Patents Examined by Ekandra S. Miller-Cruz
  • Patent number: 11577978
    Abstract: A method of operating a sequencing batch reactor process includes introducing wastewater to be treated into the sequencing batch reactor and subjecting the wastewater to treatment in the sequencing batch reactor in an aerated anoxic mode in which a quantity of oxygen is supplied at a level insufficient to meet a biological oxygen demand of the wastewater, but sufficient to cause simultaneous nitrification and denitrification reactions to occur in the wastewater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Evoqua Water Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Brandon Martin Olson
  • Patent number: 11577959
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for recovering N, K, and P from liquid waste stream, preferably from a stream of urine, or from a stream comprising excreta (e.g. faeces, manure, digestate, fertilizer), or from (concentrated) wastewater, for example, municipal (e.g. sewage, septic) and/or industrial wastewater (e.g. food and feed industry, agriculture, mining, etc.); more preferably from urine, such as human or animal urine; most preferably from human urine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Universiteit Gent
    Inventors: Arne Verliefde, Sebastiaan Derese
  • Patent number: 11571701
    Abstract: One illustrative cyclone separator disclosed herein includes an outer body, an inner body positioned at least partially within the outer body, an internal flow path within the inner body, the internal flow path having a fluid entrance and a fluid outlet, a first fluid flow channel between the inner body and the outer body, and a re-entrant fluid opening that extends through the outer body and is in fluid communication with the fluid flow channel, wherein the re-entrant fluid opening is positioned at a location upstream of the fluid entrance of the internal flow path in the inner body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: FMC TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Sander Baaren
  • Patent number: 11572289
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are related to treating waste water containing ammonium salts, which contains NH4+, SO42?, Cl?, and Na+. In such a method, the pH value of the waste water to be treated is adjusted to a specific range in advance; sodium sulfate crystal and relatively concentrated ammonia are obtained by first evaporation, and then sodium chloride crystal and relatively dilute ammonia is obtained by second evaporation; alternatively, sodium chloride crystal and relatively concentrated ammonia is obtained by third evaporation, and then sodium sulfate crystal and relatively dilute ammonia are obtained by fourth evaporation. Ammonia, sodium sulfate, and sodium chloride from the waste water are recovered so that the resources in the waste water can be reused.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignees: China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation, Sinopec Catalyst Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xiping Yin, Ye Li, Songyuan Gu, Zhijian Liu, Tao Wang, Jin'ai Gao, Yuhua Chen, Yan Zhou, Ling Yang, Zhiwei Yuan, Hongliang Yi, Tao An, Fuzu Liu, Zhimin Zhang, Shupeng Xu
  • Patent number: 11554971
    Abstract: A grease or oil separator system that includes a grease interceptor body with a variable flow control assembly. The grease interceptor system is a large tank with an inlet for wastewater and a downstream outlet for passing the wastewater minus separated grease and oil into a sewer system. Inside the tank, the grease floats to the top so that it can be removed through an opening in the top wall that provides an access port for clean out. The pickup for the outlet is located toward the bottom of the tank near the bottom wall so that only water separated from the grease flows into the sewer system. The variable flow control assembly varies the size of an opening in a conduit inside the interceptor body. Varying the size of the opening controls the flow from the inlet into the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: MI-FAB Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventor: Michael J. Whiteside
  • Patent number: 11541331
    Abstract: When a liquid in the column is replaced by carbon dioxide in a supercritical state in the chromatograph, an operation of a first pump is controlled by a flow rate control unit, and the carbon dioxide in the supercritical state is supplied at a constant pressure. Moreover, when a flow rate of the carbon dioxide in the supercritical state reaches a predetermined flow rate thereafter, the flow rate control unit controls an operation of the first pump so that the carbon dioxide in the supercritical state is supplied at a constant flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takanari Hattori
  • Patent number: 11535544
    Abstract: A device for treatment of organic waste includes a heating unit, a hydrolysis tank, a regulating tank, an aerobic fermentation reactor, an organic waste feeder, an aerobe feeder, a delivery mechanism, a deodorization unit, and an air distributor. The hydrolysis tank is connected to the regulating tank, and the regulating tank is connected to the aerobic fermentation reactor. The delivery mechanism is disposed between the regulating tank and the aerobic fermentation reactor. The heating unit is connected to the hydrolysis tank and is configured to heat an organic material in the hydrolysis tank. The organic waste feeder and the aerobe feeder are connected to the regulating tank. The deodorization unit is disposed on and connected to the aerobic fermentation reactor. The air distributor is disposed in the aerobic fermentation reactor and is configured to provide oxygen to the aerobic fermentation reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: HEBEI UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Zaixing Li, Jun Ma, Xiaosha Wu, Yali Huang, Xuebin Han, Xue Qin, Shuang Liu
  • Patent number: 11534534
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for processing blood are disclosed in which one variation generally comprises a tube defining a channel and an access tube extending into the channel. An open cell matrix configured to entrap red blood cells may be positioned within at least a portion of the channel. Another variation generally comprises a cylindrical tube and a plunger slidably positioned within the channel. The plunger also has a funnel positioned upon the plunger and is movable therewith. Both the plunger and funnel define a fluid channel through and in communication with the cylindrical tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Hanuman Pelican, Inc.
    Inventors: Randy Dorian, Michael D. Leach, Richard W. Storrs, Scott R. King
  • Patent number: 11534533
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for processing blood are disclosed in which one variation generally comprises a tube defining a channel and an access tube extending into the channel. An open cell matrix configured to entrap red blood cells may be positioned within at least a portion of the channel. Another variation generally comprises a cylindrical tube and a plunger slidably positioned within the channel. The plunger also has a funnel positioned upon the plunger and is movable therewith. Both the plunger and funnel define a fluid channel through and in communication with the cylindrical tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Hanuman Pelican, Inc.
    Inventors: Randy Dorian, Michael D. Leach, Richard W. Storrs, Scott R. King
  • Patent number: 11525275
    Abstract: A reconfigurable vacuum attachment may include a bell-shaped housing. The bell-shaped housing may have a bell-opening and a hose-interface. The hose-interface may be configured to hydraulically couple with a vacuum hose. A skimmer-plate may be attachable to the bell-opening and include a skimmer-aperture extending through the skimmer-plate. The reconfigurable vacuum attachment may further include a removable brush assembly. The brush assembly may host a rotatable brush coupled to a brush driver. The brush driver may be configured to hydraulically couple with the vacuum hose and convert water flow into a torque and spin the bristles. A buoy may be attached to the housing allowing the reconfigurable vacuum attachment to be used as a pool skimmer. The reconfigurable vacuum attachment is useful for skimming a pool surface and dislodging and vacuuming matter from a pool wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Inventor: Scott Jung
  • Patent number: 11511216
    Abstract: A clarifier with an improved rake comprising a plurality of arms, wherein each arm of the rake including a series of arcuate blades, which each blade increasing in height and angle relative to the rake arm as radial distance of the blade relative to the center of the rake decreases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Inventors: Daniel Charhut, Robert Heywood, Keith Johnson, Saurabh Rastogi
  • Patent number: 11505482
    Abstract: Mainstream partial nitritation was studied at 10° C. in a moving bed biofilm reactor treating synthetic wastewater containing both nitrogen (?40 mg L-1) and organic carbon at COD/N ratio ranging from 1.3 to 2.2. Three different control strategies were investigated to achieve partial nitritation. Initially, biofilm age was controlled by incorporating a media replacement strategy. Next, separately from the media replacement, oxygen limited conditions were investigated and finally pH control was incorporated together with oxygen limitation. Successful partial nitritation was achieved only by combining oxygen limitation with pH control. The average NH4-N concentration was equal to 16.0±1.6 mg L-1 and average NO2-N concentration was equal to 15.7±2.4 mg L-1 during steady state partial nitritation. The average residual NO3-N concentration was equal to 2.6±2.2 mg L-1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Inventors: Maciej S. Kowalski, Jan Oleszkiewicz
  • Patent number: 11485650
    Abstract: A system for recovering fat, oil and grease (FOG) from wastewater has multiple annular flotation zones in a concentric configuration surrounding a central column to create progressively increasing surface areas for FOG and solid particles flotation, and thereby enhance FOG recovery and removal. Each flotation zone is equipped with an independent pressurized micro air and ozone bubbles distribution system. A controlled amount of ozone can be injected into the wastewater along with recirculated effluent and micro-size air bubbles. Upon the release of pressurized air-ozone-water mixture, micro-size bubbles are generated and distributed in each flotation zone to effectively float up FOG and solid particles in the wastewater stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Besser Tech Holdings LLC
    Inventors: William Michael Fields, Yuanchun Xu, Guichun Zhang
  • Patent number: 11479487
    Abstract: The invention provides structures, methods, and assemblies for bioretention systems, including tree box filters with one or more internal bypass features incorporated into the tree box filter. The invention also provides methods and additional structures that are useful for managing stormwater flow and inhibiting the flow of pollutants, debris, and other contaminants into drainage systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Oldcastle Infrastructure, Inc.
    Inventors: James Ferguson Holtz, Christopher Ryan Demarest
  • Patent number: 11453605
    Abstract: A wastewater treatment system and a wastewater treatment process, fluidly combining a one or more SBR (sequencing batch reactor) module/s, in which nitrification and denitrification of the wastewater are performed in sequences and one or more MBR (membrane bioreactor) module/s.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: ALFA LAVAL CORPORATE AB
    Inventor: Nicolas Heinen
  • Patent number: 11447411
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus for facilitating purification of sludge and tailing, in accordance with some embodiments. Accordingly, a sedimentation unit receives sludge and tailing in a first tank, separates wastewater from the sludge and the tailing, and transfers the wastewater from the first tank to a second tank. Further, a centrifugal unit creates a vortex in the wastewater. Further, a thermal hydrolysis unit coagulates a second impurity of the wastewater using coagulants and transfers the wastewater from the second tank to a third tank. Further, a digesting unit digests a macromolecule of the wastewater into a compound and transfers the wastewater from the third tank to a fourth tank. Further, a nutrient removal unit filters the wastewater from the compound and transfers the wastewater from the fourth tank to a fifth tank. Further, a reservoir unit disinfects the wastewater and stores the wastewater in the fifth tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: ROYAL BIOTECH INC
    Inventors: Philip Huang, E-Ray Huang, En I Tu, Guozhi Lin
  • Patent number: 11447408
    Abstract: A wastewater treatment system including a contact tank, a dissolved air flotation unit, a fixed film reactor, and a solids-liquid separation unit is disclosed. A method of treating wastewater with a dissolved air flotation unit and a fixed film reactor is also disclosed. A method of retrofitting a fixed film reactor wastewater treatment system including providing a contact tank and a dissolved air flotation unit is also disclosed. A method of facilitating increased operating efficiency of a fixed film wastewater treatment system including providing a dissolved air flotation unit is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Evoqua Water Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Argun O. Erdogan, Michael L. Doyle, Deborah Hyke
  • Patent number: 11441199
    Abstract: An evaporator system used for the production of maple syrup. The evaporator system comprises at least one receptacle for receiving and processing maple water destined to be transformed, a combustion chamber for burning biomass, and a detector of temperature of the combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: LES ÉQUIPEMENTS LAPIERRE INC.
    Inventors: Donald Lapierre, Carl Lapierre, Gabriel Boucher, Luc Brière, André Fillion, Jean-François Goulet
  • Patent number: 11434157
    Abstract: An organic wastewater treatment apparatus is operated by switching between a first operation mode and a second operation mode. The first operation mode includes supplying organic wastewater to a dual-use tank and performing an anaerobic treatment process therein, performing a nitrification-denitrification process in a membrane bioreactor treatment tank, and extracting membrane-permeated water from a membrane separation device arranged in the membrane bioreactor treatment tank as treated water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Soichiro Yatsugi, Shinya Nagae, Hitoshi Yanase, Ryosuke Ono
  • Patent number: 11414332
    Abstract: The microorganism preparation feeding method of the invention employs an automatic microorganism preparation feeding apparatus which includes a cold storage apparatus for refrigeration-storing a seed microorganism belonging to the aerobic microorganism group including at least one species of aerobic microorganisms capable of decomposing oil and fat contained in oil/fat-including wastewater and a growth tank for growing the seed microorganism so as to produce the microorganism preparation, wherein the seed microorganism belonging to the aerobic microorganism group is maintained in a live state by means of the cold storage apparatus, the seed microorganism is periodically grown by means of the growth tank so as to produce a predetermined microorganism preparation, and the produced predetermined microorganism preparation is fed to the oil/fat-including wastewater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: NISSAN CHEMICAL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masatake Fujioka