Involving Waste Liquid Patents (Class 159/47.3)
  • Patent number: 10934188
    Abstract: A method of treating produced water from subterranean operations includes charging produced water into a container to create a mixture of the produced water and an aqueous medium including a source of sulfate ions within the container, removing an outflow via an outlet in the container; and charging barite particles into the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: University of Pittsburgh—Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
    Inventor: Radisav D. Vidic
  • Patent number: 10865525
    Abstract: A composition and method for imparting paper and paperboard with resistance to aqueous penetrants using renewable biopolymers, and the resulting paper and paperboard, are disclosed. The renewable biopolymers when combined with water-soluble, hydroxylated polymers or water-soluble salts and applied to the surface of paper or paperboard, results in resistance to aqueous penetrants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: SOLENIS TECHNOLOGIES, L.P.
    Inventors: Susan M Ehrhardt, Daniel F Varnell
  • Patent number: 10851679
    Abstract: A method of recovering heat from a Natural Gas Liquid (NGL) fractionation plant for production of potable water. The method includes heating a buffer fluid via a heat exchanger in to transfer heat from the NGL fractionation plant to the buffer fluid. The method includes heating water with the buffer fluid discharged from the heat exchanger to produce potable water via train distillation effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Mahmoud Bahy Mahmoud Noureldin, Akram Hamed Mohamed Kamel
  • Patent number: 10597312
    Abstract: Provided are methods of removing perchlorate from water. The methods include contacting water suspected of containing perchlorate with a cationic material. The cationic material includes one or more cationic metal atoms connected by an atom or molecule into an extended structure, and a charge balancing anion. The contacting removes perchlorate (e.g., selectively), if present, from the water. Water treatment vessels, systems and facilities that find use in practicing the methods of the present disclosure are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Scott Oliver, Ian Colinas
  • Patent number: 10570026
    Abstract: Systems and processes for treating, reducing and/or disposing of leachate created by a landfill system by aerating, spraying and/or stripping leachate in a controlled environment to promote evaporation of a water component of the leachate, to strip a portion of ammonia from the leachate and/or to promote biological decomposition of the leachate. The reduced or concentrated leachate produced by the system or process, whether liquid, solid or slurry, can be disposed of as allowed or desired at a cost benefitted by the reduced volume and/or treated condition of the leachate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Waste Connections US, Inc.
    Inventor: Nelson Breeden
  • Patent number: 10370276
    Abstract: A near-zero-release treatment system and method for high concentrated organic wastewater is in the chemical engineering and environment protection field, whose core technology is SCWO. The wastewater and sludge are grinded by the homogeneous pump, pressurized by high-pressure plunger pump, transported to successive pipeline for preheating and mixing with the oxygen and undergoes SCWO reaction in the reactor. After pressure release in the pressure relief device, the reacted fluid passes through the self-cleaning filter and gas liquid separator for insoluble solid and gas separation; then enters the MVR for crystallization of the soluble salts to realize near-zero-release of the feeding. The regular water treatment technology (coagulation sedimentation, membrane biotechnology, membrane technology, etc.) is adopted to complement SCWO, which lowers the operating parameters of the reactor and cuts the operating cost by treating the remaining COD with regular water treatment technology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignees: XI'AN JIAOTONG UNIVERSITY, XI'AN WONFU ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shuzhong Wang, Jianqiao Yang, Jie Zhang, Panpan Sun, Yanhui Li, Mengmeng Ren
  • Patent number: 10189002
    Abstract: A flow-through electric arc system includes a chamber within an insulated sleeve having an anode at one end of the insulated sleeve and a cathode at a distal end of the insulated sleeve. Fluid flows from an inlet of the chamber, through the insulated sleeve where it is exposed to an electric arc formed between the anode and cathode, and then flows out of an outlet of the chamber. By way of increasing the flow rate of the fluid, bi-products that are released from a reaction of the fluid to the electric arc are flushed by the fluid and at least some of the bi-products are precluded from accumulating on either of the anode, cathode, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Magnegas Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Lynch, Scott Marton, Jack Michael Armstrong, Mike Rodriguez, Richard Conz
  • Patent number: 9737827
    Abstract: A system for removing high purity salt from a brine. One system includes a first evaporator configured to receive a brine stream, to produce a first output comprising a sodium chloride slurry, and to produce a first intermediate output. The system also includes a second evaporator fluidly coupled to the first evaporator and configured to receive the first intermediate output, to produce a first recovery output, and to produce a second intermediate output. The system includes a third evaporator fluidly coupled to the second evaporator and configured to receive the second intermediate output and to produce a second recovery output. The first recovery output and the second recovery output are used to produce the brine stream received by the first evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Enviro Water Minerals Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Steven Wallace
  • Patent number: 9028654
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system comprising an evaporation unit comprising a first heat exchanger in fluid communication with a second heat exchanger; where the first heat exchanger is operative to heat an effluent stream comprising an amine solvent and/or amine byproducts and water and to discharge the effluent stream to the second heat exchanger; where the second heat exchanger is operative to convert the effluent stream into a distillate stream and a concentrate stream; and a reverse osmosis unit in fluid communication with the evaporation unit; where the reverse osmosis unit comprises a first reverse osmosis unit that is operative to receive the distillate stream and to separate water from byproducts of the amine solvent such that the water has a purity of greater than 95%, based on the weight of the distillate stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Bjoern Ungerer, Christoph Weingaertner, Hans-Peter Dornik
  • Patent number: 8986551
    Abstract: A method that includes clarifying a thin stillage product in a mechanical processor to produce a fine suspended solids stream and a clarified thin stillage is provided. The method further includes providing the thin stillage product and the clarified thin stillage, separately or in a combined stream, to one or more evaporators to produce one or more reduced suspended solids streams, each stream having a reduced amount of suspended solids and a lower viscosity as compared to process streams having a comparable total solids content but containing a higher amount of suspended solids. The method can further included further processing of one or more of the reduced suspended solids streams to produce a bio-oil product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: ICM, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Kohl, Charles C. Gallop, Kurt A. Dieker
  • Patent number: 8951391
    Abstract: A solar distillation apparatus utilizing a substantially vertical reactor assembly is disclosed. The reactor includes a tubular outer shell, a base, a cap, and a central tension member. The annular space between the outer tube and the central tension member forms the reactor chamber. Seawater or other feed liquid enters the reactor chamber through the base plate. Reflected or direct solar energy heats the feed liquid, generating low pressure vapor. The vapor exits the reactor through the cap structure or the base. The concentrate left behind settles by gravity to the bottom region of the reactor's liquid column. Extension tubes on the feed openings allow feed liquid to enter the liquid column above the concentrate layer and avoid excessive mixing of the feed liquid and the concentrate. The concentrate exits the reactor through one or more openings in the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Inventor: Miles McClure
  • Patent number: 8945398
    Abstract: A water recovery process for a steam assisted gravity drainage system for a heavy oil recovery facility, the process comprising a flash drum and a flash drum heat exchanger/condenser, wherein the water recovery process receives hot water produced by a facility at a temperature above the water atmospheric boiling point and cools it to a temperature below the water atmospheric boiling point before transferring it to the remaining section of the water recovery process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: 1nSite Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenneth James
  • Patent number: 8882967
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods for purifying a process water, which can comprise providing a process water comprising a first concentration of a first dissolved gas and a first concentration of a first dissolved ion, filtering the process water to create a filtered process water comprising a second concentration of the first dissolved gas, and evaporating the filtered process water to create a water vapor comprising a second concentration of the first dissolved ion that is less than the first concentration of the first dissolved ion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: The Southern Company
    Inventor: Dhansukhbhai V. Patel
  • Patent number: 8852394
    Abstract: Apparatus for evaporating waste water having chemicals therein which cause foaming comprises a holding tank having an inlet for receiving waste water, one or more submerged combustion chambers with burners suspended within the holding tank, and, one or more foam skimming weirs located in an upper portion of the holding tank, the one or more foam skimming weirs defining one or more foam collection zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Inproheat Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Eric Leopold Panz, Steven Eric Panz, Wesley Young, Roger P. Boulter
  • Patent number: 8852393
    Abstract: Apparatus for evaporating waste water having dissolved solids therein comprising a holding tank having an inlet for receiving waste water, a submerged combustion chamber with burner suspended within the holding tank, the submerged combustion chamber having a plurality of vertical slots defined therein near a bottom thereof which span a substantial portion of a height of the submerged combustion chamber, a blower connected to provide air under positive pressure to the burner, and, a vent stack coupled to an upper portion of the holding tank for allowing water vapor to exit the holding tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Inproheat Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Eric Leopold Panz, Steven Eric Panz, Wesley Young, Roger P. Boulter
  • Publication number: 20140262055
    Abstract: An atomizer for use in waste water evaporation includes a motor having a rotor shaft, at least one conduit for receiving the waste water, a housing supporting the motor and the at least one conduit, and a hub having a plurality of holes for distributing waste water in the form of water droplets. The motor is a variable speed motor and is cooled by waste water flowing through the at least one conduit. The hub is connected to the rotor shaft and spins at a variable speed with the rotor shaft. The atomizer may be used in a waste water evaporation system that further includes an anemometer and a control system. The control system receives a wind speed input from the anemometer and provides a signal to the variable speed motor to adjust the speed of the variable speed motor and hub, thereby adjusting the water droplet size in response to varying wind conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: E3 Solutions, LLC, (f/k/a Isolated Evaporation Services, LLC)
    Inventors: Jamey Scott Noel, Jeffrey Morris Sullivan, William McBride Blanchard
  • Patent number: 8828192
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed toward a novel pressurized vapor cycle for distilling liquids. In an embodiment of the invention, a liquid purification system is revealed, including the elements of an input for receiving untreated liquid, a vaporizer coupled to the input for transforming the liquid to vapor, a head chamber for collecting the vapor, a vapor pump with an internal drive shaft and an eccentric rotor with a rotatable housing for compressing vapor, a condenser in communication with the vapor pump for transforming the compressed vapor into a distilled product, and an electric motor with motor rotor and magnets hermetically sealed within the fluid pressure boundary of the distillation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Jason A. Demers, Scott A. Leonard, Kingston Owens
  • Patent number: 8815050
    Abstract: Processes and systems for drying liquid bromine utilizing two fractionators to produce a substantially dry liquid bromine stream and a substantially bromine-free water stream. Wet bromine liquid may be conveyed to a first fractionator wherein a substantially dry bromine liquid is produced, while a vapor stream from the first fractionator may be condensed into a first liquid phase comprising bromine saturated with water and a second liquid phase comprising water saturated with bromine. The water saturated with bromine may be conveyed to a second fractionator to produce at least substantially bromine-free water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Marathon GTF Technology, Ltd.
    Inventors: Sabah A. Kurukchi, Yijun Liu, Anand Moodley
  • Patent number: 8808511
    Abstract: The invention disclosed and claimed herein relates to treatment of water contaminated with glycol to be recycled for further effective use of the cleaned water resulting therefrom, especially at airports. More specifically, this invention relates to improved techniques for efficiently and reliably generating continuous flows of cleaned water as well as a continuous flow of recyclable glycol water of controlled concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Inventor: Brad Michael Malatesta
  • Patent number: 8801897
    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: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Heartland Technology Partners LLC
    Inventors: Bernard F. Duesel, Jr., Michael J. Rutsch, Craig Clerkin
  • Publication number: 20140209450
    Abstract: A wet material having at least a liquid portion is dewatered by providing one or more wicking members of wicking material arranged to transfer moisture passively by wicking therethrough from a contacting portion in contact with the wet material to an evaporating portion where the transferred liquid portion is arranged to be evaporated. In some embodiments conductive elements are included in the wicking member to assist in distributing heat across the wicking member which enhances the evaporation of moisture transferred therethrough from the wet material. In yet further embodiments, a condenser member is provided in proximity to the evaporating portion of the wicking member so as to be arranged to condense and collect at least some of the liquid portion evaporated from the wicking member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Inventor: Brian J. Peever
  • Publication number: 20140166211
    Abstract: A liquid evaporation system for evaporating clean water from a reservoir of wastewater includes a liquid evaporator to evaporate and separate water vapor from the wastewater in a confined space, an air blower to supply air to the liquid evaporator, and a wastewater heating system arranged to collect heat to heat the wastewater in the reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2014
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: HEARTLAND TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS LLC
    Inventors: Bernard F. Duesel, JR., Craig Clerkin
  • Patent number: 8679353
    Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, a method recovers oil from a concentrated byproduct, such as evaporated thin stillage formed during a dry milling process used for producing ethanol. The method includes forming a concentrate from the byproduct and recovering oil from the concentrate. The step of forming the concentrate may comprise evaporating the byproduct. Further, the step of separating the oil from the concentrate may comprise using a centrifuge and, in particular, a disk stack centrifuge. Other aspects of the invention include related methods and subsystems for recovering oil from thin stillage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: GS Cleantech Corporation
    Inventor: David J. Winsness
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8652304
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an enhanced process for separating dissolved and suspended solids from valuable or harmful liquids and more particularly to improving the operational aspects and separation efficiency of treating certain water miscible fluids including those used for oil and gas processing such as glycols, as well as automobile and aircraft fluids, that have become contaminated with dissolved and/or suspended solid matter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignees: Prime Services Trustee Limited, VBW Trustees No. 2 Limited
    Inventor: Craig Nazzer
  • Patent number: 8623174
    Abstract: A liquid evaporation system for evaporating clean water from a reservoir of wastewater includes a liquid evaporator to evaporate and separate water vapor from the wastewater in a confined space, an air blower to supply air to the liquid evaporator, and a wastewater heating system arranged to collect heat to heat the wastewater in the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Heartland Technology Partners LLC
    Inventors: Bernard F. Duesel, Jr., Craig Clerkin
  • Patent number: 8603301
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing high purity distillate in evaporators. is useful for evaporation of waters where volatile silica or organic compounds are encountered such as in production of hydrocarbons from geological formations. An evaporator having a contaminant reduction system is provided. The contaminant reduction system includes an upflow first mist eliminator portion to remove entrained liquid droplets and produce an intermediate purity water vapor stream. A continuous spray system provides a spray of dilute caustic solution in a selected spray configuration for mass transfer contact with the passing intermediate purity water vapor stream, to remove volatile silica compounds therefrom, and produce a partially decontaminated steam stream having mist particles therein. An upflow second mist eliminator portion is provided to remove the residual mist particles, and produce a high purity water vapor stream. The high purity water vapor stream is condensed to provide a high purity distillate stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: William F. Heins, Gregg L. Wilson
  • Patent number: 8585869
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and/or apparatuses for treating wastewater produced at a thermoelectric power plant, other industrial plants, and/or other industrial sources are disclosed. The wastewater is directed through a wastewater concentrator including a direct contact adiabatic concentration system. A stream of hot feed gases is directed through the wastewater concentrator. The wastewater concentrator mixes the hot feed gases directly with the wastewater and evaporates water vapor from the wastewater. The wastewater concentrator separates the water vapor from remaining concentrated wastewater. A contained air-water interface liquid evaporator may be arranged to pre-process the wastewater before being treated by the wastewater concentrator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Heartland Technology Partners LLC
    Inventors: Bernard F. Duesel, Jr., 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
  • Patent number: 8562791
    Abstract: A system and method for decontaminating water and generating water vapor includes introducing contaminated water in to a vessel. The water is moved through a series of rotating trays alternately separated by stationary baffles so as to swirl and heat the water to effect the vaporization thereof to produce a vapor having at least some of the contaminants separated therefrom. The vapor is removed from the vessel for condensing apart from the separated contaminants and the remaining water. The vapor may be passed through a turbine connected to an electric generator. Sensors in a controller may be employed to adjust the speed of rotation of the trays or water input into the vessel in response to the sensed conditions. The treated water may be recirculated and reprocessed through the vessel to increase the purification thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Verno Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: John D. Riley, Dana L. Johnson
  • Patent number: 8470139
    Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, a method for treating fractionated water produced by a hydraulic fracturing process is provided. The method includes decanting a fractionated water stream in at least one decanter. The decanter is maintained at a temperature ranging from about 90° F. to about 120° F. The method also includes flashing the decanted water in at least one first flash tank and at least one second flash tank in fluid communication with one another to provide a residual concentrate stream. The first flash tank is operated at a temperature ranging from about 180° F. to about 200° F. and the second flash tank is operated at a temperature ranging from about 140° F. to about 160° F. Both the first flash tank and the second flash tank are maintained at a vacuum pressure. The method also includes evaporating the residual concentrate stream in at least one evaporator kettle to produce a concentrated brine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: NGInnovations, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald W. Booth
  • Patent number: 8460509
    Abstract: A fluid evaporation system includes a housing bounding a fluid reservoir and an air flow path that is disposed over top of the fluid reservoir. The housing has an inlet opening and a spaced apart outlet opening that both provide communication between the outside environment and the air flow path. A fan is positioned to draw the air out of the air flow path through the outlet opening. A baffle projects into the air flow path at a location between inlet opening and the outlet opening so as to constrict the area of the air flow path thereat. A plurality of spray nozzles are positioned within air flow path between the baffle and the first end of the housing. A pump is configured to draw fluid from the reservoir and deliver it to the plurality of spray nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Total Water Management, LLC
    Inventors: Janos I. Lakatos, Edward Clay Slade, Clayton R. Carter
  • Patent number: 8430993
    Abstract: A fluid evaporation system includes a housing bounding a fluid reservoir and an air flow path that is disposed over top of the fluid reservoir. The housing has an inlet opening and a spaced apart outlet opening that both provide communication between the outside environment and the air flow path. A fan is positioned to draw the air out of the air flow path through the outlet opening. A baffle projects into the air flow path at a location between inlet opening and the outlet opening so as to constrict the area of the air flow path thereat. A plurality of spray nozzles are positioned within air flow path between the baffle and the first end of the housing. A pump is configured to draw fluid from the reservoir and deliver it to the plurality of spray nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Total Water Management, LLC
    Inventors: Janos I. Lakatos, Edward Clay Slade, Clayton R. Carter
  • Publication number: 20130032298
    Abstract: A system and method for providing operational control to a dehydration unit involves monitoring a rate of liquid extraction from material in the unit. The volumetric flow rate of condensate from air extracted from the dehydrating unit may be monitored and used to control operation of the dehydrating unit, particularly termination of the heating process of the dehydrating unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Inventors: Michael D. Putt, Steven M. Eno, Shaun A. Leid
  • Patent number: 8343310
    Abstract: A vessel-based system and method for disposing of wastewater including bilge water from a bilge of the vessel. The system including a treatment unit for receiving and treating the wastewater to produce a substantially oil-free treated water and, an evaporator for receiving the treated water from the treatment unit. In an embodiment, the evaporator having an evaporation element for transferring heat to the treated water to evaporate the treated water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Inventors: Ian Fielding, John Moriarty
  • Patent number: 8317982
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a process and apparatus for utilization of waste heat of flue gas liberated from different heat sources to provide high quality water from sea/brackish.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Inventor: Subrahmanyam Kumar
  • Patent number: 8282772
    Abstract: A method for processing wastewater includes the steps of introducing air and a liquid into a pump, and subjecting the air and liquid to high heat and pressure; delivering the heated and pressurized air and liquid from the pump to a gas and liquid separator to separate the air from the liquid; expanding the air from the gas and liquid separator through a nozzle to accelerate the air as it expands; injecting at least some portion of the wastewater to be processed into the air from the nozzle in an entrainment section downstream from the nozzle to entrain the wastewater into the air; passing the liquid portion from the gas and liquid separator through a valve to lower the pressure of the liquid to achieve flash evaporation of the liquid to produce water and steam; introducing the water and steam produced from the valve into the air and entrained wastewater in the entrainment section, to enhance entrainment of water into the air; and delivering the air and entrained wastewater from the entrainment section to an i
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Inventor: W Paul Jepson
  • Publication number: 20120216963
    Abstract: A forced air thermal turbine evaporation system wherein industrial waste water is pumped from a water source through a stainless steel hose to a flow meter, pressure switch and into a distribution header. The water leaves the distribution header through a plurality of spiral nozzles that atomize the water into fine water droplets that are introduced into a turbine exhaust pipe in which the droplets are vaporized and disbursed into the atmosphere.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2011
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Inventor: James Tafoya
  • Patent number: 8252148
    Abstract: A mobile waste processing system and method is disclosed for processing materials in a tank, typically an underground storage tank. A mobile fluid processing module is disposed adjacent to or over the tank, and sealingly connected to the tank through a tank riser. Support equipment, which may include an electric power module, a chiller module, a heating module, and a control and monitor module, are disposed a distance from the processing module, and connected thereto. A pump and optionally a dispersal nozzle are deployed from the processing module into the tank, and effluent is extracted for processing. The processing trailer includes effluent processing equipment such as an evaporator and demister, condenser, vacuum pump, and interim storage tank. The effluent is processed, and at least a portion is removed. Some of the processed effluent may be returned to the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Columbia Energy & Environmental Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Wolfe, Brian Brendel
  • Patent number: 8252149
    Abstract: The invention disclosed and claimed herein relates to treatment of water contaminated with glycol to be recycled for further effective use of the cleaned water resulting therefrom, especially at airports. More specifically, this invention relates to improved techniques for efficiently and reliably generating continuous flows of cleaned water as well as a continuous flow of recyclable glycol water of controlled concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Inventor: Brad Michael Malatesta
  • Publication number: 20120211421
    Abstract: Systems and methods for lowering levels of carbon dioxide and other atmospheric pollutants are provided. Economically viable systems and processes capable of removing vast quantities of carbon dioxide and other atmospheric pollutants from gaseous waste streams and sequestering them in storage-stable forms are also discussed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Inventors: KYLE SELF, Kasra Farsad, Robert W. Elliott, Brian Curtis, Srikanth Bellur, Miguel Fernandez, Philip Brian Tuet
  • Patent number: 8246789
    Abstract: A treatment system for a watery material that includes: a dewatering tank in which liquefied matter of a material that is gaseous at a normal temperature and a normal pressure is contacted with the watery material and the watery material is separated into the resultant watery material and a liquid phase that contains an aqueous component from the watery material; an evaporator that vaporizes the material that is gaseous at a normal temperature and a normal pressure from the liquid phase; a separator that separates a gas of the material thus vaporized from effluent water; a condenser that condenses the gas into liquefied matter, two or more external heat sources selected from atmosphere, sewage, warm effluent water, and ground water; an external heat temperature detector that detects temperatures of external heats of the external heat sources; and an external heat supply destination controlling unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignees: Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry, Tsukishima Kikai Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Kanda, Hisao Makino, Mayumi Morita, Keizo Takegami, Akio Yoshikoshi, Masazumi Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20120168092
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of concentrating liquid waste streams including methods comprising drawing a fluidized gas liquid mixture containing water from a mixing cavity into a multi-stage cyclonic separator comprising a first cyclonic separation chamber and a second cyclonic separation chamber in fluid communication with the first cyclonic separation chamber; draining a liquid discharge from the cyclonic separator into a liquid sump; and supplying a liquid contained in the sump to the mixing cavity. Related methods comprise steps such as supplying a liquid waste feed to a concentrator having a mixing cavity and a first cyclonic separation chamber and feeding a supply gas to the mixing cavity. Evaporative concentrators configured to practice these methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Inventors: Russell M. Keckler, III, Daniel K. DeArment
  • Patent number: 8187429
    Abstract: A wastewater treatment apparatus and method with stair-like heat treatment tanks for performing a breakdown process are disclosed, in which the apparatus comprises: a mixing tank, for evenly mixing wastewater with reaction agents and thus forming a mixed solution; a plurality of heat treatment tanks, for enabling the mixed solution to circulate therein while being heating for a period of time so as to perform an organic destruction process upon the mixed solution and thus cause a discharging liquid to be formed; a heat exchanger, for enabling a heat exchanging process between the discharging liquid and the mixed solution to be performed therein; a condensation tank, for receiving and cooling the discharging liquid; a water purifier, for purifying and thus separating the discharging water into a cleaned water and a concentrated liquid for outputting; an agent recycling unit, for electrolyzing the concentrated liquid so as to recycle the reaction agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Institute of Nuclear Energy Research Atomic Energy Council, Executive Yuan
    Inventors: Jen-Chieh Chung, Ming-Hsin Wu, Yu-Chang Liu
  • Patent number: 8168037
    Abstract: Methods and related systems efficiently and effectively recover a significant amount of valuable, useable oil from byproducts formed during a dry milling process used for producing ethanol. The method may include forming a concentrate from the byproduct and recovering oil from the concentrate. The step of forming the concentrate may include evaporating the byproduct using a multi-stage evaporator, as well as recovering the oil before the final stage of the evaporator. Further, the step of recovering oil from the concentrate may include using a centrifuge and, in particular, a disk stack centrifuge. Other aspects of the invention include related methods and subsystems for recovering oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: GS Cleantech Corporation
    Inventor: David J. Winsness
  • Publication number: 20110308740
    Abstract: A fluid cleaning system (12) including a fluid supply port (76), a fluid return port (78), an evaporator (24) including an air intake vent (62) and an air exhaust vent (62), a ventilation system (60) connected to the evaporator (24), and a fluid line (34). The evaporator (24) includes a ventilation air path through the evaporator (24) and connected to the intake vent (62) and the exhaust vent (62) in the evaporator (24). The evaporator (24) also includes an active airflow device (64) located along the ventilation path. The fluid line (34) connects the evaporator (24) between the fluid supply port (76) and the fluid return port (78). The fluid cleaning system (12) comprises also at least one filter 20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: Oil Purification Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: William Lawrence Priest, Gregory Allen Slawson
  • Publication number: 20110303368
    Abstract: Apparatus for evaporating waste water having chemicals therein which cause foaming comprises a holding tank having an inlet for receiving waste water, one or more submerged combustion chambers with burners suspended within the holding tank, and, one or more foam skimming weirs located in an upper portion of the holding tank, the one or more foam skimming weirs defining one or more foam collection zones.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Applicant: INPROHEAT INDUSTRIES LTD.
    Inventors: Eric Leopold PANZ, Steven Eric PANZ, Wesley YOUNG, Roger P. BOULTER
  • Publication number: 20110303607
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an integrated desalination and salt plant for the production of a salt or slurry product of high purity. The reject stream from the desalination plant is used as the feed stream for the salt plant. The salt plant feed stream is filtered to effectively remove sulfate, which prevents scale formation in the salt plant equipment. The filtering may also reduce the level of calcium, magnesium, bicarbonate, or other components of the feed which may also prevent scale formation in the salt plant equipment. The salt plant produces a high purity salt product without the use of chemical purification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Nishith Vora, Irving Elyanow, Giuseppe Chiappa, Giovanni Radice, Luca Mor
  • Publication number: 20110303367
    Abstract: Apparatus for evaporating waste water having dissolved solids therein comprising a holding tank having an inlet for receiving waste water, a submerged combustion chamber with burner suspended within the holding tank, the submerged combustion chamber having a plurality of vertical slots defined therein near a bottom thereof which span a substantial portion of a height of the submerged combustion chamber, a blower connected to provide air under positive pressure to the burner, and, a vent stack coupled to an upper portion of the holding tank for allowing water vapor to exit the holding tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Applicant: INPROHEAT INDUSTRIES LTD.
    Inventors: Eric Leopold PANZ, Steven Eric PANZ, Wesley YOUNG, Roger P. BOULTER
  • Patent number: 8075741
    Abstract: In the water purification process, apparatus, and method, contaminated water vapor is exposed to liquid solvent, which causes a transfer of contaminants from the contaminated water vapor to the liquid solvent. In an advantageous embodiment, this latter step is followed by a second purification step where the decontaminated water in liquid phase is exposed to water vapor which causes a transfer of solvent remaining in the decontaminated water to the water vapor. The energy freed during the condensation of the vapor can advantageously be used for evaporation of the liquids, optionally by compressing the vapors prior to condensation thereof within heat exchangers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Inventor: Daniel Blanchette