Abstract:
A filtration system for removing fine solids from a liquid suspension comprising a vessel for containing the liquid suspension, one or more permeable, membranes (9) within the vessel, means for providing a pressure differential across walls of the membranes (9) such that some of the liquid suspension passes through the walls of the membranes (9) to be drawn off as permeate and means for withdrawing the permeate from the membranes. A screen (8) is positioned in a flow path of the liquid suspension through to the membrane walls.
Abstract:
An improved method and apparatus are provided for constructing and operating a linear actuator, and equipment incorporating a linear actuator, by operatively connecting a pressure biasing pneumatic arrangement between the driving member and the driven member of a mechanical linear actuator for applying a unidirectional biasing force between the driving and driven members, along an axis of motion, regardless of the location or movement of the driving and driven elements with respect to one another along the axis of motion. The pneumatic biasing arrangement is also configured, connected and operated to reduce the force which must be exerted by the driving and driven members in extending and retracting the linear actuator. The pneumatic biasing arrangement may further be configured for preferentially aiding extension or retraction of the actuator.
Abstract:
A method of cleaning permeable, hollow membranes (6) in an arrangement of the type wherein a pressure differential is applied across the walls (15) of the permeable, hollow membranes (6) immersed in a liquid suspension, the liquid suspension being applied to the outer surface of the porous hollow membranes (6) to induce and sustain filtration through the membrane walls (15) wherein some of the liquid suspension passes through the walls (15) of the membranes (6) to be drawn off as clarified liquid or permeate from the hollow membrane lumens (7), and at least some of the solids are retained on or in the hollow membranes (6) or otherwise as suspended solids within the liquid surrounding the membranes (6). The method of cleaning comprises the steps of applying a cleaning solution (14) to one side of the membrane wall (15); applying a pressure differential across the membrane wall (15) to cause flow of the cleaning solution (14) through the wall (15) from the one side of the membrane wall (15) to the other side of the membrane wall (15) and applying a reverse pressure differential across the membrane wall (15) to cause flow of the cleaning solution (14) through the wall (15) from the other side of the membrane wall (15) back to the one side of the membrane wall (15). A method of determining the amount of chemical cleaning solution required is also disclosed.
Abstract:
A method of operating a membrane filtration module (5), the module (5) including one or more membranes (7) extending longitudinally between vertically spaced upper and lower headers (8, 9) into which the ends of the membranes (7) are potted. The membranes (7) have a permeable wall which is subjected to a filtration operation wherein feed containing contaminant matter is applied to one side of the membrane wall and filtrate is withdrawn from the other side of the membrane wall. At least one of the upper and/or lower headers (8, 9) has one or more openings (10) therein and the method including flowing the feed, at least in part, through the one or more openings (10) for application to the membrane wall. Apparatus for performing the method is also disclosed.
Abstract:
Es werden ein Verfahren und ein mit diesem Verfahren arbeitendes Magnetschwebefahrzeug beschrieben. Zur Regelung von Tragspalten (10a, 10b), die beim Betrieb des Magnetschwebefahrzeugs zwischen einem Fahrweg (4) und einer Anzahl von am Magnetschwebefahrzeug befestigten Tragmagneten (6a, 6b) ausgebildet werden, wobei mit wenigstens zwei Tragmagneten (6a, 6b) an benachbarten Stellen auf einen Schweberahmen (8) des Magnetschwebefahrzeugs eingewirkt wird, werden die Wicklungen (16a, 16b) der Tragmagnete (6a, 6b) durchfliessende Ströme so geregelt, dass die Tragspalte (10a, 10b) vorgegebene Sollwerte (na, nb) annehmen. Erfindungsgemäss werden für den Fall, dass die Ströme durch die Wicklungen (16a, 16b) unter Normalbedingungen unterschiedlich sind, die Sollwerte (na, nb) für die Tragspalte (10a, 10b) so verändert, dass der Strom durch die Wicklung (16a bzw. 16b) des einen kleineren Strom führenden Tragmagneten (6a bzw. 6b) vergrössert und/oder der Strom durch die Wicklung (16b bzw. 16a) eines den grösseren Strom führenden Tragmagneten (6b bzw. 6a) verkleinert wird.
Abstract:
A continuous integrity test is performed on membranes in a membrane filtration system during the backwashing phase. The membrane pores are backwashed by applying a gas at a pressure below the bubble point to liquid permeate within the membrane lumens to displace the liquid permeate within the lumens through the membrane pores. An integrity test is performed on the membranes by allowing the gas pressure on the lumen side of the membrane walls to increase to a predetermined level above the pressure on the other side of the membrane walls, then isolating the lumen side of the membranes and measuring the reduction in gas pressure on the lumen side of the membrane walls resulting from gas passing through the membrane walls over a predetermined period. The measured reduction in pressure is then compared against a predetermined value to determine the integrity of said membranes.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a device and method for measuring hemoglobin in a fluid sample. The device comprises a disposable electrochemical cell, such as a thin layer electrochemical cell 1, containing a reagent capable of being reduced by hemoglobin. A suitable fluid sample that may be analyzed according the present invention is whole blood. If the hemoglobin to be analyzed is present in red blood cells, a lysing agent may be added to the sample to release the hemoglobin prior to analysis.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a method for producing a nanostructured, in particular, ceramic-type functional coating (17) on a substrate (16). At least one plasma source (11, 12) generates a pulsed plasma (13, 14), by means of which a matrix phase (30) with at least one nanoscalar interstitial phase (31) embedded therein is deposited on the substrate (16), with the aid of the introduction of a material. Preferably, a plurality of temporally correlated or synchronised pulsed plasma sources (11, 12) is used. The invention also relates to a nanostructured functional coating (17), produced in particular according to said method, which is devoid of chlorine and/or sulphur and contains at least one metal and/or at least one element selected from the group comprising oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, carbon, helium, argon and neon.
Abstract:
A method of cleaning a membrane filtration module (5) is disclosed. The module (5) includes at least one or more membranes (7) located in a feed-containing vessel (6) and extending longitudinally between vertically spaced upper and lower headers (8, 9) into which the ends of the membranes (7) are potted. The lower header (9) is not required in all cases and the membranes (7) may be suspended vertically from the upper header (8) only. The membranes (7) have a permeable wall which is subjected to a filtration operation wherein feed containing contaminant matter is applied to one side of the membrane wall and filtrate is withdrawn from the other side of the membrane wall. One or both of the upper and lower headers (8, 9) have one or more openings (10) therein. The method includes the steps of: suspending the filtration operation; performing a cleaning process on the membrane wall to dislodge contaminant matter from the membrane wall into liquid surrounding the mem brane: performing a sweep of the feed-containing vessel (6) substantially parallel to the longitudinally extending membranes (7) to remove the liquid containing the disloged contaminant matter, at least in part, through the openings (10) in the header (8, 9) or, where only the upper header (8) is used, through an opening (12) in the module, and then recommencing the filtration operation.