An overflow system for a hopper dredger comprises an overflow tube; an inlet for taking in head water from the hopper; and a collector to collect the flow of head water entering the inlet and guide the flow to the overflow tube. The collector comprises a substantially horizontal top portion which delineates a top of a flowpath for head water into the collector to ensure substantially radial flow into the collector. At least one of the overflow tube and the inlet is adjustable for controlling flow into the overflow system.

A method and apparatus for collecting agricultural manure in a confined animal feeding operation includes a separator which receives heavy manure removing particulate from suspension to produce light manure. Heavy manure is collected to a volume of heavy manure sufficient to substantially fill the first tank. Within the first tank, particulate migrates, due to the influence of gravity to form a layer containing manure comprising a lesser density of particulate than is present in the volume of heavy manure. Additional heavy manure buoys the layer such that the upper surface exceeds a height of a weir. The weir is situated in a channel communicating between the first tank and a second tank configured to receive light manure from the separator.

A screening system for solid removal includes a housing and a screen positioned within the housing. A flow inlet is operatively connected to an interior chamber defined by the screen. A sump is downstream from the flow inlet for capturing solids that do not pass through the screen. A flow outlet is downstream from the screen in fluid communication with the flow inlet. A moveable cleaning assembly may be positioned either within a perimeter of the screen, around the perimeter of the screen or both. The moveable cleaning assembly is moveable with respect to the screen.

A screening system for solid removal includes a housing and a screen positioned within the housing. A flow inlet is operatively connected to an interior chamber defined by the screen. A sump is downstream from the flow inlet for capturing solids that do not pass through the screen. A flow outlet is downstream from the screen in fluid communication with the flow inlet. A moveable cleaning assembly may be positioned either within a perimeter of the screen, around the perimeter of the screen or both. The moveable cleaning assembly is moveable with respect to the screen.

Apparatus for clarifying a sludge-containing effluent, comprising a clarification basin (2), at least one arm (7) able to move over the upper surface of the liquid in the basin; at least one trough (8) supported by the arm so that it can be immersed over part of its height in the liquid of the basin, suction tubes (T1, T2) held relative to the trough, each tube comprising at the top a vertically adjustable sleeve (B1, B2) opening into the trough, and a means of removing sludge from the trough; the sleeve (B1, B2) of at least one suction tube (T1, T2) is free to slide vertically relative to the mobile arm (7) supporting the trough, and to the tube (T1, T2) and a reserve of buoyancy necessary and sufficient for keeping the overspill end (E1, E2) of the sleeve in the trough (8) continuously out of the water is installed on the sleeve (B1, B2) so that the overspill level of the sleeve adjusts automatically in relation to the level (16) of liquid and sludge in the trough.

Apparatus for clarifying a sludge-containing effluent, comprising a clarification basin (2), at least one arm (7) able to move over the upper surface of the liquid in the basin; at least one trough (8) supported by the arm so that it can be immersed over part of its height in the liquid of the basin, suction tubes (T1, T2) held relative to the trough, each tube comprising at the top a vertically adjustable sleeve (B1, B2) opening into the trough, and a means of removing sludge from the trough; the sleeve (B1, B2) of at least one suction tube (T1, T2) is free to slide vertically relative to the mobile arm (7) supporting the trough, and to the tube (T1, T2) and a reserve of buoyancy necessary and sufficient for keeping the overspill end (E1, E2) of the sleeve in the trough (8) continuously out of the water is installed on the sleeve (B1, B2) so that the overspill level of the sleeve adjusts automatically in relation to the level (16) of liquid and sludge in the trough.

A screen decanter for decanting liquid from a reservoir, comprising at least one rack comprising screens and baffles forming the sides of a cavity; a frame attached to the screens and baffles and providing a barrier so that liquid cannot pass from outside into the cavity without passing through the screens; a patterned perforated drain pipe inside the cavity and leading to an opening through which liquids may drain out from the cavity. The pattern of the openings counteracts the hydrostatic head within the rack such that flow through the screens is uniform at all depths of immersion in the liquid reservoir. Preferably, the screens have a porosity of about 50 micrometers.

A hydrocyclone vibration measurement system includes an upper vibration sensor attached to the overflow of a hydrocyclone and a lower vibration sensor attached to the underflow of the hydrocyclone. A vibration analysis system includes an ADC, an overall vibration value processing channel, and one or more band pass filters. The overall vibration value processing channel generates overflow and underflow scalar vibration values representing overall vibration measured at the overflow and underflow portions of the hydrocyclone. The vibration analysis system may interface with a DCS to provide control information for controlling the hydrocyclone based on the overflow and underflow scalar vibration values.

A hydrocyclone vibration measurement system includes an upper vibration sensor attached to the overflow of a hydrocyclone and a lower vibration sensor attached to the underflow of the hydrocyclone. A vibration analysis system includes an ADC, an overall vibration value processing channel, and one or more band pass filters. The overall vibration value processing channel generates overflow and underflow scalar vibration values representing overall vibration measured at the overflow and underflow portions of the hydrocyclone. The vibration analysis system may interface with a DCS to provide control information for controlling the hydrocyclone based on the overflow and underflow scalar vibration values.

A disposable blood separation set and a centrifugal blood processing system comprising a blood processing chamber adapted to be mounted on a rotor of a centrifuge; a frustro-conical cell separation chamber in fluid communication with the processing chamber, the cell separation chamber having an inlet, a primary outlet and a side tap outlet adjacent the inlet. A valve that is responsive to centrifugal force (a “gravity” valve) selects between the outlet and the side tap outlet. The gravity valve is mounted on the rotor. When the rotor spins at high speed, the gravity valve may open the primary outlet and close the side tap outlet. When the rotor spins at a lower speed, the gravity valve may open the side tap outlet and close the primary outlet.