Abstract: An aerator for bodies of water having a housing with a concave top wall, an annular buoyant core and a plurality of aerator pumps which draw water from beneath the core and spray the water in vertically spaced sheets onto the top wall of the housing. A telescoping tube extends from the central opening of the top wall down through the core and down near the bottom of the lake. An impeller is provided in the telescoping tube for driving the water down through the tube and out through the outlet opening thereof. A heater is provided below the top wall and on the outside edges of the aerator pump to prevent ice formation thereon. A screened enclosure is provided beneath the buoyant core through which filtered water can be drawn by the aerator pump. A plurality of legs are adjustably secured to the housing for supporting the housing on the bottom of the lake bed.

Abstract: A hollow-fiber permeability apparatus includes:a housing; a bundle of permeable-wall hollow fibers disposed in the housing; inlet means for supplying a first fluid into the spaces between the fibers; outlet means for withdrawing the first fluid from the housing, the first fluid being led through at least one of the inlet and outlet means in a lamelliform flow toward the bundle, whereby the first fluid can uniformly flow through the whole bundle; and means for flowing a second fluid inside the fibers such that materials selectively permeate through the walls of the fibers.

Abstract: A remote control valve which regulates a reverse osmosis water purifier with only fluid connections between the control valve and the water purifier, no mechanical, electrical, or other such connections, being necessary.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for aerating a body of waste water in which air is supplied to a bell chamber disposed below the surface of the water and in which a stream of water is withdrawn from the body and jetted through the air space in the chamber so as to penetrate the water residing below the chamber and thereby drive air into the water.

Abstract: Water from existing clarifier tank is pumped to a centrifugal separator where solid particles are removed. A bypass valve is disposed between the outlet of the separator and the inlet of the pump to keep the separator operating at high velocity even when there is little or no demand for processed water. A vortex breaker is provided at the sludge outlet of the separator to prevent solid particles from being carried to the processed water outlet to the separator. A valve is provided at the outlet of the vortex breaker to prevent vacuum lock when the pump is turned off, and a priming valve is provided to prime the pump. A float tank and check valve may also be provided for expelling trapped air from the system. Two or more centrifugal separators may be employed in parallel when a higher volume of processed water is required.

Abstract: A pump supplies water from a clarifier tank to a centrifugal separator, where solid particles are removed, and then to wash spray heads. A return or bypass conduit with a pressure-operated, modulating one-way valve permits water to pass from the outlet of the separator to the inlet of the pump in sufficient volume to ensure that the separator will operate at high velocity even when there is little or no demand for processed water at the spray heads as well as to recycle centrifuged water to further clean it. A float tank is coupled to and extends from the return conduit for enabling any trapped air to be expelled from the system. In addition, an air-bleeding conduit with a one-way check valve therein is placed in parallel with the return conduit to permit air flow in the direction opposite to that allowed by the valve therein to enable air to be removed from the system, especially when the pump is primed by supply of additional water thereto.

Abstract: A method for treating a body of liquid with a gas, which method comprises passing a stream of the liquid through a conduit, injecting gas intermittently into the stream at high pressure so as to dissolve at least some of the gas in the liquid stream, and introducing the stream containing dissolved gas and undissolved bubbles of gas into the main body of liquid under turbulent conditions such that the undissolved bubbles are shattered into even finer bubbles which dissolve in, or are consumed within, the main body of liquid.

Abstract: The method, and the apparatus for carrying out the steps of the method, are utilized in the centrifugal liquid processing of whole blood wherein whole blood is withdrawn from a donor, passed through a fluid system and the blood is centrifuged to separate the same into at least three components. One component which is to be collected is withdrawn at a fixed rate of volumetric displacement while the other two components are withdrawn at variable rates of volumetric displacement. The other two components are recombined and returned to the donor. The withdrawal of the one component is optically monitored to determine whether or not either one of the other components is being mixed with the one component. When such a mixing is sensed, the rate of withdrawal of one of the other two components is increased while the rate of withdrawal of the other components is decreased thereby to ensure withdrawal of the desired one component, e.g.

Abstract: An improved technique for reprocessing, through a reaction zone, a portion of an agitated flow of waste water that is coupled into a wedge-shaped or frusto-conical separating zone via such reaction zone is described. A recirculation conduit, independent of an inlet aperture at the bottom of the separating zone for admitting an upward flow of water from the separating zone, has an inlet end communicating with the separating zone at an upper region thereof, the outlet of the recirculation zone emptying into the agitated water stream in the reaction zone. The inlet aperture at the bottom of the separating zone has a cross-sectional area which is small relative to the cross-sectional area of the separating zone and small relative to the cross-sectional area of the reaction zone.

Abstract: This invention provides improved methods and apparatus for dissolving oxygen in wastewater treatment processes such as is required to satisfy the biological oxygen demand in the activated sludge process for the biodegradation of organic impurities. The invention enables attainment of high concentrations of dissolved oxygen with minimum consumption of oxygen and power. Wastewater with the high concentration of dissolved oxygen may be mixed with a larger volume of untreated wastewater to achieve the desired oxygen concentration and maintain volatile solids in suspension in the bulk liquid for optimum efficiency of purification.

Abstract: A gas transfer system adapted to dissolve a gas or other compressible fluid in a relatively non-compressible liquid such as waste water with a minimum expenditure of energy. The system makes use of a drum divided by radial vanes into liquid chambers. Rotation of the vanes causes the chambers to rotate about the central axis of the drum whereby in the course of every operating cycle, each chamber is brought into operative relation with the respective interfaces of an inflow station, a gas transfer station and an outflow station. At the inflow station, raw liquid to be treated is fed into the chamber then in operative relationship therewith to produce a liquid batch therein. Concurrently, at the transfer station another batch of raw liquid in the chamber then in operative relation therewith is subjected to pressurized gas to effect the absorption of the gas by the liquid.

Abstract: Apparatus for aeration of water for reduction of the biological oxygen demand, which comprises a cylindrical vessel with vertical axis of selected cross-sectional area and height. A horizontal dividing wall is positioned near the bottom of the vessel. Water enters into the space below the dividing wall and passes upwardly through a plurality of narrow slots spaced equally from each other. An air manifold is provided including a plurality of small diameter pipes, or arms, each of which is positioned over one of the slots in the dividing wall. A plurality of small diameter orifices are drilled on the underside of the arms, divided substantially equally on each side of the center line, so that as the water rises it is immediately contacted by the air bubbles, which issue through these orifices. The air bubbles and liquid would rise in a column above the arms. Near the top of the chamber is a horizontal baffle plate, which has an annular space between its outer circumference and the inner wall of the tank.

Abstract: A mixing vessel is provided for the treatment of wastes with aerobic bacterial cultures having high-turbulent mixing under conditions supportive of rapid waste digestion. The mixing vessel has a chamber therein with a sparger depending into the central portion and providing streams of incoming untreated waste feed that are distributed radially from the longitudinal axis of the vessel. Medially positioned in the chamber is an annular collector concentric to the sparger for withdrawing waste material under treatment into a recirculation loop. The collector is operatively associated with a recirculation pump, a system outlet, an aeration fluid delivery means and a jet injector. The jet injector has a nozzle for propelling at high velocities a jet of fluids upwardly into the chamber along the longitudinal axis. The jet is comprised of recirculation wastes and entrained air.

Abstract: Wastewater treatment wastes, such as skimmings or sludges, are processed so as to reduce the water content by approximately two thirds and increase the impurities content thereof. The wastes are passed over a dense supply of very fine bubbles. These fine bubbles assist in floating impurities within the wastes to result in the formation of an upper stratum of gas, residual water and a concentrated impurities content and of a lower stratum that is primarily water, after which the upper and lower strata are separated.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating waste water such as sewage in which at least one bundle of a number of straight tubes is submerged in waste water to be treated, said bundle being particularly provided with a plurality of crossing passages extending across the bundle which passages are arranged intermittently along the bundle with certain intervals therebetween so that no Poiseuille flow is substantially formed in each of the tubes. The waste water is flowed through the bundle of straight tubes in a direction along the bundle. In the bundle of straight tubes, organic substances in the waste water are removed due to decomposition caused by microorganisms which adhere to the inner surface of each tube. Owing to the presence of the crossing passages, removal of the organic substances proceeds effectively and promptly due to uniform flow distribution across the bundle, a disturbance of flow given to the water, propagation of various kinds of microorganisms and the like.

Abstract: A surge suppression system for dampening surge pressures or pipe hammer by introducing a gas into a flow conduit in such an amount that the introduced gas is in excess of that required to saturate the liquid. Preferably, the gases are those which are relatively inert or not unduly reactive and which possess relatively low saturation levels with respect to the liquid. Desirably, the gas is added through a member to the flow conduit in a vicinity of high turbulence. The surge suppression system can be utilized in generally any liquid system and particularly in a liquid transmission system.Another embodiment pertains to a scrubber or washer for generally purifying gases and may contain one or two stages to efficiently remove impurities as through the use of high solubility fluids, fluids which decompose contaminants or which contain or provide (i.e. heating stage) catalysts to decompose contaminants, oxidizing agents, or reducing agents.

Abstract: A toilet system for use on vehicles, such as railroad trains and boats, wherein the toilet contents are chlorinated and ground into a slurry of a predetermined size prior to pumping out. The system includes a grinder which recirculates the toilet contents through the grinder for a predetermined period of time. The system cannot operate until a chlorine tablet has been inserted into the toilet. A timer may be provided which shuts off the grinder after the aforementioned period of time. A valve may be provided in the system which can be activated to pump out the ground chlorinated contents of the toilet while grinding the same and will run until the holding tak of the toilet is emptied. The macerated and chlorinated waste treated in this system requires a relatively low amount of chlorine and has a bacteria count so low that the ground and chlorinated waste may be dumped in situ, such as along railroad tracks or in a harbor or the like.

Abstract: A reservoir for the final treatment of sewage is provided with a fluid diverter, which is interconnected with and actuated by a float on the surface of the liquid collected in the reservoir. A submersible pump within the liquid recirculates liquid by spraying it through a foraminous header disposed above the liquid level. When the liquid level in the reservoir falls below a predetermined liquid level, the diverter permits the sprayed fluid to be returned to the reservoir. When the liquid level rises above the predetermined liquid level, the diverter diverts at least a portion of the fluid into the outlet pipe and continues to do so until the predetermined liquid level is restored.

Abstract: An aerobic sewage treatment system is constructed of a plurality of series-connected turbulent, aerated stages which progressively purify the waste to essentially organic-free water without building up sludge. The system is especially suitable for a compact toilet, such as a toilet on a pleasure boat or recreational vehicle. Discharge of effluent can be avoided by evaporation of water from the system by venting the stages and if necessary by heating the effluent from the last stage.

Abstract: In larger sewage water systems, there is a risk that the water may become rotten due to lack of oxygen. According to the invention, this problem is solved by letting the pump in a pump station of the system act as an aerator as well as a transporter of the water. To aerate the water, the outlet of the pump is connected to a jet nozzle with an air intake. The aerated water is conveyed back to the pump station tank. The pump outlet may also be connected to the outlet pipe of the tank for discharging sewage water from the tank.

Abstract: A reservoir for the final treatment of sewage is provided with a fluid diverter, which is interconnected with and actuated by a float on the surface of the liquid collected in the reservoir. A submersible pump within the liquid recirculates liquid by spraying it through a foraminous header disposed above the liquid level. When the liquid level in the reservoir falls below a predetermined liquid level, the diverter permits the sprayed fluid to be returned to the reservoir. When the liquid level rises above the predetermined liquid level, the diverter diverts at least a portion of the fluid into the outlet pipe and continues to do so until the predetermined liquid level is restored.

Abstract: Apparatus for biologically treating sewage in an elongated circulation tank having a central partition extending along the longitudinal axis thereof thereby dividing the tank into two parallel flow channels connected together at opposite ends, aerators rotating about a perpendicular axis located along said longitudinal axis so that the sewage may be forced into a circulating flow about the perpendicular axis and about the partition. The circulating flow about said perpendicular axis thereby being decelerated and the sewage circulating about the partition being guided to and away from the rotating aerators with the full cross-section of the flow channels.