Chromatography apparatus and methods are described, especially for expanded bed adsorption. A column tube has a process fluid input device at the bottom and a movable piston in the top. The piston is enclosed in the column by a cover plate. The piston body has an inflatable seal, and is connected by a frame to a contact ring which carries another inflatable member to contact the tube wall. Process fluid leaves the operating volume through an opening of the piston and flexible hose, through the enclosed space and out through the cover plate. The space above the piston can be pressurised to control piston movement. The contact ring maintains piston alignment. The inflatable seals are used to fix the piston in position, allow it to slide or allow washing. The piston outlet may include a vortex-inhibitor. Bed and piston levels may be monitored by ultrasound sensors.

Valve with two-piece stator assembly for use with liquid chromatography or other analytical systems. A separate and removable stator plate is provided with a mounting device to provide a two-piece stator assembly. The mounting device is adapted on one side to engage and contact the stator plate, and on the other side includes a plurality of ports for fluidic connections which are in fluid communication with fluid passageways in the stator plate.

Valve with two-piece stator assembly for use with liquid chromatography or other analytical systems. A separate and removable stator plate is provided with a mounting device to provide a two-piece stator assembly. The mounting device is adapted on one side to engage and contact the stator plate, and on the other side includes a plurality of ports for fluidic connections which are in fluid communication with fluid passageways in the stator plate.

A method of forming and fluid treatment system includes a vessel that is defined by a body having an inlet constructed to be connected to a fluid source and an outlet that is constructed to be connected to a discharge passage defined by a direction of a fluid flow directed through the body. The body is preferably three-dimensionally (3D) printed as a unitary body and from a filament material to define the entirety of the body including the inlet and the outlet. The vessel is preferably formed of an antimicrobial or other materials configured to manipulate the composition of the fluid flow directed therethrough and via direct contact of the fluid flow with the interior spaces of the body of the vessel.

A method of forming and fluid treatment system includes a vessel that is defined by a body having an inlet constructed to be connected to a fluid source and an outlet that is constructed to be connected to a discharge passage defined by a direction of a fluid flow directed through the body. The body is preferably three-dimensionally (3D) printed as a unitary body and from a filament material to define the entirety of the body including the inlet and the outlet. The vessel is preferably formed of an antimicrobial or other materials configured to manipulate the composition of the fluid flow directed therethrough and via direct contact of the fluid flow with the interior spaces of the body of the vessel.

A filter device for fluids has a filter housing (1), in which element receptacles (31) for a plurality of filter elements (33) are provided. The filter medium (35) of the filter elements (33) separates in the filter housing (1) a dirt side (5) from a clean side (7). The filter housing (1) can be opened for inserting and removing the filter elements (33). For the filter elements (33), a support basket (19) is provided, which can be inserted into the filter housing (1) and removed from the filter housing (1) and to which the filter elements (33) can be detachably fixed. The filter elements (33) have, in addition to the filter medium (35) for particle filtration, an adsorption medium (36).

A filter device for fluids has a filter housing (1), in which element receptacles (31) for a plurality of filter elements (33) are provided. The filter medium (35) of the filter elements (33) separates in the filter housing (1) a dirt side (5) from a clean side (7). The filter housing (1) can be opened for inserting and removing the filter elements (33). For the filter elements (33), a support basket (19) is provided, which can be inserted into the filter housing (1) and removed from the filter housing (1) and to which the filter elements (33) can be detachably fixed. The filter elements (33) have, in addition to the filter medium (35) for particle filtration, an adsorption medium (36).

A water treatment system, such as a water softening system, having a water treatment tank with at least one distributor plate mounted inside to support filter media and/or ion exchange resin. The water treatment system is designed to treat hard water with a packed ion-exchange filter media and has a distributor plate design for facilitating the ion-exchange within a water softener resin bed, as well as facilitating the regeneration of the resin bed. The distributor plate presents cavities to the topside for entrapping filter media, and the cavities have narrow slits located at the base for allowing fluid to pass. A method for assembling the water treatment tank and supporting inserted distributor plate is shown. The distributor plate rest on and is supported by a domed-shaped structure that can be placed in the bottom portion of the water treatment vessel.

A water treatment system, such as a water softening system, having a water treatment tank with at least one distributor plate mounted inside to support filter media and/or ion exchange resin. The water treatment system is designed to treat hard water with a packed ion-exchange filter media and has a distributor plate design for facilitating the ion-exchange within a water softener resin bed, as well as facilitating the regeneration of the resin bed. The distributor plate presents cavities to the topside for entrapping filter media, and the cavities have narrow slits located at the base for allowing fluid to pass. A method for assembling the water treatment tank and supporting inserted distributor plate is shown. The distributor plate rest on and is supported by a domed-shaped structure that can be placed in the bottom portion of the water treatment vessel.

A Luer lock includes a tapered female member and a tapered male member defining a passage. A tubing is inserted through the passage. The tubing defines an outer cross-section corresponding to an inner cross-section of the passage. The tapered male member is configured to be inserted into the tapered female member such that the tube is in fluid communication with the tapered female member, and the tubing exerts a compressive force at a mating surface between the tapered male member and the tapered female member to increase friction therebetween and inhibit leakage. The male member may define a side port defined on a side wall thereof. The side port may provide an additional fluid pathway for application of vacuum or pressure through the tapered male member.