Patents by Inventor Bjarne Ekberg
Bjarne Ekberg 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: 11141679Abstract: An ultrasound crystallization device includes a tubular crystallization reactor (102) for conducting process fluid containing substance to be crystallized, an ultrasound source (104) for radiating ultrasound to the tubular crystallization reactor, and a temperature-control structure (105) for controlling the temperature of the process fluid with the aid of temperature-control fluid. The tubular crystallization reactor is shaped to conduct the process fluid to flow around the ultrasound source, and the temperature-control structure comprises a flow-guide structure (106) for guiding at least a part of the temperature-control fluid to flow around the ultrasound source. The flow-guide structure improves the accuracy of the temperature control of the process fluid and also the ability of the temperature control to react to changes.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2017Date of Patent: October 12, 2021Assignee: LAPPEENRANNAN-LAHDEN TEKNILLINEN YLIOPISTO LUTInventors: Tuomas Koiranen, Bjarne Ekberg, Antti Häkkinen, Juha Varis, Marjatta Louhi-Kultanen
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Patent number: 10814282Abstract: A filter element for a filter apparatus includes at least one filter member and a frame member arranged to support the at least one filter member in such a manner that an internal cavity is formed. The filter member includes a permeable membrane layer which has a first filter surface for receiving a pressure and directed towards an internal cavity arranged in-side the filter element, and a second filter surface for receiving solid particles filtered from a feed. The filter member forms a capillary filter.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2015Date of Patent: October 27, 2020Assignee: OUTOTEC (FINLAND) OYInventors: Kari Vänttinen, Ismo Juvonen, Rolf Hindström, Bjarne Ekberg, Mika Illi, Edward Vroman, Laura Simola, Olli Högnabba
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Patent number: 10653982Abstract: A vacuum belt filter including a belt with a plurality of vacuum boxes, filter means being arranged to the vacuum boxes, drive means for moving the belt, and a suction station for creating an underpressure to the vacuum boxes at the suction station. In order to enable liquid-solid separation at low energy costs and long service interval of the vacuum belt filter, the filter means is in the form of a capillary filter, each vacuum box being provided with such a filter and each vacuum box being provided with an outlet having a check valve enabling a fluid flow from the inside space of the vacuum box to the outside of the vacuum box for creating an underpressure in the vacuum box when the suction station is connected to the vacuum box.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2016Date of Patent: May 19, 2020Assignee: OUTOTEC (FINLAND) OYInventors: Kari Vänttinen, Mika Illi, Bjarne Ekberg
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Patent number: 10625178Abstract: A method for separating organic solvent(s) from an aqueous process stream including organic solvent(s), includes passing the aqueous stream including organic solvent(s) through a granular bed including glass granules, wherein at least 90% of said glass granules have a maximum particle diameter smaller than 1.0 mm.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2018Date of Patent: April 21, 2020Assignee: OUTOTEC (FINLAND) OYInventors: Markku Kuosa, Antti Häkkinen, Leena Tanttu, Timo Jauhiainen, Bjarne Ekberg
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Publication number: 20190374872Abstract: An ultrasound crystallization device comprises a tubular crystallization reactor (102) for conducting process fluid containing substance to be crystallized, an ultrasound source (104) for radiating ultrasound to the tubular crystallization reactor, and a temperature-control structure (105) for controlling the temperature of the process fluid with the aid of temperature-control fluid. The tubular crystallization reactor is shaped to conduct the process fluid to flow around the ultrasound source, and the temperature-control structure comprises a flow-guide structure (106) for guiding at least a part of the temperature-control fluid to flow around the ultrasound source. The flow-guide structure improves the accuracy of the temperature control of the process fluid and also the ability of the temperature control to react to changes.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2017Publication date: December 12, 2019Inventors: Tuomas KOIRANEN, Bjarne EKBERG, Antti HÄKKINEN, Juha VARIS, Marjatta LOUHI-KULTANEN
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Publication number: 20190368965Abstract: A system for determining a leak flow of a vacuum system of a vacuum filter includes a controller for adjusting speed of a filtration media of the vacuum filter and/or for adjusting supply rate of slurry onto the filtration media. The system includes a pressure sensor for determining pressure difference affecting over the filtration media and a layer of the slurry carried by the filtration media, and a device for determining flow rate through a vacuum pump that maintains the pressure difference. The speed of the filtration media and/or the supply rate of the slurry is/are adjusted so that the slurry is fully saturated by liquid along a whole filtration area affected by the pressure difference. Thus, fluid flow through the layer of the slurry is negligible and therefore the determined flow rate is indicative of the leak flow of the vacuum system.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 8, 2018Publication date: December 5, 2019Inventors: Manu HUTTUNEN, Lauri NYGREN, Teemu KINNARINEN, Tuomo LINDH, Jero AHOLA, Antti HÄKKINEN, Vesa KARVONEN, Bjarne EKBERG
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Publication number: 20180369718Abstract: A method for separating organic solvent(s) from an aqueous process stream including organic solvent(s), includes passing the aqueous stream including organic solvent(s) through a granular bed including glass granules, wherein at least 90% of said glass granules have a maximum particle diameter smaller than 1.0 mm.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 4, 2018Publication date: December 27, 2018Inventors: Markku KUOSA, Antti HÄKKINEN, Leena TANTTU, Timo JAUHIAINEN, Bjarne EKBERG
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Publication number: 20180361280Abstract: A vacuum belt filter including a belt with a plurality of vacuum boxes, filter means being arranged to the vacuum boxes, drive means for moving the belt, and a suction station for creating an underpressure to the vacuum boxes at the suction station. In order to enable liquid-solid separation at low energy costs and long service interval of the vacuum belt filter, the filter means is in the form of a capillary filter, each vacuum box being provided with such a filter and each vacuum box being provided with an outlet having a check valve enabling a fluid flow from the inside space of the vacuum box to the outside of the vacuum box for creating an underpressure in the vacuum box when the suction station is connected to the vacuum box.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 2, 2016Publication date: December 20, 2018Inventors: Kari VÄNTTINEN, Mika ILLI, Bjarne EKBERG
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Publication number: 20180326357Abstract: A filter element for a filter apparatus includes at least one filter member and a frame member arranged to support the at least one filter member in such a manner that an internal cavity is formed. The filter member includes a permeable membrane layer which has a first filter surface for receiving a pressure and directed towards an internal cavity arranged in-side the filter element, and a second filter surface for receiving solid particles filtered from a feed. The filter member forms a capillary filter.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2015Publication date: November 15, 2018Inventors: Kari VÄNTTINEN, Ismo JUVONEN, Rolf HINDSTRÖM, Bjarne EKBERG, Mika ILLI, Edward VROMAN, Laura SIMOLA, Olli HÖGNABBA
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Publication number: 20160121245Abstract: Magnetic elements are provided inside a ceramic filter plate for creating a magnetic field. In an embodiment of the invention, magnetic elements are located in cavities provided in partition walls which define filtrate channels between themselves. The filter plate can be used for increasing filtration capacity particularly in magnetite applications. The magnetic field causes an attractive force on the magnetic particles and thus increases the amount of material forming on the filter plate in a vacuum filter, such as a capillary action filter, conventional rotary vacuum filter or drum filter or capillary action drum filter.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 30, 2014Publication date: May 5, 2016Applicant: OUTOTEC (FINLAND) OYInventors: Bjarne EKBERG, Jason PALMER
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Publication number: 20140346104Abstract: The invention relates to a ceramic filter element (22) for removal of liquid from solids containing material in a capillary suction dryer. The filter element comprises a ceramic substrate covered by a sintered ceramic microporous layer (31). The sintered microporous membrane layer is provided with coarse solid particles (71) of a particle size larger than a pore size of the membrane material layer (31) so as to form a textured surface (50) which prevents a filter cake from sliding off the surface of the filter element prior to the intended cake discharge.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2013Publication date: November 27, 2014Applicant: Outotec (Filters) OyInventors: Bjarne Ekberg, Olli Högnabba, Rolf Hindstöm, David Eveland, Edward Vroman
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Publication number: 20120152863Abstract: A liquid extraction filter, more particularly a continuous-action, top-feed, vacuum drum filter includes a drum structure and filter elements, the filtration surface of which filter elements is formed of microporous hydrophilic material such that when filtering with a partial vacuum it is impervious to the surrounding air.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 24, 2012Publication date: June 21, 2012Inventors: Bjarne EKBERG, Olli Högnabba, Jason Palmer
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Publication number: 20110031193Abstract: The object of the invention is a liquid extraction filter, more particularly a continuous-action, top-feed, vacuum drum filter. What is essential in the invention is that the filter comprises a drum structure (1) and filter elements (2), the filtration surface of which filter elements is formed of microporous hydrophilic material such that when filtering with a partial vacuum it is impervious to the surrounding air.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 2, 2009Publication date: February 10, 2011Applicant: OUTOTEC (FILTERS) OYInventors: Bjarne Ekberg, Olli Högnabba, Jason Palmer
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Publication number: 20050284805Abstract: The invention relates to a microporous filter plate to be used in a suction drier, particularly in a capillary filter, the filter plate of which contains a membrane with a mean pore size of about 1 micrometer, a substrate, whereon the membrane is positioned, and a recessed area in the interior of the filter plate with cavities for a filtrate and for a backwash liquid. According to the invention the recessed area in the interior of the filter plate is provided with supporting elements, in which the ratio between the longest dimension and the shortest dimension is in maximum 1.5 in the cross-section parallel to the filtration surface of the filter plate, for allowing liquid to flow essentially simultaneously and easily in all directions and for the structure of the filter plate being durable for stresses based on pressure peaks.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 4, 2003Publication date: December 29, 2005Inventors: Olli Hognabba, Bjarne Ekberg, Veikko Varjonen, Dave Eveland, Jeffrey Yost
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Publication number: 20040104164Abstract: The invention relates to a filter element and its manufacture to be used in removal of liquid from solids containing material to be dried in a capillary suction dryer which filter element contains a ceramic microporous layer having the pore size under 5 micrometer and supported by a ceramic internal layer having recess areas for liquid flowing. The internal layer is made of at least one substrate which continuously surrounds at least one recess area and which ceramic internal layer is surrounded by at least one essentially continuous microporous surface layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 3, 2003Publication date: June 3, 2004Inventors: Kerry Johnson, Olli Hognabba, Bjarne Ekberg
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Publication number: 20040069702Abstract: The invention relates to a filter element for removing moisture contained in a material to be dried and for creating a filter cake of the material to be dried on the filtering surface of the filter element. According to the invention, the filtering surface (1. 6) the filter element (11) is composed of at least two parts (2,3;7,8) where mutually different filtering conditions can be created in order to form a filter cake containing at least one component to be filtered on the whole filtering surface (1,6) of the filter element (11).Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2003Publication date: April 15, 2004Inventors: Bjarne Ekberg, Olli Hognabba
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Publication number: 20040069722Abstract: The invention relates to a filtration method where the material to be filtered is brought into contact with the filtering surface of a filtering medium arranged in a suction drier, and on the filtering surface for the filtering medium, there is formed a filter cake, and the filter cake is subjected to a drying process constituting at least one step prior to removing the filter cake from the filtering surface of the filtering medium. According to the invention, in the filter cake drying process there is performed at least one drying step (12,22,32,42) during which gas is prevented from flowing through the filtering medium, and at least one drying step (13,23,33,44) during which gas flows through the filtering medium.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2003Publication date: April 15, 2004Inventors: Bjarne Ekberg, Olli Hognabba
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Patent number: 6596168Abstract: The invention relates to a filter element and its manufacture to be used in removal of liquid from solids containing material to be dried in a capillary suction dryer which filter element contains a ceramic microporous layer having the pore size under 5 micrometer and supported by a ceramic internal layer having recess areas for liquid flowing. The internal layer is made of at least one substrate which continuously surrounds at least one recess area and which ceramic internal layer is surrounded by at least one essentially continuous microporous surface layer.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2001Date of Patent: July 22, 2003Assignee: Outokumpu OyjInventors: Kerry Johnson, Olli Högnabba, Bjarne Ekberg
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Publication number: 20020092807Abstract: The invention relates to a filter element and its manufacture to be used in removal of liquid from solids containing material to be dried in a capillary suction dryer which filter element contains a ceramic microporous layer having the pore size under 5 micrometer and supported by a ceramic internal layer having recess areas for liquid flowing. The internal layer is made of at least one substrate which continuously surrounds at least one recess area and which ceramic internal layer is surrounded by at least one essentially continuous microporous surface layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2001Publication date: July 18, 2002Inventors: Kerry Johnson, Olli Hognabba, Bjarne Ekberg
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Patent number: 6351895Abstract: The invention relates to a method for making the drying of materials, particularly finely divided materials, more effective, in which method, of a slurry containing liquid and solids there is made a filter cake (2,12,22) onto the surface of the filter medium (1,11,21). According to the invention, the filter cake (2,12,22) and the oscillator (6,15,25) are arranged, in relation to each other, so that in between the filter cake (2,12,22) and the oscillator (6,15,25), there is generated an acoustic field by virtue of a mechanical contact between the filter cake (2,12,22) and the oscillator (6,15,25) or a structural element (7,16,26) connected to the oscillator.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 1999Date of Patent: March 5, 2002Assignee: Outokumpu OyjInventors: Bjarne Ekberg, Göran Norrgård, Juan A. Gallego Juárez, Germán Rodriguez Corral, Luis Elvira Segura