Patents by Inventor Christopher R. Martinetti

Christopher R. Martinetti 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).

  • Combined membrane-distillation-forward-osmosis systems and methods of use
    Patent number: 8029671
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Board of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher Education, on Behalf of the University of Nevada, Reno
    Inventors: Tzahi Y. Cath, Amy E. Childress, Christopher R. Martinetti
  • COMBINED MEMBRANE-DISTILLATION-FORWARD-OSMOSIS SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF USE
    Publication number: 20100224476
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Inventors: Tzahi Y. Cath, Amy E. Childress, Christopher R. Martinetti