Abstract: A method and apparatus for filling a steam chamber. In one exemplary embodiment, a steam chamber is placed in selective communication with a vacuum pump and a heat transfer medium, such as a source of deaerated water. The steam chamber is then placed in communication with the vacuum pump, which draws a vacuum on the steam chamber and begins removing air from the interior thereof. Once a sufficient vacuum has been drawn on the steam chamber and substantially all of the air removed therefrom, the steam chamber may be placed in communication with the heat transfer medium. In one exemplary embodiment, the heat transfer medium is deaerated water. A predetermined amount of heat transfer medium is then allowed to fill the steam chamber. Once the predetermined amount of deaerated water has been received within the steam chamber, a steam chamber may be sealed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating a first fluid from a fluid mixture. In one embodiment water containing methane is passed through an agitation chamber with a plate at the chamber's proximal and distal ends. Both plates have orifices permitting the mixed fluid to pass into and out of the agitation chamber. In one embodiment, the mixed fluid rotates about its axis of flow through the agitation chamber. In one embodiment, the mixed fluid passes through a separation chamber having a plurality of baffles that promote separation of the methane from the methane/water mixture. In one embodiment, the separated methane is removed from the water in a collection chamber that facilitates gravity separation of the mixed fluids.

Abstract: A method comprising liquefying a gas to thereby obtain a liquefied gas; injecting a sample into a mobile phase containing a solvent and a supercritical fluid formed from the liquefied gas; passing this mobile phase through a column so that the mobile phase containing desired substance is divided into the solvent and the gas; and separating the desired substance from the solvent, wherein when the pressure of the gas divided from the mobile phase is higher than the pressure of the gas fed for formation of the liquefied gas from gas supply device, the gas divided from the mobile phase is liquefied. Further, there is provided a vapor liquid separator for use in the method.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating a first fluid from a fluid mixture. In one embodiment water containing methane is passed through an agitation chamber with a plate at the chamber's proximal and distal ends. Both plates have orifices permitting the mixed fluid to pass into and out of the agitation chamber. In one embodiment, the mixed fluid rotates about its axis of flow through the agitation chamber. In one embodiment, the mixed fluid passes through a separation chamber having a plurality of baffles that promote separation of the methane from the methane/water mixture. In one embodiment, the separated methane is removed from the water in a collection chamber that facilitates gravity separation of the mixed fluids. In one embodiment, liquid hydrocarbon is removed from water.

Abstract: A system for removing CO2 from air such as atmospheric air is described that uses a cooling tower, a pseudo-cooling tower, or a wind capture device to provide a large volume of atmospheric air. A CO2 capture apparatus is positioned to contact atmospheric air moving towards or within the cooling tower, pseudo-tower, or wind capture device, and includes wherein the CO2 capture apparatus includes a CO2 binding agent that binds to CO2 in atmospheric air. An associated reprocessing apparatus releases C02 from the binding agent, directs the released CO2 to a CO2 storage chamber, and returns the binding agent to the CO2 capture apparatus. A system for removing CO2 from flue gas is also described.

Abstract: A dialysis fluid system includes an instrument including a pump actuator and a fluid heater, and a dialysis fluid cassette. The dialysis fluid cassette includes a rigid portion defining a pumping section for operation with the pump actuator and a heating section for operation with the fluid heater. The heating section includes a dialysis fluid inlet, a dialysis fluid outlet, and a dialysis fluid heating area located between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, the heating section further includes an air separation chamber for collecting air separated from the dialysis fluid.

Abstract: A renal treatment fluid priming method includes priming an extracorporeal circuit connected to a patient with a physiologically compatible fluid, the extracorporeal circuit including an arterial line, a venous line and blood compartment of a blood filter; and pumping from a renal treatment fluid line in communication with the blood filter (i) pulling blood from the patient through the arterial line to flush the physiologically compatible fluid through the arterial line and the blood filter compartment into the renal treatment fluid line and (ii) pulling blood from the patient through the venous line to flush the physiologically compatible fluid through the venous line and the blood filter compartment into the renal treatment fluid line, such that a greater volume of blood is pulled from the patient via (i) and (ii) than a volume of the extracorporeal circuit.

Abstract: A system for producing bubble free liquid includes a continuous liquid source and a de-bubbling chamber. The de-bubbling chamber includes an outlet and an inlet. The inlet coupled to an outlet of the continuous liquid source by a supply pipe. The de-bubbling chamber also includes at least one port in a sidewall of the de-bubbling chamber. The at least one port being at least a length L from the inlet of the de-bubbling chamber. A method for producing bubble free liquid is also described.

Abstract: A blood conditioning device having a housing with a helical blood acceleration section which includes a helical flow path for impressing centrifugal forces on the entrained bubbles in the blood to concentrate them towards the center of the flow path, a bubble pick off tube aligned with the centerline of the acceleration section which collects and recirculates the bubbles to the cardiotomy reservoir upstream of the device during operation, and a blood filtration section to intercept the flow of particles in the blood.

Abstract: A liquid cleaning device comprises a vessel (1), a bottom plate (3), a heating device and a tubular riser (12) arranged in the vessel for heated liquid ascending through the riser, the heated liquid from the upper, open end of the riser running back through force of gravity down and outside of the riser to be reheated and ascend agains through the riser, and so on. The vessel—61) is cylindrical and substantially its entire base (17) can be heated by means of the heating device (171). A plurality of discs (51–54) of equal size are arranged in the upper part of the vessel (1), said discs having a central aperture (510) for the riser (12) and a plurality of small holes (511) distributed uniformly across the entire surface of the discs and provided with drip edges (5110). A distributor (14) is arranged at the upper, open end of the riser (12) to distribute the hot liquid coming out of the ruser uniformly over the uppermost disc (51).

Abstract: A process is disclosed for thermally degassing a condensate or feedwater by heating the condensate or feedwater in a feedwater vessel/degassing means, to which preheated condensate is fed and from which feedwater for heating surfaces heated in a heat recovery steam generator is removed. Structurally simple degassing, advantageous in thermal terms, is achieved by virtue of the fact that the condensate is preheated in a first condensate preheater, and that a partial stream of the preheated condensate, which is preheated further in a second condensate preheater, is used to heat the condensate or feedwater in the feedwater vessel/degassing means.

Abstract: An air-liquid separating apparatus for compressed air includes a cooling device adapted to be connected to an air source via a first transfer tube. The cooling device includes a liquid cooling tank filled with cooling agent and a cooling tube spiraled in the liquid cooling tank for condensing and separating the mist in the compressed air. An air-liquid separating tank is connected to the liquid cooling tank, wherein the compressed air is cooled and released again in the air-liquid separating tank. The air-liquid separating tank includes a backflow tube connected to the air-liquid separating tank for outputting the compressed air. The backflow tube is provided to carry the heat from the cooling device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for the physicochemical treatment of fluid media. The aim of the method is to modify the surface tension and the viscosity of the fluid, to mechanically reduce and eliminate organic and/or inorganic substances, micro-organisms, such as for example microbes, bacteria, fungi or algae and to chemically oxidise or reduce substances and material compounds entrained by the fluids. According to said method, energy is supplied to the fluid that is to be treated as follows: at least two volumetric flows of the fluid are guided at high speed, so that their surfaces intermingle or collide with one another in the form of a translational and/or rotational motion at a different speed, if the flows originate from the same direction, or at a selectable speed, or optionally an identical speed, if the flows originate from opposite directions.

Abstract: An air-liquid separating method and apparatus for compressed air. The high pressure air output from an air compressor is transferred through a transfer tube to pass through the cooling tube of a cooling tank. The cooling tube has a diameter larger than that of the transfer tube so that the high pressure air goes from a smaller room into a larger room and the pressure is relieved. The temperature of the high pressure air is lowered due to relief of the pressure and the pressure of the vapor is, approximately the saturated vapor pressure. The cooled high pressure air is further transferred to an air-liquid separating tank. The temperature of the air is lowered to the dew point due to further relief of pressure. At this time, the vapor contained in the high pressure air is condensed into liquid water which drops onto the bottom of the air-liquid separating tank and separates from the air.

Abstract: A centrifugal vapor/liquid separator separates the vapor and liquid in a flash of hydrocarbon and steam mixture, such that only the vapor stream is fed and processed further downstream. The design of the separator ensures that all partially wetted surfaces in the separator, except at the vapor outlet pipe, are well-wetted and washed by the non-vaporized liquid portion of the feed or by injection of external liquid thus ensuring that no coke deposition occurs inside the separator. The flash temperature in the separator therefore can be increased beyond the typical limit thus achieving a deeper cut into the feed and recovering a larger fraction of the feed as vapor for further downstream processing.

Abstract: A thermal processing system for processing a hot-fill liquid product and filling containers with the hot-fill liquid product is set forth that includes: 1) a thermal processing unit for thermally processing the hot-fill liquid product; 2) a packaging machine for filling individual containers with the hot-fill liquid product; and 3) an intermediate degassing tank. The intermediate degassing tank includes a tank body having an inlet receiving the thermally processed hot-fill liquid product from the thermal processing unit, an interior chamber holding the thermally processed hot-fill liquid, and an outlet facilitating fluid communication of the thermally processed hot-fill liquid product from the interior chamber of the degassing tank to the packaging machine, and a vent. A degasser is disposed in the interior chamber of the tank body and receives the hot-fill liquid product from the inlet.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process and apparatus for dissipating the energy of a wet oxidation mixture after that stream traverses a pressure control valve. The depressurized stream is discharged into a phase separator vessel containing a gas phase and a liquid phase. The pressure control valve is positioned to discharge the oxidation mixture at a selected orientation below the surface level of the liquid phase in the vessel. This dissipates the energy of the mixture and prevents erosion of the phase separator vessel. The apparatus of the invention includes the separator vessel with gas and liquid phase exits, a control device for maintaining the liquid phase at the selected level in the vessel, a pressure control valve positioned at an aperture in the vessel for discharging the mixture below the surface level of the liquid phase in the vessel, and sealing device between the control valve and the separator vessel.

Abstract: A water deaeration system has a pump in a supply pipe supplying water to a deaeration vessel. A recirculation pipe interconnecting a heat exchanger between the discharge side and the suction side of the supply pump heats a recirculated portion of the water flowing to the deaeration vessel. A vacuum pump having its suction side connected with the deaeration vessel and its discharge side connected to an air-water separator evacuates the air dissolved in the water and the separator then separates seal water and entrained water from the evacuated air. The vacuum pump has a water seal which is supplied by the separated water in the separator by a seal water pipe connected between the separator and the water seal via the hot side of the recirculation seal water heat exchanger. Heat energy introduced into the seal water by the vacuum pump is transferred to the supply water flowing to the deaeration vessel to be deaerated in order to more efficiently strip the air.