Patents Examined by Peter A. Hruskoci
  • Patent number: 8062530
    Abstract: A method for neutralizing brines that contain high levels of silica accompanied with a high pH. Brine is processed through a reactor in which the pH is lowered and the resultant silica precipitate is adsorbed onto a sacrificial crystal structure. The resultant stream is then processed through a solids removal zone wherein the solids are removed and recovered for reuse. The neutralized solids-free brine is then suitable for down-hole injection in the heavy oil industry or further treatment by common water treatment methods if further adjustment is required for other industries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Aquatech International Corporation
    Inventors: Richard M. Schoen, Chandrakant Tiwari
  • Patent number: 8062514
    Abstract: The invention discloses a process to implement and maintain water bodies larger than 15,000 m3 for recreational use, which comprises the following steps: a.—providing a structure able to contain a large water body larger than 15,000 m3; b.—feeding the structure of step (a) with inlet water; c.—measuring water pH; d.—adding an oxidizing agent to the water contained in the structure of step (a), e.—adding a flocculating agent in concentrations within 0.02 and 1 ppm with maximal frequencies of 6 days and cleaning the bottom of the structure of step (a) with a suction device to remove precipitated impurities from the bottom of said structure, and; f.—generating a displacement of surface water containing impurities and surface oils by means of the injection of inlet water according to step (b), which generates said displacement in such a way to remove said surface water arranged in the structure of step (a), which together with step (e) replaces traditional filtering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Crystal Lagoons Corporation, LLC
    Inventor: Fernando Benjamin Fischmann Torres
  • Patent number: 8057684
    Abstract: Installation for flocculation of water or sludge loaded with suspended matter comprising in succession: a polymer storage hopper, a polymer grinding device, and a line, pipe or other conveyor for transferring the polymer solution to the water or the sludge to be treated. The grinder device includes a wetting cone in which the polymer is poured, and at the bottom end of the cone: a chamber for grinding and removing the dispersed polymer comprising: a rotor, a stator, and a ring fed by a secondary water circuit. A method implementing the installation is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: S.P.C.M. SA
    Inventors: Rene Pich, Philippe Jeronimo
  • Patent number: 8048309
    Abstract: A method for disposing of carbon dioxide is provided. According to the invention, CO2 is dissolved in seawater and the salinity of the seawater is increased to produce CO2-containing brine. The CO2-containing brine is denser than the seawater from which it is made. Therefore, when it is released into the ocean, the CO2-containing brine sinks to depth and sequesters the carbon dioxide. The brine may be produced by forming CO2 hydrate, which extracts fresh water from the seawater. Alternatively, the brine may be produced by forming water ice from the seawater and injecting CO2 into the seawater either before or, more preferably, after the water ice has been formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Water Generating Systems, LLC
    Inventors: John P. Osegovic, Michael D. Max, Shelli R. Tatro
  • Patent number: 8048317
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods for chemical analysis, bacterial disinfection, oxidative destruction and/or mineralization of organic compounds comprising using zero-valent iron and/or zero-valent iron-containing bimetallic compounds, preferably in acidic solution and/or in the presence of oxygen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: University of Hawaii
    Inventors: Jamil Rima, Qing X. Li, Lizette Aouezova
  • Patent number: 8048314
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for treating a chlorine-containing waste, which can separate and recover a chlorine component from a chlorine-containing waste, and also can achieve a high chlorine removal thereby obtaining a high purity chlorine compound, and can decrease the amount of water for recovering chlorine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignees: Sumitomo Osaka Cement Co., Ltd., Japan Water Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Masayoshi Konishi, Hideho Hayashi, Ikuko Watanabe, Takehiko Itoh, Takayuki Kuroiwa, Taichiro Fujimaki
  • Patent number: 8034238
    Abstract: A multi-chamber basin is sized to collect excess waste water exceeding the processing capacity of a sewage system. In order to disinfect the waste water exceeding the basin capacity, disinfectant is added at a point in the system after the first basin. After the rain event is over and there is excess sewage treatment capacity, the sewage treatment in the multi-chamber basin is returned to the sewage system. By not disinfecting the waste water in the first basin chamber, the overall disinfectant usage can be minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Inventor: Saad A. Ghalib
  • Patent number: 8029677
    Abstract: A water purification method and devices, and in particular a purification method effective against microbes, that uses a silane-based antimicrobial, and in particular the AEGIS MICROBE SHIELD antimicrobial, where the antimicrobial is embedded, coated, or otherwise permanently applied to a substrate or carrier, such as a solid, a porous solid, fibers or the like. A volume of microbe contaminated water is exposed to the antimicrobial carrier for sufficient residence time such that sufficient quantities of microbes are eradicated and the water is made potable. The antimicrobial carrier may be an object suspended or placed into a container or reservoir for the water, or the antimicrobial carrier may comprise the container or reservoir itself. Particulate filters or the like may also be combined with the antimicrobial container to remove other undesirable contaminants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Inventors: Mark D. Shaw, J. Tad Heyman
  • Patent number: 8025800
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for removing elements is described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Global Material Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Terrence P. Kane, Raymond Joseph Lovett
  • Patent number: 8021556
    Abstract: A method is provided for clarifying wastewater containing contaminants including soluble organic compounds and insoluble organic compounds. The wastewater is treated with a paculant admixture including a cationic coagulant polymer and powdered activated carbon. The cationic coagulant polymer is polydiallydimethylammonium chloride, poly quaternary amine, and/or a starch-based organic polymer. After an at least 2 second delay, a flocculent is added to the wastewater to achieve (i) microcoagulation of the cationic coagulant polymer with the contaminants to form coagulated particles having an effective mass and cationic charge to react with an anionic flocculent to be added thereafter, and (ii) absorption of the soluble organic compounds on the powdered activated carbon. The anionic flocculent as added and reacted with the coagulated particles to form a sludge, containing agglomerated particles including the coagulated particles and powdered activated carbon, of sufficient size for mechanical removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Inventors: Stuart G. Davis, Robert A. Davis
  • Patent number: 8021543
    Abstract: A wastewater treatment system for treating excess wastewater from a sewer system includes a container having first and second portions adapted to receive excess wastewater from the sewer system, and a generally horizontally oriented screen arrangement disposed in the second portion of the container. The system further includes a treating agent dispenser for introducing a treating agent into the wastewater, and an effluent passage in fluid communication with the second portion of the container. During a sufficient rain event, the wastewater flows from the sewer system into the container, through the screen arrangement, and then into the effluent passage, such that the wastewater flows generally in a first direction through the first portion of the container, then generally in a second direction different than the first direction through the second portion of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Inventor: Saad A. Ghalib
  • Patent number: 8017018
    Abstract: A phosphorus removal system is operable to remove phosphorus from an influent. The system includes a first section receiving the influent and discharging a first flow. A first coagulant inlet is positioned upstream of the first section and is in fluid communication with the influent to introduce a first coagulant selected to precipitate phosphorus. A second section receives the first flow and discharges a second flow, and a third section receives the second flow and discharges an effluent. A second coagulant inlet is positioned downstream of the first section and upstream of the third section to introduce a second coagulant selected to precipitate phosphorus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Allen Lawrence, Joseph E. Zuback
  • Patent number: 8017019
    Abstract: Improved fluidized bed precipitators (20, 46, 62, 74, 108, 112, 134, 168) especially useful for the treatment of waste waters containing soluble phosphorus are provided, having upright, primary fluidized bed sections (22, 48, 64, 76, 110, 114, 136) and obliquely oriented solids settling sections (28, 54, 68, 120, 144) which enhance the settling of small particles (166) and return thereof to the fluidized bed sections (22, 48, 64, 76, 110, 114, 136). The precipitators (20, 46, 62, 74, 108, 112, 134, 168) may also be equipped with a solids detection/withdrawal assembly (178) made up of one or more pressure transducers (180, 182) operable to determine the pressures within the fluidized bed sections 22, 48, 64, 76, 110, 114, 136) as a measure of bed densities, along with a selectively operable valve (172) which may be opened to periodically remove solids without clogging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignees: Kansas State University Research Foundation, Kansas Environmental Management Associates, LLC
    Inventors: Gina Young Becker, Sigifredo Castro Diaz, Michael Hanson, Kylo Martin Heller, Dean Thompson
  • Patent number: 8017001
    Abstract: The disclosed systems and methods for maintenance of an enclosed body of water generally include mobile systems and/or methods for removal of mineral hardness and other particulate impurities via lime softening filtration. Chemicals are added to a body of water containing unwanted mineral hardness (or other particulate impurities) and mixed to assist dispersion. The chemicals react with the hardness minerals making them insoluble. The resulting precipitate falls out of solution to the bottom of the body of water for subsequent removal via filtration. This eliminates or otherwise reduces the need for draining water and/or adding new water to a body of water to maintain proper mineral hardness balance and/or concentration of other particulate impurities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Rayne Dealership Corporation
    Inventor: David Morgan
  • Patent number: 8012358
    Abstract: A system is provided that includes: (a) a mobile platform; (b) an input pump operatively connected to be capable of pumping a treatment stream through the system; (c) a centrifugal separator operatively connected downstream of the input pump to centrifugally treat the treatment stream; (d) a borate filter operatively connected downstream of the centrifugal separator to filter the treatment stream capable of removing at least some of a borate when the treatment stream is at a pH of 8 or above; and (e) a chemical-additive subsystem operatively connected to be capable of: (i) selectively adding one or more chemical agents to the treatment stream upstream of the centrifugal separator, wherein the chemical agents can be selected to be capable of precipitating dissolved ions selected from the group consisting of: sulfate, calcium, strontium, or barium, magnesium, iron; and (ii) selectively adding a chemical agent to the treatment stream upstream of the borate filter to increase the pH of the treatment stream to 8 o
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Billy F. Slabaugh, Arron L. Karcher, Michael J. R. Segura, Randy S. Rosine, Max L. Phillippi, Donna L. Harris
  • Patent number: 8012347
    Abstract: A device for separation of fluid, in particular oil, gas and water, in connection with the extraction of such a fluid from formations under the surface of the earth or the sea bed. The fluid is transported in a supply pipe or transport pipe (4) to a separator (1) in the form of a tubular separator body, a gravitation tank or similar. The separated components, water and oil, are passed out of the separator separately via outlet pipes. The fluid upstream of the separator (1) is subjected to shear forces so that the drops in the supply flow are torn up to form drops that are so small that the interface generally becomes new and “uncontaminated” by surfactants. The shear forces are supplied by a phase inversion device (6) in the form of a valve or similar. Water can expediently be added to the fluid upstream of the phase inversion device (6) to achieve the desired phase inversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Norsk Hydro ASA
    Inventors: Per Gramme, Gunnar Hannibal Lie
  • Patent number: 8002991
    Abstract: Systems and methods for dewatering drilling fluid including a feeder, an aging tank, a polyductor configured between the feeder and the aging tank and a flocculant solution pump fluidly connected to the aging tank. Further, the system includes a portable skid to house the feeder, the aging tank, the polyductor, and the flocculant solution pump. In certain embodiments, the polyductor is configured to mix a liquid with a dry flocculant from the feeder, and disperse a resultant flocculant solution in the aging tank, the aging tank is configured to receive the flocculant solution, and the flocculant solution pump is configured to remove the flocculant solution from the aging tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: M-I LLC
    Inventors: Gary E. Fout, Julio Roberto Ronderos, Catalin Ivan
  • Patent number: 8002980
    Abstract: A former (11) works, when supplied with wastewater containing heavy metals and hydrogen sulfide, to react heavy metals contained in wastewater with hydrogen sulfide to form sulfide salts, an acquirer (12) works, when supplied with sulfide salts and acid, to acquire hydrogen sulfide and heavy metal ions produced by reactions between sulfide salts and acid, a hydrogen sulfide supply line (13) supplies hydrogen sulfide acquired by the acquirer to the former, and a collection line (20) collects heavy metal ions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Ryoichi Arimura, Nobuyuki Ashikaga, Takashi Menju, Atsushi Yukawa, Hiromi Tsukui, Hirofumi Noguchi, Shinji Oono
  • Patent number: 7998351
    Abstract: Composition and method of use for tannin based environmentally benign polymeric coagulants are disclosed. Tannin based coagulants are copolymers of naturally occurring tannins and a cationic monomer. One embodiment of the present invention provides for a composition, of a tannin based polymeric coagulant which is comprised of N,N-(dimethylaminoethyl) methacrylate (MADAME) polymerized using t-butylhydroperoxide and sodium metabisulfite. The resulting polyMADAME is converted to hydrochloride and then blended/reacted in an aqueous medium with tannin to obtain a homogenous poly(MADAME)-tannin composition. The method of use comprises adding an amount of the composition effective for the purpose of clarifying oily wastewater from food and beverage, steel, automotive, transportation, refinery, pharmaceutical, metals, paper and pulp, chemical processing and hydrocarbon processing industries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Inventors: Vinod Kumar Rai, Ashok Shyadligeri, Baraka Kawawa, Abdul Rafi Khwaja, Narain Madhavan
  • Patent number: 7993526
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for dewatering of effluents through the use of automated optimization using feedback control. The method and apparatus for feedback control optimizes dewatering processes for any water cleansing process that uses retention and/or flocculation aids (e.g., polymers) to impact endpoint water clarity. Disclosed implementations include processing using dissolved air flotation (DAF) and sludge cake formation. The methodology includes real-time monitoring of turbidity and incremental control of polymer to manage changes to turbidity/suspended solids due to operating parameters such as temperature, chemical variations, and mechanical influences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Inventor: James M. Dunbar