Abstract: A silo of conventional construction is provided with a collection pan at its bottom to collect effluent. The effluent can be stored and/or processed. Processing can include separation of water to concentrate the effluent. The effluent can contain fermentation product, such as alcohol, generated within the silo prior to collection, and it can also be fermented after collection. Processed effluent can be handled safely without risk of contamination to ground water at the silo site.

Abstract: Disclosed are a filtration apparatus having the advantages of conventional pressurized-type and submerged-type filtration apparatuses and a hollow fiber membrane module therefor. The filtration apparatus of the present invention comprises: a tank into which feed water is to be introduced, the tank comprising first and second inner step surfaces arranged opposite to each other; and a hollow fiber membrane module to be submerged in the feed water introduced in the tank, the hollow fiber membrane module comprising first and second headers and a hollow fiber membrane therebetween, wherein first and second ends of the first header are supported by the first and second inner step surfaces respectively.

Abstract: An apparatus for collecting condensed water of an air conditioner evaporator in heavy construction equipment is disclosed, which is able to receive condensed water into a receiver from an evaporator and treats the same which comprises a body which is installed at one side of the evaporator and includes a plurality of support frames provided in the interior of the same, with its upper and lower sides being fixed with a vibration resistant member; a water collection pipe which allows the condensed water produced from the evaporator to be supplied to a water inlet valve; a storing tank which is connected with the water inlet valve and stores condensed water inputted via the water inlet valve; a water purification filter which filters dirt, heavy metallic substances and organic chemicals contained in the condensed water supplied from the storing tank; and a water purification tank which stores the filtered condensed water and has a pipe extended to the outside of the body.

Abstract: An automatic oil-water separation and recovery device, which comprises a cylindrical tank, on the top of which exists an oil collector. The tank has an inflow pipe that links to a pre-separation regulating water distributor therein. The said water distributor is in the shape of an obconic bell mouth. At the lower part of the tank stands an outflow collector on which a bar-shaped oil-water separation unit is secured. The said outflow collector has an outlet. The said oil-water separation unit is made from stainless steel or plastic antipriming pipe firstly wrapped with unwoven cloth, and then taped with wires and outside the wires further wrapped with nonwoven cloth. All the cloth and wires are made of the same highly hydrophilic, oil-resistant material. The automatic oil-water separation and recovery devices described in this invention can be assembled together for separating and recovering ship-generated oily water.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of installing an environmental control system so as to allow for separate sizing of treatment and bypass capacity while also offering the ability to make or change either treatment or bypass capacities at different times. This is accomplished by containing the treatment and bypass functions in separate chambers, using screen, baffle, or coalescing media pack to further refine effectiveness and capacity of each structure independently. The control structure and interceptor structure may be pre-engineered to a variety of sizes, capacities, or other specifications. This allows simple selection of a specific control structure and a specific interceptor structure from a variety of combinations, eliminating the need for custom engineering for each installation.

Abstract: Reverse osmosis (RO) systems having efficiency enhancing features are disclosed. Included are RO systems having a RO module and a pumping system. A feed fluid line can introduce feed fluid into the pumping system, and the pumping system can increase the pressure of the feed and pass the pressurized feed to the RO module. Such RO systems can also have a recycle stream leading from a concentrate side of the RO module to the pumping system and a purified stream leading from a purified side of the RO module. In some cases, the pumping system can boost the pressure of both the feed fluid and the recycle stream, and the boosted fluids can be fed into the RO module. The pumping system can have first and second pumping chambers for the feed fluid and the recycled concentrate. These pumping chambers can be separate pumps, or they can be referred to as a single pumping system, for example a double-acting simplex plunger pump.

Abstract: A system for removing liquid waste from an automated diagnostic instrument. The system comprises (a) an accumulator having at least one inlet for waste liquids and at least one outlet for waste liquids; (b) a vacuum sub-system connected to the accumulator, said vacuum sub-system comprising a vacuum pump; and (c) a drain portion for removing waste liquids comprising a peristaltic pump having spring-loaded rollers. The liquid waste from the automated diagnostic instrument is moved by means of a pressure differential created by the vacuum pump and the peristaltic pump having spring-loaded rollers.

Abstract: A pollutant containment system for containing the spillage of fuels or other hydrocarbons or the like comprises a first layer (14, 60), a containment vessel (16) for receiving liquid passing through the layer (14) and channelling means (22) for directing liquid permeating through the layer towards the containment vessel (16). The layer (14) provides a plurality of active surfaces for the retention of pollutant and is such as to cause water to permeate through the layer at a flow rate to avoid emulsification of oil and water. Water is introduced into and removed from the containment vessel to raise and lower the water surface thereby to cause the pollutant to be smeared over the active surfaces.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for removing sediment from a liquid are provided. Pulses of pressurized air are directed into a conduit having an inlet disposed within a first liquid-containing vessel adjacent to (or within) the sediment to cause a slurry of liquid and sediment to flow through the conduit into a second vessel elevated above the first vessel. The slurry of liquid and sediment is allowed to drain from the second vessel into a third vessel that is positioned at an elevation lower than the second vessel. Liquid is drained from the third vessel (to another vessel or elsewhere) as sediment accumulates within the third vessel. The third vessel may be removed when accumulation of sediment therewithin reaches a predetermined amount. The accumulated sediment within the third vessel is removed and the third vessel is returned to service, or another empty vessel may be substituted therefor.

Abstract: A drainwater treatment system positionable within the vertical passageway of a drainage system utilizes a catch basin for accepting drainwater which flows downwardly into the drainage system and a filter-supporting section disposed alongside the catch basin. The filter-supporting section accepts drainwater which flows therein from the catch basin and permits drainwater to flow downwardly therethrough. First and second filters containing a hydrophobic material are positioned within the filter-supporting section for filtering contaminants from the drainwater flowing downwardly therethrough, and an overflow is associated with the catch basin and the filter-supporting section through which drainwater is permitted to exit the treatment system and bypass the first and second filters when the flow rate of drainwater into the system exceeds the rate at which drainwater is permitted to flow downwardly through the first and second filters.

Abstract: Described is a self-cleaning filter for a liquid stream confined in a pipe 20. The filter includes a porous ceramic filter body 30 having a power source 35 attached thereto. Upstream from the filter body a helical rib 50 and a sump drain tube 42 are provided. In operation, as the filter becomes clogged, an electrical current is applied causing the ceramic body to exhibit ultrasonic transducer properties which dislodge particulates from its upstream face 31. At the same time, a sump valve 41 is opened to remove the particulate-rich liquid. The helical rib imparts a rotary motion which creates a rotary flow component across the upstream face of the filter.

Abstract: A filter apparatus for filtering gross pollution from storm water for fitment to storm water traps located at the entry and exit of storm water, underground and drainage systems. The apparatus includes a gross pollution filter basket located below the entry level of storm water into the trap so as to provide a bypass channel to allow a volume of storm water to pass through the trap. SA storm water bypass means is arranged to restrict entry of incoming storm water and gross pollution into the bypass channel while the combined pressure of storm water and gross pollution inside the trap is such that storm water can still pass through the filter basket.The bypass means which acts like a one-way valve is also arranged to allow storm water and gross pollution to pass into the bypass channel when the combined pressure of storm water and gross pollution inside the trap is such that the storm water is restricted from passing through the filter basket.

Abstract: A drain insert for the drain inlets of storm water sewer systems comprises an outer housing, an inner sleeve integrally formed with and extending within the outer housing, a support hanger carried by the outer housing and adapted to rest atop a concrete flange at the mouth of the drain inlet, and, a collar member which rests atop the concrete flange and at least partially overlies the inner sleeve to direct all run-off water into the interior of the drain insert.

Abstract: An accumulator for use in a reverse osmosis (RO) system of the type in which the RO reject water is routed through a backflow prevention device, and then through a conduit section to a drainage conduit for eventual emptying into a sewer system. The accumulator is mounted around the conduit section to define a water collection chamber. Any backflowing water form the drainage conduit that flows into the conduit section is allowed to pass from the conduit section into the water collection chamber, and to drain out of the water collection chamber into the conduit section when there is an absence of backflowing water.

Abstract: A cloudy water recovery and recycling apparatus and method of use. The apparatus recovers cloudy water defined as water recovered from the rinse cycle of a clothes washing machine. The apparatus is comprised of an electronic controller, a storage tank, a trap having a lint screen, a pumping means, and a pressurized storage container. Water from a clothes washing machine is separated into rinse water and wash water by an electronic controller. The wash water is disposed of and the rinse water is strained to remove lint, collected in the storage tank, treated with dye and bactericide, pumped from the storage tank to a pressurized container and then utilized to flush at least one toilet.

Abstract: A strainer cup strains a flow of particle-bearing fluid. When blocked, unstrained fluid overflows the cup spilling into a chamber. A switch detects a level of fluid and signals a blocked strainer cup condition, as the chamber drains off the unstrained fluid.

Abstract: A system for separating abrasive material from fluid used in fluid jet cutting includes a catcher tank, a settling tank and a pumping device which pumps fluid containing an abrasive material from the catcher tank and centrifugally separates an abrasive slurry from the fluid. A fluid conduit returns the fluid separated from the slurry to the cathcher tank. Another conduit directs the slurry to the settling tank where a portion of the abrasive material substantially settles from the slurry and, after settling has occurred, the slurry from which some of the abrasive material has settled is returned to the pumping device.

Abstract: A hemodialysis apparatus includes a sterile filter whose outlet, which is usually closed, is connected to a line leading to a discharge outlet in wherein a bypass valve is employed which can be opened at predetermined intervals both during treatment and during flushing operations. The sterile filter has a primary chamber and a secondary chamber. When the bypass valve is opened during treatment, dialysis solution flows out of the primary chamber of the sterile filter and flushes the pyrogens and particles disposed on the membranes of the filter into the discharge. No sterilizating filtration of the dialysis solution takes place through the pores of the membrane because the flow resistance present in the adjoining dialyzer, in conjunction with a degree of clogging of the pores, prevents such a flow. A ventilation means may be provided whereby the bypass circuit of the sterile filter can be ventilated. The bypass circuit may also be employed for a pressure retaining test.

Abstract: A semi-automatic quantitative filtration assembly is disclosed having a measuring means to measure and present a known quantity of fluid for filtering and a fluid holding means adjacent to a filter medium. The fluid holding means is adapted to receive and hold excess fluid during filtering and to prevent intermixing with a known quantity of fluid to be presented to filtering. The filtering apparatus is designed to filter a quantitative amount of fluid and receive fluid in the fluid holding tank which is excess sample fluid or fluid unwanted as a result of error or operational failure and which drains to a common vacuum/waste means for filtered fluid. A variety of features are also provided to insure proper operation and minimize operator error.

Abstract: The peripheral surface of a coil of a filter web wound about a hollow shaft is covered by a liquid impervious flexible coating, and the outer periphery of a first end of the coil is secured to a supporting disc so that when liquid to be filtered is caused to pass through the coil in the axial direction thereof, the convolutions of the coil near a second end expand radially outwardly to trap contaminants in the spiral gap. Purified liquid collected at the first end of the coil is discharged through the hollow shaft. The filter unit is constructed such that a number of units can be readily connected in series.