Abstract: A method of recovering solids from water-based effluent. A first step involves evaporating wastewater effluent containing a liquid contaminant, such as ammonium to recover a concentrated solution and a water effluent stream. Where the water effluent stream includes solids, further step can be taken to dry the wastewater effluent further to recover solids, such as by using a thin plate evaporator and a heat exchanger disk evaporator.

Abstract: A method of modifying the apparent wettability (the area contacted by a liquid) of solids with liquids by controlling the surface geometry or the capillary geometry. This modification is possible by understanding the geometric relationship between the contact angle and the included angle of surface features. This same geometric relationship can be used to enhance two-phase fluid separation during phase transformation as well as measure dynamic contact angles.

Abstract: A system for removing high purity salt from a brine. One system includes a first evaporator configured to receive a brine stream, to produce a first output comprising a sodium chloride slurry, and to produce a first intermediate output. The system also includes a second evaporator fluidly coupled to the first evaporator and configured to receive the first intermediate output, to produce a first recovery output, and to produce a second intermediate output. The system includes a third evaporator fluidly coupled to the second evaporator and configured to receive the second intermediate output and to produce a second recovery output. The first recovery output and the second recovery output are used to produce the brine stream received by the first evaporator.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recovering oil from oil-containing sorbents, such as drill cuttings obtained from drilling with an oil-based mud. The method includes peptizing the substrate with an acid reagent and direct thermal desorption with combustion effluent gases at high temperature under turbulent mixing conditions. Another method disclosed includes upgrading the oil in the substrate to improve one or more of the properties of the recovered oil relative to the oil in the substrate, such as, lower aromatics content, lower sulfur content, lower functional group content, higher saturates, higher viscosity, higher viscosity index, and any combination thereof. The apparatus provides for efficient recovery of oil from the substrate with a short residence time, high throughput, low residual oil content in the treated solids and/or high percentage of oil recovery. The apparatus may be transported to a remote location for on-site treatment of drill cuttings or other oil-containing solids.

Abstract: An apparatus and method to remove water content in organic solvents characterized in that it comprises treatment tank 10 to which organic solvent is introduced, solvent inlet section 1 that introduces the organic solvent, solvent outlet section 2 from which the treated organic solvent is discharged, inert gas inlet section 3 from which inert gas is introduced, treatment gas outlet section 4 from which gas is discharged, cooling treatment tank 20 in which the treatment gas is cooled and the gas and liquid are separated, treatment gas inlet section 5 from which the treatment gas is introduced, recovered liquid outlet section 6 from which the separated liquid organic solvent is discharged, and waste gas outlet section 7 from which the separated gas is discharged, and that the water content in the organic solvent is removed by having the inert gas flow over the entire liquid surface of the organic solvent inside treatment tank 10.

Abstract: A dialysis unit includes both an inlet for guiding dialysis fluid in a direction of flow to a dialyser membrane and an outlet for discharging dialysate from the dialyser membrane. A heat pump configured to exchange thermal energy between a heat reservoir and the dialysis fluid in the inlet is coupled to the inlet.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for improved operation of a fluid purification apparatus. The fluid purification apparatus includes a pressure sensor to energize and de-energize one or more components of the fluid purification apparatus based on the pressure entering or in the fluid purification apparatus.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for level control in a fluid purification apparatus. The apparatuses and methods include a fluid purification apparatus and a level sensor that regulates operation of the fluid purification apparatus. The level sensor may further operate a bypass valve or a heater.

Abstract: A liquid evaporation system for evaporating clean water from a reservoir of wastewater includes a liquid evaporator to evaporate and separate water vapor from the wastewater in a confined space, an air blower to supply air to the liquid evaporator, and a wastewater heating system arranged to collect heat to heat the wastewater in the reservoir.

Abstract: A circulating oil stream cleaner wherein oil to be cleaned is passed through filter medium to remove particulates carried by the circulating oil and through an evaporator unit having a flat, inclined, evaporation surface comprising a top surface of a heat conductive heating block with an electric heater probe therein and positioned closely beneath the heating surface and, with the circulating oil being conductively heated as it passes beneath the heating block, up a frontal end of the heating block and cascades onto and spreads as a film over and then off the heating surface of the heating block through an exit port of the evaporator unit; an evaporation chamber provided above the heating surface allows heated air to circulate over and convectively heat the film of oil and to escape with entrained water and volatiles.

Abstract: Provided are devices, device systems, and methods to intercept and kill fluid borne cancer cells to slow or prevent metastases.

Abstract: A fuel filter system, especially for Diesel engines includes filter housing (1) having a fuel inlet (27) and a fuel outlet (29) and a dehydrating filter medium (23) between the inlet and the outlet for the fuel to pass through. The filter housing (1) has a collection chamber (35) for the water trapped by the filter medium from which collection chamber the water can be supplied to a water absorbing and evaporating device (49) via a controlled dispenser (45). The components of the evaporating steam are releasable into the environment through the evaporating steam outlet (51). The water absorbing and evaporating device (49) has a valve arrangement (59, 61) by which the evaporating water outlet (51) can be closed depending on an inadmissible amount of non-evaporated water (55) collected in the evaporating device (49).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for dewatering mixture of ethanol and water. The method comprises steps for feeding mixture of ethanol and water (1) into an evaporator (2), evaporating said mixture of ethanol and water (1) and feeding a stream of vaporized mixture of ethanol and water (3) to a vapor recompression unit (4), pressurizing vaporized mixture of ethanol and water (3) in the vapor recompression unit (4) and feeding a stream of pressurized vaporized mixture of ethanol and water (5) to a membrane unit (6), and dividing said stream of pressurized mixture of ethanol and water (5) in to a stream of mixture of ethanol and water (8) and into a stream of dewatered mixture of ethanol and water (7).

Abstract: Supercritical carbon dioxide extraction of corn germ oil from corn germ utilizing extraction conditions adapted to a dry corn fractionation ethanol production process.

Abstract: A membrane distillation system is provided for distilling liquids. The membrane distillation system includes a heat generating means for heating a non-distilled liquid. The membrane distillation system further includes a microporous membrane that is asymmetric and vapor permeable. The microporous membrane includes a hydrophilic layer and a hydrophobic layer. The membrane distillation system further includes a supply means for delivering the heated non-distilled liquid to the hydrophilic layer of the microporous membrane. A collection means is further provided for collecting distilled liquid from the hydrophobic layer of the microporous membrane. A method of fabricating the microporous membrane for use in the membrane distillation system is also provided.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and/or apparatuses for treating wastewater produced at a thermoelectric power plant, other industrial plants, and/or other industrial sources are disclosed. The wastewater is directed through a wastewater concentrator including a direct contact adiabatic concentration system. A stream of hot feed gases is directed through the wastewater concentrator. The wastewater concentrator mixes the hot feed gases directly with the wastewater and evaporates water vapor from the wastewater. The wastewater concentrator separates the water vapor from remaining concentrated wastewater. A contained air-water interface liquid evaporator may be arranged to pre-process the wastewater before being treated by the wastewater concentrator.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for water purification. Embodiments can generally be applied to demister cyclones (6). Some embodiments allow for more of the pressure change which occurs in demister cyclones to occur in the separating chamber (19) of the demister cyclone. Some embodiments include a demister cyclone having an internal perforated wall (52). Some embodiments include a groove (103) or a baffle (102) on the underside of a boiler cover.

Abstract: A device for separating fuel components comprises a separating membrane for separating high-octane fuel components from un-separated fuel, a heater for heating the un-separated fuel and a pressure apparatus for pressurizing the un-separated fuel. In the device, un-separated fuel is heated by the heater and is pressurized by the pressure apparatus such that the state of the un-separated fuel is changed to a mixed gas phase and liquid phase state of a gas weight ratio from 50% to 95% before coming into contact with the separating membrane.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for separating a product contained as solvent in a solution to be processed, comprising at least one forward osmosis device (816) through which the solution to be processed and a draw solution flow, and a device connected downstream thereof for obtaining the product (56, 62) from the diluted draw solution exiting the forward osmosis device, wherein the forward osmosis device comprises at least one flow channel conducting the solution to be processed and at least one flow channel conducting the draw solution, the inner space of a respective flow channel conducting the solution to be processed is delimited at least partially by a semi-penneable membrane wall that is peimeable to the solvent of the solution to be processed but not to the substance dissolved therein, and at least one flow channel conducting the draw solution is delimited on opposite sides by membrane walls that are associated with two adjoining flow channels conducting the solution to be processed, such that solv

Abstract: A method of separating a mixture of liquid and insoluble solids in a filter press may comprise: pumping the mixture into a chamber between two filter plates in the filter press to form a filter cake, wherein the chamber is lined by filter cloths, and wherein, during the pumping, filtrate is forced through the filter cloths and out of the chamber; heating the filter cake in the chamber, wherein, during the heating, filtrate is forced through the filter cloths and out of the chamber, and wherein the heating is by radio frequency irradiation of the filter cake in the chamber; and releasing dried filter cake from the chamber.

Abstract: A novel method of extracting minerals from an aqueous source, and an equipment system for carrying out this method, are provided. The method comprises feeding the aqueous source into the feed side of a forward osmosis device while simultaneously feeding a draw solution that includes an osmotic agent through the draw side of the forward osmosis device. The feed and draw sides are separated by a semi-permeable membrane that allows water to be drawn through the membrane to the draw side, thus yielding a concentrated stream from the feed side. The solids can then be separated from that stream and recovered for use.

Abstract: Certain disclosed embodiments concern systems and methods of preparing dialysate for use in a home dialysis system that is compact and light-weight relative to existing systems and consumes relatively low amounts of energy. The method includes coupling a household water stream to a dialysis system; filtering the water stream; heating the water stream to at least about 138 degrees Celsius in a non-batch process to produce a heated water stream; maintaining the heated water stream at or above at least about 138 degrees Celsius for at least about two seconds; cooling the heated water stream to produce a cooled water stream; ultrafiltering the cooled water stream; and mixing dialysate components into the cooled water stream in a non-batch process.

Abstract: An apparatus for de-aering, oxygenating and controlling a temperature of blood in an extracorporeal blood circuit. The apparatus includes a housing, a manifold body, a heat exchanger, and an oxygenator. A blood inlet tangentially directs blood into a first chamber of the housing. The manifold body is disposed in a second chamber, and includes a core and a plurality of vanes that define channels. The heat exchanger is arranged around the manifold body, and the oxygenator around the heat exchanger. The channels are open to the heat exchanger. An established blood flow path includes rotational flow within the first chamber to separate air from the blood, generally longitudinal flow from the first chamber and along the channels, and generally radial flow through the heat exchanger and the oxygenator. With this construction, gross air removal occurs prior to the blood passing through the heat exchanger and oxygenator.

Abstract: A system adapted to condition an initial water feed stream into a treated water stream and to discharge the treated water stream. The initial water feed stream includes at least one of: a plurality of particles; an oil; a volatile organic compound; a hydrogen sulfide; a non-volatile compound; a heavy metal; and, a dissolved ion. The system includes a particle and oil removal subsystem adapted to treat the initial water feed stream to remove the plurality of particles and the oil to form a first partial treated water stream, a chemical oxygen demand reduction subsystem adapted to treat the first partial treated water stream to remove the volatile organic compound, the hydrogen sulfide and/or the non-volatile organic compound to form a second partial treated water stream, and a heavy metal and dissolved ion removal subsystem adapted to treat the second partial treated water stream to remove the heavy metal and the dissolved ion to form a treated water stream.

Abstract: A desalination system wherein a latent heat of condensation produced by the temperature gradient across a membrane distillation (MD) module is transferred directly to a latent heat of vaporization during desalination of a liquid flow stream. The desalination system comprises the MD module disposed within an object and configured to receive an input feed stream for desalination and produce an output flow stream of a product. The system also comprises a vapor compressor in fluidic communication with the MD module and configured to introduce a hot steam to a high temperature side of the MD module and extract a cool steam, having a temperature less than the hot steam, from a low temperature side of the MD module, thereby creating a temperature gradient across of the MD module. A desalination method is also presented.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for dewatering mixture of ethanol and water. The method for dewatering mixture of ethanol and water in a pervaporation process arranged to dewater ethanol, to the retentate, from water as enriched to the permeate. In the method at least one of the streams of the permeate that is about to be cooled, before the entry of the stream into a vaporizer (2) arranged to vaporize at least partly once processed ethanol-water mixture by the pervaporation process, or another permeate stream upstream of pervaporation unit, is taken (HEXI) in the cooling phase of said at least one of the streams of the permeate, so that said heat taken is at least partly directed as secondary energy into the use for heating of the mixture of the ethanol and the water that is entering into the pervaporation unit, which is arranged to dewater the mixture of the ethanol and water by pervaporation.

Abstract: A membrane distillation module is provided. The membrane distillation module includes a feed water side, a membrane, and a treated water side. A heating element is mounted in the feed water side. The membrane distillation module may optionally further include a heat spreading element. The heat spreading element is mounted in contact with the heating element to improve the efficiency of heat diffusion to the membrane.

Abstract: A method is for the treatment of ballast water, in which the ballast water is carried into a ballast tank via a down pipe and in which an underpressure created at the upper portion of the down pipe induces the formation of gas bubbles in the ballast water. Before flowing into the down pipe, the ballast water is carried via a throttling device into a closed container at the upper portion of the down pipe, the closed container having a flow area larger than the flow area of the down pipe.

Abstract: Provided is a dehydrator that requires no excessively large apparatus structure and achieves cost-saving while maintaining suction efficiency at a desired level by use of suction means. A dehydrator 100 for separating water from a target liquid 13 includes at least two water separation membrane units 1a and 1b which are provided in series in a flow direction of the target liquid 13. The water separation membrane unit 1a on an upstream side out of the water separation membrane units 1a and 1b is connected to suction means 7 for sucking a gas phase containing water through one condenser 4, and the one condenser 4 condenses water in the gas phase and thereby separates the water. The gas phase sucked by the suction means 7 from the one condenser 4 is transferred to at least one downstream condenser 8 provided downstream of the one condenser 4, and the downstream condenser 8 condenses water in the gas phase and thereby separates the water.

Abstract: There is provided a method for transporting a fluid, in which even if the fluid is transported for a long period of time, dehydration after transportation is not needed, and the transported fluid can be used immediately after transportation. Specifically, there is provided a method for transporting a fluid, comprising steps of: dehydrating some of the transportation fluid during transportation by using a dehydration system comprising a separation membrane through which water permeates, and returning the dehydrated fluid to the transportation fluid so as to keep water content in the transportation fluid in a fixed range.

Abstract: A pump in fluid communication with the outlet of a fluid purification apparatus. A pump may furthermore provide fluid to the inlet of the fluid purification apparatus. An embodiment includes a fluid driven rotating inlet device in fluid communication with the inlet of the fluid purification apparatus and an outlet impeller in fluid communication with the outlet of the fluid purification apparatus.

Abstract: A method that includes clarifying a thin stillage product in a mechanical processor to produce a fine suspended solids stream and a clarified thin stillage is provided. The method further includes providing the thin stillage product and the clarified thin stillage, separately or in a combined stream, to one or more evaporators to produce one or more reduced suspended solids streams, each stream having a reduced amount of suspended solids and a lower viscosity as compared to process streams having a comparable total solids content but containing a higher amount of suspended solids. The method can further included further processing of one or more of the reduced suspended solids streams to produce a bio-oil product.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides, in an embodiment, a system for treating a contaminated fluid. The system may include multiple shielded modules in fluid communication with one another. Each module of the system of the present disclosure may include an inner pressure vessel designed to accommodate a treatment medium, the treatment medium being selected to remove radioactive contaminants from a fluid passed through the pressure vessel. The module may also include an outer shield vessel surrounding the pressure vessel and designed to attenuate the radiation from the radioactive contaminants accumulated by the treatment medium in the pressure vessel and facilitate ease of handling and storage of the module together with the contaminated treatment medium. Finally, an annular region may be defined between the pressure vessel and the shield vessel for passing a cooling medium therethrough to remove decay heat from the radioactive contaminants accumulated in the pressure vessel.

Abstract: A VMD system and method uses an aspirator to generate a vacuum pressure for drawing permeate from a membrane module. The aspirator generates the vacuum pressure by receiving and passing a circulating liquid and combines the permeate with the circulating liquid such that the permeate condensates in the circulating liquid. Using an aspirator (e.g., instead of a vacuum pump) allows a more efficient and cost-effective operation of the VMD system and method, particularly in a desalination application. A VMD system and method using an aspirator may be used in desalination and other applications including, without limitation, environmental cleanup (e.g., removal of volatile organic chemicals from water) and food and medical applications.

Abstract: [Problem] To provide a membrane separation apparatus and a membrane separation method capable of reducing energy consumption, [Solution] A membrane separation apparatus (10) includes: a membrane separator (20) supplied with a fluid (X) containing a component (A) and a component (R) and separating the fluid (X) into a fluid (Y) having a higher concentration of the component (A) than the fluid (X) and a fluid (Z) having a lower concentration, of the component (A) than the fluid (X) by using a separation membrane; a first compressor (21) adiabatically compressing the fluid (Y); a first heat exchanger (11) to which the fluid (Y) adiabatically compressed by the first compressor (21) is introduced as a heat source; and a second heat exchanger (12) to which the fluid (Z) is introduced as a heat source.

Abstract: A condenser or heat exchanger includes a circulation system for moving a cooling fluid, and a graphite foam in thermal communication with the circulation system. The condenser or heat exchanger can be used to remove water, or more particularly freshwater from humid air in tropical, subtropical, and arid climates.

Abstract: Systems and methods for removing boron-containing contaminants from a composition comprising trichlorosilane to form a purified product comprising trichlorosilane are disclosed. Purification columns and devices, having various locations of inlet and outlet ports, are fluidly connected to each other in order to remove various types of boron species and other impurities present in TCS.

Abstract: This invention relates to a fresh water separator including a dilute draw solution chamber, at least one first membrane contactor which receives a fluid fed from the dilute draw solution chamber so that gas and fresh water can be separated from the fluid, a second membrane contactor which enables the separated gas to be dissolved in a fluid flowing in the second membrane contactor so that the separated gas is re-concentrated, and a vacuum pump which cooperates with the first membrane contactor and the second membrane contactor, and to a forward osmotic desalination device including the fresh water separator.

Abstract: A pump in fluid communication with the outlet of a fluid purification apparatus. A pump may furthermore provide fluid to the inlet of the fluid purification apparatus. An embodiment includes a fluid driven rotating inlet device in fluid communication with the inlet of the fluid purification apparatus and an outlet impeller in fluid communication with the outlet of the fluid purification apparatus.

Abstract: A method for fractionating a fuel includes heating the fuel and flowing it through hollow superhydrophobic membranes in a membrane module. Vapor from the fuel permeates the hydrophobic membranes and enters a distillate collection chamber, producing distilled fuel and residual fuel. The residual fuel is removed from the module and cooled. The cooled residual fuel is flowed through hollow tubes in the module and the distilled fuel is removed from the distillate collection chamber. Burning the distilled fuel reduces engine emissions. A fuel fractionation system includes a distillate collection chamber, hollow superhydrophobic membranes, hollow tubes and a distillate outlet. The hollow superhydrophobic membranes receive heated fuel and allow vapor from the heated fuel to permeate the membranes and enter the distillate collection chamber. The hollow tubes receive cooled residual fuel and are positioned to allow vapor in the distillate collection chamber to condense on outer surfaces of the hollow tubes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for continuous use of a vacuumized water knockout circuit integrated with a contaminated hydraulic-oil reservoir.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a condensing tube and a filtration module thereof. The condensing tube comprises a hollow body having a central hollow compartment; a porous covering layer having gas permeability but being liquid impermeable; and a condensation chamber, being a space formed between the hollow body and the porous covering layer wherein a plurality of fins are provided radially along the hollow body in the condensation chamber to divide the condensation chamber into a plurality of condensation compartments.

Abstract: A fuel deoxygenation system includes an oxygen permeable membrane having a porous membrane and an oleophobic layer. The porous membrane has pores that create a passage extending from a first side to an opposite second side of the porous membrane. The pores have an average pore diameter less than or equal to about 0.06 microns. The oleophobic layer and the porous membrane allow oxygen to cross the oxygen permeable membrane but substantially prevent fuel from crossing the oxygen permeable membrane. A method for removing dissolved oxygen from a fuel includes delivering fuel to an oxygen permeable membrane and removing oxygen from the fuel using the oxygen permeable membrane. A method for modifying a surface of a porous membrane includes depositing an oleophobic treatment agent on the porous membrane, removing solvent and heating the porous membrane to form an oleophobic layer on the porous membrane.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for warming a volatile containing fluid in a system using a heat transfer fluid and thereby removing volatiles from the fluid system. The apparatuses and methods include a heat transfer fluid vessel disposed in an evaporator chamber. The apparatuses and methods may furthermore include a volatile containing fluid inlet, a volatile containing fluid outlet, a volatile removal gas inlet and a volatile removal gas outlet disposed through the evaporator section.

Abstract: A system and method for analyzing a biological substance, the device comprising: a specimen input device; at least one pumping device in flow communication with a chemical reservoir and said specimen input device; and at least one flow cell in flow communication with said at least one pumping device via at least one flow valve, wherein said at least one flow cell is configured to contain said specimen and includes a sensing device configured to sense at least one characteristic of said specimen.

Abstract: A system (10) for processing and treating a wastestream, NPP primary water or like fluid from a PWR, VVER or other boron moderated reactor source is disclosed. The system allows discharge amounts of boron to be safely lowered and selectively recovered as a solid for disposal and recycled or reused in other fluid forms; and allows for replenishing of high pH subsystems needed in situ by internal coordinated use of regeneration fluids.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for the purification of a liquid by membrane distillation comprising: passing a heated vapourising stream of a liquid (retentate stream) through a retentate channel along a porous hydrophobic membrane (10), whereby vapour of the liquid flows via the pores of the membrane to the other side of said membrane, and condensing said vapour on the other side of said membrane to give a distillate stream in a distillate channel (5) which distillate is created by passing the heat of condensation (latent heat) towards a condenser surface (3), said condenser surface forming a non-porous separation between a feed stream of the liquid to be purified and said distillate stream, which feed stream is passed through a feed channel (2) in counter-current with the retentate stream, in which feed channel a space material (4) is arranged whereby at least part of the latent heat is transferred via the condenser surface to the feed stream, and whereby a positive liquid pressure difference is applied be

Abstract: The invention proposes a method of destruction of volatile organic and inorganic compounds in wastewater, this method includes following stages: stripping the aforementioned volatile compounds in a stripping-chemisorption column; preliminary heating the gaseous medium containing these volatile compounds in a first heat regenerator; thermal, flare or thermo-catalytic oxidation of the volatile compounds in circulating gaseous medium; cooling the gaseous medium in a second heat regenerator; chemisorption of acidic gases from the gaseous medium in the stripping-chemisorption column with stripping at the same time additional amount of the volatile compounds from the wastewater. After specific period, direction of the gaseous medium flow is alternated. The proposed method can be executed at elevated temperature. The invention includes as well systems realizing the proposed method.

Abstract: A total water desalination system is disclosed that includes a centrifugal separator, a feed-water device controlled by a relative humidity sensor, an air pump, an evaporator core, an air dryer, a non-particulate coalescent air filter, and an air flow/brine gravity separating tank. The evaporator core typically contains multiple conical processing chambers and introduces a physical dynamic that increases the surface area of the water, using low-level thermal energy to vaporize micron-size water particles into a gaseous state, suitable for reconstitution into desalinated (or lower salt content) water. The evaporator core operation principles are based on creating a highly dynamic environment that separates impurities from sea, brackish, river, or turbid water; evaporating the water into a residual clean vapor, and returning the vapor to water composition with high efficiency.

Abstract: Provided herein are systems and methods for use in wastewater treatment. In some examples, the systems and methods involve different combinations of ion exchange and membrane based systems and processes that can be used to remove radium and recover and purify barium and strontium salts to render the wastewater depleted of those regulated toxic metals. Treated wastewater having less than 12000 pCi/L of any of radium, barium or strontium is then subjected to tertiary treatment where it is subjected to processes in an evaporator/crystallizer which drives out water in the form of vapor, leaving behind salts of innocuous metals such as sodium, calcium, and magnesium, among others. In some examples, water vapor from the processes is condensed to produce water suitable for reuse, such as reuse in the hydro-fracturing process.