Abstract: A system for removal of water from a hydrocarbon fluid, such as a fuel emulsion in a tank or flowing through a conduit that is used from time to time for delivering fuel to a household or consumer device, including a filter with a super-absorbent, hydrophilic, oleophobic substance bound with a medium to prevent separation and a support body structured to hold the filter, the filter being removable in order to be cleaned and reused or to be discarded and replaced by another filter.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating solid particles from the suction effluent of, for example, a dental office, preferably driven by a dental office vacuum pump, includes a surge tank for accommodating effluent overfill connected to a sedimentary deposit tank for sedimentation of effluent particles. A bypass conduit is connected to the surge tank inlet which is equipped with a vacuum break valve for allowing air into the system when the suction openings are closed. The sedimentary deposit tank has a series of baffle chambers through which effluent flows in sequence, and in each of which chambers sediment is deposited for later removal. The surge tank preferably has a liquid level sensor and warning device. Modular filters or adsorbants may be installed in the sedimentary deposit tank, or a modular auxiliary filter may be connected downstream of the tank. Chemical injection may be used to improve sedimentation.

Abstract: A water treatment device for purifying small quantities of non-potable water for drinking purposes. The device includes: a primary container, a secondary product container, and a cylindrical filter cartridge. The primary container is filled with untreated water, and brought into contact with a disinfecting agent. The filter cartridge is then attached to the primary container and the secondary container is attached to an outlet port of the filter cartridge, the entire arrangement is then inverted to allow water to flow from the primary container into the inlet port of the filter cartridge. A physicochemical time switch is installed near the inlet port of the filter cartridge and blocks the flow of water from the primary container into the filtering elements until an appropriate amount of time has lapsed for the disinfecting agent to effectively disinfect the water. The physicochemical time switch is either a water dissolvable barrier or an expandable compartment filled with hydrophilic polymeric crystals.

Abstract: A circulation and filtration system is provided for use with water gardens having a water container adapted to hold water at a preferred fill height. The system includes a reservoir, an intake line, a pump, and a return line. The reservoir is located near the water container and is capable of holding a reserve of water. In one embodiment, the reservoir includes an upright basket filter located therein. The intake line includes a first end opening positionable within the water container near the preferred fill height and a second end opening connected to the basket filter. During use, water flows into the basket filter through the intake line via gravity. The pump is located either within the reservoir or externally from the reservoir though connected to the reservoir through additional piping. The return line includes a first end connected to the pump and a second end positionable at a desired location in the water garden.

Abstract: Water-in-oil emulsions, particularly used invert water-in-oil drilling fluid, are separated into an aqueous component and an oil component by passing the emulsion through a knock down tube having an outer member, the outer member having a receiving end and a terminal end, the receiving end receiving the heated invert water-in-oil drilling fluid, an inner member, substantially coaxially disposed with the outer member, said inner member defining a plurality of apertures through which separated oil passes into the outer member, at least one exit port for a separated oil phase to leave the knock-down tube, said exit port defined by the outer member; at least one compressed air entry in air communication with the source of compressed air, and an exit port into a conduit passing through a filter means for the aqueous phase defined by the terminal end of the knock-down tube; heating the emulsion, and pressurizing the heated emulsion. The separated components are recovered and stored for recycling or disposal.

Abstract: A drinking water dispenser according to the present invention functions to supply drinking water from a detachable water container. The drinking water dispenser includes a hot water tank, a chilled water tank, a supply pipe and a sterilization system. The hot water tank heats and stores the drinking water supplied from the water container. The supply pipe connects the water container with the hot water tank and the chilled water tank. The sterilization system sterilizes the tanks and the supply pipe by circulating hot water from the hot water tank among them. The dispenser is also sterilized because of its including a special 3 way connector between the detachable container and tanks which allows connector and container to be housed in a refrigerator, thus separating critical system components from warmer outside air and thus suppressing invasion and growth of microbes.

Abstract: A device for the treatment of wastewater is provided. The basic device includes a wastewater inlet, a connecting means and a bioreactor. The bioreactor is a substantially water-tight compartment which has its bioreactor inlet fluidly connected to the connecting means which is fluidly connected to the wastewater inlet. Inside the substantially water-tight compartment is controlled porous media inoculated with nitrifying aerobic bacteria. Additionally, many applications will require a plurality of bioreactors to be able to handle larger loads of wastewater. The plurality of bioreactors are connected in series by a plurality of bioreactor connecting means, each bioreactor connecting means fluidly connecting one bioreactor's outlet to another bioreactor's inlet. Effluent enters the plurality of bioreactors through first bioreactor's inlet and exits the plurality of bioreactors from the last bioreactor's outlet.

Abstract: A multipurpose hemofiltration system and method are disclosed for the removal of fluid and/or soluble waste from the blood of a patient. The system and method are equally applicable to adult, pediatric and neonatal patients. In one embodiment, the system continuously monitors the weight of infusate in a first reservoir and drained fluid in a second reservoir and compares those weights to corresponding predetermined computed weights. When necessary, the pumping rates of the infusate, drained fluid and blood are adjusted in order to achieve a preselected amount of fluid removal from the patient's blood in a preselected time period. Application of this system and method provide repeatable and highly precise results. Alternatively, predetermined patient parameters can be monitored and the adjustment of pumping rates may be responsive to these monitored parameters.

Abstract: A quenchant management system having a quenchant separation module for separating a heavy phase polymer such as polyalkylene glycol (PAG) from water. The quenchant separation module includes a heating section for elevating the temperature of the fluid to be separated to provide initial thermal separation. The quenchant separation module also includes a coalescer for further separating the heavy phase from the light phase of the input fluid. In order to obtain a predetermined polymer concentration and the heavy phase, the output flow rate of the coalescer is varied in accordance with the concentration and flow rate of the input fluid.

Abstract: A biological fluid processing or fluid filtration system is provided having novel open and closed loop processing systems wherein the gases transferred into and out of the system during processing pass through a porous medium in upstream and/or downstream gas inlet or outlet housings or vents in a manner which precludes the fluid being processed or filtered from ever contacting the housings or vents. Each housing or vent is separated from the fluid by a column of gas in its respective transfer line. The upstream gas inlet housing or vent is in communication with the unfiltered biological fluid, and the downstream gas inlet housing or vent is in communication with the filtered biological fluid.

Abstract: Improved installation for cleaning/recovering liquids with particles in suspension, which is comprised of a first tank, which contaminated liquid with particles in suspension from cleaning the filtering equipment, reaches. This tank includes a guillotine-like mobile separation element, which subdivides it into two independent compartments. Contaminated liquid reaches one of them and the particles in suspension settle in the other compartment, forming sludge, which is evacuated to a second tank, which includes a grill-tank supplied with a renewable filter bag where the particles in suspension of this sludge are retained, recovering dirty liquid. This dirty liquid is evacuated to a third storage tank, from where it is recycled to the filtering equipment.