An apparatus for the extraction of phosphorus from wastewater that includes a precipitation module and a retention module. The precipitation module includes a crystallization vessel, one or more inlets disposed in a lower region of the precipitation module and at least one outlet disposed in an upper region of the precipitation module. The retention module includes a sedimentation vessel, at least one inlet disposed in an upper region of the retention module and at least one outlet disposed in a lower region of the retention module. At least one outlet of the precipitation module is connected to at least one inlet of the retention module and at least one outlet of the retention module is connected to at least one inlet of the precipitation module. The volume VS of the sedimentation vessel is greater than/equal to 0.6 times the volume VC of the crystallization vessel (VS≧0.6.Math.VC).

An apparatus for the extraction of phosphorus from wastewater that includes a precipitation module and a retention module. The precipitation module includes a crystallization vessel, one or more inlets disposed in a lower region of the precipitation module and at least one outlet disposed in an upper region of the precipitation module. The retention module includes a sedimentation vessel, at least one inlet disposed in an upper region of the retention module and at least one outlet disposed in a lower region of the retention module. At least one outlet of the precipitation module is connected to at least one inlet of the retention module and at least one outlet of the retention module is connected to at least one inlet of the precipitation module. The volume VS of the sedimentation vessel is greater than/equal to 0.6 times the volume VC of the crystallization vessel (VS≧0.6.Math.VC).

Apparatus and method for separating oil from water in produced oil without requiring large separation tanks in which the fluid is heated, using a simple, energy efficient separation process, are described. Centrifugal forces, by themselves, are not effective for completely separating a two-component fluid, especially when the densities of the fluids are similar, such as for heavy oil. By combining both primary and secondary acoustic forces, and taking advantage of centrifugal forces from fluid flow, such that acoustic radiation forces initiate the process of droplet accumulation, and contribute to droplet coalescence, centrifugal separation is enhanced.

Apparatus and method for separating oil from water in produced oil without requiring large separation tanks in which the fluid is heated, using a simple, energy efficient separation process, are described. Centrifugal forces, by themselves, are not effective for completely separating a two-component fluid, especially when the densities of the fluids are similar, such as for heavy oil. By combining both primary and secondary acoustic forces, and taking advantage of centrifugal forces from fluid flow, such that acoustic radiation forces initiate the process of droplet accumulation, and contribute to droplet coalescence, centrifugal separation is enhanced.

Systems and methods for treating a stream comprising hydrocarbons and an aqueous-based liquid are provided. The systems and methods may utilize a media composite comprising a mixture of a cellulose-based material and a polymer. In certain systems and methods, the media composite is capable of being backwashed. The stream comprising the hydrocarbons and aqueous-based liquid may be separated by contacting the stream with the media composite. In certain system and methods, the stream comprising the hydrocarbons and aqueous-based liquid may be coalesced by contacting the stream with the media composite.

The present invention relates to a biomass gasification system providing tar and biochar and to a method wherein tars are fixed to the biochar surface. The present invention also relates to use of said system.

A mobile station and methods are disclosed for diagnosing and modeling site specific effluent treatment facility requirements to arrive at a treatment regimen and/or proposed commercial plant model idealized for the particular water/site requirements. The station includes a mobile platform having power intake, effluent intake and fluid outflow facilities and first and second suites of selectably actuatable effluent pre-treatment apparatus. An effluent polishing treatment array is housed at the station and includes at least one of nanofiltration, reverse osmosis and ion-exchange stages. A suite of selectively actuatable post-treatment apparatus is housed at the station. Controls are connected at the station for process control, monitoring and data accumulation. A plurality of improved water treatment technologies is also disclosed. The modeling methods include steps for analyzing raw effluent to be treated, providing a field of raw effluent condition entry values and a field of treated effluent condition goals entry values, and utilizing said fields to determine an initial treatment model including a selection of, and use parameters for, treatment technologies from the plurality of down-scaled treatment technologies at the facility, the model dynamically and continuously modifiable during treatment modeling.

Multiple site purification can be achieved by a small plastic portable voltaic inspissation unit in a box configuration. Each unit may feature an air hopper, a recirculation line, a gas diffuser, a centrifuge, a decanter, and multiple anodic and cathodic voltaic inspissation plates that may direct fluid through a box in a meandering or serpentine fashion. Multiple devices may be present or omitted, and retention times may be varied both by the presence or absence of recirculation and the flow rate accomplished by use of different metal in the plates depending on purification goals. Air may be injected interstitially prior to passage into the box to aid in purification, and ultimately both ease of transport and substantially improved purification percentages may be achieved relative to prior systems.

Exemplary embodiments are directed to pool cleaners that remove debris from water using a plurality of cyclonic flows, or that include a removable impeller subassembly, a check valve for a debris canister, a particle separator assembly having a handle that locks to the pool cleaner, a modular roller drive gear box, or a roller latch that secures a roller to the pool cleaner. Exemplary embodiments are also directed to the check valve and the roller latch themselves. Exemplary embodiments are directed to a filter medium for pool cleaners that includes embossments providing flow channels for water, and to roller assemblies for pool cleaners. Exemplary embodiments are directed to pool cleaners including alternative pump motor engagements. Exemplary embodiments are directed to pool cleaners power supplies that include a potted and contoured power board assembly, and to kickstands therefor. Exemplary embodiments are directed to a pool cleaner caddy, and removable wheels therefor.

Embodiments of treating fluid comprising hydrocarbons, water, and polymer being produced from a hydrocarbon-bearing formation are provided. One embodiment comprises adding a concentration of a viscosity reducer to the fluid to degrade the polymer present in the fluid and adding a concentration of a neutralizer to the fluid to neutralize the viscosity reducer in the fluid. The addition of the concentration of the viscosity reducer is in a sufficient quantity to allow for complete chemical degradation of the polymer prior to the addition of the concentration of the neutralizer in the fluid such that excess viscosity reducer is present in the fluid. The addition of the concentration of the neutralizer is sufficiently upstream of any surface fluid processing equipment to allow for complete neutralization of the excess viscosity reducer such that excess neutralizer is present in the fluid prior to the fluid reaching any of the surface fluid processing equipment.