Diverse Patents (Class 210/259)
  • Patent number: 7431848
    Abstract: Multiple UV sterilizers may be connected in series in order to increase the microorganism kill rate. The UV sterilizers are rotatable with respect to other UV sterilizers so that the UV sterilizers may be combined in various configurations in order to adjust a level of UV sterilization and allow combination of UV sterilizers in various configurations. For example, a combination of two or more UV sterilizers may be configured in a first orientation if the UV sterilizers are to be placed in a narrow space, while combination of the same UV sterilizers may be adjusted to another orientation if the sterilizers are to be placed in a large, open space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Inventor: Ron James
  • Publication number: 20080230485
    Abstract: A method for removal of foam from at least one foam accumulation region in a wastewater treatment facility, the method including causing the foam to flow from the at least one foam accumulation region into at least one foam collector and removing the foam from the at least one foam collector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Inventors: Ronen Itzhak Shechter, Eytan Baruch Levy, Nir Moralechai Assulin
  • Patent number: 7427354
    Abstract: A system for the degradation treatment of organics in organically-polluted water is provided with a treatment tank for receiving, as the organically-polluted water, sewage or wastewater from a food-related factory. The treatment tank includes an inlet, an outlet arranged at a position upper than a vertical position of the inlet, and at least one, preferably plural air diffuser pipes for intermittently feeding oxygen-containing gas into the organically-polluted water in the treatment tank. The air diffuser pipe(s) are arranged at a position lower than the vertical position of the inlet such that an aerobic zone and an anaerobic zone can be formed in an upper part and a lower part of the treatment tank to effect degradation of soluble organics in the organically-polluted water primarily with aerobic bacteria and to effect degradation of solid organics in the organically-polluted water primarily with anaerobic bacteria, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Aquatech, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shunji Eto
  • Patent number: 7422690
    Abstract: A filtering system comprising an inlet (11) for liquid to be filtered and an outlet (9) for filtered liquid, as well as filtering means, which system is characterized in that the filtering means, placed in series comprise: a first filter (2) comprising activated carbon with the capability to also remove particles that are larger than approximately 0.5 ?m; an ultrafiltration membrane (5) for the removal of particles that are larger than approximately 0.02 ?m; a post-treatment filter (14) of activated carbon, optionally provided with a microfiltration membrane (13), wherein the system also comprises a vessel (6) for filtered water located between the ultrafiltration membrane (5) and the post-treatment filter (14), with the option of using the filtered water from the vessel for back-flushing the ultrafiltration membrane (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Prime Water Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Johan Jan Scharstuhl, Eric Scharstuhl
  • Patent number: 7419608
    Abstract: The present invention falls within the field of purifying oil-laden wastewater, which provides a method for purifying coke-cooling wastewater in a delayed coking process in petroleum chemical field. The method comprises the following steps: (a) cooling the coke-cooling wastewater produced in a delayed coking process to 5-55° C. under 0.1-0.25 MPa absolute pressure, to obtain cooled coke-cooling wastewater; (b) subjecting the cooled coke-cooling wastewater to solid-liquid separation, to obtain a coke breeze phase and a liquid phase; (c) further separating the obtained liquid phase, to obtain an oil phase and a water phase; and (d) further discharging water from the obtained oil phase, to obtain the separated oil phase. The present invention also provides an equipment for carrying out the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignees: East China University of Science and Technology, Sinopec Zhenhai Refining & Chemical Company Limited, Luoyang Petrochemical Engineering Corporation (LPEC) Sinopec
    Inventors: Hualin Wang, Zhuoqun Qian, Jianwen Wang, Baohua Dai, Jiangqing Hu, Shuilong Yu, Chengyu Xu, Tianming Hou, Hejie Li, Jianghua Xu, Lixin Zhang
  • Patent number: 7413665
    Abstract: A system for separating a composite fluid into component parts thereof, including: a centrifuge having a rotor with a separation space and at least two valve members disposed thereon and a container set having a separation container adapted to be disposed in the separation space of the rotor and first and second collection containers connected to the separation container by a first and a second tubes. The tubes are adapted to be disposed in operative relationship with the valve members so that flow through the tubes may be controlled thereby. Three components of the composite fluid may be separated therefrom by the present system and two components may be moved to the collection containers. The container set may further include a third collection container connected to the separation container by a tube, and a third component may thus be moved to this third container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Gambro BCT, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian M. Holmes, Johan-Petter Hagström, Per-Olov Lundberg, Geert Van Waeg, Peter Nordgren
  • Patent number: 7410573
    Abstract: A waste water purification system for purifying polluted salt water including oil and the like by coagulating and separating pollutant matter in the polluted salt water can regenerate and reuse a coagulant in the system while scarcely resupplying the coagulant, an acid solution and an alkaline solution. The acid and alkaline solutions are required for disintegrating coagulated flocs from the polluted salt water and regenerating the coagulant from sludge. Alkaline water enriched in sodium hydroxide and an acidic aqueous solution containing hydrochloric acid and the like are generated by electrolyzing the purified salt water. The flocs in the separated sludge are disintegrated by use of the alkaline water, pollutant matter is removed from the disintegrated aqueous solution, and the strong acidic containing the hydrochloric acid is added to the aqueous solution removed of the pollutant matter to have the coagulant. The coagulant can be thus regenerated from the recovered sludge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Norihide Saho, Hisashi Isogami, Katsuhiko Asano
  • Patent number: 7410584
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for treating wastewater are described, one method embodiment including the steps of flowing a stream comprising mixed liquor suspended solids and fixed growth solids to a high rate clarification stage, forming a clarifier effluent, a first waste activated sludge stream, and a return waste activated sludge stream. The high rate clarifier effluent stream then flows to a membrane stage that includes a membrane media, producing a membrane reject (retentate) stream and a treated effluent (permeate) stream. Optionally, the methods include routing a screened raw wastewater to an anaerobic and/or aerated anoxic stage and introducing a gas comprising oxygen to the wastewater during the aerated anoxic stage, and optionally allowing the product of this stage to flow to an aeration stage prior to the high rate clarification stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Ashbrook Simon-Hartley Operations, LP
    Inventor: Jeffrey S. Devine
  • Patent number: 7407585
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a system for purifying water whereby: the water to be purified is pressurized (13); a pressurized flow of said water is directed onto at least one selective permeability membrane to divide (11) the flow of pressurized water into a permeate flow and a retentate flow; the permeate flow is electrodeionized (12) to produce a flow of purified water consisting of the electrodeionized permeate flow; the flowrate of the retentate flow (19) is reduced; a substantially constant predetermined pressure (21) is maintained on the selective permeability membrane(s); and a substantially constant predetermined permeate flowrate is maintained. It also relates to a tangential filtration module suitable for the above kind of system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Millipore Corporation
    Inventor: Yves Gaignet
  • Patent number: 7407580
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a wastewater treating system and method for removing pollutants of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous, comprising: a first reactor contains methanogenic bacteria, PAO and denitrifying bacteria for eliminating the organic carbon in denitrification by denitrifying bacteria, adsorbing partial organic carbon and releasing phosphate by PAO and; metabolizing organic carbon to form methane gas by methanogenic bacteria; a second reactor disposed at the rearward of first reactor, second reactor treats the effluent from first reactor by denitrifying bacteria and PAO, denitrifying bacteria is able to denitrifying the nitrate and PAO is able to process the phosphorous releasing; a third reactor disposed rearward of second reactor, which comprises PAO, heterotrophic bacteria and nitrifying bacteria, wherein PAO is applied for phosphorous accumulating process, the heterotrophic bacteria is applied for carbon removal process, the nitrifying bacteria is applied for nitrifying process; and a membra
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Huey-Song You, Kuan-Foo Chang, Sheng-Shin Chang, Shwu-Huey Perng, Shu-Kang Hsu
  • Patent number: 7407577
    Abstract: This application relates to an apparatus and method for treating effluent. The effluent may be derived, for example, from an upstream secondary treatment plant. The apparatus employs a plenum positionable within a fluid-impervious container. The plenum includes a fluid filter portion containing a hydrophilic material, such as peat, capable of transporting effluent by capillary action and a fluid collection portion for receiving effluent from the upstream effluent source. The apparatus also includes a fluid wicking conduit containing hydrophilic material for wicking effluent from the fluid collection portion. The fluid wicking conduit may be configured so that any appreciable amount of effluent introduced into the apparatus will be wicked even if the amount is substantially less than the fluid holding capacity of the fluid collection portion of the plenum. This enables the apparatus to operate substantially continuously and passively so long as some effluent is resident in the plenum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Inventor: Curt Kerns
  • Patent number: 7396451
    Abstract: A system for separating a composite fluid into component parts thereof, including: a centrifuge having a rotor with a separation space and at least two valve members disposed thereon and a container set having a separation container adapted to be disposed in the separation space of the rotor and first and second collection containers connected to the separation container by a first and a second tubes. The tubes are adapted to be disposed in operative relationship with the valve members so that flow through the tubes may be controlled thereby. Three components of the composite fluid may be separated therefrom by the present system and two components may be moved to the collection containers. The container set may further include a third collection container connected to the separation container by a tube, and a third component may thus be moved to this third container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Gambo BCI, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian M. Holmes, Johan-Petter Hagström, Per-Olov Lundberg, Geert Van Waeg, Peter Nordgren
  • Publication number: 20080142422
    Abstract: A method and a plant to remove metals by biosorption from mining or industrial effluents comprising: (a) subject the effluent to at least one first stage of pre-treatment, selecting among: precipitation by pH rising, solvent extraction or solvent extraction on emulsified membranes in order to reduce its load of metals to a concentration level that allows it to be treated by the next stage of biosorption, and (b) subject the liquid that has been previously in the stage of pre-treatment to a second stage of continuous metals removal by biosorption.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2007
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Applicants: UNIVERSIDAD DE CHILE, BIOTECHNOLOGIAS DEL AGUA LTDA.
    Inventors: Davor Cotoras Tadic, Fernando Valenzuela Lozano, Miguel Esteban Zarzar Maza, Pabla Leticia Viedma Elicer
  • Patent number: 7384553
    Abstract: A method for operating an anaerobic ammonium oxidation vessel in anaerobic ammonium oxidation in which ammonium and nitrite in water to be treated are simultaneously denitrified by anaerobic ammonium oxidizing bacteria, the method comprising the steps of: withdrawing a part of the anaerobic ammonium oxidizing bacteria from one anaerobic ammonium oxidation vessel in which the anaerobic ammonium oxidizing bacteria have been acclimatized, and introducing the withdrawn anaerobic ammonium oxidizing bacteria into another anaerobic ammonium oxidation vessel in which acclimatization is to be carried out to perform start-up operation, wherein the anaerobic ammonium oxidizing bacteria having been acclimatized in the one anaerobic ammonium oxidation vessel are provided as microbe-immobilized materials in which the bacteria are attached to and immobilized on immobilizing materials or entrapped and immobilized in immobilizing materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi Plant Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuichi Isaka, Tatsuo Sumino
  • Publication number: 20080116135
    Abstract: A dishwasher with a multi-step filter system includes a coarse filter and a micro filter for cleaning the rinsing solution and also includes a lye pump and a circulatory pump. The dishwasher also includes a comminutor arranged in the path of the flow downstream from the coarse filter for remains contained in the rinsing solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2005
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Applicant: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgerate GmbH
    Inventors: Roland Rieger, Franz-Josef Wagner
  • Publication number: 20080116136
    Abstract: A system and process for treating water are described. Water may be purified by passing feed water through an electrochemical deionization device. The water may be suitable for cooking, washing, and beverage production.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Applicant: SIEMENS WATER TECHNOLOGIES CORP.
    Inventors: Frederick Wilkins, Anil Jha, Li-Shiang Liang
  • Patent number: 7371320
    Abstract: A magnetic separation unit can prevent any magnetic flocs deposited on an inner wall of a water passing pipe from closing a water channel for stabilizing a magnetic separation performance and reduce cost by a small-diameter portion of the water passing pipe. The magnetic separation unit has an air-core solenoid type magnet provided around the water passing pipe guiding, from a lower side, treated water including magnetic flocs in which contaminants and magnetic particles are flocculated, a rotating disc type magnetic filter case provided above the air-core solenoid type magnet for attracting the magnetic flocs in the treated water supplied from the water passing pipe and flushing means for flushing the matrixes to which the magnetic flocs are attracted. The water passing pipe has a small-diameter pipe positioned in the air-core solenoid type magnet, and an enlarged pipe enlarged from the small-diameter pipe toward a water passing part of the rotating disc type magnetic filter case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignees: Hitachi Plant Technologies, Ltd., T-Tec Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Yoda, Satoshi Yumoto, Minoru Morita
  • Patent number: 7368055
    Abstract: A structure improvement for a water purifier includes a streamlined main body combined by a pair of the symmetrically arranged half housings each of which has a large opening closed by a lid, a motor unit, a pipeline and a flat rectangular rack disposed inside the main body, a plurality of the membrane pipes and the filter element horizontally and superimposedly secured to two sides of the rack automatically connected to the pipeline and a water outlet. A bottom and a cup seat at front side, a socket aside several pipes and plurality of the air vents at rear side of the main body, an arcuate handle on the top, a sensor, an electric circuit card and a TDS (total dissolved solids) remover device inside the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Inventor: Tung-Po Lin
  • Publication number: 20080083666
    Abstract: A system for processing contaminated water is disclosed. The system processes contaminated water, yielding water that is suitable for (1) re-use in an application (e.g., an industrial application) that requires water but does not require potable water, or (2) discharge (e.g., discharge into the environment), or (3) both (1) and (2). All embodiments of the system include a separator for removing sediment and large suspended solids from contaminated water; a coagulant delivery device for delivering coagulant to contaminated water; a clarifying device for removing fine suspended solids from contaminated water; an adsorbing device for removing organic substances from contaminated water; a deashing device for removing dissolved inorganic salts from contaminated water; and a disinfecting device for destroying microorganisms present in contaminated water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2006
    Publication date: April 10, 2008
    Applicant: Industrial Chemical Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Carroll H. Brown, Carroll H. Brown
  • Patent number: 7354509
    Abstract: A wastewater treatment system comprising means of decontaminating wastewater; means of measuring control parameters of the wastewater; means for controlling said decontamination means; and a programmable logic controller. The user is able to receive control parameter data and control the various processes of the wastewater treatment system from a remote location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Inventor: Ronald C Mehl
  • Patent number: 7351336
    Abstract: Ballast water treatment apparatus and methods for preventing foreign aquatic invasive species form entering marine ecological zones by translocation in ship's ballast water. The apparatus includes a housing, a filter member, and UV water treatment chambers. Methods include use of a ship's fire hydrant system for moving ballast water from the ship's ballast tanks into the apparatus for filtration and treatment. In-port service vessels and dock-side service vehicles are equipped with the treatment and filtration apparatus to provided in-port or dock-side ballast water treatment services. Related methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Inventors: Hap Nguyen, William Murray Fowler, Howard Roop, Ronald Yoshio Nishida
  • Patent number: 7347940
    Abstract: A wastewater treatment process integrates a tidal nitration system with a wastewater treatment lagoon. Raw effluent enters a lagoon having a persistent anoxic or anaerobic state and a long residence time to permit suspended solids to settle to the bottom, forming a blanket of sludge. Water above the sludge blanket is comparatively clearer than raw influent. Discharge from the clear water zone contains organic carbon, organic nitrogen, ammonia, and other nutrients. In the lagoon, complex carbohydrates and fats are broken down into simpler organic compounds by bacterial action, a substantial portion transformed to carbon dioxide by bacterial respiration, reducing BOD. Organic forms of nitrogen are transformed into ammonium ions by bacterial action. Adjacent to the lagoon is a sump that takes water from the clear zone to a tidal cell, and recycles water from the clear zone into the tidal cell, which then discharges back into the lagoon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Worrell Water Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: David C. Austin
  • Publication number: 20080067125
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for purifying water are provided. A feed water such as seawater can be fed to a filter such as a microporous or nanofiltration membrane to produce a permeate that can, in turn, be fed to an electrodeionization system to produce fresh water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2006
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Inventors: Frederick C. Wilkins, Anil D. Jha, Gary C. Ganzi
  • Patent number: 7344641
    Abstract: A system for the treatment of residential wastewater which comprises a septic tank, a holding tank in fluid communication with the septic tank and a reactor containing a plurality of media on which the wastewater is sprayed, and cyclonic clarification means. The system is designed to treat the wastewater such that it does not need to be passed to a drainage field for final disposal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Société Systèmes Ecobox
    Inventor: Edward Gresko
  • Publication number: 20080053900
    Abstract: Systems and methods have been developed for treating the waste water contaminated with methanol and boron in addition to other contaminants. The systems and methods allow specifically for the removal of the methanol and boron without the addition of significant chemicals to raise the pH. The water is treated by removing the methanol via biological digestion in a bioreactor, separating a majority of the contaminants from the water by reverse osmosis and removing the boron that passes through the reverse osmosis system with a boron-removing ion exchange resin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Applicant: AntiCline Disposal, LLC
    Inventors: Lee L. Shafer, John W. James, Richard D. Rath, Jesse Eubank
  • Publication number: 20080053888
    Abstract: A filter coalescer element for oil based industrial fuels includes a rigid, porous support tube, and a hydrophobic drainage layer covering the outer surface of the same. A single phase, dual function combination water coalescer and particle filter pleat block is positioned in the support tube, and is formed from a multilayer material having a first porous support layer, a synthetic microfiber layer, a synthetic fiber media layer and a second porous support layer. As the fluid passes through the pleat block, solid particles are physically filtered therefrom, and water is coalesced into droplets which pass from the pleats directly through the support tube and directly into the drainage layer, where the droplets grow into a size sufficient that they fall under gravity to the bottom of the element for collection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Inventors: Jason A. Ellis, Ron J. Garrett
  • Publication number: 20080052094
    Abstract: A system for dispensing water comprises a water processing system comprising an input connected to receive water from a water supply system and an output configured to dispense a metered amount of processed water, the water processing system defining a closed path between the input and the output, a control system operatively coupled to the water processing system for controlling the dispensing of processed water from the output, and, a user interface operatively coupled to the control system for permitting a user to cause the output to dispense a desired amount of processed water. The user interface comprises control means for starting and stopping a flow of processed water from the output and logging means for debiting the amount of process water dispensed from the output from a user account.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2006
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Applicant: IMG MANAGEMENT GROUP INC.
    Inventors: Anastasios Morfopoulos, Jason Fahlman
  • Patent number: 7335298
    Abstract: A modular aquarium filter includes one or more cartridges connected in series. The cartridges may contain filter media for chemical, biological and/or mechanical filtration. In addition, the cartridges are designed such that they provide a unique internal helical geometry to increase the contact area and flow rate of the water with the filter media. The helix may be optionally adjusted to provide different thickness filter layers for aquarium filtration. The pitch of the flights of the helix may be varied to provide enhanced centrifugal flow of the water within the cartridge. The present invention also provides self-sealing valve assemblies at the filter inlet and outlet, which when disconnected shut off the flow of water through the filter to expedite exchange of the cartridges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: T.F.H. Publications, Inc.
    Inventor: Glen S. Axelrod
  • Publication number: 20080035586
    Abstract: A coalescer is used in series with a hydrocyclone to enhance the removal of a dispersed phase from a continuous phase by first using a coalescer that lacks removal of any separated dispersed phase prior to cyclonic action in the hydrocyclone. The coalescer has no oil outlet and serves to coalesce the droplets or particles of the disperse phase together thereby increasing contaminant size distribution. The second hydrocyclone functions as a separator operating at higher removal efficiency. The method and apparatus are useful to clarify produced water from hydrocarbon recovery operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2006
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventors: James C.T. Chen, Shaya Movafaghian
  • Publication number: 20080029456
    Abstract: A system and method for removing minerals from a water source and concentrating these minerals for ease of reuse or disposal includes passing the water from a suitable source through cascaded membrane filters, the reject outputs of each of which are connected to the inputs of the next membrane filter in the cascade. At the input of each of the membrane filters, a pre-filter in the form of a micro-filtration filter, an ultra filtration filter, or a slow sand filter, is used to remove sediment and impurities from the water stream prior to the application of the water to the input of the next membrane filter in the cascade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2006
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Inventors: Leonard L. Dueker, C. Brent Cluff
  • Publication number: 20080029459
    Abstract: A water treatment equipment has a raw water tank as a mixing section, a micronanobubble generation tank, a floatation tank, and a treated water tank. Waste water as treatment water is introduced into the raw water tank and mixed with the water containing micronanobubbles produced by the micronanobubble generation tank. Thereafter, the waste water, as treatment water, is introduced into a lower mixing section of the floatation tank from the raw tank by a raw water tank pump. Also, treatment water containing fine bubbles is introduced into the lower mixing section from a pressure tank. Therefore, the micronanobubbles is mixed with the fine bubbles in the lower mixing section of the floatation tank, thereby almost all the suspended matter in the treatment water is surfaced. Thus, the water treatment equipment enhances separatability of suspended matter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Yamasaki, Kazuyuki Sakata, Kazumi Chuhjoh, Masaki Kataoka
  • Publication number: 20080023400
    Abstract: Many treatment systems remove virtually all minerals and other elements from the water, however a quantity of certain minerals and elements is necessary for good health and acceptable water taste. Therefore, a water treatment system is provided in which a portion of the input water bypasses the primary filtration and treatment components. The amount of that portion is selectively controlled so that a healthy level of minerals remains in the treated water, which still is extremely clean. An optional component can be included to reduce pathogens in the treated water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Inventors: Steven D. Kloos, Pierre F. Sbabo, Kenneth J. Sieth
  • Publication number: 20080023407
    Abstract: A method of purifying water or wastewater that comprises the steps of adding a treatment agent to the water, passing the water through a mixing zone, and passing the water through a foam fractionation zone to provide purified water. The water or wastewater can be any type of water found in sewage pipes or any water discharged from domestic, commercial, industrial, agriculture or aquaculture (fresh or marine) processes, or groundwater, bore water and reservoir water. A system for purifying water, the system including a mixing zone comprising one or more mixing columns for mixing the water with a treatment agent and a foam fractionation zone for purifying the water, the foam fractionation zone in liquid communication with the mixing zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Inventors: Bengt Goran Eriksson, Stephen Ross Orpin, Timothy Kevin Graham
  • Patent number: 7316776
    Abstract: An improved aquarium filtration system is provided which includes a bio-reactor chamber. The bio-reactor chamber includes a plurality of bio-balls which have a high surface area for collecting bacteria for biological filtration. The bio-reactor includes one or more pumps for pumping both water and air into the bio-reactor chamber. Preferably, the oxygenated water creates protein laden foam and the bio-reactor chamber includes a removable protein collector. To this end, the bio-reactor chamber includes a vertical column for carrying the protein laden foam into the removable collector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Inventor: Eric Kieselbach
  • Patent number: 7314563
    Abstract: Disclosed are a membrane coupled activated sludge method and apparatus operating anoxic/anaerobic processes alternately for removal of nitrogen and phosporus, wherein nitrogen and phosphorous together with organics in the sewage, wastewater, filthy water etc. can be simultaneously removed with an economic and efficient manner, an operation thereof is easy and efficient, a capacity thereof is high and the method is economic due to the reduced operating costs with performing measurement and control of a recycle rate, a recycle time of alternate operation of the anoxic and anaerobic process, an amount of sludge, an amount of aeration and an operation of a blower for an intermittent membrane cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Jin Woo Cho, Kyu Hong Ahn, Kyung Guen Song, Kyung Min Poo
  • Patent number: 7314547
    Abstract: A method of and apparatus for extending the life of fountain solutions used in commercial printing presses comprises withdrawing fountain solution from the dampener recirculation system of a printing press and directing the withdrawn fountain solution through a sediment prefilter, a separation filter, and a post treatment filter. The sediment prefilter preferably comprises a melt blown polypropylene filter; the separation filter preferably comprises a diatomaceous earth filter; and the post treatment filter preferably comprises a zeolite filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Inventors: David J. Stinson, David D. Douglas, Roy E. Seibert, Jose A. Villarreal
  • Patent number: 7311821
    Abstract: A water circulation unit includes an ejector (142), a convergent, and a pipe (146) which is arranged in the extension of the convergent. The ejection axis practically merges with the symmetry axis of the convergent, the two axes forming a common axis of the unit, and the distance between the water outlet of the ejector (142) and the downstream section of the convergent is between 0.4 and 1.6 times the length of the convergent. A guiding region is located just upstream of the upstream section of the convergent following the common axis, at least up to the water outlet of the ejector (142) when the outlet is located outside the convergent, the region ensuring that the water is essentially symmetrically guided around the common axis during the operation of the ejector. In a filter unit, a cartridge (154) is arranged around the water circulation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Inventor: Joël Queirel
  • Patent number: 7311799
    Abstract: The invention provides a hydrofluoric acid wastewater treatment method that achieves efficient recovery of hydrofluoric acid from hydrofluoric acid wastewater and also achieves sufficient reduction in the hydrofluoric acid concentration of the dehydrofluorinated water after treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignees: Sasakura Engineering Co., Ltd., Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junji Mizutani, Mitsuo Maeda, Tamito Mukaida, Yasushi Nishimura, Yutaka Shiomi, Koji Harada, Yoshio Tanimoto, Toshiaki Muratani
  • Patent number: 7311833
    Abstract: An inclined plate coupled membrane bioreactor for treating feed water having excessive level of nutrients in particular chemical oxygen demand and total nitrogen and suspended solids has an aerobic bioreactor for nitrification and aerobic biodegradation in which membranes are submerged for permeate extraction, and an anoxic bioreactor for denitrification within which the inclined plates are outfitted to confine as much anoxic sludge as possible. An air oxygenating and an air scouring are continuously provided to the aerobic bioreactor to maintain a desired aerobic environment and to mitigate membrane fouling while an intermittent air blowing is provided to the anoxic bioreactor to blow out gaseous content generated through denitrification and to rectify the uniformed flow along the inclined plates. The aerobic sludge is recycled to the lower compartment of anoxic bioreactor and the supernatant of anoxic bioreactor is collected as weir effluent and delivered to the downstream aerobic bioreactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Inventors: Kazuo Yamamoto, Chuan-Hong Xing
  • Patent number: 7311834
    Abstract: An apparatus for treating particulate biodegradable organic waste includes a thermal hydrolysis reactor receiving the particulate biodegradable organic waste for performing thermal hydrolysis at a temperature of about 130° C. at a pressure at or above the saturated water vapor pressure of the organic waste to produce a slurry including solubilized organic material and residual solids. A pH adjustment means for adjusting the pH of the particulate biodegradable organic waste as necessary to provide an acidic pH of greater than about 3.15 before thermo hydrolysis of the particulate biodegradable organic waste is provided. Separating means receive the solubilized organic material and residual solids for separating solubilized organic material from the residual solids. An anaerobic reactor is configured to receive the solubilized organic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: CH2M Hill, Inc.
    Inventor: John W Lee, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20070289911
    Abstract: A process line for separating oil sand slurry comprising coarse solids, fines, bitumen and water, into a first product comprising bitumen, fines and water and a second product comprising coarse solids, fines and water is provided comprising a plurality of countercurrently operating solid/liquid separators arranged in series along a pipeline, wherein the underflow of one separator is fed to the next separator in series and the overflow of each separator is fed to the preceding separator, the underflow of the last separator being the second product and the overflow from the first separator being the first product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2006
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicants: CANADIAN OIL SANDS LIMITED, CANADIAN OIL SANDS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, CONOCOPHILLIPS OILSANDS PARTNERSHIP II, IMPERIAL OIL RESOURCES, MOCAL ENERGY LIMITED, NEXEN OIL SANDS PARTNERSHIP, MURPHY OIL COMPANY LTD., PETRO-CANADA OIL AND GAS
    Inventors: GEORGE J. CYMERMAN, JESSICA VANDENBERGHE
  • Patent number: 7309445
    Abstract: Apparatus for transferring slurry from a vessel having a plurality of slurry collection points. The apparatus includes a manifold having a plurality of inlets in flow communication with one or more outlets and a plurality of pressure-reducing cyclones. Each cyclone is associated with a respective one of the collection points and a respective one of the manifold inlets and each cyclone has an inlet port and at least one outlet port. In use, each duct being brings a respective one of the slurry collection points of the vessel into flow communication with an inlet port of a respective one of the cyclones, and/or each duct brings an outlet port of a respective one of the cyclones into flow communication with a respective one of the inlets of the manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Axsia Serck Baker Limited
    Inventors: Neville Ernest Lange, Geoffrey John Christopher Childs
  • Patent number: 7306735
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of removing contaminants from water which includes the steps of first providing a water feed exposed to at least one hydrocarbon or chemical process. This water feed is set in-line with a reverse osmosis system which includes an inlet, at least one reverse osmosis membrane, a permeate outlet, and a reject outlet. Then, pressure is applied to the water feed, or where the pressure of the water feed is higher than desired, the pressure is controlled or reduced. The pressure of the water feed serves to force the water feed through the reverse osmosis system. The reverse osmosis system then separates the water feed into a permeate and reject which includes at least one of the contaminants. The permeate is then directed to the permeate outlet and the reject is directed to the reject outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sean Baggott, Timothy W. Eggert, Chip Knight
  • Patent number: 7306733
    Abstract: The present invention describes novel biological systems for efficiently reducing nitrate levels and otherwise conditioning aquarium water and water in similar environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Inventor: Laurent Olivier
  • Patent number: 7303672
    Abstract: A liquid/solid separator system mounted on a mobile cart and connected to a process tank for reducing the rate at which fluids are consumed in manufacturing processes. The system may include automation and also may include a shear-stepped screen including tilted wire wedge wires arranged at varying cant angles. The system may include a fine screen basket received in a settling box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Inventor: William O. Irvine
  • Patent number: 7300575
    Abstract: A filter system for receiving an aqueous-based fluid contaminated with particles and emulsified contaminant oil, removing the particles, and separating the emulsified contaminant oil from the aqueous-based fluid includes a filter media for receiving the aqueous-based fluid and emulsified contaminant oil, having an inner filter element formed from a 95 percent single pass efficiency 48 micron (5 micron nominal) filtering material of needle punch polypropylene felt, an outer filter element formed from a 95 percent single pass efficiency 19 micron absolute filtering material of a polypropylene microfiber material and a porous spunbond polypropylene sandwiching the outer filter media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Heritage Crystal Clean, LLC
    Inventor: Doug Larson
  • Patent number: 7297274
    Abstract: An apparatus for the fixed-film anaerobic digestion of flushed livestock manure includes an enclosed digester tank (fixed or flexible roof), internal media for biofilm development, a biogas collection and flare system, various pumps, and hydraulic control systems. The preferred media has substantially vertically-oriented, uninterrupted channels to promote enhanced bacterial attachment and biofilm development. The immobilization of microbial biomass within the reactor as a biofilm allows effective treatment of the wastewater at ambient and higher temperatures, as well as reasonable hydraulic retention times. The composition and concentration of bacterial groups in the biofilm developed on the media in the fixed-film digester result in a significantly enhanced anaerobic degradation process. This novel fixed-film digester design expands the potential application of anaerobic digestion to dilute livestock waste with significant levels of suspended solids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventor: Ann C. Wilkie
  • Patent number: 7291267
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for separating particles and dissolved matter from a fluid stream. Specifically, the present invention includes a first pressure source which transports untreated fluid into a separator annulus with a filter element disposed therein. The untreated fluid is placed under appropriate pressure sufficient to produce turbulent flow, increased particle kinetics and/or cavitation physics allowing the desired fluid to penetrate and pass into and through the filter media. The filtered fluid is then transported to a collection tank. The contaminant particulate matter retained on the exterior of the filter media may be removed by the instantenous reverse pressurization of the separator annulus by a second pressure source thereby removing the contaminant particles away from contact with the filter media, and which may then be transported to a waste collection tank or a concentrator for further treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: LJC Technologies, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Raymond Ford Johnson, Markley Dean Johnson, Rodney Grage
  • Patent number: 7288197
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a biological membrane filtration wastewater treatment system including a porous biological filtration bed zone and a membrane separation zone. The porous biological filtration bed zone has the dual function of providing biological treatment and higher filtration rates, wherein a fixed bed or moving bed is utilized so that the porous biological filtration bed zone has the advantages of high loading rates, high removal efficiencies, high stability and ease of operation. The membrane separation zone utilizes a membrane filtration module to filter an effluent from the porous biological filtration bed zone, so that solid particles therein are separated and remain in the system. Therefore, a high quality of effluent is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Hsin Shao, Wang-Kuan Chang, Ren-Yang Horng, Ming-Jing Perng, Ming-Chao Chang, Wen-Yuang Tzou, Yih-Chang Chen
  • Publication number: 20070241037
    Abstract: A water purifier under the present invention comprises a filtering pot, a purifying pot, a sterilizing pot, and related connecting pipes, as well as a control circuit. The filtering pot filters iron rust, mud pigment, floating particles, and so forth. The purifying pot removes odor, chloride, pesticide residuals, chemicals, and so forth. The sterilizing pot mineralizes the water, sterilizes bacteria and virus, delicates the water molecule, and co-operates with the control circuit, to provide a water purifier with high bactericidal and viral elimination rate and self-monitoring and energy saving functions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Publication date: October 18, 2007
    Inventor: Wei-jen Wang