Abstract: An apparatus suitable for generating gaseous hydrocarbon fuel from a carbon based synthesis gas including a reaction chamber having a rotating shaft including a plurality of radial blades mixing and circulating carbon based synthesis gas and particulate catalyst upwardly generating gaseous hydrocarbon fuel, a stripping chamber located above the reaction chamber having a second axial rotating shaft including a plurality of radial blades driving hydrocarbon fuel radially outwardly, a source of hot stripping gas, an annular filter surrounding the stripping chamber and an annular gas collection chamber surrounding the filter. The blades in the stripping chamber are rotated independently at a greater velocity than the blades in the reaction chamber and the reaction is controlled by the temperature of the synthesis gas and the rotational velocity of the mixing blades in the reaction chamber.

Abstract: A filtration device is equipped with: a filtration tank; a layer of particulate filtration media within the filtration tank; a cleansing tank, which is vertically placed within the filtration tank and which has an opening at the lower end thereof; and a screw conveyor for cleansing the filtration media, which is provided within the cleansing tank. The screw conveyor has a shaft, which is suspended within the filtration tank from above. The upper portion of the shaft is driven, and the lower portion of the shaft is supported by an axial support section, which is fixed to the lower portion of the cleansing tank. The axial support section is equipped with a frictional wear compensating mechanism at a portion thereof at which the shaft and the axial support section contact each other.

Abstract: A cleansing tank 38 and a screw conveyor 32 are removably mounted to a mounting opening 22 of a filtration tank 2. When the cleansing tank 38 and the screw conveyor 32 are to be removed, they can be extracted to the exterior of the filtration tank 2, by detaching a base 28, which axially supports the screw conveyor 32, from a rim 24. Purified water is backwashed through a purified water discharge pipe 60 when the cleansing tank 38 and the screw conveyor 32 are extracted and inserted through the mounting opening 22. This causes filtration media 14 to float, thereby reducing the resistance thereof.

Abstract: Systems and methods for extracorporeal processing of blood or other body fluid for the treatment of conditions, such as sepsis, autoimmune disease, or toxemia related to kidney failure, liver failure, or drug overdose are provided. In an extracorporeal treatment system, a fraction of a body fluid is passed into a treatment fluid, at least a portion of which is then passed through a sorbent suspension reactor for treatment by a sorbent suspension. The treatment fluid circuit can be maintained at a fixed volume, which enables accurate fluid balance between the patient and the extracorporeal circuit. Some or all of the treatment fluid, optionally also containing nutrients and/or therapeutic agents, is returned to the patient. In a peritoneal dialysis system, dialysate is passed into a patient's peritoneal cavity, recovered from the cavity, passed through a sorbent suspension reactor in accordance with the invention, and returned to the cavity.

Abstract: A modular filter system and a method of repairing and/or replacing one or more components thereof. The modular filter system includes a traveling backwash hood assembly and a plurality of filter cells having media contained therein. The traveling backwash hood assembly includes a hood and a baffle assembly. Preferably, the hood has at least one opening formed therein and a cover plate operably associated with the at least one opening. The baffle assembly includes a plurality of baffles for directing the flow of fluid. The baffle assembly is detachably connected to the hood to permit the baffle assembly to be moved relative to the hood to permit an individual to readily gain access to the baffle assembly to repair or replace one or more components thereof.

Abstract: A filtration apparatus comprising a container that houses a filtration tank to which contaminated water is supplied, a cleansing tank, and a screw conveyor disposed within said cleansing tank is provided. Filtration media is housed within the cleansing tank and the container. The cleansing tank has lateral surface openings, lower openings, and an upper opening. When the screw conveyor rotates, filtration media as well as water (contaminated water) is conveyed upward from the lower openings to the upper opening while being agitated. At the same time, filtration media circulates between the cleansing tank and the container and is cleansed. When cleansing is complete, a backwash water supply pump backwashes water, and expels contaminants separated and removed from the filtration media out of the container by an expulsion pump. Lateral surface doors close lateral surface openings by drive means only during cleansing (agitation). This structure increases the filtration area.

Abstract: A filtration apparatus comprising a container that houses a filtration tank to which contaminated water is supplied, a cleansing tank, and a screw conveyor disposed within said cleansing tank is provided. Filtration media is housed within the cleansing tank and the container. The cleansing tank has lateral surface openings, lower openings, and an upper opening. When the screw conveyor rotates, filtration media as well as water (contaminated water) is conveyed upward from the lower openings to the upper opening while being agitated. At the same time, filtration media circulates between the cleansing tank and the container and is cleansed When cleansing is complete, a backwash water supply pump backwashes water, and expels contaminants separated and removed from the filtration media out of the container by an expulsion pump. Lateral surface doors close lateral surface openings by drive means only during cleansing (agitation) This structure increases the filtration area.

Abstract: A deep bed liquid treatment apparatus and process in which the liquid and a granular media is periodically agitated to create a liquid-media slurry, and outflow of the liquid and entrained contaminants is induced through a separator having an inner diameter screen with openings sufficiently small to prevent the escape of media granules. A rotor is rotated within the separator to create turbulent flow at the screen to dislodge the granules drawn onto the screen openings.

Abstract: A filtering device provided a horizontal drum in which a filter layer made of granular filter material and a space portion are formed in a vertical direction within its interior; a crude water introducing/dirty water discharging first water flow pipe which passes through an axial portion of the horizontal drum from the outside of the horizontal drum and whose a crude water introducing/dirty water discharging first water flow portion is located in the space portion; and a filtered water introducing/washing water discharging second water flow pipe which passes through an axial portion of the horizontal drum from the outside of the horizontal drum and whose a filtered water introducing/washing water discharging second water flow portion is located in an interior of the filter layer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating target particles from a mixture of target and non-target particles. The apparatus includes a vessel having an inlet through which the mixture may be introduced and an outlet through which the fluid may exit, at least a portion of which is pliable; a bed of binding material disposed within the vessel, the binding material attracting the target particles such that the target particles may become bound thereto and being porous enough to allow the non-target particles to pass therethrough; and a screen disposed below the binding material for retaining the binding material in place. The pliable portion of the vessel permits the user to separate the target particles from the binding material by merely squeezing the pliable portion in such a manner as to cause relative movement in the binding material, thereby creating the necessary degree of agitation to cause the target particles to become dislodged from the binding material.

Abstract: A floating media biofilter is provided, comprising a tank having a bottom and a sidewall, the sidewall having a lower portion inwardly sloping toward the bottom. Floating media are present in the tank for forming a media pack when the tank is filled with liquid, and the media are retained by an upper screen positioned in the upper portion of the tank. An inlet line provides nonfiltered liquid to the tank from an aquaculture environment, while an outlet line above the upper screen delivers filtered liquid back to the aquaculture environment. A weir is employed between the upper screen and the outlet line to collect filtered liquid from the media pack. Backwashing is accomplished by a motorized blade system which causes the media to circulate within the tank with substantially no expansion of the media pack. The circulating media loosens filtered matter and sludge entrained therein so that the waste solids can be removed by a sludge line connected to the bottom of the tank.

Abstract: A manually operable water purification system which includes (i) a first container having an open end and an outlet orifice, (ii) a filter operably positioned within the first container for filtering contaminated water placed within the first container as the contaminated water is forced toward the outlet orifice in the first container, (iii) a porous body of biocidally effective material operably positioned within the first container for disinfecting the filtered water as the filtered water is forced toward the outlet orifice in the first container, (iv) a plunger sealably receivable within the first container through the open end for forcing contaminated water retained within the first container through the filter and the porous body of biocidally effective material, and (v) a passageway through the plunger provided with a check valve for abating formation of a vacuum within the first container as the plunger is withdrawn from the first container.

Abstract: A water purification system including both a filter and a body of biocidally active material for microbiologically purifying biologically contaminated water. The system provides for the production of microbiologically purified water during both upstroke and downstroke of the plunger and includes a brush which can be reciprocated within the system for cleaning the filter.

Abstract: A liquid filtration system is provided which includes a traveling bridge device mounting and backwash means for successively cleaning each of a plurality of filter cells formed in a filtration tank. Both surface wash and backwash means are included in a single hood structure adapted to sealingly engage each filter cell, successively, as the traveling bridge carriage traverses the tank. The surface wash means includes a surface wash conduit for supplying liquid under pressure to the upper surface layer of each cell. The backwash means includes a backwash conduit for creating suction within each filter cell.

Abstract: A filter compartment containing water with surface scum is bounded by first and second end walls and spaced side walls, the latter of which are spanned by a moving bridge. The bridge is movable between the ends of the compartment and has associated nozzles which direct a pressurized air or other fluid angularly against the upper surface of the scum layer to skim the scum towards at least one collecting pot, in which scum is collected, and from which the scum is withdrawn for delivery to a scum pit for further treatment or disposal.

Abstract: There is provided an improved method of cleansing a filter bed utilizing a backwash pump (12) having an inlet line (14) and an outlet line (16). The improved method and system includes two cycle operations. Initially, the filter bed is backwashed to remove contaminants from the filter bed with the backwash pump (12) drawing liquid from an effluent channel (32) through a first diverter valve (18). The fluid flows through a second diverter valve (20) and a first throttling control valve (36) for insert into a backwash shoe (38). In the purging cycle, fluid may be recirculated from the backwash pump (12) through the backwash shoe (38) and then back to the backwash pump (12) with a portion of the fluid being diverted through a second diverter valve (20') into an egress line (42).

Abstract: A horizontal-flow granular filter is provided at its bottom part with openings through which pistons are displaceable in an up-and-down movement to loosen the granular bed during back-flushing of the filter. This reduces the energy cost of cleaning and the tendency toward abrasive deterioration of the granule while also ensuring an improved cleaning action.

Abstract: A water filtering device has a substantially horizontal rotatable drum having a filter layer composed of a granular filter material and a space therein, the rotatable drum being rotatable about its own axis, a first water flow pipe extending axially into the rotatable drum in coaxial relationship, the first water flow pipe having a first branch extending radially outwardly in the space for introducing crude water to be filtered into the rotatable drum and discharging waste washing water out of the rotatable drum, and a second water flow pipe extending axially into the rotatable drum in coaxial relationship, the second water flow pipe having a second branch extending radially outwardly in the filter layer for discharging filtered water out of the rotatable drum and introducing washing water into the rotatable drum. The rotatable drum is rotatably mounted on the first and second water flow pipes. The first and second water flow pipes are fixedly mounted on a support base.

Abstract: High rate filtration system includes an upflow filter vessel containing a bed of buoyant media followed by a downflow filter vessel containing a bed of nonbuoyant media. The upflow filter vessel is unobstructed by cross-sectional, media-confining screens. A horizontal trough structure collects filter effluent and makes it possible to clean the bed by diffusing air into the liquid below the bed so that average fluid density in the bed is reduced. The reduction in fluid density results in expansion of the bed as media particles descend by gravity.

Abstract: A filter apparatus in which a generally horizontal bed of filter material is supported in a tank on a porous support above the bottom of the tank and is divided by spaced partitions into individual filter cells above the support and individual filter compartments below the support, and a carriage is mounted for movement along the filter bed and has a collector hood that moves along the top of the bed to collect backwash effluent therefrom and a backwash head arranged to direct backwash fluid into the compartments below the porous support to sequentially backwash the filter cells. A cell scavenging head is mounted on the carriage for movement along the filter bed and arranged to sequentially withdraw fluid from each filter compartment and down-flow scavenge and rinse the associated filter cell subsequent to backwashing of each filter cell.

Abstract: In a water purification apparatus in which a granular filter medium is washed by agitation imparted to the filter medium, a pipe adapted for collection of purified water is mounted within the heap of precipitated granular filter medium and enclosed by a filter mesh to prevent outflow of the filter medium. Sliding contact elements such as turns of a wire wound about the collecting pipe or linear brush-like members inserted on the collecting pipe are also provided between the pipe and the filter mesh so that both the inner and outer surfaces of the filter mesh may be cleaned during countercurrent washing of the filter medium for assuring optimum water permeation at all times.

Abstract: In a modular water filtration and companion backwash assemblage, a reservoir is sectioned into an upper, supply chamber and a lower, drain chamber by a plurality of modular, horizontally co-planar filter cells. A carriage assembly is selectively positioned over an individual cell and a depending backwash hood is lowered to isolate, hydraulically, the modular cell. Water is pumped upwardly, out of the hood, expanding and scrubbing the filter media. Jetwash probes intensify the cleansing action, and a baffle plate having displacement accelerators ensures equal but swift upward displacement of backwash waters. Each cell is sequentially backwashed on a continuous basis, allowing uninterrupted operation of the other filtration modules.

Abstract: A filter apparatus in which a generally horizontal bed of filter material is supported on a porous support and is divided by spaced partitions into individual filter cells above the support and individual filter compartments below the support, and a carriage is mounted for movement along the filter bed and has a collector hood that moves along the top of the bed to collect backwash effluent therefrom and a backwash head arranged to direct backwash fluid into the compartments below the porous support. A pair of spaced scarifier blades are provided in the collector hood to scarify the upper surfaces of the filter bed. The backwash head is advantageously in the form of a jet pump arranged to entrain water from filtrate launder that communicates with the filtrate compartments.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for agitating and scrubbing a filter bed in which a tubular arm is disposed in the bed near the top thereof and is adapted for rotation on a vertical central axis. The arm has nozzles extending from opposite sides thereon on respective sides of the center and is caused to rotate in the filter bed by the supply of air under pressure through the arm to the nozzles. Other nozzles can be mounted on the ends of the arm to treat the filter bed outwardly from the ends of the arm. The air supplied to the nozzles may be enriched with oxygen. The filter bed is preferably backwashed by upward flow of water therethrough simultaneously with the agitation and scrubbing of the upper portion thereof with the air jets.