. The apparatus and method includes the concept of increasing the pH of the wastewater to a highly basic condition, exposinng the wastewater to a vacuum having an absolute pressure at least approaching the vapor pressure of the wastewater proportional to the given temperature whereby ammonia gas is then desorbed from the wastewater, and subsequently absorbing the desorbed ammonia in a body of liquid having a pH substantially less than the highly basic condition of the original wastewater.

Abstract: The macerator-sterilizer sewage treatment system, that is useful in an overall toilet system to collect, treat and discharge toilet wastes, comprises: macerator/transfer pump means to receive flushed human waste from toilets and urinals; a collection tank connected by conduit means to the outlet of the pump means; a sterilization tank connected by power-operated valved transfer means and transfer pump means to the collection tank; heater means in the sterilization tank; power-operated valved discharge means connected to an outlet of the sterilization tank; and electrical means to control the operation of the macerator/transfer pump means, of the transfer pump means between the collection tank and the sterilization tank, of the heater means, of the power-operated valved discharge means connected to the outlet of the sterilization tank and of the power-operated valved transfer means.

Abstract: An ozone and oxidation chamber for treating a liquid has a housing provided with an influent line and an effluent line spaced from one another for creating a flow of a liquid through the housing. At least one rotatable axle provided with an agitating blade is arranged extending through the housing transverse to the influent and effluent lines, and to the path of liquid being treated, for agitating the liquid in order to mix into the liquid at a high rate oxygen and ozone received from an injection nozzle directed into the liquid and toward the blade. The rotation of the agitator blade is adequate to generate sufficient frictional forces created during the passage of the blade through the liquid to create static electricity on the blade that facilitates conversion of oxygen injected into the liquid, and found in the liquid itself, into ozone which kills germs, virus, and the like in the liquid.

Abstract: An improved process for the purification of effluent is disclosed in which oxygenated effluent is introduced into a treatment zone in which a part of the total amount of biologically activated sludge used in the process is fixed on immersed bacterial beds or discs which are mobile and a further part of said sludge is in suspension in effluent undergoing treatment.

Abstract: A duplex filter system having two filterized fluid flow circuits for maintaining continuous fluid flow to an engine or similar liquid utilizing device during a filter change operation. A fluid control system is provided including liquid-obstructing air vent means for selectively venting air under pressure from an empty one of said two circuits while retaining fluid under pressure within the other said circuit during charging of said empty circuit, whereby fluid pressure within the system is regulated, and the fluid flow controlled. Detection means for detecting pressure within each of the two circuits.

Abstract: A device for separating liquids of lower density than water, in particular oil, from water, comprises a pump and a separator receiving the liquids from the pump. The separator comprises a settling chamber and a filter pack arranged behind the latter. A line between the pump and the settling chamber feeds the liquids exclusively to the latter. The line includes a vent valve. An overflow opening device is provided between the settling chamber and the filter pack. A shut-off member is provided for closing the overflow opening in response to the thickness of the layer of liquid of lower density collected in the settling chamber.

Abstract: BOD-containing water such as sewage is mixed with active biomass and a first quantity of oxygen feed gas in a first cycle for biochemical oxidation to produce oxygenated liquid-solid and unconsumed oxygen-containing gas of lower purity than the feed gas. The unconsumed oxygen is discharged and a second quantity of oxygen feed gas is introduced for mixing in a second biochemical oxygenation cycle.