Abstract: An oil separator includes: an oil separator container; and a filter element that is disposed in the oil separator container, defines an outer cavity between the oil separator container and itself, includes an inner cavity into which refrigerant gas is introduced, and separates oil from the refrigerant gas flowing to the outer cavity from the inner cavity. The filter element includes a tubular inner filter member that surrounds the inner cavity, and an outer filter layer that includes a refrigerant gas outlet surface exposed to the outer cavity and is disposed outside the inner filter member. A wire-like or band-like filter retaining member that is in contact with the outer filter layer from the outside may be provided. The refrigerant gas outlet surface may occupy at least 80% of the surface area of the outer filter layer.

Abstract: A new device, method, and system are disclosed that provide for removal of undesired materials from a contaminated fluid. Materials present in the fluids are kept in motion in one or more filter cassettes that include disc aerators that improve contact times with the sorbents and that rotate the filter media to pump contaminated water through the filter media for treatment of the contaminated fluids. The device and system provide containment of sorbent fines that keeps the filter media free from clogging.

Abstract: A compact biological treatment assembly, apparatus and methods are disclosed, the apparatus including a movable belt biological contactor having selected microbial cultures established thereon. The apparatus further includes a tank having a volume for receipt of wastewater to be treated, first and second drums positioned at the tank each connected to an end of the belt contactor, and a motor or motors together with a controller for rotating the drums cooperatively to move the belt contactor between the drums thereby coiling and uncoiling the belt contactor on the drums.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a rotating device for continuously filtering a liquid such as a solution containing a precipitate.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method are presented for the mechanical removal of moisture from a filter cake. Differential pressure causes the flow of a treatment fluid through the filter cake. The treatment fluid displaces liquid originally present in the filter cake to preent cracking of the filter cake.

Abstract: The invention provides a shower module that includes an upper elongated chamber, a supply pipe located in the upper elongated chamber, wherein the supply pipe includes at least one discharge opening that faces a side wall of the upper elongated chamber, a lower elongated chamber located adjacent to the upper elongated chamber, wherein fluid flow is provided between the lower elongated chamber and the upper elongated chamber via a transfer opening, and wherein the lower elongated chamber includes a discharge opening; and a coupling mechanism for coupling a flexible member to the lower elongated chamber beneath and substantially parallel to the discharge opening. When incorporated with a rotary vacuum filter, the flexible member causes a reservoir of shower liquid to form on a mat located on the shower drum.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing a solid-liquid material comprises a housing formed with a series of interconnected chambers defined by chamber walls with at least two drums mounted in series within the chambers. Each chamber receives one of the at least two drums for rotatable movement therein. Each chamber and the associated drum are dimensioned to define a region therebetween to retain the solid-liquid material. The regions of adjacent chambers communicate with each other to define a continuous passage from drum to drum through the apparatus. An inlet in the housing admits the solid-liquid material to the passage, and an outlet permits extraction of a processed solid-liquid material from the passage. Each drum rotates in a direction opposite to the adjacent drum to advance the solid-liquid material through the passage from drum to adjacent drum in a sinuous path such that the curvature of the solid-liquid material changes when passing from drum to adjacent drum.

Abstract: A sealed shower system applies shower water to a pulp mat as it passes through a sealed chamber under a vacuum with an air supply that is externally regulated. The shower water forms a pond or film on the pulp mat. The amount of entrapped air is minimized through a downleg of a filter drum which results in maximum filtrate flow, an increased drainage rate, higher efficiency washing and a requirement for less shower water per pound of pulp. In addition, with less entrapped air in the filtrate, the length of the downleg can be reduced enabling lower building heights, smaller filtrate tanks and foam handling systems. The sealed shower system also forms part of a combined shower/hood structure that greatly reduces exhaust emissions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the separation, in particular filtration of liquids and solids from solid-liquid mixtures, such as from a mineral, ore, coal or sludge suspensions of contaminated earth. The processing space of the filtration apparatus is submitted to overpressure and includes a collector container for solid-liquid mixture, a pressure filter, a discharge system and container for condensate and solid matter. The separation or filtration takes place at an overpressure and at an elevated temperature, preferably 40.degree. C. to 300.degree. C., conveniently 60.degree. C. to 200.degree. C., preferably about 150.degree. C. The pressure filter device communicates with a source for a heated medium.

Abstract: A method for recovering crystals from a crystal-containing slurry, which comprises supplying the slurry to a rotary filter having a rotating cylindrical filter medium, filtering the supplied slurry in a filtering region to retain the crystals on the filter medium and washing the filter cake formed on the rotating filter medium repeatedly in a plurality of washing regions by spraying a washing liquid onto the cake in each region by supplying any one of washing regions on the aft side in the rotating direction of the filter medium with the spent washing liquid of the washing region adjacent to said one washing region on the fore side in the rotating direction.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating waste liquid and solid material comprises an upwardly inclined passage containing an auger for conveying the solid waste material upwardly along the passage, with an inlet opening at a lower end of the passage for receiving a mixture of waste liquid and solid material into the auger, a drainage opening at the lower end of the cylindrical passage for draining liquid from the solid waste conveyed by the auger, and a compactor for receiving the solid material fed upwardly by the auger and compacting the solid waste material. An extruder receives and extrudes the compacted solid waste material from the compactor, and may be arranged to convert the compacted material into pellets.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating solids and liquids has an initial separator for removing coarse solid material from a mixture of solids and liquids, a first screen for separating further solid material from the liquid and a first auger extending axially through the first cylindrical screen for removing the separated further solid material from the first cylindrical screen. A second screen receives the liquid from the first screen and separates fine particles from the liquid, and a compactor between the first and second screens compacts the solid material removed from the first screen by the first auger. A second auger is provided in the second screen for mixing and removing the compacted solid material and the separated fine particles.

Abstract: A wash liquid distributor is described for applying liquid uniformly across a filter cake on a filter surface providing effective washing and exhibiting resistance to clogging and fouling.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for washing pulp according to which method the pulp is supplied onto a movable liquid-pervious support surface (2) to form a substantially continuous layer (7); and washing liquid is supplied to the pulp layer and passed in several successive washing phases through different areas of the layer in such a way that the washing liquid gradually flows in the opposite direction compared with the flow direction of the pulp layer. According to the invention the washing liquid is divided in two or more partial flows which pass alternately through different washing phases in such a way that the washing liquid which in one phase has passed through the pulp layer flows past at least the washing phase preceding it in the flow direction of the pulp layer. The apparatus of the invention preferably comprises a rotating cylinder (1) the casting surface (2) of which serves as the liquid-pervious support surface for the pulp.

Abstract: A retainer maintains a body of standing washing liquid against the outside surface of a mat, such as a pulp mat. The mat moves on a vacuum screen which draws washing liquid from the body of liquid through the mat to clean it. The retainer pivots to adjust different mat heights and allows clumps of material on the mat to pass underneath the retainer. Clumps on the mat are also smoothed into the mat as the clumps pass underneath the retainer.

Abstract: A shower pipe for a rotary drum filter includes first and second parallel rows of spray holes which extend along the length of the pipe. The holes in one row are staggered with respect to the holes in the other row, with both rows being positioned circumferentially in the same quadrant of the pipe. Each spray hole has its own separate fan-shaped diffusion flange extending in a generally parabolic curve from the adjacent hole. Each spray hole may be formed by a premolded plastic sleeve-like insert which is inserted through and seated within prebored holes in a section of the pipe. Each insert defines a spray hole or nozzle for discharging liquid under pressure from the pipe onto its associated diffusion flange. Each diffusion flange member may be premolded to include a female threaded upper portion which threads onto a male threaded projectng portion of the insert extending from the outer wall of the pipe.

Abstract: A centrifugal finisher and method of its operation are disclosed for separating finished juice from an initial juice including substantial solids or for separating finished fluid from any slurry including substantial solids, the slurry being introduced into one end of a cylindrical screen driven in rotation for centrifugally urging the slurry against the screen and causing a fluid component to pass through the screen. Wiper paddles are arranged on a support drum for rotation in wiping contact with the screen and for limited movement relative to the screen for continuously moving solid material from the slurry toward an outlet axial end of the screen.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating a fiber suspension, comprises a drum rotatably journalled to a stand and having an envelope surface to support a fiber web formed from the fiber suspension. A curved wall plate which is concave in the direction to the envelope surface of the drum is spaced from the envelope surface (and generally parallel thereto) to define a material space therebetween for said fiber web. The space includes an axial inlet gap and an axial outlet gap. The wall is continuous and encloses a major portion of the envelope surface of the drum and is arranged to move freely in the circumferential direction of the drum to compensate for radial alterations during adjustment of the distance of the wall from the envelope surface at one or more positions between the inlet gap and outlet gap. Adjustment devices cooperate with the wall for adjusting the distance of the wall from the envelope surface of the drum.

Abstract: A shower pipe for a rotary drum filter includes a fiberglass pipe body of rectangular cross section with two rows of spray holes and with the holes of one row being staggered with respect to the holes of the other row. The upper row includes a separate diffusion flange for each hole. The lower row includes a continuous diffusion flange which is reinforced and rigid to resist deflection and serve as a striker to limit the thickness of pulp stock passing upwardly by the flange. The lower flange includes a flexible flange extension which extends to the pulp mat on the drum to limit heat loss from the spray of washer fluid. Different diffusion flanges on the same pipe define different spray trajectories to prevent overconcentration of spray impinging the mat.

Abstract: A shower pipe for a rotary drum filter has a square cross-sectional shape defined by top, bottom and side walls. The sidewalls and a pair of lengthwise-extending continuous diffusion flanges depending from the bottom wall of the pipe stiffen the pipe against sag for placement at a 12 o'clock position spanning the filter drum. The pipe is formed of fiberglass reinforced plastic in two longitudinally-divided hollow sections in a pair of mirror image, trough-like molds. Each section has a pair of interconnection flanges for mating the sections together. The interconnection flanges extend normally to the sidewalls to stiffen the pipe when the bottom wall of the pipe is vertically-oriented for placing the pipe at a 9 o'clock position along one side of the filter durm. Glass rods are secured in the interior corners of the pipe to provide diagonal rigidity, for placing the pipe at, e.g., 10-11 o'clock position between the top and side of the filter drum.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved rotary drum vacuum filter that is especially useful in the filtration of particulates that form an easily eroded cake. The improved filter utilizes sprayers and a spray blocking means to achieve an unexpectedly efficient rinse of the cake.

Abstract: A sieve drum (2) for drying solid materials such as, for example, brown coal is rotatably supported for being rotated around its axis (8). A conveying screw (3) is arranged within the interior of the sieve drum and can be rotated independent from the rotation of the sieve drum (2). The sieve drum (2) is designed as a slot-sieve drum, the slots (26) of which extend within the mantle of the drum from one front end (7) of the drum to its other front end (5). The sieve drum (2) and the conveying screw (3) are arranged within a tightly closable pressure resistant housing (1), steam supply openings (22) being connected to the housing (1) outside of the sieve drum.

Abstract: A shower pipe for a rotary drum filter has a square cross-sectional shape defined by top, bottom and side walls. The sidewalls and a pair of lengthwise-extending continuous diffusion flanges depending from the bottom wall of the pipe stiffen the pipe against sag for placement at a 12 o'clock position spanning the filter drum. The pipe is formed of fiberglass reinforced plastic in two longitudinally-divided hollow sections in a pair of mirror image, trough-like molds. Each section has a pair of interconnection flanges for mating the sections together. The interconnection flanges extend normally to the sidewalls to stiffen the pipe when the bottom wall of the pipe is vertically-oriented for placing the pipe at at 9 o'clock position along one side of the filter drum. Glass rods are secured in the interior corners of the pipe to provide diagonal rigidity, for placing the pipe at, e.g., a 10-11 o'clock position between the top and side of the filter drum.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for extracting finished juice from an initial juice including substantial solids or for extracting fluid, preferably finished to a high degree, from any slurry including substantial solids, wherein the slurry is introduced into one end of a cylindrical screen, the cylindrical screen being driven in rotation for centrifugally urging the slurry against the screen and causing fluid from the slurry to pass through the screen.

Abstract: A fully submerged rotatable drum type of filter has a perforate cylindrical surface through which contaminated liquid is pulled by a suction pump. The inner periphery of the drum is sub-divided into numerous narrow, shallow, elongated chambers open at one end for communication with a main chamber which conveys filtered liquid to a port in the non-rotatable tube upon which the drum is rotatably mounted. A backwashing system for cleaning the perforate surface of the drum comprises a non-rotating channel which establishes sliding and sealing contact with a limited number of the open ends of the peripheral chambers to cause pressurized filtered backwashing liquid to flow into such peripheral chambers to remove filter cake from the perforate surface by the reverse flow therethrough. Filtration can therefore proceed through a majority of the peripheral chambers simultaneously with the backwashing operation through the limited number of peripheral chambers in communication with the backwashing system.

Abstract: The method of treating sewer scum including combustibles and debris includes the steps of collecting the scum from sewage, delivering it to a perforated filter drum, continuously rotating the drum upon an inclined longitudinal axis, applying heated air under pressure to the exterior of the drum along its length inwardly of the perforations, discharging the debris continuously and collecting the filtered combustibles. Apparatus for filtering said scum includes an elongated cylindrical perforated drum rotatable on an inclined axis receiving scum at its upper end and discharging debris at its lower end. A cylindrical shell sealingly encloses the perforated portion of the drum for providing a pressure chamber above the drum and a collection chamber below the drum. An elongated air channel along the interior of the shell delivers high pressure heated air to said pressure chamber and filtered scum accumulates in the collection chamber.

Abstract: A substantially air-tight vat completely encloses the rotatable cylinder. The pulp slurry fed into the vat is compacted to form a mat of high consistency. The differential pressure across the circumferential wall of the rotatable cylinder washes the mat with liquid contained in the wash chamber. The mat is removed from the cylindrical wall of the rotatable cylinder to provide a low consistency pulp slurry.

Abstract: An apparatus for improving the dewatering capability of a rotary drum vacuum filter or washer is described in which a suction box, independently supported above the filter drum, having an apertured outermost surface, and a vacuum means operating upon the box, is combined with a foraminous belt, tensioned to contact the suction box apertured surface and that portion of the drum surface not adjacent the box such that rotation of the drum causes the belt to rotate with the drum, sliding over the suction box. In operation, a cake or fibrous web that is formed upon the belt while it is in contact with the filter drum surface, partially submerged in a slurry of the material to be recovered, is subsequently subjected to the suction box vacuum means as the belt-supported web passes over the apertured surface. A discharge box at the trailing edge of the suction box is supplied with pressurized air to blow the cake or fibrous web from the foraminous belt surface at the product discharge point.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for dehydrating suspensions by means of a vacuum filter and consisting of applying the suspension to the surface of the vacuum filter, directing steam along the path parallel to the surface and thereafter passing the steam into contact with the filter cake on the surface.

Abstract: An improved rotary filter is cylindrical in shape, and operates by vacuum suction or otherwise to withdraw fluids from a substance exposed to the outer area of the device, drawing said fluids into the filter to be pumped out to a suitable reservoir. It includes an inner cylindrical surface having attached thereon a plurality of selectively spaced support structures which extend longitudinally along the inner cylinder. Said support structures are covered with a plastic covering adapted to receive a filtering medium which forms the outer circumference of the rotary filter. In one embodiment the plastic covers are grooved to receive a spirally wound wire to further support said filtering medium.

Abstract: A wash liquid distributor for a rotary drum filter which distributes liquid uniformly across the filter cake and provides very effective washing. The distributor apparatus in its preferred embodiment comprises an elongated hollow pipe, one or more being used in parallel operation, each pipe having a multiplicity of evenly spaced and axially aligned small holes. Each hole imposes a substantial pressure drop on the fluid passing therethrough and creates a uniform distribution of the wash liquid along the distributor pipe. To avoid damage to the filter cake from the jets of liquid produced, a diffusion channel is provided which damps the kinetic energy of the jets and subdivides the liquid entering the channel. Upon leaving the diffusion channel the liquid is collected and redistributed from drip points spaced at intervals which are generally narrower than those of the holes in the distributor pipe.