Patents by Inventor Michael J. Rutsch

Michael J. Rutsch has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8679291
    Abstract: A process for concentrating wastewater includes combining heated gas and liquid wastewater to form a mixture of heated gas and entrained liquid wastewater, breaking the entrained liquid wastewater into fine entrained liquid wastewater droplets, transferring heat from the heated gas to the entrained liquid wastewater to partially evaporate the entrained liquid wastewater, and removing a portion of the fine entrained liquid wastewater droplets from the mixture to provide a demisted gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Heartland Technology Partners LLC
    Inventors: Bernard F. Duesel, Jr., Michael J. Rutsch, Craig Clerkin
  • Publication number: 20140041811
    Abstract: A compact and portable liquid concentrator includes a gas inlet, a gas exit and a flow corridor connecting the gas inlet and the gas exit, wherein the flow corridor includes a narrowed portion that accelerates the gas through the flow corridor. A liquid inlet injects liquid into the gas stream at a point prior to the narrowed portion so that the gas-liquid mixture is thoroughly mixed within the flow corridor, causing a portion of the liquid to be evaporated. A demister or fluid scrubber downstream of the narrowed portion removes entrained liquid droplets from the gas stream and re-circulates the removed liquid to the liquid inlet through a re-circulating circuit. Fresh liquid to be concentrated is also introduced into the re-circulating circuit at a rate sufficient to offset the amount of liquid evaporated in the flow corridor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: HEARTLAND TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS LLC
    Inventors: Bernard F. Duesel, JR., Michael J. Rutsch, Craig Clerkin
  • Patent number: 8568557
    Abstract: A compact and portable liquid concentrator includes a gas inlet, a gas exit and a flow corridor connecting the gas inlet and the gas exit, wherein the flow corridor includes a narrowed portion that accelerates the gas through the flow corridor. A liquid inlet injects liquid into the gas stream at a point prior to the narrowed portion so that the gas-liquid mixture is thoroughly mixed within the flow corridor, causing a portion of the liquid to be evaporated. A demister or fluid scrubber downstream of the narrowed portion removes entrained liquid droplets from the gas stream and re-circulates the removed liquid to the liquid inlet through a re-circulating circuit. Fresh liquid to be concentrated is also introduced into the re-circulating circuit at a rate sufficient to offset the amount of liquid evaporated in the flow corridor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Heartland Technology Partners LLC
    Inventors: Bernard F. Duesel, Jr., Michael J. Rutsch, Craig Clerkin
  • Publication number: 20130248122
    Abstract: A reservoir evaporation system for evaporating fluid from an open reservoir of effluent containing a contaminant includes a fluid evaporator, an air pump, and an air supply conduit functionally connecting the fluid evaporator with the air pump. The fluid evaporator includes a vessel adapted to be positioned in an operative position partially submerged on the top surface of the effluent in the reservoir with a lower chamber submerged in the effluent and an upper chamber extending above the top surface of the effluent. In operation, air from the air pump mixes with the effluent inside the fluid evaporator and subsequently is discharged through exhaust openings. A fluid discharge pipe can also simultaneously discharge aerated effluent back down into the reservoir. Fluid is thereby separated from the effluent in the lower chamber by evaporation in a controlled manner that minimizes spread of contaminants to surrounding environments by wind.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: HEARTLAND TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS LLC
    Inventors: Bernard F. Duesel, JR., Michael J. Rutsch, Craig Clerkin
  • Patent number: 8459984
    Abstract: A waste heat recovery system is coupled to a flare or exhaust stack of, for example, a landfill gas treatment system, to recover at least a portion of the energy within the exhaust produced by the gas treatment system and provides the recovered energy either indirectly or directly to a secondary process, such as a wastewater treatment process, to thereby reduce the amount of energy needed to be otherwise input into the secondary process. For indirect transfer of energy the waste heat recovery system includes a transfer pipe connected between the exhaust stack of a primary process and a heat exchange unit while an induction fan connected to the transfer pipe operates to create a draft within the transfer pipe to facilitate movement of some of the exhaust gas from the exhaust stack of the primary process to the heat exchange unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Heartland Technology Partners LLC
    Inventors: Bernard F. Duesel, Jr., David L. Fenton, Michael J. Rutsch
  • Patent number: 8425665
    Abstract: A fluid scrubber in the form of a submerged gas reactor includes a reaction vessel, a gas delivery lube partially disposed within the reaction vessel to deliver a gas into the reaction vessel and a scrubbing liquid inlet that provides a scrubbing liquid to the reaction vessel at a rate sufficient to maintain a controlled, constant level of fluid within the reaction vessel. A weir is disposed within the reaction vessel adjacent the gas delivery tube to form a first fluid circulation path between a first weir end and a wall of the reaction vessel and a second fluid circulation path between a second weir end and an upper end of the reaction vessel. During operation, gas introduced through the tube mixes with the scrubbing liquid and the combined gas and liquid flow at a high rate with a high degree of turbulence along the first and second, circulation paths defined around the weir, thereby promoting vigorous mixing and intimate contact between the gas and the scrubbing liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Heartland Technology Partners, LLC
    Inventors: Bernard F. Duesel, Jr., Michael J. Rutsch
  • Patent number: 8382075
    Abstract: An air stripper in the form of an submerged gas evaporator or a submerged gas reactor that includes a vessel, a gas delivery tube partially disposed within the vessel to deliver a gas into the vessel and a contaminated liquid inlet that provides a contaminated liquid to the vessel at a rate sufficient to maintain a controlled constant level of process fluid within the vessel. A weir is disposed within the vessel adjacent the gas delivery tube to form a first fluid circulation path between a first weir end and a wall of the vessel and a second fluid circulation path between a second weir end and an upper end of the vessel. During operation, gas introduced through the tube mixes with the process fluid and the combined gas and fluid flow at a high rate with a high degree of turbulence along the first and second circulation paths defined around the weir, thereby promoting vigorous mixing and intimate contact between the gas and the process fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Heartland Technology Partners, LLC
    Inventors: Bernard F. Duesel, Jr., Michael J. Rutsch
  • Publication number: 20120318009
    Abstract: A cooling tower includes an evaporator vessel, a gas delivery tube partially disposed within the evaporator vessel and a liquid inlet that provides liquid to the evaporator vessel. A weir is disposed within the evaporator vessel adjacent the gas delivery tube to form a first liquid circulation path between a first weir end and a wall of the evaporator vessel and a second fluid circulation path between a second weir end and another wall of the evaporator vessel. During operation, gas introduced through the tube mixes with the liquid and the combined gas and liquid flow at a high rate with a high degree of turbulence along the first and second circulation paths defined around the weir, thereby promoting vigorous mixing and intimate contact between the gas and the liquid. This turbulent flow leads to a more efficient and complete heat and mass transfer between the gas and the liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: HEARTLAND TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS LLC
    Inventors: Bernard F. Duesel, JR., Michael J. Rutsch
  • Publication number: 20120186451
    Abstract: An exhaust gas plume mitigation process and system includes either mixing secondary heat into a moisture rich exhaust gas stream, or diverting a moisture rich exhaust gas stream into a primary exhaust stack having hot exhaust gases flowing therethrough. Moisture rich exhaust gas from a liquid concentrator may be diverted into a high temperature exhaust stack of an engine, a generator, or a flare. The high temperature exhaust gases from the engine, the generator, or the flare raise the temperature of the moisture rich exhaust gas from the concentrator. The high temperature exhaust gases from the engine, the generator, or the flare are also lower in moisture content, so that the moisture rich exhaust gas from the concentrator is diluted by the drier high temperature exhaust gas. As a result, the mixed gas is less likely to develop a moisture plume upon exit to the atmosphere.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: HEARTLAND TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS, LLC
    Inventors: Bernard F. Duesel, JR., Michael J. Rutsch, Craig Clerkin
  • Patent number: 8172565
    Abstract: A bustle for use on a flare or an exhaust stack of, for example, a landfill gas treatment system, efficiently transfers gas from the stack to a waste heat recovery system associated with the landfill gas treatment system without substantially affecting the operation of the landfill gas treatment process. The bustle enables the heat recovery system to recover at least a portion of the energy within the exhaust produced by the gas treatment system and to provide the recovered energy either indirectly or directly to a secondary process, such as a wastewater treatment process, to thereby reduce the amount of energy needed to be otherwise input into the secondary process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Heartland Technology Partners LLC
    Inventors: Bernard F. Duesel, Jr., David L. Fenton, Michael J. Rutsch
  • Patent number: 8136797
    Abstract: A cooling tower includes an evaporator vessel, a gas delivery tube partially disposed within the evaporator vessel to deliver a gas into the evaporator vessel and a water inlet that provides water to the evaporator vessel at a rate sufficient to maintain a controlled constant level of water within the evaporator vessel. A weir is disposed within the evaporator vessel adjacent the gas delivery tube to form a first fluid circulation path between a first weir end and a wall of the evaporator vessel and a second fluid circulation path between a second weir end and an upper end of the evaporator vessel. During operation, gas introduced through the tube mixes with the water and the combined gas and fluid flow at a high rate with a high degree of turbulence along the first and second circulation paths defined around the weir, thereby promoting vigorous mixing and intimate contact between the gas and the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Heartland Technology Partners, LLC
    Inventors: Bernard F. Duesel, Jr., Michael J. Rutsch
  • Publication number: 20120012452
    Abstract: A desalination system in the form of a submerged gas evaporator that includes a vessel, a gas delivery tube partially disposed within the vessel to deliver a gas into the vessel and a fluid inlet that provides a fluid to the vessel at a rate sufficient to maintain a controlled constant level of fluid within the vessel. During operation, gas introduced through the tube mixes with the fluid and the combined gas and fluid flow at a high rate with a high degree of turbulence, thereby promoting vigorous mixing and intimate contact between the gas and the fluid, which leads to a more efficient and complete evaporation. Additionally, vapor exiting the submerged gas evaporator is condensed in a condensing unit thus precipitating vapor into a liquid for removal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: HEARTLAND TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS LLC
    Inventors: Bernard F. Duesel, JR., Michael J. Rutsch
  • Patent number: 8066845
    Abstract: A compact and portable liquid concentrator includes a gas inlet, a gas exit and a flow corridor connecting the gas inlet and the gas exit, wherein the flow corridor includes a narrowed portion that accelerates the gas through the flow corridor. A liquid inlet injects liquid into the gas stream at a point prior to the narrowed portion so that the gas-liquid mixture is thoroughly mixed within the flow corridor, causing a portion of the liquid to be evaporated. A demister or fluid scrubber downstream of the narrowed portion removes entrained liquid droplets from the gas stream and re-circulates the removed liquid to the liquid inlet through a re-circulating circuit. Fresh liquid to be concentrated is also introduced into the re-circulating circuit at a rate sufficient to offset the amount of liquid evaporated in the flow corridor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Heartland Technology Partners LLC
    Inventors: Bernard F. Duesel, Jr., Michael J. Rutsch
  • Patent number: 8066844
    Abstract: A compact and portable liquid concentrator includes a gas inlet, a gas exit and a flow corridor connecting the gas inlet and the gas exit, wherein the flow corridor includes a narrowed portion that accelerates the gas through the flow corridor. A liquid inlet injects liquid into the gas stream at a point prior to the narrowed portion so that the gas-liquid mixture is thoroughly mixed within the flow corridor, causing a portion of the liquid to be evaporated. A demister or fluid scrubber downstream of the narrowed portion removes entrained liquid droplets from the gas stream and re-circulates the removed liquid to the liquid inlet through a re-circulating circuit. Fresh liquid to be concentrated is also introduced into the re-circulating circuit at a rate sufficient to offset the amount of liquid evaporated in the flow corridor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Heartland Technology Partners LLC
    Inventors: Bernard F. Duesel, Jr., Michael J. Rutsch
  • Patent number: 8043479
    Abstract: A desalination system in the form of a submerged gas evaporator that includes a vessel, a gas delivery tube partially disposed within the vessel to deliver a gas into the vessel and a fluid inlet that provides a fluid to the vessel at a rate sufficient to maintain a controlled constant level of fluid within the vessel. A weir is disposed within the vessel adjacent the gas delivery tube to form a first fluid circulation path between a first weir end and a wall of the vessel and a second fluid circulation path between a second weir end and an upper end of the vessel. During operation, gas introduced through the tube mixes with the fluid and the combined gas and fluid flow at a high rate with a high degree of turbulence along the first and second circulation paths defined around the weir, thereby promoting vigorous mixing and intimate contact between the gas and the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Heartland Technology Partners LLC
    Inventors: Bernard F. Duesel, Jr., Michael J. Rutsch
  • Publication number: 20110178961
    Abstract: A method of reducing greenhouse gases while simultaneously generating carbon credits includes mitigating greenhouse gases at unregulated landfill sites or mitigating greenhouse gases at regulated landfill sites in excess of the required mitigation activities, obtaining carbon credits in an amount created by the mitigation efforts and selling or using the carbon credits in an open market to, for example, offset the costs of the mitigation efforts or to fund or support other greenhouse gas emission activities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Applicant: HEARTLAND TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS LLC
    Inventors: Bernard F. Duesel, JR., Michael J. Rutsch, Craig Clerkin
  • Publication number: 20110174604
    Abstract: A compact and portable liquid concentrator includes a gas inlet, a gas exit and a flow corridor connecting the gas inlet and the gas exit, wherein the flow corridor includes a narrowed portion that accelerates the gas through the flow corridor. A liquid inlet injects liquid into the gas stream at a point prior to the narrowed portion so that the gas-liquid mixture is thoroughly mixed within the flow corridor, causing a portion of the liquid to be evaporated. A demister or fluid scrubber downstream of the narrowed portion removes entrained liquid droplets from the gas stream and re-circulates the removed liquid to the liquid inlet through a re-circulating circuit. Fresh liquid to be concentrated is also introduced into the re-circulating circuit at a rate sufficient to offset the amount of liquid evaporated in the flow corridor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Applicant: HEARTLAND TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS LLC
    Inventors: Bernard F. Duesel, JR., Michael J. Rutsch
  • Publication number: 20110174447
    Abstract: A compact and portable liquid concentrator includes a gas inlet, a gas exit and a flow corridor connecting the gas inlet and the gas exit, wherein the flow corridor includes a narrowed portion that accelerates the gas through the flow corridor. A liquid inlet injects liquid into the gas stream at a point prior to the narrowed portion so that the gas-liquid mixture is thoroughly mixed within the flow corridor, causing a portion of the liquid to be evaporated. A demister or fluid scrubber downstream of the narrowed portion removes entrained liquid droplets from the gas stream and re-circulates the removed liquid to the liquid inlet through a re-circulating circuit. Fresh liquid to be concentrated is also introduced into the re-circulating circuit at a rate sufficient to offset the amount of liquid evaporated in the flow corridor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Applicant: HEARTLAND TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS LLC
    Inventors: Bernard F. Duesel, JR., Michael J. Rutsch
  • Patent number: 7959376
    Abstract: A method of reducing greenhouse gases while simultaneously generating carbon credits includes mitigating greenhouse gases at unregulated landfill sites or mitigating greenhouse gases at regulated landfill sites in excess of the required mitigation activities, obtaining carbon credits in an amount created by the mitigation efforts and selling or using the carbon credits in an open market to, for example, offset the costs of the mitigation efforts or to fund or support other greenhouse gas emission activities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Heartland Technology Partners LLC
    Inventors: Bernard F. Duesel, Jr., Michael J. Rutsch, Craig Clerkin
  • Publication number: 20110100924
    Abstract: A compact and portable liquid concentrator and contaminant scrubber includes a gas inlet, a gas exit and a flow corridor connecting the gas inlet and the gas exit, wherein the flow corridor includes a narrowed portion that accelerates the gas through the flow corridor. A liquid inlet injects liquid into the gas stream at a point prior to the narrowed portion so that the gas-liquid mixture is thoroughly mixed within the flow corridor, causing a portion of the liquid to be evaporated. A demister or fluid scrubber downstream of the narrowed portion removes entrained liquid droplets from the gas stream and re-circulates the removed liquid to the liquid inlet through a re-circulating circuit. A reagent may be mixed with the liquid to react with contaminants in the liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: HEARTLAND TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS LLC
    Inventors: Bernard F. Duesel, JR., Michael J. Rutsch, Craig Clerkin