Abstract: The present invention is a polarized gas separator useful in the bipolar construction of a fuel cell stack. It comprises a porous conductive substrate and a barrier layer, the barrier layer having a first side and a second side, and laterally extending through the porous conductive substrate so that a first portion of the porous conductive substrate extends from the first side of the barrier layer and a second portion of the porous conductive substrate extends from the second side of the barrier layer. Effectively, the polarized gas separator is a single component system that not only enhances power performance of fuel cell stacks but also defeats several problems previously unsolvable by conventional bipolar plate assemblies.

Abstract: A gas contaminant is filtered using fibers having internal cavities containing a chemically reactive oxidizing agent, an acid or base, a coordinating agent, a complexing agent, or a deliquescing agent. Where the contaminant is basic, the reagent is preferably an oxidizing agent. Where the contaminant is acidic, the reagent is preferably basic, and more preferably comprises a group 1 or group 2 metal cation. The reagent may also advantageously comprise a phosphate, chitosan, hypochlorite, borate, carbonate, hydroxide, or oxide. Where the contaminant is neutral, the reagent is preferably an oxidizing agent, complexing agent, coordinating agent, or deliquescing agent. The reagent is preferably impregnated into an adsorptive solid, including, for example, carbon powder, zeolite, aluminum oxide, or silica. The fibers are preferably multilobal, and most preferably either trilobal or quadrilobal. It is also preferred that the fibers contain a plurality of T shaped lobes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for removing sulfuric acid mist wherein a gas containing sulfuric acid mist is bubbled into an absorbing solution through a gas diffuser having pores with an average pore diameter of about 1,000 &mgr;m or less. This method allows simple and highly effective removal of sulfuric acid mist.

Abstract: An ultra-efficient multilobal cross-sectioned fiber filter for chemical contaminant filtering applications is described. An absorptive chemically reactive reagent, preferably an acid or base and in liquid or an adsorptive chemically reactive reagent (an acid or base) in solid form, is disposed within longitudinal slots in each length of fiber. The reagent may be used alone or in conjunction with solid adsorptive particles which may also be utilized with the reagents in the longitudinal slots within the fibers. Reagents within the fibers remain exposed to a base-contaminated airstream passing through the filter. Base contaminants in the airstream, chemicals such as ammonium and amines (as well as particles), react with the acid reagent within the longitudinal slots of the fibers. As the contaminant and reagent react, the ammonium or amine becomes irreversibly absorbed (or adsorbed if reagent is a solid acid) to the liquid acid reagent and multilobal fiber.

Abstract: In a method of separating carbon dioxide from a gas mixture, a liquid solvent flows down an array of vertical wires with the gas mixture flowing over the liquid. Once on the wire, the liquid quickly breaks up into drops of varying sizes, with each size moving down the wire at a different velocity. Large, faster moving drops overtake the small, slower moving drops to form even larger drops. As the drops fall, new drops are created behind the falling drops. Consequently, drops of a large range of sizes are forming, colliding, and mixing as they travel down the wire. During this process, gas molecules that have adsorbed onto the liquid surface are mixed into the interior of the solvent, resulting in highly effective mass transfer and gas absorption. This enhanced mass transfer allows greater flexibility in the choice of solvent and in the system design.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a gas compressor system capable of delivering dry clean compressed gas, the system including a driven compressor unit (8) typically including a rotary compressor (10) driven by a motor 11 with the compressed gas being separated from any entrained liquid lubricant in a separator vessel (13), the compressed gas being thereafter passed through a moisture absorber column (22) in moisture absorbing relationship with a fluid capable of removing moisture from said compressed gas, said fluid either also acting as said liquid lubricant or being maintained in a separate closed circuit relative to said liquid lubricant, and a moisture stripping device (32) preferably provided to receive a portion of the dry compressed gas discharged from the absorber column (22) and being passed in moisture exchange relationship with the fluid prior to the fluid being introduced into said absorber column (22), the moisture absorber column (22) having an outer housing (36) defining a vertically disposed ab

Abstract: A fibrous element is described. The fibrous element includes a container member and an anti-microbial agent, wherein the anti-microbial agent is disposed within the container member. The container member can include structures such as an elongated fiber having multiple lobes with a longitudinally extending internal cavity including an opening from the internal cavity to the outer fiber formed between adjacent lobes, an elongated fiber having an internal longitudinally extending cavity having a longitudinally extending opening, and a particulate. The anti-microbial agent is capable of diffusing out of the container member and throughout the fibrous element in response to elevated relative humidity levels in order to contact and kill a microbial population.

Abstract: A scrubber for removing soluble materials from harmful gaseous effluents with high efficiency and safety is disclosed. By using twice mixes of the scrubbing liquid and the harmful gaseous effluent, the scrubber meets the standards of environment protection. The scrubber of this invention also prevents the problems of factory safety presenting in the conventional fume scrubber. Owing to the high efficiency of the mixing of the harmful gaseous effluent and the scrubbing liquid, the production facilities or processing units need not stop operating once the supply of the scrubbing liquid terminates.

Abstract: A scrubber for removing soluble materials from harmful gaseous effluents with high efficiency and safety is disclosed. By using twice mixes of the scrubbing liquid and the harmful gaseous effluent, the scrubber meets the standards of environmental protection. The scrubber of this invention also prevents the problems of factory safety presented in the conventional fume scrubber. Owing to the high efficiency of the mixing of the harmful gaseous effluent and the scrubbing liquid, the production facilities or processing units need not stop operating once the supply of the scrubbing liquid terminates.

Abstract: A filter, for use in removing residual fuel vapors from within an engine's intake system, includes a filter element having a plurality of fibers, for placement in communication with an intake air flow passage. Each of the fibers has an internal cavity formed therein, and a longitudinally extending slot formed therein extending from the internal cavity to the outer fiber surface. The filter also includes a hydrocarbon-absorbing material disposed within the internal cavities of the fibers. The hydrocarbon-absorbing material may be a solid material such as, e.g., carbon, or may be a liquid such as a relatively non-volatile organic solvent. Alternatively, the material may be a combined solid and liquid. In one embodiment, each of the elongated fibers includes a central stem and a plurality of lobes extending outwardly from the central stem, with a longitudinally extending slot defined between adjacent lobes. Specific useful filter configurations are detailed.

Abstract: Static mixers are arranged so that its longitudinal direction is substantially vertical. A liquid supply mechanism supplies the liquid containing impurities from the upper end of the static mixer into the static mixer. A gas supply mechanism supplies gas from the lower end of the static mixer into the static mixer. The static mixer is fabricated so that one or more mixing elements comprising a passage tube through which fluid can pass and one or more spiral blades arranged inside the passage tube are, continuously or through one or more spacers, arranged in the longitudinal direction thereof. The liquid drops down inside the static mixer and the gas rises up inside the static mixer, so that the two are subjected to gas-liquid contact inside the static mixer.

Abstract: To provide a process for treating gas for decomposing organic solvent and/or other organic gas contained in exhaust gas effectively and simply at low costs to remove the decomposition product of organic gas by applying other process. The gas can be treated very effectively by decomposing or removing a target gas component dissolved in liquid capable of treating the gas, preferably, by applying microbial treatment, after bringing the gas rising into contact with the liquid falling in a gas treatment tower wherein part of the gas (branched gas ) is admixed with the liquid before feeding the liquid into the tower.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for wet filtering machine exhaust with a desirable scented oil mixture is disclosed. Preferably, the machine exhaust filtered is the exhaust from office machines, such as printers, photocopiers, and facsimile machines, which expel ozone, particulate matter, and toner pollution into the ambient air.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing solvents, utilizing a solvent removal unit equipped with an upper liquid supporting member provided with a bottom portion which supports the solvent suspension and which is provided with an opened hole, and a lower liquid supporting member provided at a lower side and at a distance from said upper liquid supporting member, such that the solvent suspension is dropped from the upper liquid supporting member to the lower liquid supporting member, and that the solvent suspension is brought into contact with a gaseous phase while it is being dropped.

Abstract: Washer media are disposed in an air inlet and an air outlet of a water spray chamber. A basic unit is formed by first stage nozzles from which spraying water that reaches the inlet washer media is sprayed in the reverse direction to an air flow; a water storage tank for receiving spraying water, located in the lower position of the water spray chamber; and a circulating water supply system that circulates the circulating water in the water storage tank to the first stage nozzles. Second stage nozzles from which spraying water directed against the outlet washer media is sprayed in the forward direction to the air flow are disposed in approximately the same positions as the first stage nozzles. There is also provided a supplementary water supply system for supplying supplementary water to the second stage nozzles.

Abstract: A water filtering type air cleaning unit includes a housing having an upper side defining an air draining conduit and a lower side defining an air inlet conduit, a water permeable air filtering device mounted in the air draining conduit and including a plurality of stacked air filtering pipes, a water permeable disk mounted on a top edge of the water permeable air filtering device, a cold water heat exchanging device mounted in the air inlet conduit and including a cold water inlet and a cold water outlet connected with the water permeable disk, a water pump mounted in the air inlet conduit and connected with the cold water inlet, a water tank mounted in the air inlet conduit and connected with the water permeable air filtering device and the water pump, a natural convention device mounted in the housing and including a plurality of closed circulating pipes each filled with a refrigerant, and a vent mounted in the housing and including an upper side formed with an air outlet and an air inlet.

Abstract: A system for capturing HAPs/VOCs from an existing or planned air stream and destroying the contaminants in the air stream by microbial degradation is disclosed. In general, the system is composed of a reservoir with a filter structure positioned above it. The filter structure contains a capture or filtration media through which contaminated air or vapors must pass. HAPs/VOCs in the air or vapors are filtered out and absorbed by the capture media. The reservoir contains a tank water bath that is inoculated with microorganisms that are selected to degrade the hazardous materials or pollutants removed by the capture media. Sprinkler heads above the filter structure spray the filter structure with a sprayed water bath also inoculated with the microorganisms, whereby contaminants caught in the filter structure are leached out and bioremediated.

Abstract: A filter device and technique are described which rely on absorption rather than adsorption for the removal of gas phase contaminants. A filter media is composed of wicking fibers which are impregnated with any of a variety of liquid phase absorbing systems made from the combination of a carrier liquid and soluble complexing/degrading agent or agents. The wicking fibers may be connected to an external reservoir which can be used to supply fresh absorbing fluid to the filter media giving them a potentially inexhaustible capacity. The filter media may be made from any of a variety of fibers which can rapidly transport a liquid phase by the nature of either their geometry or their chemical composition. Geometries may include multilobal cross-sectional configurations, porous hollow fibers, porous or striated fibers or tightly bundled microfibers, all of which exhibit the property of wicking fluid from an external source.

Abstract: A gas liquid contact structure having a plurality of corrugated woven wire sheets alternated with rigid support members to separate and support the woven wire sheets. The vees or peaks of the corrugations are aligned and oriented in the same direction with the rigid support members separating and preventing the corrugations from nesting together.

Abstract: A contraflow gas/liquid contactor tower having a gas diffuser to provide uniform gas flow in the tower, a set of partial helical membrane sheets running generally parallel to the tower axis and the gas flow, supported between an upper liquid distributing hub and a lower support hub, and a mist extractor pack with liquid direction control.

Abstract: A unique filtration device (10) which continuously removes gas phase contaminants from an air stream through the use of partially hollow wicking fibers (20) impregnated with a fine solid carbon powder (18) or zeolites and formed into a fiber filter (12) with a selected chemisorptive liquid applied to one side of the fiber filter (12) and large carbon particles (19) applied to the other side of the fiber filter (12). The air stream to be cleaned is directed through filter element (12) which can capture the gas phase contaminants. The wicking fibers (20) include internal longitudinal cavities (22) filled with the fine carbon powder (18) and each having a relatively small longitudinal extending opening (24).

Abstract: A unique filtration device (10) which continuously removes gas phase contaminants from an air stream through the use of partially hollow wicking fibers (20) impregnated with a fine solid powder and a selected chemisorptive liquid (18) which can capture the gas phase contaminants. The wicking fibers (20) are generally disposed to extend in the same direction and are formed into a filter element (12). The air stream to be cleaned is directed through filter element (12). The wicking fibers (20) include internal longitudinal cavities (22) filled with a fine powder and each having a relatively small longitudinal extending opening (24). The wicking fibers (20) are filled with the selected contaminant removing chemisorptive liquid through capillary action by which the individual wicking fibers (20) rapidly draw the selected chemisorptive liquid, with which they come into contact, through the internal cavities (22).

Abstract: A unique odor filtration device (10) which continuously removes odor causing gas phase contaminants from an air stream through the use of partially hollow wicking fibers (20) impregnated with a selected liquid (18) which can capture odor causing gas phase contaminants. The odor removing liquid (18) is a chemical composition including sodium permanganate in combination with either sodium carbonate or sodium phosphate. The odor absorbing liquid (18) can include specialized additives such as transition metal salts and other agents such as sodium iodide for additional and broader odor removal coverage. The wicking fibers (20) are formed into a filter element (12) which extends from a chamber (16) through which the air stream to be cleaned is directed into a stripping chamber (19). The odor causing contaminants are conveyed to from chamber (16) to chamber (19) by a concentration factor induced molecular migration.

Abstract: The invention relates to an absorption dryer having a new type of contact device, viz. a contact device including at least one fabric structure, whose threads are such that they can absorb and convey a liquid drying agent and whose apertures are adapted to let through humid gas, whereby the contact between the humid gas and the drying agent occurs essentially radially in respect of the threads, the drying agent preferably being in the plane of the fabric structure and the gas perpendicular thereto through the apertures.

Abstract: A method of providing a printing plate comprises coating on a support a layer having a hydrophilic surface comprising the homogeneous reaction product of hydrolyzed polyvinyl acetate and hydrolyzed tetraethyl orthosilicate. The coating may also contain pigments such as titanium dioxide and the like. A printing plate is provided having a support having thereon a layer having a hydrophilic surface and over the layer a silver precipitating layer, preferably comprising nickel sulfide and silver iodide. An image is provided in the silver precipitating layer by diffusion transfer and treated with a thiol or similar sulfur-containing material to improve the ink-water balance of the plate.