Patents by Inventor Ann Wilkie

Ann Wilkie 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).

  • Publication number: 20050167359
    Abstract: An apparatus for the fixed-film anaerobic digestion of flushed livestock manure includes an enclosed digester tank (fixed or flexible roof), internal media for biofilm development, a biogas collection and flare system, various pumps, and hydraulic control systems. The preferred media has substantially vertically-oriented, uninterrupted channels to promote enhanced bacterial attachment and biofilm development. The immobilization of microbial biomass within the reactor as a biofilm allows effective treatment of the wastewater at ambient and higher temperatures, as well as reasonable hydraulic retention times. The composition and concentration of bacterial groups in the biofilm developed on the media in the fixed-film digester result in a significantly enhanced anaerobic degradation process. This novel fixed-film digester design expands the potential application of anaerobic digestion to dilute livestock waste with significant levels of suspended solids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2004
    Publication date: August 4, 2005
    Inventor: Ann Wilkie