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).

  • Patent number: 11141679
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: LAPPEENRANNAN-LAHDEN TEKNILLINEN YLIOPISTO LUT
    Inventors: Tuomas Koiranen, Bjarne Ekberg, Antti Häkkinen, Juha Varis, Marjatta Louhi-Kultanen
  • Patent number: 10814282
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: OUTOTEC (FINLAND) OY
    Inventors: Kari Vänttinen, Ismo Juvonen, Rolf Hindström, Bjarne Ekberg, Mika Illi, Edward Vroman, Laura Simola, Olli Högnabba
  • Patent number: 10653982
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: OUTOTEC (FINLAND) OY
    Inventors: Kari Vänttinen, Mika Illi, Bjarne Ekberg
  • Patent number: 10625178
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: OUTOTEC (FINLAND) OY
    Inventors: Markku Kuosa, Antti Häkkinen, Leena Tanttu, Timo Jauhiainen, Bjarne Ekberg
  • Publication number: 20190374872
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Inventors: Tuomas KOIRANEN, Bjarne EKBERG, Antti HÄKKINEN, Juha VARIS, Marjatta LOUHI-KULTANEN
  • Publication number: 20190368965
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2018
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventors: Manu HUTTUNEN, Lauri NYGREN, Teemu KINNARINEN, Tuomo LINDH, Jero AHOLA, Antti HÄKKINEN, Vesa KARVONEN, Bjarne EKBERG
  • Publication number: 20180369718
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Markku KUOSA, Antti HÄKKINEN, Leena TANTTU, Timo JAUHIAINEN, Bjarne EKBERG
  • Publication number: 20180361280
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Kari VÄNTTINEN, Mika ILLI, Bjarne EKBERG
  • Publication number: 20180326357
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2015
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: Kari VÄNTTINEN, Ismo JUVONEN, Rolf HINDSTRÖM, Bjarne EKBERG, Mika ILLI, Edward VROMAN, Laura SIMOLA, Olli HÖGNABBA
  • Publication number: 20160121245
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Applicant: OUTOTEC (FINLAND) OY
    Inventors: Bjarne EKBERG, Jason PALMER
  • Publication number: 20140346104
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: Outotec (Filters) Oy
    Inventors: Bjarne Ekberg, Olli Högnabba, Rolf Hindstöm, David Eveland, Edward Vroman
  • Publication number: 20120152863
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Inventors: Bjarne EKBERG, Olli Högnabba, Jason Palmer
  • Publication number: 20110031193
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Applicant: OUTOTEC (FILTERS) OY
    Inventors: Bjarne Ekberg, Olli Högnabba, Jason Palmer
  • Publication number: 20050284805
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2003
    Publication date: December 29, 2005
    Inventors: Olli Hognabba, Bjarne Ekberg, Veikko Varjonen, Dave Eveland, Jeffrey Yost
  • Publication number: 20040104164
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2003
    Publication date: June 3, 2004
    Inventors: Kerry Johnson, Olli Hognabba, Bjarne Ekberg
  • Publication number: 20040069702
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2003
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Inventors: Bjarne Ekberg, Olli Hognabba
  • Publication number: 20040069722
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2003
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Inventors: Bjarne Ekberg, Olli Hognabba
  • Patent number: 6596168
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Outokumpu Oyj
    Inventors: Kerry Johnson, Olli Högnabba, Bjarne Ekberg
  • Publication number: 20020092807
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2001
    Publication date: July 18, 2002
    Inventors: Kerry Johnson, Olli Hognabba, Bjarne Ekberg
  • Patent number: 6351895
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Assignee: Outokumpu Oyj
    Inventors: Bjarne Ekberg, Göran Norrgård, Juan A. Gallego Juárez, Germán Rodriguez Corral, Luis Elvira Segura