Patents Assigned to Kruger, Inc.
  • Patent number: 6068047
    Abstract: A pathogen reduction system for a sludge treatment process that employees multiple reactors operating in a batch mode to reduce pathogen levels in the sludge while providing a continuous flow of pathogen reduced sludge to a digester. In addition, the present invention entails an efficient heat exchanger for heating and cooling the sludge being treated in the above process. In particular, the heat exchanger is of the counterflow type and includes a helical coil confined in an annular chamber for transmitting one media and wherein the helical coil is spaced so as to form another helical flow channel that is defined by the annular chamber and the helical coil itself. Consequentially, one media is directed through the helical coil while another media is directed through the flow channel that is defined in part by the helical coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Kruger, Inc.
    Inventor: Karsten Buchhave
  • Patent number: 5954964
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a wastewater treatment process wherein the waste activated sludge is digested to produce treated biosolids which are then directed to a dewatering facility that removes water from the treated biosolids. Before or during the dewatering process, both a low molecular weight polymer and a high molecular weight polymer are added to the treated biosolids. The addition of the two polymers of different molecular weights results in the treated biosolids coagulating and then forming flocs of biosolids that effectively drives water from the flocs and renders the flocs more susceptible to an efficient and effective dewatering process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Kruger, Inc.
    Inventors: Bente Elise Nielsen, R. David Holbrook
  • Patent number: 5650069
    Abstract: A process for biologically removing nitrogen and other nutrients from wastewater using recycled activated sludge. A mixed liquor is formed from influent wastewater and recycled activated sludge and then treated in two successive nitrogen removal stages, each stage having an anoxic denitrification zone and an aerobic nitrification zone. The first nitrogen removal stage entails circulating the mixed liquor back and forth between the anoxic zone and the aerobic zone. The mixed liquor is then transferred to a final clarifier where activated sludge is separated from purified supernatant. To increase the NO.sub.x.sup.- reducing enzymatic activity of denitrification microorganisms, the activated sludge is retained in the final clarifier for a time period sufficient to permit adaptation of these microorganisms to a nitrate/nitrite-respiring metabolic pathway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1997
    Assignee: Kruger, Inc.
    Inventors: Sun-Nan Hong, Finn M. Nielsen, O. Roy Langslet
  • Patent number: 5536407
    Abstract: The present invention entails a nitrification-denitrification wastewater treatment process where nitrification and denitrification is carried out in three separate treatment basins. First, wastewater influent is directed from a supply line into a first basin where the wastewater is subject to denitrification. Wastewater held in a second basin is subjected to nitrification while the influent wastewater is directed into the first basin. Effluent from the first basin that is being filled is directed directly to a third basin which performs both denitrification and nitrification at various times during the total process. Purified wastewater from the third basin is directed to a clarifier which separates activated sludge from the purified wastewater and the activated sludge is returned and mixed with the influent wastewater. After a selected time period the influent wastewater being directed to the first treatment basin is switched to where the wastewater influent is now directed into the second treatment basin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Assignee: I. Kruger, Inc.
    Inventor: Gert Petersen
  • Patent number: 5213681
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for biologically removing nitrogen from wastewater. Both the system and method entails forming a mixed liquor and transferring the mixed liquor to a series of nitrogen removal stages. Each nitrogen removal stage includes both anoxic and aerobic treatment zones. Mixed liquor is recycled back and forth between the anoxic and aerobic treatment zone of each stage. Because of this basic flow scheme, the process gives rise to a high reactor rate and highly efficient nitrogen removal process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1993
    Assignee: T. Kruger, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter Kos
  • Patent number: 5160043
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a nitrogen removal wastewater treatment process and system that entails an anoxic treatment zone followed by an oxic treatment zone with internal recycle of mixed liquor from the oxic treatment zone to the preceding anoxic treatment zone. Prior to recycling the nitrified mixed liquor back into the anoxic zone, the mixed liquor is held within a dissolved oxygen exhauster tank for a selected period of time where the dissolved oxygen concentration of the nitrified mixed liquor is substantially reduced to preferably below 0.5 ppm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1992
    Assignee: I. Kruger, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter Kos