Patents by Inventor Bruce L. Brandenburg

Bruce L. Brandenburg 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: 9630867
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for the treatment of caustic wastewater. Specifically, systems and methods are provided for combining refinery spent caustic and ethylene spent caustic solutions and treating the combined spent caustic mixture using a wet air oxidation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Bryan J. Kumfer, Chad L. Felch, Bruce L. Brandenburg, Richard W. Lehmann
  • Publication number: 20140251924
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for the treatment of caustic wastewater. Specifically, systems and methods are provided for combining refinery spent caustic and ethylene spent caustic solutions and treating the combined spent caustic mixture using a wet air oxidation process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan J. Kumfer, Chad L. Felch, Bruce L. Brandenburg, Richard W. Lehmann, Timothy Schleusner
  • Patent number: 8734648
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for the treatment of caustic wastewater. Specifically, systems and methods are provided for combining refinery spent caustic and ethylene spent caustic solutions and treating the combined spent caustic mixture using a wet air oxidation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan J. Kumfer, Chad L. Felch, Bruce L. Brandenburg, Richard W. Lehmann
  • Patent number: 7850822
    Abstract: A wet oxidation process is used to control the concentration of reduced sulfur compounds from a viscose process. The wet oxidation process oxidizes the reduced sulfur compounds to convert such reduced sulfur compounds to an alkali sulfate and/or thiosulfate species. The alkali sulfate stream is recycled to the viscose process. Oxidation is performed under elevated temperature and pressure conditions such that the offgas has an oxygen concentration of between about 2% to 18% and the alkali sulfate stream has a pH of about 2 to 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Water Technologies Holding Corp.
    Inventors: Chad L. Felch, Richard W. Lehmann, Todd J. Wingers, Bruce L. Brandenburg, William M. Copa
  • Publication number: 20100252500
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for the treatment of caustic wastewater. Specifically, systems and methods are provided for combining refinery spent caustic and ethylene spent caustic solutions and treating the combined spent caustic mixture using a wet air oxidation process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Inventors: Bryan J. Kumfer, Chad L. Felch, Bruce L. Brandenburg, Richard W. Lehmann
  • Patent number: 5340473
    Abstract: An apparatus for mixing pressurized air with pressurized waste liquor at the inlet of a wet oxidation system heat exchanger device is disclosed. The apparatus is a T-shaped piping member with an inline first inlet and outlet and a second inlet oriented at about a right angle to said inline first inlet. The outlet is connected to an inlet tube of a tube and shell heat exchanger. A conduit supplies a pressurized waste liquor stream to the piping member through the second inlet. An oxygen-containing gas supply conduit, with circumferential sealing means, extends from exterior the T-shaped member, through the first inlet and terminates at a point beyond the intersection of the first and second inlets. The circumferential sealing means seals to the first inlet. The liquor entering the T-shaped member is heated to a selected elevated temperature prior to contacting a pressurized oxygen-containing gas supplied from the gas supply conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Assignee: Zimpro Environmental, Inc.
    Inventors: Russell D. Roberts, Bruce L. Brandenburg, Claude E. Ellis
  • Patent number: 5262060
    Abstract: This is a process for wet oxidation of an ammonium salt containing waste liquor which prevents plugging of the vapor-carrying lines of the wet oxidation system. The vapor-carrying lines are maintained in an unobstructed condition by adding sufficient liquid water to dissolve condensed ammonium salt which can plug these lines. This provides for safe operation of the wet oxidation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1993
    Assignee: Zimpro Passavant Environmental Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard W. Lehmann, Bruce L. Brandenburg
  • Patent number: 5234607
    Abstract: The invention is a process for starting up a wet oxidation system using essentially pure oxygen for oxidation of a concentrated wastewater. Flow of startup water and air is established through the wet oxidation system at an elevated temperature and pressure. An incremental increase in flow of oxygen and wastewater to the system commences while simultaneously an incremental decrease in flow of startup water and air occurs, raising system temperature in a controlled fashion. The incremental changes in flows are repeated until the wastewater and pure oxygen have reached about 100 percent of selected operating flows, the startup water and air flows have decreased to zero, and the system has attained the selected operating temperature, while maintaining a selected oxygen residual in the offgases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1993
    Assignee: Zimpro Passavant Environment Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce L. Brandenburg, Richard W. Lehmann, Gene W. Mueller, Kenneth P. Keckler
  • Patent number: 5192453
    Abstract: A process is disclosed which limits the corrosion of the materials of construction of a wet oxidation system treating wastewaters. The process is particularly useful in the wet oxidation treatment of ammonium sulfate containing wastes such as acrylonitrile wastewaters. The wastewater is mixed with an oxygen containing gas such that a substantial residual oxygen gas concentration is maintained from before the stream-gas mixture is heated for wet oxidation until after the oxidized stream-gas mixture is cooled and separated. Preferably, in the treatment of acrylonitrile waste water the shutdown procedure comprises cooling said waste stream by introducing an aqueous liquid substantially free of organic impurities and containing a basic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1993
    Assignee: The Standard Oil Company
    Inventors: Kenneth P. Keckler, Bruce L. Brandenburg, Joseph A. Momont, Richard W. Lehmann
  • Patent number: 5057231
    Abstract: A method for starting up and controlling the temperature of a wet oxidation process in which a heat exchanger employing superheated steam is used to initially heat a waste stream introduced into a wet oxidation reaction vessel for start up and then to subsequently adjust the temperature of the waste stream, after it is preheated by the effluent from the reaction vessel, to a level suitable to maintain steady state operation of the reaction vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1991
    Assignee: Zimpro Passavant Environmental Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Gene W. Mueller, Bruce L. Brandenburg
  • Patent number: 4812243
    Abstract: A method for operating a continuous wet oxidation system for destroying cyanide in caustic cyanide and metal wastes which scale upon heating. Raw waste is introduced into the wet oxidation reactor without heating while a mixture of heated dilution water and oxygen containing gas is introduced into the reactor by a separate inlet. The reactor is fitted with a pair of valved effluent lines and corresponding valved lines for introducing dilute mineral acid into each effluent line at system pressure. Oxidized effluent and offgases exit through a first effluent line while dilute mineral acid flows through a second effluent line into the reactor to prevent scale buildup. Periodically the flows are alternated such that oxidized effluent and offgases exit through the second effluent line and dilute mineral acid flows through the first effluent line into the reactor to remove scale. The oxidized effluent and offgases are then cooled and separated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1989
    Assignee: Zimpro/Passavant Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce L. Brandenburg, Curtis D. Cooley, Claude E. Ellis
  • Patent number: 4387084
    Abstract: A process for treating thiosulfate containing liquors such as coke oven gas scrubbing liquors by first adding acid, preferably sulfuric acid, to convert thiosulfate to elemental sulfur and bisulfite, separating and removing the elemental sulfur, and subjecting the remaining liquor to wet oxidation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1983
    Assignee: Sterling Drug Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce L. Brandenburg, Gerald L. Bauer
  • Patent number: 4372940
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for treating thiosulfate containing liquors such as coke oven gas scrubbing liquors in two stages of wet oxidation with intermediate removal of elemental sulfur. Mild oxidation conditions in the first stage results in conversion of thiosulfate sulfur to elemental sulfur, which is removed prior to second stage wet oxidation of the liquors to substantially reduce the liquor oxygen demand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1981
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1983
    Assignee: Sterling Drug Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce L. Brandenburg, Gerald L. Bauer