Patents Examined by Bradley R Spies
  • Patent number: 12163540
    Abstract: A fluid device includes: a flow path through which a fluid flows; and an ultrasonic wave transmitter configured to transmit an ultrasonic wave to generate a standing wave to the fluid in the flow path along a first direction orthogonal to a flowing direction of the fluid. The ultrasonic wave transmitter is in contact with the fluid and faces an antinode region corresponding to any antinode in the standing wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chikara Kojima, Tomohide Onogi, Kanechika Kiyose, Mitsuru Miyasaka, Mio Sasaki
  • Patent number: 12161975
    Abstract: The present invention relates in part to a filter comprising a tubular housing having a proximal end, a distal end and a housing lumen therethrough; a tubular membrane having a proximal end, a distal end and a membrane lumen therethrough, wherein the tubular membrane is positioned within the housing lumen; a contaminated fluid sample inlet fluidly connected to the proximal end of the membrane, and a contaminated fluid sample outlet fluidly connected to the distal end of the membrane, thereby creating a sample flow-path from the sample inlet through the membrane lumen to the sample outlet; and a purification material inlet fluidly connected to a distal region of the housing lumen, and a purification material outlet fluidly connected to a proximal region of the housing lumen, thereby creating a purification material flow-path from the purification material inlet through the housing lumen to the purification material outlet; wherein the direction of the sample flow-path is in the opposite direction of the purifi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: Temple University-Of The Commonwealth System of Higher Education
    Inventor: Rouzbeh Afsarmamesh Tehrani
  • Patent number: 12161973
    Abstract: A filtering device is used for obtaining a chemical liquid by purifying a liquid to be purified and includes an inlet portion, an outlet portion, a filter A, at least one filter B different from the filter A, and a flow path that includes the filter A and the filter B arranged in series and extends from the inlet portion to the outlet portion. The filter A has a porous membrane made of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene and a resin layer disposed to cover at least a portion of the surface of the porous membrane, and the resin layer includes a resin having a neutral group or an ion exchange group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuya Kamimura, Satomi Takahashi, Tadashi Omatsu, Tetsuya Shimizu
  • Patent number: 12152609
    Abstract: A submerged offshore reverse osmosis desalination apparatus and method uses desalinated product water from the apparatus and an onshore cooler or heat exchanger to provide or improve the cooling of an onshore Rankine Cycle heat engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: Natural Ocean Well Co.
    Inventor: Robert A. Bergstrom
  • Patent number: 12151210
    Abstract: A method for controlling a hollow fiber nanofiltration membrane system with controllable power consumption, including the following steps. A filtration flow rate is determined by the program control system according to preset working conditions and the electricity price and the inlet water temperature obtained by a first monitoring module when the hollow fiber nanofiltration membrane assembly is started to perform a filtration process. The inlet water pressure change and the permeability change are monitored and recorded by a second monitoring module during the filtration process. A flushing mode and a flushing intensity of the cleaning system are determined by the program control system according to the inlet water pressure change and the permeability change during the filtration when the filtration process is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2024
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: Greentech Environment Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mu Liu, Yingqiang Su, Zehua Li, Xikun Zhu, Kai Sun, Mengyuan Duan, Huiming Han, Liyan Zhang, Yashun Liu
  • Patent number: 12151952
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for protecting an electrode of a chlorinator. The method computes a conductivity parameter Fx of the chlorinator and determines whether the working status or the working water environment of the chlorinator is abnormal according to the change of a parameter value of the conductivity parameter Fx, and then the chlorinator executes a protection action according to a determination result to effectively ensure the timeliness for the chlorinator to execute the protection action and reduce the probability of damage of the chlorinator, so as to improve the service life of the chlorinator. The invention also discloses different methods for determining whether the working status or the working water environment of the parameter value is abnormal based on the conductivity parameter Fx, and an apparatus for protecting an electrode of a chlorinator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: NINGBO C.F. ELECTRONIC TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Zhongchu Feng
  • Patent number: 12151209
    Abstract: A reverse osmosis arrangement is described, the first chamber (5) having a first port (7) and a second port (8) and the second chamber (6) being connected to a permeate outlet (9), wherein the first port (7) is connected to a first pump (13). Such a reverse osmosis arrangement should be operated with high efficiency. To this end the second port (8) is connected to a second pump (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: DANFOSS A/S
    Inventors: Lars Bjarne Hilbrecht, Francisco Javier Lorenzo
  • Patent number: 12151211
    Abstract: A hybrid electro-pressure driven method for the recovery, purification, and concentration of lithium salts is described. A fractionating electrodialysis stack equipped with selective ion exchange membranes is s used to separate a lithium containing brine into a monovalent enriched fraction and a divalent enriched fraction. The monovalent enriched fraction is further processed to remove remaining impurities by use of pressure driven nanofiltration. An optional concentrating electrodialysis device may further concentrate the monovalent enriched fraction in lithium content. The method may be combined with a subsequent solvent extraction and electrolysis step to produce lithium hydroxide, a Li+ selective sorbent step for producing purified lithium chloride, or a Li+ selective sorbent and precipitative step to produce lithium carbonate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: Aqueous Resources LLC
    Inventor: Ernst Schmidt
  • Patent number: 12145160
    Abstract: A cyclone sand separator includes a cyclone body having an inlet, a fluid outlet, and a solids outlet. The inlet is configured to receive a mixed fluid including a solids portion and a fluids portion. The solids outlet is configured to receive the solids portion separated from the fluids portion. The fluid outlet is configured to receive the fluids portion separated from the solids portion. The cyclone sand separator also includes a plurality of inlet inserts having different geometries. The inlet inserts are each configured to be positioned at least partially in the inlet. The inlet inserts are rigid and configured to be fixed in place at least partially in the inlet, such that the inlet inserts do not move with respect to the inlet. The cyclone sand separator also includes a flange configured to be coupled to the selected inlet insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: ENERCORP ENGINEERED SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventor: Ryan Thomas Bowley
  • Patent number: 12145867
    Abstract: A sea water intake system comprising a main sea water intake pipe, one end of the sea water intake pipe being provided with a centrifugal chamber, the chamber having at least one tangential inlet for entry of sea water to cause rotation of the sea water in the chamber. The other end of the intake pipe terminates in a sump, the sump having a water level lower than that of sea level and having a pump to transport sea water from the sump through a delivery pipe to a treatment plant. A central region of the centrifugal chamber is in fluid communication with a substantially vertical airlift pipe having an air inlet at, or close, to the chamber and a water exit remote from the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: IDE Water Technologies LTD
    Inventor: Boris Liberman
  • Patent number: 12138594
    Abstract: Methods for preparation of a carbon membrane include providing a solution comprising a diacetyl biphenyl monomer and an alkylsulfonic acid. The solution is treated under such conditions that an aldol condensation reaction occurs so as to produce a porous polymer network. The porous polymer network is treated under such conditions that a Scholl reaction occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignees: QATAR FOUNDATION FOR EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, TOTAL E&P GOLFE LTD
    Inventors: Lei Fang, Sai Che, Chenxu Wang, Mohammed Al-Hashimi, Sarbajit Banerjee
  • Patent number: 12138595
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a composite semipermeable membrane including: a support membrane; and a separation functional layer provided on the support membrane, in which the separation functional layer comprises a plurality of protrusions formed of a thin membrane, and at least a part of the plurality of protrusions has a ratio (Wa/Wb) of larger than 1.3 in cross sections at arbitrary ten positions each having a length of 2.0 ?m in a membrane surface direction of the support membrane, provided that Wa is a maximum width of the protrusion and Wb is a root width of the protrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Yuta Amano, Shunsuke Tabayashi, Ryosuke Okanishi, Takashi Yoshino, Takao Sasaki, Hiroki Minehara, Masaki Higashi
  • Patent number: 12140355
    Abstract: A system for processing a feed includes a membrane system configured to receive the feed and produce a concentrate and a permeate, wherein the membrane system includes an active cooling system, a passive cooling system, or a combination thereof. Further, the system includes a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the membrane system and disposed upstream of the membrane system, such that the feed enters the heat exchanger prior to entering the membrane system, wherein the heat exchanger is configured to cool the feed and heat the concentrate by transferring heat from the feed to the concentrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2024
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: Via Separations, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyle Vanzandt, Marcus Lundgren, Brent D. Keller
  • Patent number: 12138590
    Abstract: The reverse osmosis centrifuge converts rotational energy into fluid velocity and conserves the energy placed into the concentrate. As concentrate travels back towards the center of the reverse osmosis centrifuge, the velocity of the fluid is converted into rotational force, thus conserving energy. To accomplish this, the reverse osmosis centrifuge includes a stationary cylindrical housing having a vacuum chamber and a vacuum pump for generating vacuum pressure in the vacuum chamber, a driveshaft coupled to a membrane cylinder rotatable within the stationary cylindrical housing, the membrane cylinder having a plurality of vertical desalination membranes, and an energy recovery turbine. The reverse osmosis centrifuge can be placed on the concentrate or waste stream outlet of a desalination or reverse osmosis facility to increase freshwater production. Through using the methods described above, plant water production can be increased up to 40%, which in turn has a dramatic effect on plant profitability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: Eden Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hunter Ferdinand Manz, Zachary Wayne Manweiler, Olvian Manz
  • Patent number: 12128361
    Abstract: A membrane filter for submerged operation for filtering a liquid, the membrane filter including membrane units and a gas distribution system for distributing a gas to the membrane units and flushing the membrane units, wherein each of the membrane units includes a respective gas inlet opening and at least one membrane element, the at least one membrane element including membranes for filtering a liquid permeate from the liquid, a permeate collection cavity connected to permeate sides of the membranes, and a permeate outlet configured to drain the permeate from the permeate collection cavity, the gas distribution system including exactly one gas outlet for each of the membrane units, the exactly one gas outlet configured to exhaust the gas from the gas distribution system into a respective gas inlet opening of each of the membrane units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2024
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: MEMBION GMBH Schwerzfelder
    Inventors: Dirk Volmering, Klaus Vossenkaul
  • Patent number: 12121865
    Abstract: The present invention deals with a method for obtaining membranes in the form of hollow fibers with application in the field of carbon dioxide removal from natural gas. The aforementioned membranes are obtained by means of heat treatment of polymeric membranes. In this method, polymeric membranes are obtained by a phase-inversion technique by immersion-precipitation and are subsequently subjected to a heat treatment, that is, that the membranes effectively become precursor membranes of the heat treatment. The heat treatment process involves the optimization of the heating rate, temperature, and stabilization time variables, aiming at the improvement of the transport properties of the polymeric membranes. After the heat treatment, it becomes possible to use the membranes in separation processes of gases which operate at pressures greater than 30 bar, with selectivity for carbon dioxide (CO2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignees: PETRÓLEO BRASILEIRO S.A.—PETROBRAS, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO RIO DE JANEIRO - UFRJ
    Inventors: Jailton Ferreira Do Nascimento, Cristina Cardoso Pereira, Wilson Mantovani Grava, Cristiano Piacsek Borges
  • Patent number: 12116290
    Abstract: A liquid treatment system and methods for removing contaminants from a liquid flow is disclosed. The treatment system having a treatment zone, a nanobubble diffuser system and a skimmer cassette assembly configured to remove the nanobubble and contaminant agglomeration from the liquid flow. The nanobubble diffuser system configured to diffuse negatively charged nanobubbles into the liquid flow whereby the nanobubbles adhere to positively charged contaminants and the nanobubble and contaminant agglomeration is urged to float towards a surface of the liquid flow in the treatment zone and be removed by the skimmer cassette assembly. In some embodiments, larger bubble diffuse systems are provided to increase the rise rate of contaminants. In some embodiments, the treatment system is a floating vessel. In some embodiments, the treatment system is configured to remove microplastics down to a size of about 1 mm and less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: BLUE WHALE OCEAN FILTRATION LLC
    Inventor: Daniel Turner
  • Patent number: 12115525
    Abstract: A method for purifying an organic solvent has a first treatment of bringing an organic solvent to be treated into contact with an H-type cation exchanger, and a second treatment of bringing a treated liquid from the first treatment into contact with an anion exchanger and an H-type strongly acidic cation exchanger. According to the present application, the provided method and an apparatus for purifying an organic solvent remove metal impurities of both metal species of monovalent and polyvalent metals in the organic solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: ORGANO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Noriko Takada, Haruo Yokota, Yui Shioya, Yasuhiro Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 12115476
    Abstract: A filtration device can be configured to form filter cakes and filtrate by filtering solid particulates from a slurry. Some embodiments of the filtration device can utilize a mechanism that is configured to separate the formed filter cake from a disc sector for subsequent processing of the solid particulates of the filter cake and/or the formed filtrate. Embodiments of the filter device and/or mechanisms of the filter device as well as methods of making and using the same can help provide improvements in operational efficiency for processing operations in which solids are to be filtered from a slurry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Inventor: Steve C. Benesi
  • Patent number: 12109512
    Abstract: An object of the present disclosure is to provide a method for purifying the following fullerene derivative represented by formula (1) that is advantageous in production costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Takabumi Nagai, Yosuke Kishikawa