Patents by Inventor Ahren Thomas Britton

Ahren Thomas Britton has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10513470
    Abstract: A homogeneous fertilizer granule comprises slow-release (e.g. struvite) and fast release sources of phosphorus (P). The homogeneous fertilizer granule may further contain other essential nutrients and micronutrients required by plants. A number of methods may be used to make such granules. One method includes introducing a struvite slurry or fines and a liquid supply of water soluble P into a granulator. Alternatively, dry raw materials can be mixed with water/steam and/or another binder prior to being fed into a granulator. In another embodiment, pre-mixed dry raw materials are mechanically compacted and crushed to yield homogeneous fertilizer particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Ostara Nutrient Recovery Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Donald R. Clark, Dan Michael Froehlich, Ahren Thomas Britton
  • Publication number: 20180319715
    Abstract: A homogeneous fertilizer granule comprises slow-release (e.g. struvite) and fast release sources of phosphorus (P). The homogeneous fertilizer granule may further contain other essential nutrients and micronutrients required by plants. A number of methods may be used to make such granules. One method includes introducing a struvite slurry or fines and a liquid supply of water soluble P into a granulator. Alternatively, dry raw materials can be mixed with water/steam and/or another binder prior to being fed into a granulator. In another embodiment, pre-mixed dry raw materials are mechanically compacted and crushed to yield homogeneous fertilizer particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: Donald R. CLARK, Dan Michael FROEHLICH, Ahren Thomas BRITTON
  • Patent number: 9878960
    Abstract: A homogeneous fertilizer granule comprises slow-release (e.g. struvite) and fast release sources of phosphorus (P). The homogeneous fertilizer granule may further contain other essential nutrients and micronutrients required by plants. A number of methods may be used to make such granules. One method includes introducing a struvite slurry or fines and a liquid supply of water soluble P into a granulator. Alternatively, dry raw materials can be mixed with water/steam and/or another binder prior to being fed into a granulator. In another embodiment, pre-mixed dry raw materials are mechanically compacted and crushed to yield homogeneous fertilizer particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Ostara Nutrient Recovery Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Donald R. Clark, Dan Michael Froehlich, Ahren Thomas Britton
  • Publication number: 20160130191
    Abstract: A homogeneous fertilizer granule comprises slow-release (e.g. struvite) and fast release sources of phosphorus (P). The homogeneous fertilizer granule may further contain other essential nutrients and micronutrients required by plants. A number of methods may be used to make such granules. One method includes introducing a struvite slurry or fines and a liquid supply of water soluble P into a granulator. Alternatively, dry raw materials can be mixed with water/steam and/or another binder prior to being fed into a granulator. In another embodiment, pre-mixed dry raw materials are mechanically compacted and crushed to yield homogeneous fertilizer particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Inventors: Donald R. CLARK, Dan Michael FROEHLICH, Ahren Thomas BRITTON
  • Patent number: 8999007
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for precipitating dissolved materials from a solution involve reduction of fines. In an embodiment, the method comprises: introducing a solution into a reactor, causing the dissolved materials in the solution to precipitate into crystals under a first reaction condition, adjusting the reaction condition from the first reaction condition to a second reaction condition, maintaining the reaction condition in the second reaction condition to cause a sub-population of the crystals to dissolve, and adjusting the reaction condition from the second reaction condition to the first reaction condition. In an embodiment, the apparatus comprises a reaction tank, a recycling path and at least an acid injector which is configured for dosing an acid into solution flow in the recycling path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Ostara Nutrient Recovery Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Ahren Thomas Britton, Donald R. Clark, Ram Prasad Melahalli Sathyanarayana
  • Publication number: 20150017085
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for precipitating dissolved materials from a solution involve reduction of fines. In an embodiment, the method comprises: introducing a solution into a reactor, causing the dissolved materials in the solution to precipitate into crystals under a first reaction condition, adjusting the reaction condition from the first reaction condition to a second reaction condition, maintaining the reaction condition in the second reaction condition to cause a sub-population of the crystals to dissolve, and adjusting the reaction condition from the second reaction condition to the first reaction condition. In an embodiment, the apparatus comprises a reaction tank, a recycling path and at least an acid injector which is configured for dosing an acid into solution flow in the recycling path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: Ahren Thomas Britton, Donald R. Clark, Ram Prasad Melahalli Sathyanarayana
  • Patent number: 7922897
    Abstract: A fluidized bed reactor for removing phosphorus and nitrogen from wastewater has a column comprising a number of sections. The diameter of the column changes stepwise between the sections. A flow velocity in excess of 100 cm/min is maintained in a lowermost one of the sections and lower flow velocities are maintained in subsequent sections. A struvite supersaturation ratio is controlled in part by recycling wastewater from an outlet of the column. Struvite pellets are removed periodically from the bottom of the column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: The University of British Columbia
    Inventors: Fred A. Koch, Donald S. Mavinic, Noboru Yonemitsu, Ahren Thomas Britton
  • Publication number: 20100047134
    Abstract: A fluidized bed reactor for removing phosphorus and nitrogen from wastewater has a column comprising a number of sections. The diameter of the column changes stepwise between the sections. A flow velocity in excess of 100 cm/min is maintained in a lowermost one of the sections and lower flow velocities are maintained in subsequent sections. A struvite supersaturation ratio is controlled in part by recycling wastewater from an outlet of the column. Struvite pellets are removed periodically from the bottom of the column.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
    Inventors: Fred A. KOCH, Donald S. MAVINIC, Noboru YONEMITSU, Ahren Thomas BRITTON