A connector for transferring fluid and method therefor. The connector may have a first port and a second port which may be coupled together at a main channel with a valve element therein controlling fluid flow through the first port. The first port joins the main channel to provide a fluid path around the valve element and through the second port.

Described are methods for pretreating lignocellulosic biomass that comprise passing a hot aqueous biomass slurry through a heat exchange passage from an inlet to an outlet and locally regulating pressure in the passage by feed of a pressurized liquid medium to one or more intermediate locations of the passage. Also described are methods for producing ethanol from the pretreated biomass.

The disclosed embodiments include systems and methods for energizing a ball valve seat assembly. In particular, the disclosed embodiments are directed toward energizing devices that generate linear or substantially linear energizing forces. In other words, as a seat of the ball valve translates axially with respect to a ball of the ball valve, the resulting energizing force that biases the seat ring back toward the ball is substantially directly proportional to the amount of axial translation. In certain embodiments, the linear energizing device includes an annular cantilevered v-shaped spring having a generally constant cross-sectional profile, including a pair of legs extending from a curved end.

A device for conveying a fluid to a filter unit of a medical treatment apparatus, in particular for conveying a dialyzing fluid to a filter unit, in particular a blood treatment unit of an extracorporeal blood treatment apparatus. The device includes one or more devices for measuring pressure in the fluid system. Moreover, a method for measuring the pressure in the fluid system of such a supply device.

Techniques are provided for seal flush systems. A system may include a reactor circulation pump configured to circulate a slurry through a polymerization reactor. The slurry may include an olefin monomer, a catalyst, and a diluent. The system may also include a catalyst-inhibiting additive system configured to supply a catalyst-inhibiting additive to a seal of the reactor circulation pump and a seal flush system configured to generate a seal flush mixture and supply the seal flush mixture to the seal of the reactor circulation pump.

A vertical hydraulic tank includes an upper cylindrical section and a lower conical section, with an outlet in the lower conical section. A lower multi-path manifold is attached to the outlet, the manifold including a vertical conduit in fluid communication with the outlet and a plurality of horizontal conduits in fluid communication with the vertical conduit. An upper multi-path manifold can also be attached to the tank with a plurality of upper horizontal conduits and a vertical conduit in fluid communication with the upper cylindrical section of the tank. Valves may be provided along the vertical conduit and the horizontal conduits to regulate flow of material through the conduits. A pump may be connected to either the upper manifold or the lower manifold, or both by way of a pump conduit. Multiple tanks can be connected together by way of tubing between the manifolds of each tank.

The present invention relates to accessories. Specifically, the present invention relates to cleaning accessories such as jewelry that have small crevices, impressions, engravings, or other fine details that are difficult to reach and clean. Even more specifically, the present invention relates to polishing and drying the cleaned accessories by using an allotment of polishing compound and/or steam.

A shower control system includes a water subsystem, a steam subsystem, and a controller in communication with the water subsystem and the steam subsystem. The water subsystem includes one or more electronic valves configured to control a flow rate and a temperature of water dispensed from one or more shower outlets within a shower enclosure. The steam subsystem is configured to generate and dispense steam from one or more steam outlets within the shower enclosure. The controller is configured to control the water subsystem and the steam subsystem to provide a spa experience including a predetermined and coordinated sequence of water outputs from the shower outlets and steam outputs from the steam outlets.

A circulation tool includes a tubular outer body having a main bore and at least one flow port in a wall thereof, and a valve seat assembly including a valve body, a valve member, and locking elements are movably mounted within the outer body main bore. The valve seat assembly is biased towards a first position in which flow through the outer body flow port is prevented and the locking element is in the extended position, restricting passage of the valve member along the valve body bore and out of the valve body. The valve seat assembly is movable to a second position in which the locking element is in the retracted position, permitting passage of the valve member along the body bore and out of the body. The valve seat is also movable to a third position in which flow through the outer body flow port is permitted.

In one aspect of the invention there is provided a method of manufacture of an assembly comprising: forming an assembly by coupling a first component (150) to a second component (110) in spaced apart relationship therewith by means of coupling means (131); providing thermally activated seal means between the components, the first component, second component and seal means being arranged such that a gap exists between the first and second components allowing fluid flow therethrough; and subjecting the assembly to heat thereby to cause the seal means to expand and bridge the gap between the first and second components thereby to form a fluid tight seal between them. The second component may be at least partially enclosed between the first and a third component (161), and the second component may provide an aperture at a location opposite a portion of the third component whereby expansion of a seal means (112S,114S) around the aperture causes the aperture to be sealed by the seal means and said portion of the third component.