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Multi-stage separation of immiscible fluids
Abstracts of Recent Patents In the UK British Patent s~eciflcatians can be or&fed km:
Casting seals
of polymer bead in filter housings
In GB 2290243 lntersep Ltd describes a filter housing in the form of a centrifugal concentrator filter unit, It is designed to be fully containable in a conventional centrifuge tube when sealed with a cap to provide a closed system centrifugal concentrator adapted to concentrate solution without creating external aerosol or fluid contamination. The filter housing comprises two mating parts which retain a filter element. The endwall formation of the two housing parts defines a capillary channel into which a watery freeflowing cyanoacrylate polymer adhesive or sealant can be introduced from a ledge through an aperture. The adhesive will flow around the channel by capillary action, to form a bead seal between the filter element and the two parts. The principle of the invention is applicable to two-part filter housings generally. Date of printing by UK Office: 20 Dec. 1995. Concentrating molecules
macroin solution
In GB 2290244 V. Vassarotti describes a device for removing or replacing solvent in a liquid sample containing macromolecules. It comprises a concentration chamber having at least one rigid wall and the opposite wall formed from a membrane. The membrane is permeable to the solvent. An aperture adjacent to the upper part of the chamber is provided for introduction and removal of liquid. A
pocket in the lower portion of the chamber retains a fixed volume of a concentrated sample. An absorption container is provided with absorbent material which is arranged closely adjacent to the membrane in the concentration chamber and is capable of absorbing the solvent. The improvement in this device is that the aperture adjacent to the upper end of the concentration chamber is arranged to received and tightly fix the outlet from a detachable auxiliary upper reservoir. Inventor: V. Vassarotti, Date of publication: 10 Jan. 1996. Regenerative filter bed for
adsorption extractor hood
In GB 2290727 E. de Ruiter and J. Tornblom describes an odour filter for extractor hoods. It includes an adsorption filter bed which is regenerable by washing. The filter bed is made of a highly air-permeable substrate material, and has 50 to 400 g/l of adsorbent. The adsorbent has a mean particle diameter between 0.2 and 2 mm. Preferably the bed is made of open-pore reticulated polyurethane foam, and the adsorbent material is activated charcoal. The adhesive may consist of organic crosslinkable polymers or alternatively the adhesive may be a hot-melt type. Inventors: E. de Ruiter and J. Tdrnblom, Date of publication: 10 Jan. 1996. Fluid
filtering
unit
In GB 2290726 Longwail Roof Supports Ltd describes a fluid filtering unit, which comprises a filter element through which fluid being filtered must pass, and a means for cleaning the filter element in situ without interruption of the filtering process. The cleaning comprises a collector which is movable between two positions on the upstream side of the filter element during cleaning. There is a means for urging the collector in use towards its first position, and for moving the collector on to
its second position against the pushing force. There also a means for automatically connecting the collector to dump filtrate at pressure less than that the fluid being filtered the collector moves from first position towards second position. Inventors: C. Oziem and P. ElliottMoore, Date of publication: 10 Jan. 1996. Purifying
is
a of as its its
water
In GB 2290985 Solar Dynamics Ltd describes a multi-stage apparatus for continuous wastewater filtration. It comprises a tank provided with a wastewater inlet pipe to supply water containing suspended solids to the tank, and a large-diameter outlet pipe. A second tank receives the mixture from the outlet pipe; this tank is sufficiently large to allow settling of the larger suspended solids. It is provided with a lower, openable port for discharge of settled solids, and has an upper weir for discharge of partially cleared water. The surface of a continuously driven, perforated belt is positioned to receive a stream of the discharged, partially cleared water. The belt perforations are sized to enable the passage of clear water while retaining fine solids on the surface for subsequent discharge. A water collection trough is provided for water passing through the belt perforations. A solids collection bin collects particles falling off the belt. Inventor: E. Sharir, Date of publication: 17 Jan. 1996. Filter
assemblies
In GB 2290486 Pall Corporation describes a filter assembly. It comprises a base, a filter element mounted on the base, and a housing connected to the base so as to enclose the filter element. The filter is connected to the housing in such a way thatthe filter is retained with the housing when the housing is removed from the base on disassembly. The connection is such that rapid and
simple removal of the filter element from the housing can be achieved by pulling the element from the housing. Inventors: R.F. Cassidy and R.E. Short, Date of publication: 3 Jan. 1996. Filtering
and
shut-off
valve
in VVO 96/03193 Big ‘0’ Inc describes a method and apparatus for removal of organic liquids (including liquid hydrocarbons) from an aqueous stream passing through a conduit. It comprises interposing in the conduit a housing with a cavity of a predetermined volume, through which the aqueous stream must flow. In the cavity is a discrete, organic liquid swellable polymer absorbent having a maximum volume on swelling greater than the predetermined volume of the cavity, so that the absorbent cannot reach 100% saturation. This volume limitation of the cavity prevents dissolution of the polymer absorbent, and permits the use of non-cross-linked polymers. The polymer preferably will swell to at least four times its volume; and not be soluble in less than 20 times its volume. Inventors: K. Daly and R.A. Fenney, Publication date: 8 Feb. 7 996. ulti-stage separation immiscible fluids
of
in WO 96/02309 P. Costinel describes a compact multistage oil/water separator, which has applications in removing oil contaminants from bilge water in ships. The oil/water separator has two toroidal mechanical separation stages on the suction side of a feed pump, and cyclone separation and filtration stages on the output side of the pump. The cyclone separation and filtration stages are located inside the mechanical se-, paration stages for compactness. The oil/water separator has built-in failsafe operation to prevent the accidental discharge of water. Inventor: P. Costinel, Publication date: 1 Feb. 1996.
Casting seals
of polymer bead in filter housings
In GB 2290243 lntersep Ltd describes a filter housing in the form of a centrifugal concentrator filter unit, It is designed to be fully containable in a conventional centrifuge tube when sealed with a cap to provide a closed system centrifugal concentrator adapted to concentrate solution without creating external aerosol or fluid contamination. The filter housing comprises two mating parts which retain a filter element. The endwall formation of the two housing parts defines a capillary channel into which a watery freeflowing cyanoacrylate polymer adhesive or sealant can be introduced from a ledge through an aperture. The adhesive will flow around the channel by capillary action, to form a bead seal between the filter element and the two parts. The principle of the invention is applicable to two-part filter housings generally. Date of printing by UK Office: 20 Dec. 1995. Concentrating molecules
macroin solution
In GB 2290244 V. Vassarotti describes a device for removing or replacing solvent in a liquid sample containing macromolecules. It comprises a concentration chamber having at least one rigid wall and the opposite wall formed from a membrane. The membrane is permeable to the solvent. An aperture adjacent to the upper part of the chamber is provided for introduction and removal of liquid. A
pocket in the lower portion of the chamber retains a fixed volume of a concentrated sample. An absorption container is provided with absorbent material which is arranged closely adjacent to the membrane in the concentration chamber and is capable of absorbing the solvent. The improvement in this device is that the aperture adjacent to the upper end of the concentration chamber is arranged to received and tightly fix the outlet from a detachable auxiliary upper reservoir. Inventor: V. Vassarotti, Date of publication: 10 Jan. 1996. Regenerative filter bed for
adsorption extractor hood
In GB 2290727 E. de Ruiter and J. Tornblom describes an odour filter for extractor hoods. It includes an adsorption filter bed which is regenerable by washing. The filter bed is made of a highly air-permeable substrate material, and has 50 to 400 g/l of adsorbent. The adsorbent has a mean particle diameter between 0.2 and 2 mm. Preferably the bed is made of open-pore reticulated polyurethane foam, and the adsorbent material is activated charcoal. The adhesive may consist of organic crosslinkable polymers or alternatively the adhesive may be a hot-melt type. Inventors: E. de Ruiter and J. Tdrnblom, Date of publication: 10 Jan. 1996. Fluid
filtering
unit
In GB 2290726 Longwail Roof Supports Ltd describes a fluid filtering unit, which comprises a filter element through which fluid being filtered must pass, and a means for cleaning the filter element in situ without interruption of the filtering process. The cleaning comprises a collector which is movable between two positions on the upstream side of the filter element during cleaning. There is a means for urging the collector in use towards its first position, and for moving the collector on to
its second position against the pushing force. There also a means for automatically connecting the collector to dump filtrate at pressure less than that the fluid being filtered the collector moves from first position towards second position. Inventors: C. Oziem and P. ElliottMoore, Date of publication: 10 Jan. 1996. Purifying
is
a of as its its
water
In GB 2290985 Solar Dynamics Ltd describes a multi-stage apparatus for continuous wastewater filtration. It comprises a tank provided with a wastewater inlet pipe to supply water containing suspended solids to the tank, and a large-diameter outlet pipe. A second tank receives the mixture from the outlet pipe; this tank is sufficiently large to allow settling of the larger suspended solids. It is provided with a lower, openable port for discharge of settled solids, and has an upper weir for discharge of partially cleared water. The surface of a continuously driven, perforated belt is positioned to receive a stream of the discharged, partially cleared water. The belt perforations are sized to enable the passage of clear water while retaining fine solids on the surface for subsequent discharge. A water collection trough is provided for water passing through the belt perforations. A solids collection bin collects particles falling off the belt. Inventor: E. Sharir, Date of publication: 17 Jan. 1996. Filter
assemblies
In GB 2290486 Pall Corporation describes a filter assembly. It comprises a base, a filter element mounted on the base, and a housing connected to the base so as to enclose the filter element. The filter is connected to the housing in such a way thatthe filter is retained with the housing when the housing is removed from the base on disassembly. The connection is such that rapid and
simple removal of the filter element from the housing can be achieved by pulling the element from the housing. Inventors: R.F. Cassidy and R.E. Short, Date of publication: 3 Jan. 1996. Filtering
and
shut-off
valve
in VVO 96/03193 Big ‘0’ Inc describes a method and apparatus for removal of organic liquids (including liquid hydrocarbons) from an aqueous stream passing through a conduit. It comprises interposing in the conduit a housing with a cavity of a predetermined volume, through which the aqueous stream must flow. In the cavity is a discrete, organic liquid swellable polymer absorbent having a maximum volume on swelling greater than the predetermined volume of the cavity, so that the absorbent cannot reach 100% saturation. This volume limitation of the cavity prevents dissolution of the polymer absorbent, and permits the use of non-cross-linked polymers. The polymer preferably will swell to at least four times its volume; and not be soluble in less than 20 times its volume. Inventors: K. Daly and R.A. Fenney, Publication date: 8 Feb. 7 996. ulti-stage separation immiscible fluids
of
in WO 96/02309 P. Costinel describes a compact multistage oil/water separator, which has applications in removing oil contaminants from bilge water in ships. The oil/water separator has two toroidal mechanical separation stages on the suction side of a feed pump, and cyclone separation and filtration stages on the output side of the pump. The cyclone separation and filtration stages are located inside the mechanical se-, paration stages for compactness. The oil/water separator has built-in failsafe operation to prevent the accidental discharge of water. Inventor: P. Costinel, Publication date: 1 Feb. 1996.