Patents Examined by Claire Norris
  • Patent number: 11142474
    Abstract: The facility comprises: —a first tank (1) comprising separation means (15) extending over a portion of the height of the tank, so as to define a central compartment, or tube (11), a peripheral compartment, or ring (12), and a compartment for stirring and biochemical exchanges (16) in the bottom portion of the tank, comprising stirring means (17), —a second tank (2) comprising separation means (25) extending over a portion of the height of the tank, so as to define a central compartment, or tube (21), a peripheral compartment, or ring (22), and a compartment for stirring and biochemical exchanges (26) in the bottom portion of the tank, comprising stirring means (27), —means (ALIM) for feeding the waste to be treated into the first ring—means (T) for transferring the partially treated waste from the first tube to the second ring, —means (EVAC) for discharging the treated waste out of the second tube, —advantageously pneumatic means (4, 43, 44) for circulating the waste from the first ring to the second tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: JUA GROUP
    Inventor: Jean-Luc Sallustro
  • Patent number: 11141702
    Abstract: This invention relates to a dual-layer, multifunctional hollow fiber membrane having at least two layers that perform two respective functions: 1) a layer that performs a separative function separating a solvent such as a liquid or gas from its solute species; and 2) a layer that performs the function of generating a magnetic field. The layer generating the magnetic field preferably has magnetic nano or micro particles embedded therein to attract, capture and/or position paramagnetic draw solute particles to maximize their osmotic effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Inventor: Terrence W. Aylesworth
  • Patent number: 11125031
    Abstract: A drilling fluid waste disposal system includes a trench having an outlet, a receiving pit in fluid communication with the outlet of the trench, a first weir in the receiving pit, and a second weir in the receiving pit. The outlet of the trench feeds a slurry to the receiving pit, such that the slurry is at least partially separated into a liquid-enriched portion and a fluid-enriched portion using the first and second weirs. The system also includes a pump configured to draw the liquid-enriched portion of the slurry from the receiving pit and configured to introduce the at least some of the liquid-enriched portion of the slurry back into the trench. The system further includes a drying apparatus in communication with the receiving pit configured to receive the solids-enriched portion of the slurry from a second position in the receiving pit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: MILESTONE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, LLC
    Inventors: Jason Larchar, Steve Bills
  • Patent number: 11123658
    Abstract: A method of demulsifying an emulsion of oil and water whereby palm oil fuel ash, which is a low cost waster product obtained from oil palm processing, is added to the emulsion and the resulting mixture is agitated, thereby breaking the emulsion into an aqueous phase and an oil phase. Solid particles of palm oil fuel ash settle to the bottom of the aqueous phase, allowing easy separation of the oil phase, the aqueous phase, and the settled solid particles of palm oil fuel ash.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM AND MINERALS
    Inventors: Ahmad A. Adewunmi, Muhammad Shahzad Kamal, Theis Ivan Solling, Babatunde Abiodun Salami
  • Patent number: 11117819
    Abstract: Disclosed are modular microbial fuel cell (MFC) devices, systems and methods for treating wastewater and generating electrical energy through a bioelectrochemical waste-to-energy conversion process. In some aspects, a modular MFC system includes a wastewater pretreatment system to receive and pre-treat raw wastewater for feeding pre-treated wastewater for bioelectrochemical processing; one or more modular MFC devices to bioelectrochemically process the pre-treated wastewater by concurrently generating electrical energy and digesting organic contaminants and particulates in the wastewater to yield treated, cleaner water; and a water collection module to receive the treated water from the one or more modular MFC devices and store the treated water and/or route the treated water from the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: AQUACYCL LLC
    Inventors: Orianna Bretschger, Sofia Malinova Babanova, Carlo Abraham Angulo Rodriguez, Jaime Octavio García Cornejo, Pedro Izarael Huerta Virgen, Ryoji Naito
  • Patent number: 11091924
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling chlorinators for pools and spas are provided. A controller communicates with a processor positioned within a replaceable cell cartridge of a chlorinator, to allow for remote control and diagnosis of the chlorinator and/or cell cartridge. The cell cartridge stores, in non-volatile memory on board the cartridge, one or more parameters associated with the cartridge. The controller can obtain this information from the processor of the cell cartridge, and can use same to configure operation of the chlorinator. Information relating to remaining cell life can be updated by the controller and stored in the non-volatile memory of the cell cartridge. Electrical and software-based mechanisms are provided for ensuring operation of only compatible cell cartridges with the chlorinator. A system for remotely diagnosing errors associated with the chlorinator is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Hayward Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Chen, Douglas Sawyer, Michael Nilsson, Raymond Denkewicz
  • Patent number: 11065374
    Abstract: A renal failure therapy system (10a, 10b) includes a dialysis fluid circuit (30) including a dialysis fluid pump (54, 58); a source (86, 90) of physiological cleaning, disinfecting, and/or decalcifying substance in fluid communication with the dialysis fluid circuit; a source (22) of purified water in fluid communication with the dialysis fluid circuit; and a logic implementer (20) in operable communication with the dialysis fluid pump (54,58), the logic implementer (20) causing the physiological cleaning, disinfecting, and/or decalcifying substance from its source (86, 90) to be added to purified water from the purified water source (22) to form a mixture and to circulate the mixture within the dialysis fluid circuit using the dialysis fluid pump (54,58) to at least one of clean, disinfect or decalcify at least a portion of the dialysis fluid circuit (30) without a subsequent rinse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: GAMBRO LUNDIA AB
    Inventors: Sture Hobro, Jonas Fors, Olof Jansson
  • Patent number: 11053174
    Abstract: The present application relates to systems and methods for processing organic material. The methods may include extraction of biochemical nutrients from organic material, such as food scraps. The method can include comminuting the organic material to form a slurry from components comprising liquid and organic material; combining the slurry with microorganisms, such as a yeast, under aerobic conditions to form a mixture of the slurry and yeast; aerating the mixture; and forming a biomass and a nutrient-rich broth, in which the biochemical nutrients are stabilized and anabolized. The systems may, in some embodiments, be configured to perform the methods of processing organic materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: WISErg Corporation
    Inventors: Larry LeSueur, Jose Lugo, Ken Deering, Victor V. Tryon, Michael Bridges, Lee Wilkerson, Trevor Lewis
  • Patent number: 11034930
    Abstract: Reactors, systems and processes for the production of biomass by culturing microorganisms in aqueous liquid culture medium circulating inner loop reactor which utilize nonvertical pressure reduction zones are described. Recovery and processing of the culture microorganisms to obtain products, such as proteins or hydrocarbons is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: CALYSTA, INC.
    Inventors: Luan Thanh Nguyen, Joshua A. Silverman, Graham Ian Aylen
  • Patent number: 11033940
    Abstract: Organic waste is polished to remove floatable contaminants prior to being biologically treated. In one application, pressed organic waste is polished before being sent to a wet anaerobic digester, optionally to be co-digested with wastewater treatment plant sludge. The organic waste is polished by flinging globs of the organic waste against a screen (3,4) while flowing air across the flinging globs. The polishing can be performed in a device having a rotor (6) with discrete paddles (9,10) inside of a cylindrical screen (2,3,4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: ANAERGIA B.V.
    Inventor: Willem Jan Oude Grotebevelsborg
  • Patent number: 11027250
    Abstract: A system and method for producing fine droplets of polysaccharide from a premixed water-in-oil emulsion uses a packed bed (5) comprising hydrophilic beads (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Cytiva BioProcess R&D AB
    Inventors: Jimmy Hedin Dahlstrom, Jonas Bengtsson, Per Erik Emilsson, Maranda Fordham, Eva Holmgren, Ronnie Palmgren, Fernando Polanco
  • Patent number: 11020752
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for removing salts from a liquid are described. A first liquid containing at least one salt is mixed with magnetic composite particles. A subsequent separation of the particles from the liquid is achieved using an electromagnetic source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: KHALIFA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Fawzi Ahmed Ibraheem Banat, Emad Yousef Mahmoud Alhseinat, Priyabrata Pal, Anjali Achazhiyath Edathil
  • Patent number: 11021379
    Abstract: A surface water mitigation structure suitable for use in the storage and treatment of contaminated surface water runoff. The runoff is processed through a multi-layered filtration and treatment system wherein the first layer is one or more permeable layers that is pervious enough to allow liquid runoff to pass through it and into a porous storage medium second layer that includes one or more remediating agents, and wherein the effluent from the surface water mitigation structure can be discharged to the ground, the surface, and/or a drainage system reduced or free of contaminants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Sports Care Products, Inc.
    Inventors: David Komocki, Peter C. Beeson, Craig Roeper
  • Patent number: 11008238
    Abstract: A mixer support assembly for use in an integrated cover and mixer apparatus and anaerobic digester system incorporating same provided. The digester system includes a tank with an integrated cover and mixer apparatus which provides a completely or substantially gas tight enclosure for the collection of biogas. The integrated cover and mixer apparatus includes a cover, a mixer, and a mixer support assembly for supporting the mixer. The mixer support assembly includes a float ring and a support body that is selectively removable from the float ring. The support body is attached to the float ring by way of a clamping arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Symphonic Water Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas H. Probst
  • Patent number: 11001518
    Abstract: A method of treating oil and gas produced water may include: receiving produced water from one or more wells; separating an aqueous portion of the produced water from oil and solids included in the produced water in order to provide recovered water; performing anaerobic bio-digestion of organic matter included in the produced water using a biomass mixture of anaerobic bacteria obtained from a plurality of wells; aerating the recovered water in order to promote metal precipitation; and performing aerobic bio-digestion of organic matter present in the recovered water. Some embodiments may also include one or more of anoxic equalization, filtration, pasteurization, reverse osmosis, and biocide treatment of the recovered water. The recovered water may be used for oil and gas well fracking and/or land and stream application. Other methods of treating oil and gas produced water are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Rio Resources LLC
    Inventors: Dale R. Yates, Brenna D. Villines, Kenneth M. Yates
  • Patent number: 10981814
    Abstract: A method and system for treating wastewater is disclosed. In one example the method comprises activating a mixing system that imparts a motive force on wastewater in a vessel, measuring at least one property of a first portion of the wastewater at a first time, measuring the at least one property of a second portion of the wastewater at a second time subsequent to the first time, calculating a difference between the at least one property measured at the first time and the at least one property measured at the second time, performing a determination of whether the difference is within a predetermined allowable range of differences, and responsive to a result of the determination, controlling a component of the mixing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Evoqua Water Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Christopher K. Waul, Argun Olcayto Erdogan
  • Patent number: 10974174
    Abstract: A separation device, such as a centrifugal dryer, for separating a mixture of a solid material and a fluid is described. The device has a housing having at least one housing inlet for supplying the mixture and at least one housing outlet for discharging the solid material or the fluid separated from the mixture. The device also has a rotor that is arranged within the housing and is mounted rotatably around a longitudinal axis. The rotor causes movement of the solid material in the direction of the longitudinal axis by rotating. The rotor has multiple rotor segments, which can be separated from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: Nikolai Schnellbach, Bernd Bakenecker, Marius Wirz, Michael Schröer
  • Patent number: 10974981
    Abstract: A method for reducing pollutant discharge in phenol acetone production, comprising at least one of the following steps: (A) collecting phenolic wastewater generated by a phenol-acetone plant, adjusting the pH value to acidic, and performing extraction and recovery on the phenols in wastewater using cumene as an extracting agent; (B) reducing the acetone content in the wastewater from a column bottom by means of optimizing the process of an acetone refining column; (C) treating the wastewater from the column bottom of the acetone refining column by using a permselective membrane, and recovering alkali; (D) neutralizing the wastewater obtained from step (C), mixing the neutralized wastewater with a condensation liquid at the top of a cumene oxidation column, and carrying out a detoxification treatment; (E) carrying out an oil separation treatment on total discharged wastewater from the phenol-acetone plant, and recovering organic matters comprising hydrocarbons; and (F) carrying out a biological treatment, a co
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences
    Inventors: Yuexi Zhou, Yudong Song
  • Patent number: 10954147
    Abstract: There is described a system for the treatment of a wastewater in a pond or lagoon containing a volume of water. The system comprises at least one enclosure comprising growth media and/or substrate therein for growing bacteria and/or biomass. The at least one enclosure is configured in the pond or lagoon to receive a volume of wastewater flowing therethrough from the pond or lagoon over a treatment period, and is configured to treat substantially the entire volume of water flowing through the pond or lagoon over time. A plurality of growth media and/or substrate can be provided in a given enclosure. Different enclosures may comprise different growth media and substrate therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Inventor: Marisol Labrecque
  • Patent number: 10954146
    Abstract: A wastewater treatment system includes an aeration tank under a plurality of trickling filters to receive wastewater from the trickling filters. A plurality of bacteria culture modules are received in each trickling filters. A plurality of blower devices and air pipes are provided to generate ventilation to cool the wastewater flowing out of the bacteria culture modules. Each of the bacteria culture modules has a cage in which a plurality of culture woods are vertically received. Therefore, a temperature of the wastewater is reduced to form an environment which is good to the bacteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: KUAN YUAN PAPER MFG. CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kuang Yuan Hsieh