4400results about "Separation devices" patented technology

Rapid characterization and screening of polymer samples to determine average molecular weight, molecular weight distribution and other properties is disclosed. Rapid flow characterization systems and methods, including liquid chromatography and flow-injection analysis systems and methods are preferably employed. High throughput, automated sampling systems and methods, high-temperature characterization systems and methods, and rapid, indirect calibration compositions and methods are also disclosed. In preferred high-temperature embodiments, the polymer sample is maintained at a temperature of not less than about 75° C. during sample preparation, loading into a liquid chromatography or flow-injection analysis system, injection into a mobile phase of a liquid chromatography or flow-injection analysis system, and/or elution from chromatographic column. The described methods, systems, and device have primary applications in combinatorial polymer research and in industrial process control.

An apparatus and method produces nitrate ions on-site from water, natural gas and air extracted in proximity to the apparatus. The apparatus generates nitrate ions and brings the nitrate ions into contact with an aqueous system. Hydrogen sulfide present in the aqueous system is removed and the production of hydrogen sulfide by sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) is eliminated by introducing into the system nitrate ions, whereby denitrifying microorganisms, using nitrate, outcompete the sulfate-reducing bacteria for the available carbon nutrients, thus preventing the SRB from producing hydrogen sulfide. Nitrate ions generated by the apparatus and added to the aqueous system which contains the denitrifying microorganisms can enhance oil recovery by means of microbial enhanced oil recovery mechanisms.

The invention generally relates to a facility wide sorting and/or sequencing system for improving product processing operations and, more particularly, to a facility wide system and related functionality for simultaneously sorting and sequencing mixed mail pieces such as, for example, flats and letter mail pieces. The flats and letter mail pieces are placed in frames so that all types of mail pieces can be sorted and/or sequenced simultaneously through merging and diverting a stream of filled trays into and out of different streams at a full or substantially full transport speed.

A method and apparatus for sorting particles moving through a closed channel system of capillary size comprises a bubble valve for selectively generating a pressure pulse to separate a particle having a predetermined characteristic from a stream of particles. The particle sorting system may further include a buffer for absorbing the pressure pulse. The particle sorting system may include a plurality of closely coupled sorting modules which are combined to further increase the sorting rate. The particle sorting system may comprise a multi-stage sorting device for serially sorting streams of particles, in order to decrease the error rate.

A device for separating and isolating components of a biological fluid comprising a container for containing the fluid to be processed, a tube cap assembly for closing the container while providing filling and extraction communication therewith, a float assembly disposed within the container for funneling and controlling biological fluid flow into an inverted domed shaped isolation chamber within the float and controlling the biological fluid flow out of the isolation chamber for effecting an encapsulation or a sealed isolation of at least one component or fraction of the biological fluid flow within the isolation chamber during a centrifugation process. The device further comprising a flexible tube for connecting an extraction passageway disposed within the float assembly and an extraction valve of the tube cap assembly for allowing extraction of at least the one component or fraction encapsulated or isolated within the chamber.

A coalescer filter element for the separation of water from hydrocarbon fluids, such as kerosene, jet fuel, diesel fuel, and gasoline under surfactant conditions such as thermal stability additive and dispersant. Coalescer fibrous material has hydrophobic properties which resist surfactant coating of the fibers thereby allowing breakdown of water emulsion in the hydrocarbon fluids. The coalescer has a negative media density gradient in the liquid flow direction.

Removal of biological nutrients from a wastewater yielding a low phosphorous (e.g., less than 0.25 mg/L) output includes providing a serial multistage bioreactor containing activated sludge having in hydraulic series an anaerobic zone and a downstream aerobic zone, with each zone having an upstream inlet and a downstream outlet. The wastewater is provided to the anaerobic zone inlet. A quantity of chemical sufficient to precipitate soluble and particulate phosphorous is added to the downstream aerobic zone in an amount sufficient to yield a low phosphorous output. Treated water is separated from the activated sludge and precipitated phosphorous and a return activated sludge separated from the treated water is recycled to the anaerobic zone.

An automated banking machine (10) identifies and stores documents such as currency bills deposited by a user. The machine then selectively recovers such documents from storage and dispenses them to other users. The machine includes a central transport (70) wherein documents deposited in a stack are unstacked, oriented and identified. Such documents are then routed to storage areas in recycling canisters (92, 94, 96, 98). When a user subsequently requests a dispense, documents stored in the storage areas are selectively picked therefrom and delivered to the user through an input/output area (50) of the machine.

This invention is based on size and mass separation of suspended particles, including biological matter, which are made to flow in a spiral channel. On the spiral sections, the inward directed transverse pressure field from fluid shear competes with the outward directed centrifugal force to allow for separation of particles. At high velocity, centrifugal force dominates and particles move outward. At low velocities, transverse pressure dominates and the particles move inward. The magnitudes of the two opposing forces depend on flow velocity, particle size, radius of curvature of the spiral section, channel dimensions, and viscosity of the fluid. At the end of the spiral channel, a parallel array of outlets collects separated particles. For any particle size, the required channel dimension is determined by estimating the transit time to reach the side-wall. This time is a function of flow velocity, channel width, viscosity, and radius of curvature. Larger particles may reach the channel wall earlier than the smaller particles which need more time to reach the side wall. Thus a spiral channel may be envisioned by placing multiple outlets along the channel. This technique is inherently scalable over a large size range from sub-millimeter down to 1 μm.

A method and process for the treatment of wastewater containing phosphorous and nitrogen. The wastewater is first anaerobically treated to produce an anaerobic effluent from which insoluble organic carbon is separated to form a sludge rich in organic carbon that is used as a substrate during anoxic treatment of the wastewater by de-nitrifying phosphorous accumulating organisms (DPAO's) and ordinary de-nitrifying organisms. The separation of insoluble organic carbon is normally conducted using a clarifier located intermediate the anaerobic and anoxic bio-reactors. In one embodiment, the ammonia rich clarifier supernatant is directed to an aerobic reactor for nitrification and the nitrate produced is recycled to the anoxic bio-reactor. The final effluent may be membrane filtered to retain nitrifying biomass within the aerobic bio-reactor. The invention reduces overall hydraulic residence time and sludge volume, which results in a smaller, less expensive wastewater treatment system.

A platelet collection device comprising a centrifugal spin-separator container with a cavity having a longitudinal inner surface. A float in the cavity has a base, a platelet collection surface above the base, an outer surface. The float density is below the density of erythrocytes and above the density of plasma. The platelet collection surface has a position on the float which places it below the level of platelets when the float is suspended in separated blood. During centrifugation, a layer of platelets or buffy coat collects closely adjacent the platelet collection surface. Platelets are then removed from the platelet collection surface. Movement of a float having a density greater than whole blood through the sedimenting erythrocytes releases entrapped platelets, increasing the platelet yield.

A method for sorting mail to a case having a plurality of slots is described, wherein each slot corresponds to a destination. The method includes steps of loading a mail piece to be sorted into a delivery robot, determining for the mail piece a destination slot the mail piece is to be delivered to, moving the delivery robot along a rail disposed at the front of the case near the slots into proximity with an open end of the destination slot, inserting the mail piece from the delivery robot into the associated slot, and returning the delivery robot to a loading station whereby the cycle may be repeated. Such a method, when using a large number of robots moving along a common rail system, can sort a large volume of mail in carrier delivery order.

A downhole gas-liquid separation device comprises a barrel-shaped body, and a positioning wheel is fixedly installed in the body. A rotatable swirling wheel is installed on the positioning wheel and provided with spiral wheel blades, and the positioning wheel is provided with fluid channels. A lower connector is connected to the body, a diverting joint is arranged at the inner end, located in an inner cavity of the body, of the lower connector, a gas outlet channel is formed in the center of the diverting joint in a coaxial mode, and the outer side of the diverting joint is provided with liquid drainage channels. An interval is formed between the swirling wheel and the diverting joint. The downhole gas-liquid separation device is small in part number, simple in structure and lower in cost; the swirling wheel is driven to rotate when liquid passes through the swirling wheel to enable the liquid to generate centrifugal force and swirlingly flow in the inner cavity in the mode of being attached to the wall, the liquid in gas is gathered to the center, and then the liquid and the gas flow out through the liquid drainage channels formed in the outer side and the gas outlet channel formed in the center respectively, so that gas and liquid separation is achieved; accordingly, the liquid sent to a motor does not contain the gas, damage to the motor is avoided, and the service life of the motor is prolonged.

A contaminant trap system of a reactor system may comprise a baffle plate stack comprising at least one baffle plate comprising an aperture spanning through a baffle plate body of the baffle plate, and a solid body portion; and at least one complementary baffle plate comprising a complementary aperture spanning through a complementary baffle plate body of the complementary baffle plate, and a complementary solid body portion. The at least one baffle plate and the at least one complementary baffle plate may be disposed in a baffle plate order between a first end and a second end of the baffle plate stack in which the baffle plates alternate with the complementary baffle plates, such that no two baffle plates or no two complementary baffle plates are adjacent in the baffle plate order.

The present invention relates to an integrated closed loop system for aquaculture in at least one culturing tank and using continuous bioreactor technology for the biological treatment and removal of organic material, nitrogen and phosphorous, comprising: an integrated, partially or wholly closed loop system for waste water treatment, where the water contains nitrogen containing compounds and/or substances, comprising at least one production unit of such nitrogen containing compounds and/or substances and using continuous bioreactor technology for the biological treatment and removal of organic matter, nitrogen and phosphorous from the said water at continuous flow, comprising: a) at least one suspended carrier bioreactor for bacterial growth under anoxic conditions to cause anaerobic denitrification, with one or several compartments, preceding b) at least one suspended-carrier bioreactor for bacterial growth under oxic conditions to cause aerobic nitrification, c) the denitrification taking place after the production unit, and d) the nitrification taking place prior to the production unit in a by-pass mode as part of the continuous flow.