Patents by Inventor Amy E. Childress
Amy E. Childress 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).
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Patent number: 8801934Abstract: Systems and methods for osmotically assisted desalination include using a pressurized concentrate from a pressure desalination process to pressurize a feed to the desalination process. The depressurized concentrate thereby produced is used as a draw solution for a pressure-retarded osmosis process. The pressure-retarded osmosis unit produces a pressurized draw solution stream that is used to pressurize another feed to the desalination process. In one example, the feed to the pressure-retarded osmosis process is impaired water.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2011Date of Patent: August 12, 2014Assignees: Board of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher Education, on behalf of the Univeristy of Nevada, Reno, Colorado School of MinesInventors: Andrea Achilli, Amy E. Childress, Tzahi Y. Cath
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Publication number: 20120280814Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for sensing and derived information conveyance as disclosed. One electrical device includes an electronic circuit and executable instructions provided by at least one of: software stored in memory associated with the circuit or provided in firmware within the circuit, wherein the circuit receives raw sensor data from one or more sensors associated with the circuit, analyzes the data, and creates a report document that includes one or more features of the analysis of the data.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2012Publication date: November 8, 2012Applicant: PAKSENSE, INC.Inventors: Arthur G. Beale, Kevin C. Hess, Amy E. Childress, Thomas P. Jensen, Casimir E. Lawler, JR., Elias H. Roby, III
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Patent number: 8216474Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and systems for purifying liquids. In a particular implementation, the system includes a forward-osmosis unit for diluting a water source for a downstream desalination unit. A pretreatment unit may be located hydraulically upstream of the desalination unit, such as upstream or downstream of the forward-osmosis unit. In certain embodiments, the system includes an extraction unit for extracting a relatively easily extractable osmotic agent from an osmotic draw solution. The system may include one or more forward-osmosis units downstream of the desalination unit for diluting a concentrated brine stream produced by the desalination unit. In particular embodiments, a downstream forward-osmosis unit uses the concentrated brine stream as an osmotic agent, such as to extract water from seawater or brackish water. Another downstream forward-osmosis unit may use impaired water as a feed stream.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2011Date of Patent: July 10, 2012Assignee: The Board of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher EducationInventors: Tzahi Y. Cath, Amy E. Childress
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Publication number: 20120037566Abstract: Systems and methods for osmotically assisted desalination include using a pressurized concentrate from a pressure desalination process to pressurize a feed to the desalination process. The depressurized concentrate thereby produced is used as a draw solution for a pressure-retarded osmosis process. The pressure-retarded osmosis unit produces a pressurized draw solution stream that is used to pressurize another feed to the desalination process. In one example, the feed to the pressure-retarded osmosis process is impaired water.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2011Publication date: February 16, 2012Inventors: Andrea Achilli, Amy E. Childress, Tzahi Y. Cath
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Patent number: 8083942Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and systems for purifying liquids. In a particular implementation, the system includes a forward-osmosis unit for diluting a water source for a downstream desalination unit. A pretreatment unit may be located hydraulically upstream of the desalination unit, such as upstream or downstream of the forward-osmosis unit. In certain embodiments, the system includes an extraction unit for extracting a relatively easily extractable osmotic agent from an osmotic draw solution. The system may include one or more forward-osmosis units downstream of the desalination unit for diluting a concentrated brine stream produced by the desalination unit. In particular embodiments, a downstream forward-osmosis unit uses the concentrated brine stream as an osmotic agent, such as to extract water from seawater or brackish water. Another downstream forward-osmosis unit may use impaired water as a feed stream.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2005Date of Patent: December 27, 2011Assignee: Board of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher Education, on Behalf of the Universary of Nevada, RenoInventors: Tzahi Y. Cath, Amy E. Childress
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Patent number: 8029671Abstract: In some embodiments, systems and methods are provided for purifying a liquid, such as an impaired water. In some examples, seawater or brackish water is purified, such as to a potable level. Some configurations provide a system which includes a membrane-distillation unit, such as a vacuum-enhanced direct contact membrane distillation unit. The system also includes a forward-osmosis system, which may include one or more forward-osmosis units. A concentrated draw stream from the membrane-distillation unit, such as a concentrated brine solution, serves as a draw solution for a forward-osmosis unit, which may extract water from a source water, such as an impaired water. In some implementations, the forward-osmosis system includes a second forward-osmosis unit which uses the diluted draw solution from the first forward-osmosis unit as a draw solution to extract water from a source water. The system may include additional components, such as a heater or a buffer tank.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2007Date of Patent: October 4, 2011Assignee: Board of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher Education, on Behalf of the University of Nevada, RenoInventors: Tzahi Y. Cath, Amy E. Childress, Christopher R. Martinetti
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Publication number: 20110233137Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and systems for purifying liquids. In a particular implementation, the system includes a forward-osmosis unit for diluting a water source for a downstream desalination unit. A pretreatment unit may be located hydraulically upstream of the desalination unit, such as upstream or downstream of the forward-osmosis unit. In certain embodiments, the system includes an extraction unit for extracting a relatively easily extractable osmotic agent from an osmotic draw solution. The system may include one or more forward-osmosis units downstream of the desalination unit for diluting a concentrated brine stream produced by the desalination unit. In particular embodiments, a downstream forward-osmosis unit uses the concentrated brine stream as an osmotic agent, such as to extract water from seawater or brackish water. Another downstream forward-osmosis unit may use impaired water as a feed stream.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2011Publication date: September 29, 2011Inventors: Tzahi Y. Cath, Amy E. Childress
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Patent number: 7914680Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and systems for purifying liquids. In a particular implementation, the system includes a forward-osmosis unit for diluting a water source for a downstream desalination unit. A pretreatment unit may be located hydraulically upstream of the desalination unit, such as upstream or downstream of the forward-osmosis unit. In certain embodiments, the system includes an extraction unit for extracting a relatively easily extractable osmotic agent from an osmotic draw solution. The system may include one or more forward-osmosis units downstream of the desalination unit for diluting a concentrated brine stream produced by the desalination unit. In particular embodiments, a downstream forward-osmosis unit uses the concentrated brine stream as an osmotic agent, such as to extract water from seawater or brackish water. Another downstream forward-osmosis unit may use impaired water as a feed stream.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2010Date of Patent: March 29, 2011Assignee: Board of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher Education, on behalf of the University of Nevada, RenoInventors: Tzahi Y. Cath, Amy E. Childress
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Publication number: 20110017666Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and systems for purifying liquids. In a particular implementation, the system includes a forward-osmosis unit for diluting a water source for a downstream desalination unit. A pretreatment unit may be located hydraulically upstream of the desalination unit, such as upstream or downstream of the forward-osmosis unit. In certain embodiments, the system includes an extraction unit for extracting a relatively easily extractable osmotic agent from an osmotic draw solution. The system may include one or more forward-osmosis units downstream of the desalination unit for diluting a concentrated brine stream produced by the desalination unit. In particular embodiments, a downstream forward-osmosis unit uses the concentrated brine stream as an osmotic agent, such as to extract water from seawater or brackish water. Another downstream forward-osmosis unit may use impaired water as a feed stream.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 15, 2010Publication date: January 27, 2011Inventors: Tzahi Y. Cath, Amy E. Childress
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Publication number: 20100282656Abstract: In one embodiment, the present disclosure provides an osmotic barrier system that includes a production well, providing a source of saline water, and a source of feed water. An osmosis unit receives the feed water and saline water and osmotically dilutes the saline water with water from the feed water. Diluted saline water from the osmosis unit is injected into a recharge well located upstream from the production well. In another embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method of forming an osmotic barrier. A saline solution is obtained from a production well and passed to a draw side of an osmosis unit. A feed solution is passed onto a feed side of the osmosis unit. The saline solution is osmotically diluted with water from the feed solution and the diluted saline solution is provided to a recharge well located upstream from the production well.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2010Publication date: November 11, 2010Inventors: Tzahi Y. Cath, Amy E. Childress
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Publication number: 20100224476Abstract: In some embodiments, systems and methods are provided for purifying a liquid, such as an impaired water. In some examples, seawater or brackish water is purified, such as to a potable level. Some configurations provide a system which includes a membrane-distillation unit, such as a vacuum-enhanced direct contact membrane distillation unit. The system also includes a forward-osmosis system, which may include one or more forward-osmosis units. A concentrated draw stream from the membrane-distillation unit, such as a concentrated brine solution, serves as a draw solution for a forward-osmosis unit, which may extract water from a source water, such as an impaired water. In some implementations, the forward-osmosis system includes a second forward-osmosis unit which uses the diluted draw solution from the first forward-osmosis unit as a draw solution to extract water from a source water. The system may include additional components, such as a heater or a buffer tank.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 13, 2007Publication date: September 9, 2010Inventors: Tzahi Y. Cath, Amy E. Childress, Christopher R. Martinetti
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Publication number: 20100089830Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and systems for purifying an impaired liquid. In a particular example, the disclosure provides methods and systems for purifying water containing a solute. A feed stream of solute containing water is introduced in a flow chamber. A permeate stream of water at least substantially free of the solute is placed in the flow chamber. A hydrophobic membrane is placed between the feed stream and the permeate stream. A vacuum is applied to the permeate stream. A vapor pressure differential causes water to vaporize from the feed stream, pass through the hydrophobic membrane, and condense in the permeate stream.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2009Publication date: April 15, 2010Inventors: Tzahi Y. Cath, V. Dean Adams, Amy E. Childress
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Patent number: 7608188Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and systems for purifying an impaired liquid. In a particular example, the disclosure provides methods and systems for purifying water containing a solute. A feed stream of solute containing water is introduced in a flow chamber. A permeate stream of water at least substantially free of the solute is placed in the flow chamber. A hydrophobic membrane is placed between the feed stream and the permeate stream. A vacuum is applied to the permeate stream. A vapor pressure differential causes water to vaporize from the feed stream, pass through the hydrophobic membrane, and condense in the permeate stream.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2005Date of Patent: October 27, 2009Assignee: Board of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher EducationInventors: Tzahi Y. Cath, V. Dean Adams, Amy E. Childress