Abstract: A scale suppression apparatus capable of suppressing in a low-priced manner the generation of silica-based scale and calcium-based scale in the influent water, a geothermal power generation system using the same, and a scale suppression method are provided. The apparatus includes a first addition unit configured to add liquid containing a chelating agent and an alkaline agent to influent water flowing through a pipe arrangement to make the influent water higher than pH 7, a second addition unit configured to add an acid substance to the influent water to make the influent water lower than pH 7, and a controller configured to alternatively switch between the operation of the first addition unit and the operation of the second addition unit. The controller controls the switching of the first addition unit and the second addition unit based on the signals output from a scale detection unit and a pH meter.
Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and systems for optimization of dilution of a viscous starting material to isolate and/or concentrate the product of interest from the starting source material such that the process minimizes the volume of diluent and the total volume of the waste stream generated during the process as well as maximizing the yield of desired product. The system employs cross-flow filtration modules with sub-channels that are equidistant to the inlet and outlet of said modules and such modules are characterized by optimal channel height, optimal transmembrane pressure, etc., which are selected in order to achieve the best combination of product quality and production yield.
Abstract: The invention concerns a device comprising: a base (2); a moveable or removable door (20), said device having a closed door position; and in the closed door position, a circuit (8) comprising a bag comprising two flexible films and conveying network connectors, and a press (9) comprising a first shell (16) disposed on said front face (5) of said base (2) and a second shell (17) disposed in said door (20); said bag being clamped between said first shell (16) and said second shell (17) in a state in which conduits of said network for conveying liquid are formed between said films.
Abstract: Methods are disclosed for monitoring, controlling and optimizing fouling of a two side membrane fouling process. The method for monitoring fouling of a two side membrane fouling process can include determining the process model for the two side membrane fouling process. The parameters of the process model can be grouped based on the interactions thereof between the parameters so as to form one or more groups of parameters. At least one key performance index is estimated in relation to one or more groups of parameters. The fouling of the two side membrane fouling process is monitored correspondingly in relation to at least one key performance index.
Abstract: A procedure for moderating the intensity of a hurricane in regions of the seas that are host to the oil and gas industries is described, using the Gulf of Mexico as an example of such a region, and snow-making machines as the instruments for carrying out the procedure. These machines are carried on moving platforms that follow the hurricane and on fixed platforms that are located in the path of the hurricane. In the described procedure snow-making machines are installed on fixed platforms throughout the region, and only those machines that are in the path of an approaching hurricane are turned on, while the snow-making machines on the moving platform(s) are operating continually.
Abstract: We provide a process for treatment of produced water, including but not limited to water produced by a “steam flood” process for extraction of oil from oil sands, including the removal of color from the water. This removal may be accomplished through addition of color-removal polymers and flocculents. This process may also be useful for other water treatment processes including reverse osmosis and filtration.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 15, 2013
Date of Patent:
August 22, 2017
Assignee:
Aquatech International, LLC
Inventors:
Ravi Chidambaran, Narendra Singh Bisht, Pavan Raina
Abstract: A dialysis machine useful in hemodialysis can process or treat a reverse osmosis water flow received through the machine to prepare a dialysate. The machine can include an additive source to introduce an additive, such as bicarbonate, to the reverse osmosis water flow. The machine can include a sensor in fluid communication with the additive introduction point that can measure the conductivity or similar characteristic of the solution. During a first time period when additive is actively introduced to the reverse osmosis water flow, the sensor can measure a relatively high conductivity value. During a second time period when additive is not introduced to the reverse osmosis water flow, the sensor can measure a relatively low conductivity value. The dialysis machine can include a controller that processes these measurements to assist control and operation of the machine.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 2, 2013
Date of Patent:
August 15, 2017
Assignee:
Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
Inventors:
Martin Crnkovich, Aiyuan Wang, Fei Wang
Abstract: A filtering element for the filtration of a fluid medium comprises a rigid porous support of cylindrical shape having a longitudinal central axis (A) and a plurality of channels for the circulation of the fluid medium to be filtered and collection of filtrate on the periphery of the support. The channels are arranged in the support parallel to its central axis central (A) and define at least three filtering zones which are distributed concentrically and separated from each other by a continuous porous zone. The mean thickness of the porous zone (Z1) closest to the central axis (A) is smaller than the mean thickness of the porous zone (Zn-1) the closest to the periphery of the support (1) and, in the direction moving away from the central axis (A) of the support towards its periphery, the mean thickness of a porous zone is either identical to the next or smaller.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 4, 2011
Date of Patent:
August 15, 2017
Assignee:
TECHNOLOGIES AVANCEES ET MEMBRANES INDUSTRIELLES
Abstract: A beverage filter or treatment bottle system has a bottle, lid, and a beverage improvement component such as a filter element. A filter element may be positioned to separate the interior space of the bottle into a filtered beverage compartment and an unfiltered beverage compartment. A tube passes through the filter into fluid communication with the filtered beverage compartment. The tube extends through the unfiltered beverage compartment to a nozzle in the lid of the bottle. A lid cover is fastenable onto the lid to enclose and close the nozzle. A filter cartridge may be provided. A UV sterilizer may be provided. An air bypass may be provided.
Abstract: A dialysis machine includes a dialyzer (1), a dialysate feed system (5) having a feed line (52), and a discharge system (6) having a discharge line (62). The machine further includes ultrafiltration control elements (UF) and back-filtration control elements (RF). The feed line is provided with a constriction (520) and with elements for measuring the pressure difference (523, 524) across the terminals of the constriction. The feed system further includes a ventricle bag (50), and pressurizer elements (70) for putting the ventricle bag (50) under pressure. The machine further includes an open/close system (C5, C5?) for opening/closing the discharge line (62) and the back-filtration control elements cause the discharge line (62) to close, and control the pressure applied to the ventricle bag (50), as a function of the pressure difference measured across the terminals of the constriction (520), so as to obtain a given flow rate of dialysate.
Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide a system and methods for protecting a fluid stream from fouling using particles that include phase change materials. In an example, the particles are injected into the fluid stream and release energy at a selected temperature, which may warm the fluid stream.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 10, 2012
Date of Patent:
July 25, 2017
Assignee:
ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
Inventors:
Nader S Berchane, Chisa K Brookes, Douglas J Turner, Jason W Lachance
Abstract: A fluid treatment cartridge includes a housing having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet with a treatment media contained within the housing. The fluid treatment cartridge includes a detection member comprising at least one closed electrically conductive loop having at least two spatially separate sections. Each of the sections generates a magnetic response when at least one section is electromagnetically excited. The magnetic response of each section is predetermined by the physical shape of the section and comprises at least one of a predetermined magnetic phase response and a predetermined magnetic amplitude response. The predetermined magnetic response of at least one other section of the closed electrically conductive loop corresponds to at least a one digit code.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 26, 2016
Date of Patent:
July 18, 2017
Assignee:
3M Innovative Properties Company
Inventors:
Andrew P. Bonifas, Brock A. Hable, Ronald D. Jesme, Nicholas G. Amell
Abstract: A device for extracorporeal blood treatment is disclosed that includes a detection equipment for detecting uremic toxins in a used dialysis liquid by measuring the absorbance, the detection equipment being provided at such a position downstream the outflow of the dialysis liquid from a filter element that at least one of the following requirements is fulfilled: a) the filling volume of the fluid line and of the components starting from the outflow of the used dialysis liquid from the filter element to the detection equipment is less than or equal to 100 ml; and b) the length of the fluid line starting from the outflow of the used dialysis liquid from the filter element to the detection equipment is at most 250 cm.
Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte composition includes an electrolyte salt, a nonaqueous solvent, a matrix polymer, and a ceramic powder, wherein the ceramic powder has an average particle size of 0.1 to 2.5 ?m and a BET specific surface area of 0.5 to 11 m2/g.
Abstract: A modular device comprising one or more porous substrate subunits comprising a binding substrate that is capable of interacting with a target biological product, either during, or at the end of a manufacturing cycle; and methods of using the device to harvest or purify a biological product.
Abstract: A superpolar sorbent network is a sol-gel network of at least one metal oxide precursor condensed and at least one polyhydroxy molecule. The metal oxide precursor is a silicate precursor, aluminate precursor, titanate precursor, zirconate precursor, germinate precursor, or any combinations thereof, and the polyhydroxy molecule has a multiplicity of hydroxyl groups. The polyhydroxy molecule can be an organic molecule derived from nature. The superpolar sorbent network can be used as a particulate or bulk sorbent for sampling or removal of analytes or contaminants from an environment or can be coated on a tube or particulate substrate for use as a chromatographic stationary phase.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 1, 2016
Date of Patent:
July 11, 2017
Assignee:
THE FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Abstract: A dialysis system includes a dialysis machine including at least one dialysis fluid pump and a logic implementer configured to (i) receive a plurality of predetermined therapy prescriptions that have been approved remote from the dialysis machine by a doctor/clinician for a particular patient, at least two of the plurality of predetermined therapy prescriptions having different treatment durations, different dialysis fluids or different ultrafiltration removal amounts, (ii) store the plurality of predetermined therapy prescriptions for use in operating the dialysis machine, (iii) cause the stored therapy prescriptions to be presented, (iv) allow a selection of one or more of the presented therapy prescriptions for one or more upcoming treatment, and (v) operate the at least one dialysis fluid pump according to the selected one or more therapy prescriptions.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 17, 2016
Date of Patent:
July 4, 2017
Assignees:
Baxter International Inc., Baxter Healthcare S.A.
Inventors:
Anping Yu, Robert W. Childers, Borut Cizman
Abstract: The invention relates to extracorporeal blood circuits, and components thereof (e.g., hollow fiber membranes, potted bundles, and blood tubing), including 0.005% to 10% (w/w) surface modifying macromolecule. The extracorporeal blood circuits have an antithrombogenic surface and can be used in hemofiltration, hemodialysis, hemodiafiltration, hemoconcentration, blood oxygenation, and related uses.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 19, 2016
Date of Patent:
June 27, 2017
Assignee:
Interface Biologies, Inc.
Inventors:
Sanjoy Mullick, Weilun Chang, Hanje Chen, Mark A. Steedman, Roseita Esfand
Abstract: A dialysis system includes: a home dialysis machine located at a patient's home; a clinician computer associated with a dialysis center, the dialysis center located remotely from the home dialysis machine; a server in data communication with the home dialysis machine and the clinician computer; and wherein the system is configured and arranged for (i) treatment data to be sent by the home dialysis machine to the clinician computer via the server, and (ii) the treatment data to be analyzed to form a treatment prescription that is delivered to and used by the home dialysis machine to perform a subsequent treatment.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 28, 2013
Date of Patent:
June 27, 2017
Assignees:
Baxter International Inc., Baxter Healthcare SA
Inventors:
Anping Yu, Robert W. Childers, Borut Cizman
Abstract: A system and method for tailings disposal is disclosed. A coarse tailings feed stream and a coarse tailings crusher for crushing the coarse tailings feed stream is provided. A crushed coarse tailings stream may be produced by the coarse tailings crusher, and a disposal stream comprising the crushed coarse tailings stream may be discarded as geotechnically stable waste product. The system and method may further provide a fine tailings stream and a thickener configured to thicken/dewater the fine tailings stream and produce a thickener underflow fine tailings stream. The system and method may provide a mixer configured to mix the thickener underflow fine tailings stream and the crushed coarse tailings stream to form a combined tailings disposal stream. Dewatering apparatus may also be provided.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 5, 2014
Date of Patent:
June 27, 2017
Assignee:
FLSMIDH A/S
Inventors:
Chris Braun, Vishal Gupta, Timothy J. Laros, Todd Wisdom