Abstract: An apparatus and method for optimizing hydro-cyclone separation in a filtering system is disclosed. The apparatus includes a first, second and third storage tanks, a pump, a motor, a variable speed drive, and a hydro-cyclone. The pump pulls fluid from the third storage tank and routes it to the hydro-cyclone where particles are separated out. The filtered fluid is then routed onto a mechanism, such as a car wash, where the clean fluid is utilized. Since the car wash cannot always use all of the filtered fluid, a controller monitor flow rate and fluid pressure, and operates a proportional fluid control valve to bypass some or all of the fluid routed to the car wash and redirect it back to the second storage tank. This process allows the hydro-cyclone to operate at maximum efficiency while flow to the carwash may vary. The dirty particles separated out by the hydro-cyclone are routed to the first storage tank.

Abstract: Methods of and devices for recovering oil and protein and increasing production yields using two centrifuges in series or a centrifuge with dual oil and protein separating functions in a dry mill are provided.

Abstract: Methods for separating liquids, such as oils from solids, such as drill cuttings, apply a centrifuge to process a solids-enriched output of a fluids/solid separation device. The centrifuge may be a horizontal decanter-type centrifuge. The output may be heated. In example implementations the centrifuge has a bowl angle of four degrees or less and a low fluid depth of two inches or less. The fluids/solids separation device may comprise a shale shaker and/or a main centrifuge for example. The output material may have a relatively high initial solids content, such as 50% or more.

Abstract: Provided are closed-cycle continuous flow separator systems for isolating target cell populations, which comprises in operable connection, a binding area for binding a target cell to a binding particle; a first continuous flow centrifuge for separating target cell bound binding particles from non-target cells; a de-binding area for de-binding the target cell from the binding particle; and a second continuous flow centrifuge for separating the target cell from the binding particle.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating liquids, such as oils from solids, such as drill cuttings, comprises a decanter-type centrifuge. In example implementations the centrifuge has a bowl angle of four degrees or less and a low fluid depth of two inches or less. A material conveyor such as an auger is provided to carry material having a relatively high initial solids content, such as 50% or more into the centrifuge. The apparatus may comprise heaters to heat the material. In example implementations the decanter-type centrifuge processes solids from a main centrifuge and/or a shale shaker.

Abstract: Centrifugal separator devices, systems and related methods are described. More particularly, fluid transfer connections for a centrifugal separator system having support assemblies with a movable member coupled to a connection tube and coupled to a fixed member, such that the movable member is constrained to movement along a fixed path relative to the fixed member are described. Also, centrifugal separator systems including such fluid transfer connections are described. Additionally, methods of installing, removing and/or replacing centrifugal separators from centrifugal separator systems are described.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating at least two discrete volumes of a composite liquid into components, comprising a valve design that facilitates loading and unloading of sets of blood bags. The valves comprise a jaw mounted on a shaft, the jaw being adapted to apply radio frequency energy to seal a tube, a stepper motor section, and at least two position sensors. The valve sections are mounted on an upper plate, and the stepper motor sections are mounted on a lower plate. A main radio frequency coil is selectively electrically coupled to each of the valves through a multiplexing switch.

Abstract: The teachings of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatus for enhanced incineration. A method for improving the performance of an incinerator may comprise separating one or more substances from a process fluid using a classifying centrifuge, ejecting a first substance from the classifying centrifuge, the first substance having characteristics optimized for incineration, incinerating the first substance, and using heat generated from the incineration of the first substance to enhance the combustion efficiency of an additional substance separated from the process fluid.

Abstract: A cyclone separator assembly comprises at least one cyclone casing defining a cyclone chamber. The cyclone casing comprises a fluid inlet, a separated material outlet, and a fluid outlet. A separated material chamber is in communication with the separated material outlet. The cyclone chamber is openable by movement of a first movable portion, and the separated material chamber is openable by movement of a second movable portion separate from the first movable portion. A surface cleaning apparatus utilizing this construction is also provided. This construction is particularly useable if the separated material chamber is aligned with and below the cyclone chamber. Accordingly, the cyclone chamber and the separated material chamber may be sequentially or concurrently opened.

Abstract: Primaiy supernatant liquid collector 1 allows blood A to separate into a primary supernatant liquid B and red blood cells by leaving the blood A stationary for a prescribed period of time, and then it discharges the primary supernatant liquid B and physiological saline W in the same amount into a first treatment container 13 and a first balance container 14, respectively. Centrifuge 61 centrifuges the above primary supernatant liquid B using the first balance container 14 as a balance weight, and a secondary supernatant liquid in the first treatment container 13 is transferred to a second treatment container 109 by take-out device 91 and at the same time the physiological saline W in the same amount as the transferred secondary supernatant liquid is transferred from the first balance container 14 to a second balance container 110.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sterile separation of a fluid into components, for washing of a material, and for preparing a washed, separated material for refrigerated storage includes rotating the fluid or material in a multi-chambered container to accomplish a centrifuging operation. An apparatus embodying the invention may include an elongated, collapsible container having plural chambers connected in series by necks. The multi-chambered container may be formed of a single flexible bag having plural chambers. Alternately, the container may comprise plural flexible bags, each of which comprises one or more of the chambers of the container. A chamber of the container may be separated into plural sections by partition walls, each of the sections of the chamber being connected to an adjacent chamber by a separate branch of a neck between the chambers.

Abstract: A centrifuge is capable of holding a sample container in selected orientations, either during or after centrifugation, to drain supernatants between two or more chambers of the container. The draining may be gravity or centrifugal draining. This allows an automated process to subject a sample to a first physical or chemical treatment to produce a first supernatant, the first supernatant to be subjected to a second physical or chemical treatment, and a second supernatant to be separated from a desired component.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sterile separation of a fluid into components, for washing of a material, and for preparing a washed, separated material for refrigerated storage includes rotating the fluid or material in a multi-chambered container to accomplish a centrifuging operation. An apparatus embodying the invention may include an elongated, collapsible container having plural chambers connected in series by necks. The multi-chambered container may be formed of a single flexible bag having plural chambers. Alternately, the container may comprise plural flexible bags, each of which comprises one or more of the chambers of the container. A chamber of the container may be separated into plural sections by partition walls, each of the sections of the chamber being connected to an adjacent chamber by a separate branch of a neck between the chambers.

Abstract: A system for removing oil from oil/water or oil/sand or oil/water/sand mixtures. An oil/water mixture is taken from an oil spill on the surface of the water or from other sources such as producing oil wells and is transported to a surge tank where it is agitated and then passed on to a separator which separates the oil from the water. The system also covers separating oil from sand or earth when the spill is on land.

Abstract: The mixing apparatus and method of this invention combines centrifugation and vacuum mixing to provide a device for the centrifugation of cement under a partial vacuum for the reduction of porosity within bone cement. The results of centrifugation under a vacuum are an improvement over the results achieved in standard centrifugation or standard vacuum mixing techniques. The device includes a receptacle which is spun rapidly about an axis under a partial vacuum. Creating a partial vacuum within the receptacle causes the air bubbles trapped within the cement to grow in size. The centrifugation causes the larger air bubbles to migrate through the cement toward the axis of rotation. Centrifugation works especially well under a partial vacuum due to the increased size of the air bubbles, in that larger bubbles migrate easier and quicker than smaller bubbles. Under centrifugation, the smaller air bubbles are compressed to such a degree that they become insignificant within the cement.

Abstract: A method of processing a highly viscous material comprises the steps of spinning the material in a homogenizer to reduce it to a creamy fluent consistency, flowing the creamy material wholly by gravity down into an upper centrifuge stage, centrifuging the creamy material in the upper centrifuge stage into a solids fraction and a liquid fraction, flowing the solids fraction wholly by gravity down into a lower centrifuge stage, and centrifuging the solids fraction in the lower centrifuge stage. These steps can all take continuously with the material being fed in at one end and the solid and liquid fractions obtained at the opposite lower end. Prior to spinning the material a liquid is added to it to reduce its viscosity and increase its homogeneity. This liquid can be the recirculated liquid fraction obtained in the first centrifuge stage. In accordance with this invention the recirculated liquid fraction is heated to 40.degree. C. to 70.degree. C. before introducing it into the homogenizer.

Abstract: An apparatus wherein a centrifuge organization includes a mounting ring, and includes a plurality of pairs of stirrups, each securing therewithin an associated container. Each container includes a color-coded lid and anhydrous gel cylindrical floor and an annular wall, including a coating of silicone in a powdered or gel form. Vacuum porting is provided through each lid of each container in cooperation with an intake conduit for directing blood and associated fluid into the container.

Abstract: A multi-stage rotary inertial device and method in which rotary inertial thermodynamic impedance is used in the separation of materials according to their diferences in mass. Thus, an input flow composed of substances having two different masses is separated into two output flows having preferred concentrations, respectively, according to their different masses. Rotary inertial thermodynamic pumping is used for operation of intermediate separator stages. This can be controlled from outside the rotating device by selectively supplying heat to the rotating device.

Abstract: A cascade formed of a plurality of centrifugal contactors useful for countercurrent solvent extraction processes such as utilizable for the reprocessing of nuclear reactor fuels is modified to permit operation in the event one or both end stages of the cascade become inoperative. Weir assemblies are connected to each of the two end stages by suitable conduits for separating liquids discharged from an inoperative end stage based upon the weight of the liquid phases uses in the solvent extraction process. The weir assembly at one end stage is constructed to separate and discharge the heaviest liquid phase while the weir assembly at the other end stage is constructed to separate and discharge the lightest liquid phase. These weir assemblies function to keep the liquid discharge from an inoperative end stages on the same weight phase a would occur from an operating end stage.

Abstract: Commercial wide size distribution powders are size classified into precise size fractions by means of a controlled, semi-continuous, multi-stage centrifugal classification system. The system has utility for a wide range of colloidal materials. The throughput of the semi-continuous process is higher than that of batch processes, and the semi-continuous process produces narrow size ranges and optimum yields.

Abstract: A decanter centrifuge is equipped with a conventional screw conveyor which advances separated solids or heavy phase material toward a solids discharge zone, and it is also equipped with discharge nozzles mounted on the bowl wall for discharging concentrated solids therethrough from the solids discharge zone. In addition to light phase or liquid discharge means, the centrifuge is further provided with a recycle system which returns at least a portion of the discharged solids to the solids discharge zone via a conduit. At the end of the conduit are recycle tubes mounted on the hub of the screw conveyor. The effect of feeding recycled solids to the discharge zone, to which newly separated solids is also being advanced, is to increase the solids concentration of the solids being discharged by the discharge nozzles.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for infinitely variably setting the U.sup.235 tails concentration in the operation of centrifuge cascades for the separation of the uranium isotopes in a gaseous uranium isotope mixture, comprising introducing a cascade feed comprising a mixture of gaseous uranium isotopes containing U.sup.235 into a feed header of an intermediate stage, equalizing the pressure in the feed header of each stage to the pressure of the cascade feed, and maintaining a predetermined U.sup.235 product concentration by manipulating a choke valve on product or tails streams from each stage, or a choke valve on the cascade feed stream to vary the ratio between the cascade feed and the cascade product stream to adjust the U.sup.235 concentration and the tails.

Abstract: A mechanism and method for treating sludge material for separating the material into solid and liquid phases in a centrifugal separator having a rotating drum and an advancing screw driven at a speed differential relative to the drum, conveying a solid phase of the sludge to a digester tower for generating a biogas, delivering the biogas to a collection chamber and feeding the biogas to a gas powered prime mover connected to drive the centrifugal separator through a hydraulic pump and motor drive with the biogas generated and supplied to the motor commensurate with the speed of operation of the separator.

Abstract: In a gas centrifuge assembly comprising a cascade of individual gas centrifuge machines, malfunctioning of any one of the machines as a result of the presence of gaseous impurity within that machine is inhibited from spreading to other machines in the cascade by flow operated valve arrangements in gas flow lines associated with each machine in the cascade. Each valve arrangement is constructed and arranged to close in response to an abnormal gas flow in the line and out of the machine arising from gaseous impurity within the machine. The valve arrangements may be located in some or all of the feed, product and tails lines of each centrifuge machine in the cascade.

Abstract: A centrifuge is capable of holding a sample container in selected orientations, either during or after centrifugation, to drain supernatants between two or more chambers of the container. The draining may be gravity or centrifugal draining. This allows an automated process to subject a sample to a first physical or chemical treatment to produce a first supernatant, the first supernatant to be subjected to a second physical or chemical treatment, and a second supernatant to be separated from a desired component.