A rotary pressure filter apparatus, a sealing device for use with the rotary pressure filter apparatus, and a process of using the apparatus. The rotary pressure filter apparatus is designed to treat a solid-liquid mixture under pressure in successive work zones. A rotary drum moves compartments containing the solid-liquid mixture through the successive zones. The zones are separated by a sealing member, which is designed to reduce pressure fluctuations as the compartments enter a successive zone.

A rotary pressure filter apparatus, a sealing device for use with the rotary pressure filter apparatus, and a process of using the apparatus. The rotary pressure filter apparatus is designed to treat a solid-liquid mixture under pressure in successive work zones. A rotary drum moves compartments containing the solid-liquid mixture through the successive zones. The zones are separated by a sealing member, which is designed to reduce pressure fluctuations as the compartments enter a successive zone.

A rotating drum screen method for separating solids from thin stillage obtained from ethanol fermentation, the thin stillage comprising one or more of solids and suspended solids. Thin stillage is chemically treated with an anionic polymer to form stable particles of one or more of solids and suspended solids. Introducing the treated thin stillage into a rotating drum screen system. The drum screen includes a filter screen that retains at least a portion of the solids within a hollow portion of the drum screen and which produces a liquid effluent that is discharged from an outer surface of the drum screen. The retained solids are removable from the drum screen via a solid discharge end. A head box is disposed within the hollow portion of the drum screen and has a plurality of fluid flow channel dividers dividing and directing an influent stream outwardly against the drum screen.

A rotating drum screen method for separating solids from thin stillage obtained from ethanol fermentation, the thin stillage comprising one or more of solids and suspended solids. Thin stillage is chemically treated with an anionic polymer to form stable particles of one or more of solids and suspended solids. Introducing the treated thin stillage into a rotating drum screen system. The drum screen includes a filter screen that retains at least a portion of the solids within a hollow portion of the drum screen and which produces a liquid effluent that is discharged from an outer surface of the drum screen. The retained solids are removable from the drum screen via a solid discharge end. A head box is disposed within the hollow portion of the drum screen and has a plurality of fluid flow channel dividers dividing and directing an influent stream outwardly against the drum screen.

An oleophilic separation apparatus has a rotatable metal cage and at least one oleophilic sieve in frictional engagement with the rotatable metal cage. The oleophilic sieve is made of an oleophilic material such that a bitumen phase adheres to the oleophilic sieve upon contact. A plurality of apertures in the oleophilic sieve allows aqueous phase to escape from the rotatable metal cage. A hot zone is provided that has at least one rotation member and a source of heat. The oleophilic sieve is in frictional engagement with the at least one rotation member. The hot zone heats the bitumen phase adhered to the oleophilic sieve to allow for collection of the bitumen phase.

An oleophilic separation apparatus has a rotatable metal cage and at least one oleophilic sieve in frictional engagement with the rotatable metal cage. The oleophilic sieve is made of an oleophilic material such that a bitumen phase adheres to the oleophilic sieve upon contact. A plurality of apertures in the oleophilic sieve allows aqueous phase to escape from the rotatable metal cage. A hot zone is provided that has at least one rotation member and a source of heat. The oleophilic sieve is in frictional engagement with the at least one rotation member. The hot zone heats the bitumen phase adhered to the oleophilic sieve to allow for collection of the bitumen phase.

A pulp-filter arrangement (1) comprises a rotatable drum (10) and a non-rotating valve arrangement (30). The rotatable drum (10) has a cylindrical water-permeable pulp-supporting shell (14), a plurality of drain pipes (16) and a rotating hollow shaft (18). The plurality of drainpipes (16) connects the rotating hollow shaft (18) with a collecting channel (22) situated radially directly inside the cylindrical water-permeable pulp-supporting shell (14). The non-rotating valve arrangement (30) is disposed within the rotating hollow shaft (18) for sealing off the rotating hollow shaft (18) from a radially inner outlet (24) of the drain pipes (16) when respective radially inner outlet (24) is situated within a sealed zone. The non-rotating valve arrangement (30) is further arranged to, in a transition zone immediately following the sealed zone, open a throttled passage between the rotating hollow shaft (18) and the radially inner outlet (24).

A pulp-filter arrangement (1) comprises a rotatable drum (10) and a non-rotating valve arrangement (30). The rotatable drum (10) has a cylindrical water-permeable pulp-supporting shell (14), a plurality of drain pipes (16) and a rotating hollow shaft (18). The plurality of drainpipes (16) connects the rotating hollow shaft (18) with a collecting channel (22) situated radially directly inside the cylindrical water-permeable pulp-supporting shell (14). The non-rotating valve arrangement (30) is disposed within the rotating hollow shaft (18) for sealing off the rotating hollow shaft (18) from a radially inner outlet (24) of the drain pipes (16) when respective radially inner outlet (24) is situated within a sealed zone. The non-rotating valve arrangement (30) is further arranged to, in a transition zone immediately following the sealed zone, open a throttled passage between the rotating hollow shaft (18) and the radially inner outlet (24).

A pumped or gravity flow rotating drum screen removes unwanted solids from a flowing fluid. The drum screen may comprise: a housing having a fluid inlet end, a solid discharge end and an area between the two ends, the fluid inlet permitting a flow of influent containing unwanted solids into a hollow portion of a drum screen positioned lengthwise in the area between the two ends of the housing, the screen comprising a filter medium that retains at least a portion of the unwanted solids within the hollow portion of the drum screen and which produces a liquid effluent that is discharged from an outer surface of the drum screen, the retained solids being removable via the solid discharge end; a drive assembly configured to rotate the drum screen about an axis running the length of the drum screen; and one or more stabilization pad assemblies in contact with one or more rings circumscribing the outer surface of the drum screen at one or more locations.

A double-action pusher centrifuge separates a mixture into solid cake and liquid. The pusher centrifuge includes a screen drum rotatable about an axis and in which a pusher base device is arranged to be movable along the axis of rotation. The solid cake is displaced by an outer ring region of the pusher base device. A plurality of axial passage openings are disposed in the outer ring region and connect front and rear regions of the screen drum. A feed unit is arranged at an inflow disk such that the mixture can be introduced via the feed unit and the inflow disk into empty space on the screen drum on displacement of the solid cake. An inflow gap applies the mixture into the empty space, and is between an inflow edge of the inflow disk and a pusher base plate of the pusher base device with an inflow region.