This is a system for filtering liquids and particulates from hydrocarbons. The system starts with an intake where hydrocarbons from a source are placed into an oil circuit within the hydrocarbon filtering apparatus. The hydrocarbon that is passed through the elements of the hydrocarbon filtering apparatus has liquid, such as water removed, as well as particulates. The process is an improvement on existing machines and that the apparatus is able to run at an decreased temperature and reduced pressure as compared to the current state of the art. An improved diffuser element is made using a central tube that has a multiplicity of apertures interspersed along the shaft of the tube. The central tube has an attachment end and a closed end opposite from the attachment end. The tube is wrapped with a metal mesh and the mesh clamped in place.

A system for removing moisture from a hydrocarbon-based fluid is described. The system comprises a sealable and vacuum rated chamber disposed within a separator vessel. An open cell reticulated foam media is packed inside the chamber. The hydrocarbon-based fluid may fill the vacuum rated chamber. A vacuum may be applied to the chamber causing undesirable moisture in the fluid to boil under differential vacuum. The reticulated foam media increases the efficacy of the boiling process. Described also is a method for dehydrating a hydrocarbon-based fluid.

An automated process and accompanying apparatus simultaneously separates and measures the flow rate of any multiphase mixture of immiscible fluids. Such separation and measurement can occur in a single vessel, or multiple vessels. Liquid levels, together with a material balance analysis, are utilized to determine constituent liquid flow rates. The vessel(s) can be remotely operated and monitored in real time, while also allowing for automated or manual calibration.

A process for separating a mixture of components is disclosed. A liquid mixture is provided to a separation vessel substantially near a temperature at which a product component freezes. The liquid mixture comprises the product component and a carrier component. The product component and the carrier component are essentially immiscible substantially near the temperature. The liquid mixture is separated into two or more phases, the two or more phases comprising a product component-rich liquid phase and a product component-depleted liquid phase. In this manner, a mixture of components is separated.

Disclosed is a process for the alteration of the ratio of the specific gravities of the oil and water phases resulting from the conversion of biomass to liquid products, the reduction of the conductivity and of metals of the product mixture, which each can aid in the removal of solids contained in the oil phase; and a liquid-liquid extraction method for partitioning desirable carbon containing compounds into the oil phase and undesirable carbon containing compounds into the water phase.

A method of extraction of a liquid hydrocarbon fraction from carbonaceous waste feedstock. Waste material is slurried, by grinding or comminution of same into a substantially uniform stream of ground waste material. Fluid would be added as required to supplement the ground waste to yield a slurry of desirable parametersthe fluid used would be primarily liquid effluent fraction recovered from previous operation of the method. Feedstock slurry is placed into a pressurized heat transfer reactor where it is maintained at temperature and pressure for a predetermined period of time. On discharge from the heat transfer reactor the processed emulsion is separated into liquid hydrocarbon fraction, liquid effluent fraction and solid waste fraction. The method can be used in batch or continuous feeding modes. The useable waste stream for the method is ample and diverseresulting in a substantial source of recovered hydrocarbon fluids. A novel heat transfer reactor design is also disclosed.

Separation of particles or droplets from a host fluid may be achieved using a transducer and/or reflector that is a thin, non-planar structure. The thin non-planar structure improves operation of an acoustic standing wave generated by an acoustic transducer. The structure may operate as a pressure release boundary and may be constructed as plastic film.

Acoustophoretic devices and methods for concentrating targeted biological cells in a reduced volume using multi-dimensional acoustic standing waves are disclosed. The methods include flowing a mixture of a host fluid and the biological cells through an acoustophoretic device. The acoustophoretic devices include an inlet, an outlet, and a flow chamber having an ultrasonic transducer-reflector pair. Biological cells, such as T cells, are separated from a host fluid for utilization in allergenic or autologous cell therapies. The disclosed devices and methods are capable of concentrating biological cells to at least 100 times their original cell concentration. The disclosed methods and devices are further capable of decreasing an original feed volume to a final concentrated volume that is less than one percent of the original feed volume.

In some embodiments, a fluid separation system is provided. The system includes a reactor for coagulating one or more suspended fluids in a fluid solution. The system also includes a first filtration unit downstream of the reactor for removing a first portion of the coagulated solids. The system also includes a second filtration unit downstream of the first filtration unit for removing a second portion of the solids.

A system for removing moisture from a hydrocarbon-based fluid is described. The system comprises a sealable and vacuum rated chamber disposed within a separator vessel. An open cell reticulated foam media is packed inside the chamber. The hydrocarbon-based fluid may fill the vacuum rated chamber. A vacuum may be applied to the chamber causing undesirable moisture in the fluid to boil under differential vacuum. The reticulated foam media increases the efficacy of the boiling process. Described also is a method for dehydrating a hydrocarbon-based fluid.