A method for automated cleaning of a filter basket in a bioreactor includes determining permeability of the filter basket. A control unit controls a suction unit for suctioning a residual liquid from the liquid tank, a liquid metering unit for dispensing a liquid having a predetermined liquid volume into the filter basket controls the suction unit to empty the liquid tank by suctioning a filtered liquid volume, measures the volume of the suctioned liquid volume, and sending a first measurement signal to the control unit. The control unit determines a permeability quotient from the volume of the extracted filtered liquid volume to the volume of the dispensed predetermined liquid volume and compares the permeability quotient with a permeability threshold. The control unit then controls a cleaning unit to perform a cleaning process of the filter basket if the permeability quotient is below the permeability threshold.

A filter device (10) includes a filter element (12) in a filter housing (14) with fluid connection points (16, 18) for the non-filtrate and filtrate. Fluid can be passed through the filter element in both directions for filtrating the non-filtrate or for backwashing for cleaning particle contaminations (72). A pressure control (36) generates a post-suctioning effect to improve the cleaning of the particle contaminations (72). The filter device (10) is designed as a one filter-element solution. In a predetermined exchange, the single filter element (12) for filtering can be used for backwashing or can be backwashed using the pressure control device (36). A hydraulic system (64) and a method for backwashing a filter element (12) of a filter device (10) is provided.

An automated computer-controlled sampling system and related methods for collecting, processing, and analyzing agricultural samples for various chemical properties such as plant available nutrients. The sampling system allows multiple samples to be processed and analyzed for different analytes or chemical properties in a simultaneous concurrent or semi-concurrent manner. Advantageously, the system can process soil samples in the “as collected” condition without drying or grinding. The system generally includes a sample preparation sub-system which receives soil samples collected by a probe collection sub-system and produces a slurry (i.e. mixture of soil, vegetation, and/or manure and water), and a chemical analysis sub-system which processes the prepared slurry samples for quantifying multiple analytes and/or chemical properties of the sample. The sample preparation and chemical analysis sub-systems can be used to analyze soil, vegetation, and/or manure samples. A soil collection system is disclosed which captures and directs samples to the sampling system for processing.

Embodiments of the invention are directed toward a novel pressurized vapor cycle for distilling liquids. In some embodiments of the invention, a liquid purification system is revealed, including the elements of an input for receiving untreated liquid, a vaporizer coupled to the input for transforming the liquid to vapor, a head chamber for collecting the vapor, a vapor pump with an internal drive shaft and an eccentric rotor with a rotatable housing for compressing vapor, and a condenser in communication with the vapor pump for transforming the compressed vapor into a distilled product. Other embodiments of the invention are directed toward heat management, and other process enhancements for making the system especially efficient.

Embodiments of the invention are directed toward a novel pressurized vapor cycle for distilling liquids. In some embodiments of the invention, a liquid purification system is revealed, including the elements of an input for receiving untreated liquid, a vaporizer coupled to the input for transforming the liquid to vapor, a head chamber for collecting the vapor, a vapor pump with an internal drive shaft and an eccentric rotor with a rotatable housing for compressing vapor, and a condenser in communication with the vapor pump for transforming the compressed vapor into a distilled product. Other embodiments of the invention are directed toward heat management, and other process enhancements for making the system especially efficient.

Embodiments of the invention are directed toward a novel pressurized vapor cycle for distilling liquids. In some embodiments of the invention, a liquid purification system is revealed, including the elements of an input for receiving untreated liquid, a vaporizer coupled to the input for transforming the liquid to vapor, a head chamber for collecting the vapor, a vapor pump with an internal drive shaft and an eccentric rotor with a rotatable housing for compressing vapor, and a condenser in communication with the vapor pump for transforming the compressed vapor into a distilled product. Other embodiments of the invention are directed toward heat management, and other process enhancements for making the system especially efficient.

A three way valve adapted to be connected to a water purifier includes a body, an inlet defined in the body for communication with a water source, a first outlet defined in the body to constantly communicate with the inlet, a waterway defined inside the body and between the inlet and the first outlet to communicate the inlet and the first outlet and a second outlet selectively communicating with the waterway. A solenoid valve is mounted to control the communication between the second outlet and the waterway so that pollutant screened by a filtering screen is flushed out from the outlet whenever water is flowing from the inlet to the outlet.

A fluid circulation monitoring system includes a distributed processing system having a first processor located on-premises near a space filled with a circulating fluid and a second processor located off-premises. The first processor and the second processor are in communication with one another. A sensor is operatively connected to the first processor and senses at least one parameter associated with a flow rate of fluid through the circulation system. The distributed processing system is configured to process the at least one parameter and derive a volumetric fluid flow rate through a fluid pump which propels the fluid through the circulation system. Pattern recognition is applied to the at least one parameter to detect maintenance events and predict the need for maintenance events.

A filter device includes a filter vessel with a fluid inlet for unfiltered liquid, a filter element in the filter vessel with a filter inlet communicating with the vessel and with a filter outlet, the filter outlet communicating via a cleaning duct and a cleaning valve with a cleaning device, the cleaning device including a cleaning chamber including a volume V0 of cleaning fluid and a pressure chamber at a starting pressure P0, communicating with the cleaning chamber for supplying cleaning fluid to the filter outlet, via the cleaning duct, a fluid supply line connected via a pump to the cleaning chamber for supplying a volume Vr of cleaning fluid to the cleaning chamber while the cleaning chamber is in open fluid connection with the pressure chamber and the cleaning valve is closed so that the pressure in the pressure chamber rises to at or about the starting pressure P0.

A filter device includes a filter vessel with a fluid inlet for unfiltered liquid, a filter element in the filter vessel with a filter inlet communicating with the vessel and with a filter outlet, the filter outlet communicating via a cleaning duct and a cleaning valve with a cleaning device, the cleaning device including a cleaning chamber including a volume V0 of cleaning fluid and a pressure chamber at a starting pressure P0, communicating with the cleaning chamber for supplying cleaning fluid to the filter outlet, via the cleaning duct, a fluid supply line connected via a pump to the cleaning chamber for supplying a volume Vr of cleaning fluid to the cleaning chamber while the cleaning chamber is in open fluid connection with the pressure chamber and the cleaning valve is closed so that the pressure in the pressure chamber rises to at or about the starting pressure P0.