Patents by Inventor Craig Frear

Craig Frear 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: 20210017034
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for anaerobic digestion of waste fibrous material and the recovery of nutrients are provided. Methods, systems, and apparatuses disclosed herein provide mechanisms to release dissolved gases from anaerobic digester effluent. Methods, systems and apparatuses disclosed herein can recover one or more nutrients from anaerobic digested effluent using a range of temperatures, aeration rates, aeration times, pH ranges, and settling times.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Inventors: Quanbao Zhao, Stephen W. Dvorak, Shulin Chen, Craig Frear, Bryan J. VanLoo
  • Patent number: 10556804
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for anaerobic digestion of waste fibrous material and the recovery of nutrients are provided. Methods, systems, and apparatuses disclosed herein provide mechanisms to release dissolved gases from anaerobic digester effluent. Methods, systems and apparatuses disclosed herein can recover one or more nutrients from anaerobic digested effluent using a range of temperatures, aeration rates, aeration times, pH ranges, and settling times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignees: DVO, INC., WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY, ANDGAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Quanbao Zhao, Stephen W. Dvorak, Shulin Chen, Craig Frear, Bryan J. VanLoo
  • Patent number: 9790115
    Abstract: Systems and methods for integrating thermochemical processing of biomass and anaerobic digestion are provided. Light oxygenated organic compounds are produced as byproducts of thermochemical biomass processing e.g. by torrefaction and/or pyrolysis, and are converted to methane by anaerobic digestion. Thermochemical processing units may or may not be co-located with the anaerobic digestion units, with co-location providing benefits for e.g. rural agricultural enterprises.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Washington State University
    Inventors: Manuel Garcia-Perez, Craig Frear
  • Patent number: 9567611
    Abstract: Low cost, efficient two-stage anaerobic digestion systems for the production of biogas (e.g. methane) are provided. During the first stage, biogas is produced in a first reactor by anaerobic microbes cultured in two phases: a high solids phase and a low solids phase. During the second stage, biogas is produced in a second reactor by a methanogen-rich anaerobic culture cultured in low solids medium. Removal of effluent comprising pH lowering reaction products assists in maintaining a suitable pH in the high solids phase. The transfer of effluent from the second reactor to the first reactor assists in maintaining a suitable pH in the high solids phase, in mixing of the high solids phase, and in reseeding the high solids phase with methanogens. Methane is produced in and recovered from both reactors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Washington State University
    Inventors: Liang Yu, Jingwei Ma, Craig Frear, Usama Zaher, Shulin Chen
  • Publication number: 20160251587
    Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatuses herein provide a unique and novel process to remove H2S from biogas. Methods, systems and apparatuses herein provide a unique and novel process to remove H2S from biogas with ease of operation and reduced operating and capital costs. Methods, systems and apparatuses herein provide a unique and novel process to remove H2S over CO2 from biogas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Inventors: Nicholas Kennedy, Quan-Bao Zhao, Anping Jiang, Craig Frear, Stephen W. Dvorak
  • Patent number: 9339760
    Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatuses herein provide a unique and novel process to remove H2S from biogas. Methods, systems and apparatuses herein provide a unique and novel process to remove H2S from biogas with ease of operation and reduced operating and capital costs. Methods, systems and apparatuses herein provide a unique and novel process to remove H2S over CO2 from biogas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignees: DVO, Inc., Washington State University
    Inventors: Nicholas Kennedy, Quan-Bao Zhao, Anping Jiang, Craig Frear, Stephen W. Dvorak
  • Publication number: 20150056676
    Abstract: Low cost, efficient two-stage anaerobic digestion systems for the production of biogas (e.g. methane) are provided. During the first stage, biogas is produced in a first reactor by anaerobic microbes cultured in two phases: a high solids phase and a low solids phase. During the second stage, biogas is produced in a second reactor by a methanogen-rich anaerobic culture cultured in low solids medium. Removal of effluent comprising pH lowering reaction products assists in maintaining a suitable pH in the high solids phase. The transfer of effluent from the second reactor to the first reactor assists in maintaining a suitable pH in the high solids phase, in mixing of the high solids phase, and in reseeding the high solids phase with methanogens. Methane is produced in and recovered from both reactors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventors: Liang Yu, Jingwei Ma, Craig Frear, Usama Zaher, Shulin Chen
  • Publication number: 20140314657
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for anaerobic digestion of waste fibrous material and the recovery of nutrients are provided. Methods, systems, and apparatuses disclosed herein provide mechanisms to release dissolved gases from anaerobic digester effluent. Methods, systems and apparatuses disclosed herein can recover one or more nutrients from anaerobic digested effluent using a range of temperatures, aeration rates, aeration times, pH ranges, and settling times.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventors: Quanbao Zhao, Stephen W. Dvorak, Shulin Chen, Craig Frear, Bryan J. VanLoo
  • Patent number: 8613894
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for anaerobic digestion of waste fibrous material and the recovery of nutrients are provided. Methods, systems, and apparatuses disclosed herein provide mechanisms to release dissolved gases from anaerobic digester effluent. Methods, systems and apparatuses disclosed herein can recover one or more nutrients from anaerobic digested effluent using a range of temperatures, aeration rates, aeration times, pH ranges, and settling times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignees: DVO, Inc., Washington State University, Andgar Corporation
    Inventors: Quanbao Zhao, Stephen W. Dvorak, Shulin Chen, Craig Frear, Bryan J. VanLoo
  • Publication number: 20130309759
    Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatuses herein provide a unique and novel process to remove H2S from biogas. Methods, systems and apparatuses herein provide a unique and novel process to remove H2S from biogas with ease of operation and reduced operating and capital costs. Methods, systems and apparatuses herein provide a unique and novel process to remove H2S over CO2 from biogas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Inventors: Nicholas Kennedy, Quan-Bao Zhao, Anping Jiang, Craig Frear, Stephen W. Dvorak
  • Publication number: 20130309740
    Abstract: Low cost, efficient two-stage anaerobic digestion systems for the production of biogas (e.g. methane) are provided. During the first stage, biogas is produced in a first reactor by anaerobic microbes cultured in two phases: a high solids phase and a low solids phase. During the second stage, biogas is produced in a second reactor by a methanogen-rich anaerobic culture cultured in low solids medium. Removal of effluent comprising pH lowering reaction products assists in maintaining a suitable pH in the high solids phase. The transfer of effluent from the second reactor to the first reactor assists in maintaining a suitable pH in the high solids phase, in mixing of the high solids phase, and in reseeding the high solids phase with methanogens. Methane is produced in and recovered from both reactors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Liang Yu, Jingwei Ma, Craig Frear, Usama Zaher, Shulin Chen
  • Patent number: 8343741
    Abstract: Filamentous fungi are grown in pellet form by culturing the filamentous fungi in liquid culture under one or more of the following conditions: 1) with addition of particulate substrates: 2) using spores which have been stored for a period of time prior to inoculation; and 3) using high spore inoculum concentrations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Washington State University Research Foundation
    Inventors: Yan Liu, Wei Liao, Craig Frear, Shulin Chen
  • Publication number: 20120322130
    Abstract: Systems and methods for integrating thermochemical processing of biomass and anaerobic digestion are provided. Light oxygenated organic compounds are produced as byproducts of thermochemical biomass processing e.g. by torrefaction and/or pyrolysis, and are converted to methane by anaerobic digestion. Thermochemical processing units may or may not be co-located with the anaerobic digestion units, with co-location providing benefits for e.g. rural agricultural enterprises.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Inventors: Manuel Garcia-Perez, Craig Frear
  • Patent number: 8287732
    Abstract: Systems and methods for the treatment of lipid-extracted algae biomass and recycling nutrients are provided. The lipid-extracted algae biomass is hydrolyzed prior to anaerobic digestion, and the products generated by anaerobic digestion are further processed to yield by-products that are of use either for external use or as process inputs to carry out specific steps within an integrated algal growth and anaerobic digestion process designed to minimize economic costs, required costly inputs while improving upon system capabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Washington State University Research Foundation
    Inventors: Shulin Chen, Craig Frear, Quanbao Zhao
  • Publication number: 20120118035
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for anaerobic digestion of waste fibrous material and the recovery of nutrients are provided. Methods, systems, and apparatuses disclosed herein provide mechanisms to release dissolved gases from anaerobic digester effluent. Methods, systems and apparatuses disclosed herein can recover one or more nutrients from anaerobic digested effluent using a range of temperatures, aeration rates, aeration times, pH ranges, and settling times.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Inventors: Quanbao Zhao, Stephen W. Dvorak, Shulin Chen, Craig Frear, Bryan J. VanLoo
  • Patent number: 7989195
    Abstract: A multiphase culturing process for high density heterotrophic microalgal growth uses crude glycerol as the primary carbon source and produces ?-3 fatty acids. The process uses multiphase growth conditions that decouple the phases of increasing cell density and increasing cell size and fatty acid production. The entire process is integrated with biodiesel production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Washington State University Research Foundation
    Inventors: Zhanyou Chi, Zhiyou Wen, Craig Frear, Shulin Chen
  • Publication number: 20110091954
    Abstract: Systems and methods for the treatment of lipid-extracted algae biomass and recycling nutrients are provided. The lipid-extracted algae biomass is hydrolyzed prior to anaerobic digestion, and the products generated by anaerobic digestion are further processed to yield by-products that are of use either for external use or as process inputs to carry out specific steps within an integrated algal growth and anaerobic digestion process designed to minimize economic costs, required costly inputs while improving upon system capabilities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2010
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Inventors: Shulin Chen, Craig Frear, Quanbao Zhao
  • Patent number: 7909995
    Abstract: An economical, integrated system works in series with anaerobic digestion of animal waste to recover nitrogen and phosphorous, while also scrubbing the produced biogas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Washington State University Research Foundation
    Inventors: Anping Jiang, Tianxi Zhang, Craig Frear, Shulin Chen
  • Publication number: 20100159557
    Abstract: Filamentous fungi are grown in pellet form by culturing the filamentous fungi in liquid culture under one or more of the following conditions: 1) with addition of particulate substrates: 2) using spores which have been stored for a period of time prior to inoculation; and 3) using high spore inoculum concentrations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventors: Yan Liu, Wei Liao, Craig Frear, Shulin Chen
  • Publication number: 20090206028
    Abstract: An economical, integrated system works in series with anaerobic digestion of animal waste to recover nitrogen and phosphorous, while also scrubbing the produced biogas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Inventors: Anping Jiang, Tianxi Zhang, Craig Frear, Shulin Chen