In an example, an air filtration apparatus includes a cyclonic particle separation chamber having a first inlet to draw air from a first region, second inlet to draw air from a second region, and an exhaust port. The air filtration apparatus may further include a pressure sensor to sense a pressure of the first region, and a cyclonic air flow controller. The cyclonic air flow controller may control an air inflow received via the second inlet in response to an output from the pressure sensor to maintain a total air flow rate via the exhaust port.

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method of cleaning particle loaded “dirty” air using a multi flow-splitter technology in combination with at least one cyclone system which requires minimal energy to operate due to low pressure drops used to generate the fluid flows whilst allowing to exert high centrifugal or G-Force on the infeed fluid stream. This further allows to operate the particle removal process such that conventional additional filter media become optional, such that the technology may operate a significantly reduced or even without the need for maintenance and/or repair. Low internal air turbulence ensures a very high separation efficiency. Optionally adding additional explosion safe low-energy down-stream filtration stages with variable speed system fan provides optimal operational performance and operational flexibility.

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method of cleaning particle loaded “dirty” air using a multi flow-splitter technology in combination with at least one cyclone system which requires minimal energy to operate due to low pressure drops used to generate the fluid flows whilst allowing to exert high centrifugal or G-Force on the infeed fluid stream. This further allows to operate the particle removal process such that conventional additional filter media become optional, such that the technology may operate a significantly reduced or even without the need for maintenance and/or repair. Low internal air turbulence ensures a very high separation efficiency. Optionally adding additional explosion safe low-energy down-stream filtration stages with variable speed system fan provides optimal operational performance and operational flexibility.

A solid-liquid separator including a hollow structure. The hollow structure may include a separator portion having a solid-liquid-mixture inlet and a curved-funnel-shaped inner separator surface. The hollow structure may further include a collector portion having a frustoconically-shaped inner liquid guide surface. The separator portion and the collector portion may be disposed such that a spout of the curved-funnel-shaped inner separator surface and a narrower end of the frustoconically-shaped inner liquid guide surface may be directed towards each other.

A synthetic bead for use in mineral separation is described. The synthetic bead has a surface made of a synthetic material such as polymer and the synthetic material is functionalized with molecules having a functional group for attaching mineral particles to the surface in a separation process. The synthetic beads can be placed in flotation cell containing a mixture of water, valuable material and unwanted material or in a pipeline where the mixture is transported from one location to another. The enriched synthetic beads carrying the mineral particles are separated from the unwanted materials in the mixture. The mineral particles are then released from the synthetic beads by means of low pH treatment, ultrasonic agitation, thermal or electromagnetic treatment.

A synthetic bead for use in mineral separation is described. The synthetic bead has a surface made of a synthetic material such as polymer and the synthetic material is functionalized with molecules having a functional group for attaching mineral particles to the surface in a separation process. The synthetic beads can be placed in flotation cell containing a mixture of water, valuable material and unwanted material or in a pipeline where the mixture is transported from one location to another. The enriched synthetic beads carrying the mineral particles are separated from the unwanted materials in the mixture. The mineral particles are then released from the synthetic beads by means of low pH treatment, ultrasonic agitation, thermal or electromagnetic treatment.

Apparatus for use in, or forming part of, a separation process to be implemented in separation processor technology, the apparatus comprising synthetic bubbles or beads configured with a polymer or polymer-based material functionalized to attach to a valuable material in a mixture so as to form an enriched synthetic bubbles or beads having the valuable material attached thereto, and also configured to be separated from the mixture based at least partly on a difference in a physical property between the enriched synthetic bubbles or beads having the valuable material attached thereto and the mixture.

Apparatus for use in, or forming part of, a separation process to be implemented in separation processor technology, the apparatus comprising synthetic bubbles or beads configured with a polymer or polymer-based material functionalized to attach to a valuable material in a mixture so as to form an enriched synthetic bubbles or beads having the valuable material attached thereto, and also configured to be separated from the mixture based at least partly on a difference in a physical property between the enriched synthetic bubbles or beads having the valuable material attached thereto and the mixture.

This disclosure provides collector elements for gas circuits of additive manufacturing systems for making 3D components from a powder. The collector elements include an intake duct portion having a strip-shaped inflow duct with an intake opening and a main body portion that includes a cylindrical cavity extending along the intake duct portion, the cavity being fluidly connected to the inflow duct with a step in the rounded wall that causes an increase in diameter from a first diameter of the cavity to a second, larger diameter. The collector element also includes a first gas discharging portion with a tube portion and a diameter adjusting portion that fluidly connects a first end of the cavity to the inner volume of the tube portion via a duct.

An inertial vortex particle scrubber includes a housing having an inlet guide, twin vortex chambers and an outlet. A particle-laden air stream is accelerated as it passes through the inlet guide into the twin vortex chambers where particles are displaced by centrifugal forces toward a wall of the twin vortex chambers. A relatively particle-free air stream is then discharged from the outlet.