A dewatering system for removing solids from an influent includes a filtration assembly and a feed pipe upstream thereof. The dewatering system includes a solids receptacle downstream of the filtration assembly, and an effluent collector adjacent to the filtration assembly and in fluid communication with the filtration assembly. The dewatering system includes a sensor to sense a characteristic of an influent, an effluent and/or a solid. A control system is operatively connected to the sensor to receive a sensor signal therefrom and to generate an adjustment signal based on the sensor signal to improve the efficiency of the dewatering system.

A method for unclogging the openwork sheath of screw extruders used for sludge densification. The sheath is formed by a stack of superposed elements that are spaced apart from one another by elastic spacers, the latter creating a gap between each of the elements. The liquid and gaseous fractions contained in the sludge are expelled through the gaps. The stack is compressed during an extrusion cycle, with the spacers thus being squashed, thereby reducing the thickness of the gaps. During an unclogging cycle, the pressure is released, the spacers then returning to their original thicknesses and in this way increasing the size of the gaps, thus making it easier to unclog the latter.

A food processing apparatus includes a tank defining an inner compartment having an inlet end for receiving food product and an outlet end for discharging food product, an open-top screen mounted within the compartment and positioned relative to the tank in a first position, and a rotatable auger mounted such that at least a portion of the auger is within the screen for advancing food product within the tank from the inlet end of the tank toward the outlet end.

An apparatus for filtering solid and/or non-dissolved contaminants entrained in flowing water, the apparatus comprising an inlet for the water containing the entrained solid or non-dissolved contaminants to flow into a filtering chamber; a first outlet for expelling the unfiltered water from the filtering chamber; the filtering chamber further comprising: a curved or corner portion in the filtering chamber providing at least a part of a flow path of water from the inlet to the first outlet such that flow of the water along the curved or corner portion changes the direction of flow of the water; and a filtering screen for filtration of solid and/or non-dissolved contaminants from the influent water thereby allowing passage of filtered water out of the filtering chamber.

A system for treating wash waste liquid is described, configured for coupling to a wash module of a continuous Tunnel washing machine for the field of Preclinical Pharmaceutical Research, said wash module (12) comprising a wash chamber (25), characterized in that it comprises: a wash tub (22) with a side wall (31) substantially cylindrical in shape, with a tangential liquid suction outlet (33) and a substantially conical bottom, with a wash waste drain point (35) at the vertex of the cone, said tangential suction being adapted to generate a rotational motion of the liquid in said tub, said tub being positioned under said wash chamber (25), so as to receive said wash liquid by gravity; a centrifugal wash pump (21) with an open impeller, adapted to take in liquid from said tangential liquid suction outlet (33); an in-line filter (26) with an internal filter cartridge of the wedge-wire type, adapted to filter the liquid coming from said centrifugal pump (21) and deliver it back, filtered, into said wash chamber (25), and comprising a flush valve (27) for discharging the filtering waste.

A cooking oil disposal assembly includes a pot for receiving used cooking oil. A filter is removably positionable in the pot and the filter is comprised of a fluid permeable material to filter particles from the used cooking oil. A cover is hingedly coupled to the pot and the cover is positionable between a closed position and an open position. A bowl is removably positionable in the cover and the bowl is comprised of a fluid impermeable material to capture the used cooking oil. The bowl is disposed of when the bowl is removed from the pot to facilitate the used cooking oil to be disposed without pouring the used cooking oil down sewer pipes. A blower is coupled to the cover and the blower urging air upwardly onto the bowl when the blower is turned on to cool the used cooking oil in the bowl.

A food processing apparatus includes a pressure vessel defining a compartment having an inlet end for receiving food product and an outlet end for discharging food product, an open-top screen mounted within the compartment and movable relative to the compartment between a first position, for food processing, and a second position, to facilitate cleaning, a rotatable auger mounted such that at least a portion of the auger is within the screen, the auger being operable to advance food product within the compartment from the inlet end of the pressure vessel toward the outlet end, and a transfer mechanism including a conduit in communication with the compartment, a fluid discharge positioned substantially within the conduit, and a pressurized fluid source in communication with the fluid discharge and operable to propel a fluid through the fluid discharge to move food product through the conduit.

Disclosed are methods for concentrating solids and removing solids from a filter medium. The method includes the step of concentrating first particles of a first solid by removing a fluid stream through a filter medium in a filter. At least some of the first particles become blocking particles that block pores of the filter medium. The method also includes the step of inserting second particles of a second solid into the filter. These second particles scrape, vibrate, agglomerate, or a combination thereof along the filter medium, thus dislodging at least a portion of the blocking particles.

There is provided a method of desanding a production flow with at least liquid and solid phases. An inlet is connected to a flow line of a sand trap body having a first filter housing defining a first bore and a plurality of second filter housings defining second bores each connected to the first filter housing at spaced intervals transverse to and in fluid communication with the first bore. The flow path between the stand trap inlet and outlet is defined by the first and second housings. A primary filter is inserted into each of the second bores, the production flow is flowed through the sand trap body such that the production flow is filtered by the primary filters, and then a secondary filter is inserted into the first bore. The mesh size of the primary filters is finer than or equal to the mesh size of the secondary filter.

A dewatering screw press has an auger within a case and driven by a motor. Influent material is received through an intake into the case near a proximal end of the auger, where it is driven toward a distal output by the auger. While the influent is driven along the exterior of the auger by a first spiraled fin of the auger, the influent passes by mesh screens in the case and the auger. As the influent material passes by the screens, liquids in the material pass through but solids are prevented from doing so. A second spiraled fin, internal to the auger and spiraled inversely to the first spiraled fin, impels liquid received into the cavity of the auger backward toward a proximal output located at the proximal end of the auger.