The invention relates to a filter unit (1, 19), having: at least one warp-knitted spacer (3) which comprises a first and a second cover layer (4; 5) having in each case a multiplicity of openings (6) which are delimited by peripheral regions (7), wherein threads (8) extend from the peripheral regions (7) of the first cover layer (4) to peripheral regions (7) of the second cover layer (5), and wherein the at least one warp-knitted spacer is rolled, twisted, and/or at least in one portion is compressed.

A two-stage filtering system including a first and second filter container. The first filter container has a first filter assembly with a foam filter sleeve enveloping a fluid intake device, a connected valve, and transfer tubing. The second filter includes a pump connected to a spout, a second stage splashguard strainer, a second stage cup filter, and a second filter assembly. The second filter assembly includes at least one main filter comprising at least one carbon body filter enveloping a filter chamber, and exit tubing. The first filter container is structured to stack on top of the second filter container and the transfer tubing is structured to transfer first stage filtered fluid to the second filter container. The pump is structured to draw second stage filtered fluid from the second container through the exit tubing and expel the second stage filtered fluid out the spout to provide purified water.

A two-stage filtering system including a first and second filter container. The first filter container has a first filter assembly with a foam filter sleeve enveloping a fluid intake device, a connected valve, and transfer tubing. The second filter includes a pump connected to a spout, a second stage splashguard strainer, a second stage cup filter, and a second filter assembly. The second filter assembly includes at least one main filter comprising at least one carbon body filter enveloping a filter chamber, and exit tubing. The first filter container is structured to stack on top of the second filter container and the transfer tubing is structured to transfer first stage filtered fluid to the second filter container. The pump is structured to draw second stage filtered fluid from the second container through the exit tubing and expel the second stage filtered fluid out the spout to provide purified water.

An internal reticulated foam filter for a water filtration tank is an apparatus that thoroughly filters water of a variety of water filtration tanks. The apparatus includes a flow-management assembly, at least one inner tube, at least one outer tube, and a plurality of foam filters. The flow-management assembly positions the apparatus around a distributing tube of a water filtration tank. The at least one inner tube upholds the plurality of foam filters against a central tube of the distributing tube. The at least one outer tube releases the water filtered by the plurality of foam filters back into the water filtration tank. The flow-management assembly also includes a first cap, a second cap, a plurality of main inlets, a plurality of channels, and a plurality of main outlets. The plurality of main inlets is in fluid communication with the plurality of main outlets through the plurality of channels.

The trap includes a container with a top opening covered by a lid. Inlet and outflow pipes extend through the lid into the container. A sheet of mesh filtration material (fiberglass, foam etc.) is situated within the container, below and preferably bonded to the interior surface of the lid. The inlet and outflow pipes extend through the filtration sheet into the container such that as the water level rises, sediment from the water flowing through the container settles to the bottom of the container and floating particles on the surface of the water which would otherwise be carried out of the trap with the water as the water exits the container remain in the filtration sheet.

In one aspect, a material is disclosed, including: a periodic structure including a plurality of unit cells, the plurality of unit cells having a respective plurality of shared nodes, wherein each of the plurality of unit cells has a plurality of members forming an open cell volume; and a matrix material associated with the periodic structure. In another aspect, a method of forming a material is disclosed, including: forming a periodic structure including a plurality of unit cells, the plurality of unit cells having a respective plurality of shared nodes, wherein each of the plurality of unit cells has a plurality of members forming an open cell volume; and associating a matrix material with the periodic structure. Matrix material selection, composition, manufacturing, interfacial bonding modification, and post-treatments of the periodic structure-matrix material composites are disclosed.

A fluid control device includes a support structure configured to be deployed to a selected location in a borehole, and a filtration medium disposed at the support structure and configured to filter a fluid, the filtration medium configured to be compacted from an initial shape to a compacted shape prior to deployment in the borehole. The filtration medium includes a first polymeric material configured to withstand a temperature at the selected location, the first polymeric material forming a porous structure including a plurality of fluid passages, and a second polymeric material including a shape memory polymer disposed within the fluid passages, the shape memory polymer configured to expand in the plurality of fluid passages and cause the filtration medium to expand in the borehole.

A stillage clarification process and related system include using hydrocyclones and high recovery disc centrifuges for fractionation of stillage from a grain ethanol plant and splitting the stillage into fractions with mass and compositional assays per bushel of grain processed. The fractions include a first fraction comprising 45% to 70% protein and 3% to 8% fat, a second fraction comprising distillers corn oil, a third fraction comprising a fiber having made up of approximately 22% to 28% protein and less than 8% fat, and a fourth fraction comprising at least 30% soluble protein and less than 3% fat.

A system and method for expanding the production capacity of an existing ethanol production facility including: a source of fermented mash (beer); a first beer column configured for receiving beer input from the source and for producing overhead comprising alcohol vapor and water vapor; and a first rectifier receiving an alcohol and water mixture from said first beer column. The system includes a second beer column, first and second condensers receiving overhead from the beer columns and a second rectifier receiving condensed overhead from the second condenser and bottoms from the first rectifier. A processing component receives bottoms from the first and second beer columns and steam condensate. The method includes the steps of retrofitting an existing ethanol production facility with a second beer column, first and second condensers and a second rectifier.

A filtration system interconnection structure having a filter manifold including a sump housing and a first correlated magnet located on or connected to a portion of the manifold, and a filter cartridge including a filter media, first and second end caps sealed to the filter media, and a second, paired correlated magnet located on or connected to the filter cartridge housing body. The first and second correlated magnets are interconnected via magnetic communication upon insertion of the filter cartridge into the sump housing, and upon movement of the filter cartridge into an alignment position, the correlated magnet located on or connected to the manifold is permitted to translate as a result of the magnetic communication. The polarity profiles of the paired correlated magnets are aligned such that a repulsion force is created when the filter cartridge is inserted within the manifold sump housing.