Patents Examined by Patrick Orme
  • Extract production system and method for producing extract
    Patent number: 11772010
    Abstract: The present application provides an extract production system. The extract production system includes an extraction unit for extracting an extract from a starting material by using a solvent flowing into the interior thereof, a first heat exchange unit for subjecting the solvent flowing into the extraction unit to heat exchange by using a heat exchange medium, and a second heat exchange unit for subjecting the solvent which underwent heat exchange in the first heat exchange unit to heat exchange by reusing the heat exchange medium which underwent heat exchange in the first heat exchange unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: THE COCA-COLA COMPANY
    Inventor: Akira Watanabe
  • Online cleaning system for micro-polluted nanofiltration membranes using forward osmosis and process of online cleaning system
    Patent number: 11772050
    Abstract: An online cleaning system for micro-polluted nanofiltration membranes uses forward osmosis, and a process of the online cleaning system, and relates to the field of water treatment membrane separation technique. The online cleaning system includes a nanofiltration raw water tank, a nanofiltration membrane assembly, a pure water tank, a forward osmosis feed solution tank, a forward osmosis draw solution tank, a first saline water tank, a second saline water tank and a water bath temperature control device. Some embodiments include cleaning of the nanofiltration membranes that is realized by using forward osmosis as a nanofiltration membrane cleaning system, and cyclic regeneration of the nanofiltration membranes can be realized, so that the purposes of removing dissolved organic matters in micro-polluted raw water, reducing hardness of calcium and magnesium and prolonging the service life can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Shandong Jianzhu University
    Inventors: Lin Wang, Feiyong Chen, Daoji Wu, Xiaozhen Lu, Qingyan Xia, Tianyu Chen, Juan Zhang, Lu Zhao, Zhihao Li, Bo Gui
  • Methods of making purified water from the Fischer-Tropsch process
    Patent number: 11739014
    Abstract: The Fischer-Tropsch (FT) process creates significant amounts of water. The invention provides an aqueous composition comprising specified amounts of dissolved and suspended solids, low chemical oxygen demand and low chlorine demand, pH in the range of 6.5 to 8.0, where the aqueous composition comprises organic carbon derived from fossil sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Velocys Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Graham Lea, Ivan Philip Greager, Laura J. Silva
  • System and a method for producing microbiologically controlled fluid
    Patent number: 11718546
    Abstract: A method and a system comprising an integrated water purifying apparatus with a pre-filter circuit including a particle filter and an activated carbon filter arranged to produce pre-treated water; a fluid circuit arranged to receive pre-treated water from the pre-filter circuit, the fluid circuit including an RO-pump and a Reverse Osmosis (RO) device arranged to produce purified water; a heating device arranged to heat purified water from the RO device to a temperature above 65°0 C.; the water purifying apparatus further arranged to heat disinfect the fluid circuit using the heated purified water. The system further comprises a line set connected to the purified water outlet connector at a water line connector of the line set, wherein the line set includes at least one sterile sterilizing grade filter arranged to further filter the purified water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignees: Baxter International Inc., Baxter Healthcare SA
    Inventors: Anders Wieslander, Olof Jansson, Per-Ola Wictor, Anders Wellings, Helena Jeppsson
  • Techniques for managing scale formation in water filtration systems and a reverse osmosis (RO) and nanofiltration (NF) system implementing same
    Patent number: 11697602
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to filtering technologies that combine elements of continuous and batch NF/RO based on the constraints of the end-user facility to achieve a target balance between, for instance, recovery and power consumption, and to reduce long term operating cost of a plant. A method for extending batch operation into a second induction period with antiscalant injection is also disclosed herein, with the second induction period allowing for yet higher water recovery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: CTX, LLC
    Inventor: Stanton Russell Smith
  • Water treatment
    Patent number: 11691898
    Abstract: A method treats an aqueous system to inhibit growth of one or more micro-organisms therein and/or to reduce the number of live micro-organisms therein. The method includes adding treatment agents to an aqueous system wherein said treatment agents include (a) a phosphonium compound; and (b) a compound having formula: M(XO2)n wherein: M is a Group I or Group II metal; X is a halogen; and n is 1 or 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: ITALMATCH CHEMICALS GB LIMITED
    Inventors: Jeffrey Frank Kramer, Christy Colleen Wentworth
  • Reduction of substances in contaminated fluids using a naturally occurring biological growth media
    Patent number: 11685675
    Abstract: A treatment process for municipal, commercial, industrial, and institutional fluids containing one or more substances at a first concentration includes a contactor, an aerator, and a separator. The fluid is mixed with a powdered natural lignocellulosic material (“PNLM”), a microbial growth inoculum, and at least a portion of the fluid in the contactor to provide a mixture that includes an established, acclimated microbial growth in the fluid. The mixture is introduced to an aerator where physical binding and chemical bonding of at least some of the one or more substances to the PNLM additionally physiological uptake by microbial growth in a biosludge reduces the concentration of at least some of the one or more substances in the fluid discharged from the aerator to a second concentration. The biosludge is separated to recover at least a portion of the PNLM that is recycled to the contactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: NUVODA LLC
    Inventor: Jason Calhoun
  • Geotextile sediment cap with active media
    Patent number: 11673117
    Abstract: Remediation geotextile device, including a geotextile mattress-like component, configured to contain an active granular material for filtering and treating contaminated groundwater and/or sediment porewater. The geotextile device including a six-sided, or substantially rectangular, mattress-like component, including an upper geotextile layer and a lower geotextile layer that are connected at intervals with sets of interior geotextile straps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Huesker, Inc.
    Inventors: James Thomas Olsta, Kristof Benedikt Klaus Thimm, Lilma Ribeiro Schimmel
  • Portable ultrafiltration device
    Patent number: 11666692
    Abstract: A portable ultrafiltration device having a suction bellows connected to a tube, passing through a solenoid valve, to a first dialysate connector of a hemofilter incorporated into a blood circuit having arterial lines, extending from a vascular access and passing through a peristaltic pump, and venous lines passing through an electronic safety block to the vascular access, and a second dialysate connector connected to an ultrafiltration pressure sensor. The elements of the portable ultrafiltration device are connected and controlled by an intelligent central unit powered by a rechargeable battery. Liquid collects in the space surrounding the fibres and in the suction bellows until the space is completely full.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: HASSAN II UNIVERSITY OF CASABLANCA
    Inventors: Mohamed Zamd, Benyounes Ramdani, Abdellah Ait Taleb, Abdellah Boualam
  • Valve leak detection system
    Patent number: 11660382
    Abstract: An improved valve leak detection system. The improved valve leak detection system comprises a membrane pump defining a flow path arranged to be opened and closed by at least one valve, a measuring device, a comparator, and a signal generator. The measuring device is configured to determine a conductivity value between two points on the flow path of the membrane pump, one point arranged upstream of the at least one valve and the other point arranged downstream of the at least one valve. The measuring device measures the conductivity value when the at least one valve is closed. The comparator is configured to continuously monitor the conductivity value. The signal generator is arranged to provide an output signal when the conductivity value is indicative of a valve leak condition for a set number of measurements within a set period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Quanta Dialysis Technologies Limited
    Inventor: Eric William Westenbrink
  • Deformation-enhanced cleaning of fouled membranes
    Patent number: 11638903
    Abstract: Enhanced cleaning of a fouled membrane is achieved via controlled deformation in a method wherein a feed composition, comprising a solvent and dissolved components, flows into a retentate side of a membrane module. The solvent passes through the membrane from the retentate side to a permeate or draw side of the membrane module while retaining the dissolved components on the membrane. As a foulant accumulates on either side of the membrane, a driving force is generated across the membrane, wherein the membrane responds cyclically by deforming back and forth toward the permeate or draw side and toward the retentate side. The foulant is dislodged from the membrane via mechanical fatigue at the foulant-membrane interface caused by the deformation of the membrane and contact with a spacer in contact with the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Omar Labban, Grace Goon, John H. Lienhard, Xuanhe Zhao
  • Liquid solution concentration system comprising isolated subsystem and related methods
    Patent number: 11629072
    Abstract: Liquid solution concentration systems, and related methods, are generally described. In some embodiments, the system is an osmotic system comprising a plurality of osmotic modules. For example, the osmotic system can comprise a feed osmotic module configured to produce an osmotic module retentate outlet stream having a higher concentration of solute than the retentate inlet stream transported to the feed osmotic module. The osmotic system can also comprise an isolation osmotic module fluidically connected to the feed osmotic module. The osmotic system can also optionally comprise a purification osmotic module fluidically connected to the feed osmotic module and/or the isolation osmotic module. Certain embodiments are related to altering the degree to which the feed osmotic module retentate outlet stream is recycled back to the retentate-side inlet of the feed osmotic module during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Gradiant Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Stover, Looh Tchuin Choong, Maximus G. St. John, Prakash Narayan Govindan
  • Loading/unloading of particulates to/from microchannel reactors
    Patent number: 11612874
    Abstract: The invention providing methods of loading and unloading particulate from micorchannels in apparatus that contains multiple microchannels, typically apparatus that is designed to operate with hundreds or thousands of particulate-containing microchannels. Aligning a sonicating head at one end of a set of microchannels provides a particularly effective mode for densifying particulate in microchannels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Velocys, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Ramler, Anna Lee Tonkovich, Rachid D. Taha, Kai T. P. Jarosch, Robert J. Luzenski, Jeffery D. Slane, Thomas D. Hickey, Sean D. Fitzgerald, Harley D. Freeman, Frederick A. Zenz
  • Method and system for gasification of biomass
    Patent number: 11613705
    Abstract: A continuous system for gasification of a biomass feedstock comprising: a fuel conditioning zone, a gasification zone and a char cooling area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: McGolden, LLC
    Inventor: Michael McGolden
  • Filtration system with automatic drain plug
    Patent number: 11607633
    Abstract: A filtration system includes a housing and a filter element positioned within the housing. The housing includes a first housing end and a second housing end. A drain opening is defined in the second housing end. The filter element includes a first endplate and a second endplate defining an endplate opening. Filter media is positioned between and extending axially between the first endplate and the second endplate. The filter media defines a central opening extending axially therein. A drain plug axially protrudes from the second endplate in a direction away from the filter media. The drain plug is configured to engage the drain opening and facilitate installation of the filter element into the housing. A lid is configured to engage the first housing end. The engagement between the lid and the first housing end occurs when the drain plug is disposed within the drain opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: CUMMINS FILTRATION SARL
    Inventor: Gérard Malgorn
  • Methods for producing a high protein corn meal from a whole stillage byproduct and system therefore
    Patent number: 11603507
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to corn dry-milling, and more specifically, to methods for producing a high protein corn meal from a whole stillage byproduct produced in a corn dry-milling process for making ethanol and a system therefore. In one embodiment, a method for producing a high protein corn meal from a whole stillage byproduct includes, in a corn dry-milling process for making ethanol, separating the whole stillage byproduct into an insoluble solids portion and a thin stillage portion. The thin stillage portion is separated into a protein portion and a water soluble solids portion. Next, the protein portion is dewatered then dried to define a high protein corn meal that includes at least 40 wt % protein on a dry basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Fluid Quip Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Chie Ying Lee
  • Porous fiber, adsorbent material, and purification column
    Patent number: 11596922
    Abstract: A solid fiber is described, where the solid fiber is characterized by (a) a modification degree Do/Di, in a cross section of the solid fiber of 1.20 to 8.50 where the inscribed circle diameter is denoted by Di and the circumscribed circle diameter is denoted by Do; and (b) a porous specific surface area of not less than 30 m2/g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: TORAY INDUSTRIES. INC.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Fujieda, Yoshiyuki Ueno, Kazumi Tanaka
  • Header-equipped air diffusion device, and membrane separation activated sludge device
    Patent number: 11591244
    Abstract: Header-equipped air diffusion devices includes, in the header, an air storage unit, on its lower end including inlet(s) for water to be treated, and air supply part(s) and air sending part(s) on the air storage unit upper section. The air diffusion device's air sending part and horizontal tube are connected, air sent from the header being diffused by the air diffusion device, and air sending in the air storage unit is above the air supply part's air supply port. The air storage portion's partition portion, with a 50+mm height, partitions the upper portion into an air supply and an air feeding portion side. The partition portion forms a cylindrical portion and an upper plate portion and the air storage portion's trunk portion serves as part of the air supply portion, and an opening end on a lower end side of the partition portion serves as the air supply port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Yunje Lee, Makoto Ideguchi, Shinsuke Furuno
  • Filter element for a vehicle
    Patent number: 11583791
    Abstract: The filter element includes a filter medium having an axis and forming a channel extending substantially axially, a first and a second end plate, each end plate covering one axial end of the filter medium and being sealingly mounted on the axial end whereby a liquid to be filtered can flow through the filter medium towards the channel and out of the filter element through an opening in fluid communication with the channel, or reversely. The filter element includes a protrusion fixedly secured to the first end plate and extending outwardly from the first end plate, the protrusion being substantially tubular and having a through hole in fluid communication with the first end plate opening, the protrusion forming a female coupling piece of a male-female connector, and a locking member capable of releasably locking a male coupling piece of the male-female connector in the female coupling piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Baptiste Boutin, Hervé Coste, Bertrand Cauvin
  • Membrane support made with preformed sheets
    Patent number: 11577203
    Abstract: A planar membrane cartridge includes a support and a semi-permeable membrane layer. The support includes a first layer attached to a second layer and defining a front face and a back face of the support. At least one of the first layer and the second layer form a first embossment and a second embossment. Respective back faces of the first layer and the second layer are attached to each other along edges of the first embossment and of the second embossment, such that the first embossment defines a fluid compartment between the first layer and the second layer and the second embossment defines an internal channel between the first layer and the second layer which is isolated from the fluid compartment. An area of the first layer corresponding to the first embossment is covered by the semi-permeable membrane layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: VITO NV (VLAAMSE INSTELLING VOOR TECHNOLOGISCH ONDERZOEK NV)
    Inventors: Bart Molenberghs, Chris Dotremont