Patents by Inventor Guggilam C. Sresty

Guggilam C. Sresty 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: 5835866
    Abstract: Ion exchange resins contaminated with a radioactive component are treated by exposing the contaminated ion exchange resins to a bound radio frequency electric field for uniformly heating them to drive off water. The dried ion exchange resins are then uniformly heated by a transversely uniform bound radio frequency electric field to a second higher temperature which chemically inactivates the functional groups of the ion exchange resins to destroy their hydrophilic property and convert them to a stabilized product for long-term safe storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: IIT Research Institute
    Inventors: Jack E. Bridges, Guggilam C. Sresty
  • Patent number: 5664911
    Abstract: A method for removing a contaminant from a treatment region of a contaminated region of a site in the earth having water therein and being contaminated with the contaminant includes heating the earth by establishing an electric field through the treatment region. The electric field gives rise to an electric conduction or displacement current through the treatment region. The electric current electrically heats at least a portion of the treatment region to a temperature below the boiling point of water to evaporate the water. A vacuum is drawn in a nether region of the site to collect water vapor evolved from the water and contaminant vapor evolved from the contaminant by movement of air from the surface of the earth, while the water vapor strips the contaminant from the earth. The contaminant vapor is disposed of in an innocuous manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Assignee: IIT Research Institute
    Inventors: Jack E. Bridges, Guggilam C. Sresty, Harsh Dev
  • Patent number: 5641423
    Abstract: Infectious medical materials is rendered innocuous by heating heterogeneous medical materials having wet and dry portions with a radio frequency electric field. The medical materials are exposed to the radio frequency electric field in order to heat the medical waste. The medical waste may include sorted medical or veterinary waste which after heat treatment may be shredded and recycled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1997
    Assignee: Stericycle, Inc.
    Inventors: Jack E. Bridges, Guggilam C. Sresty, Jeffery S. Held, James W. Sharp, Thomas J. Bajzek
  • Patent number: 5621845
    Abstract: Improved methods and apparatus are disclosed for confining ohmic heating currents to a subsurface formation in the use of in situ ohmic heating for recovery of volatile and semi-volatile materials, such as hazardous waste, hydrocarbon-like materials, and valuable minerals having thermally responsive properties. Spacing between emplaced electrodes and the number of electrodes employed are controlled to cause coupling between electrodes for more uniform and higher temperature heating. Electrode designs are disclosed which suppress spurious earth currents which would heat other formations not of interest. Suppression of electrode end currents is accomplished by the use of distinct rings of insulation, control of the applied potential along the electrode, and injection or withdrawal of fluids at distinct locations along the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1997
    Assignee: IIT Research Institute
    Inventors: Jack E. Bridges, Guggilam C. Sresty
  • Patent number: 5609820
    Abstract: Infectious medical materials are rendered harmless by heating heterogeneous medical materials having wet and dry portions with a radio-frequency electric field. The medical materials may be comminuted prior to heating. The medical materials are exposed to the radio-frequency electric field in order to heat the medical materials. The medical materials may include sorted medical or veterinary waste which after heat treatment may be recycled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1997
    Inventors: Jack E. Bridges, Guggilam C. Sresty, Jeffrey S. Held, James W. Sharp, Thomas J. Bajzek
  • Patent number: 5586213
    Abstract: Ionic contact is established and maintained between electrodes and soil in ohmic heating of a subsurface formation for recovery of volatile and semi-volatile materials, such as hazardous waste, hydrocarbon-like materials, and valuable minerals having thermally responsive properties. A compressed, dry sponge is wrapped around an electrode, which is then inserted into a bore hole. A conductive liquid is added to the bore hole, causing the sponge to swell, creating a stable and substantial interface for the flow of heating currents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Assignee: IIT Research Institute
    Inventors: Jack E. Bridges, Guggilam C. Sresty, Harsh Dev, Richard Jambor
  • Patent number: 5543111
    Abstract: Infectious medical materials are rendered harmless by heating heterogeneous medical materials having wet and dry portions with a radio-frequency electric field. The medical materials may be comminuted prior to heating. The medical materials are exposed to the radio-frequency electric field in order to heat the medical materials. The medical materials may include sorted medical or veterinary waste which after heat treatment may be recycled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Assignee: IIT Research Institute
    Inventors: Jack E. Bridges, Guggilam C. Sresty, Jeffrey S. Held, James W. Sharp, Thomas J. Bajzek
  • Patent number: 5523052
    Abstract: Infectious medical materials are rendered harmless by heating heterogeneous medical materials having wet and dry portions with a radio-frequency electric field. The medical materials are exposed to the radio-frequency electric field in order to heat the medical materials to inactivate microorganisms thereon. The medical materials are then irradiated with gamma radiation to inactivate microorganisms remaining viable thereon after application of the radio-frequency electric field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1996
    Assignee: Stericycle, Inc.
    Inventors: Jack E. Bridges, Guggilam C. Sresty, Jeffrey S. Held, James W. Sharp, Thomas J. Bajzek
  • Patent number: 5476634
    Abstract: Infectious medical materials is rendered innocuous by heating heterogeneous medical materials having wet and dry portions with a radio frequency electric field. The medical materials are exposed to the radio frequency electric field in order to heat the medical waste. The medical waste may include sorted medical or veterinary waste which after heat treatment may be shredded and recycled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1995
    Assignees: IIT Research Institute, Jeffrey S. Held, James W. Sharp
    Inventors: Jack E. Bridges, Guggilam C. Sresty, Jeffery S. Held, James W. Sharp, Thomas J. Bajzek
  • Patent number: 5420402
    Abstract: Improved methods and apparatus are disclosed for confining ohmic heating currents to a subsurface formation in the use of in situ ohmic heating for recovery of volatile and semi-volatile materials, such as hazardous waste, hydrocarbon-like materials, and valuable minerals having thermally responsive properties. Spacing between emplaced electrodes and the number of electrodes employed are controlled to cause coupling between electrodes for more uniform and higher temperature heating. Electrode designs are disclosed which suppress spurious earth currents which would heat other formations not of interest. Suppression of electrode end currents is accomplished by the use of distinct rings of insulation, control of the applied potential along the electrode, and injection or withdrawal of fluids at distinct locations along the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1995
    Assignee: IIT Research Institute
    Inventors: Jack E. Bridges, Guggilam C. Sresty
  • Patent number: 5013532
    Abstract: This invention relates to the metallurgy of iron and particularly to the separation and recovery of metals from electric arc furnace (EAF) dusts. While the invention discloses a process for the separation and recovery applicable to zinc, lead, cadmium and antimony contained in such EAF dusts, the invention is particularly applicable to the separation and recovery of zinc. This invention describes a method for reducing the zinc contained in an EAF dust, volatilizing the metallic zinc so produced from the mass of the dust, and reoxidizing the metallic zinc to zinc oxide along with the simultaneous regeneration of hydrogen which can be recycled to treat additional EAF dust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1991
    Assignee: IIT Research Institute
    Inventor: Guggilam C. Sresty
  • Patent number: 4790375
    Abstract: Heating systems for mineral wells (e.g. oil wells) employ electrical power sources, sometimes operating at relatively high frequencies, that are connected to the well casing and production tubing so as to provide a coaxial line electrical heater projecting down into the well. The heating pattern of the coaxial line is effectively controlled so that most of the power is dissipated as heat, primarily in the tubing, above a depth D above which paraffins or other condensible constituents would tend to condense or otherwise impair the flow of mineral fluid up through the production tubing. The applied electrical power is controlled so that the fluid is kept approximately at or only somewhat above the flow impairment temperature for constituents of the fluid. In some embodiments the system is extended to provide heating of a portion of the deposit formation adjacent to the well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1988
    Assignee: ORS Development Corporation
    Inventors: Jack E. Bridges, Guggilam C. Sresty, Vincent R. Young, Homer L. Spencer
  • Patent number: 4662438
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for enhancing liquid hydrocarbon production through a single traditional producing borehole recognizing traditional producing well spacing from a slowly producing formation by use of non-uniform heating through interrelated electrode arrays surrounding the borehole. Heating the formation around the borehole through an interrelated electrode array designed for the formations geometry and geophysics favorably redistributes the pressure gradient throughout the formation for a substantial distance beyond the borehole permitting net energy effective production. One optimum electrode array may consist of ring electrodes or electrode segments so disposed as to electrically approximate a ring. Electrically conductive well bore casing in the formation may be used as an electrode. A return electrode of low impedance disposed close to the surface of the earth may be utilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1987
    Assignee: Uentech Corporation
    Inventors: Allen Taflove, Guggilam C. Sresty, Korada Umashankar
  • Patent number: 4645004
    Abstract: An electro-osmotic method for the production of hydrocarbons utilizes in situ heating of earth formations having substantial electrical conductivity. A particular volume of an earth formation is bounded with a waveguide structure formed of respective rows of discrete elongated electrodes in a dense array wherein the active electrode area and the row separation are chosen in reference to the deposit thickness to avoid heating barren layers. Electrical power is applied at no more than a relatively low frequency between respective rows of electrodes to deliver power to the formation while producing relatively uniform heating thereof and limiting the relative loss of heat to adjacent regions to less than a predetermined amount. At the same time the temperature of the electrodes is controlled near the vaporization point of water to maintain an electrically conductive path between the electrodes and the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1987
    Assignee: IIT Research Institute
    Inventors: Jack E. Bridges, Allen Taflove, Guggilam C. Sresty
  • Patent number: 4524827
    Abstract: Water is vaporized in an annular upper region of a subsurface formation into which borehole extends from the surface. This creates a substantially nonconducting dielectric in such region extending outwardly from the borehole. Such vaporization is preferably achieved by the application of electrical power to an electrode disposed in the borehole. Liquid is produced through the borehole from a lower region of the formation to cool the lower region near the borehole and maintain an electrically conductive path between the formation and the electrode in such lower region through which electrical power is applied to the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1983
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1985
    Assignee: IIT Research Institute
    Inventors: Jack E. Bridges, Allen Taflove, Guggilam C. Sresty
  • Patent number: 4485868
    Abstract: A method of electromagnetic heating in situ recovers liquid hydrocarbons from an earth formation containing viscous hydrocarbonaceous liquid and water in an inorganic matrix where the formation is substantially impermeable to fluids under native conditions. A block of the earth formation is substantially uniformly heated with electromagnetic power to a temperature at which the viscous hydrocarbonaceous liquid is relatively fluid and a portion of the water vaporizes to water vapor at a pressure sufficient to overcome the capillary pressure of the liquid in the matrix. Water vapor thereupon escaping from the block under such pressure is recovered with hydrocarbonaceous liquid driven thereby. The magnitude of the electromagnetic power is controlled to limit the current recovery ratio of water vapor to hydrocarbonaceous liquid below a predetermined limit assuring substantial recovery of the hydrocarbonaceous liquid prior to the driving off of substantially all the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1984
    Assignee: IIT Research Institute
    Inventors: Guggilam C. Sresty, Harsh Dev, Richard H. Snow, Jack E. Bridges
  • Patent number: 4485869
    Abstract: A method of electromagnetic heating in situ recovers liquid hydrocarbons from an oil shale formation containing kerogen in an inorganic matrix where the formation is substantially impermeable to fluids under native conditions. A block of the oil shale formation is substantially uniformly heated in situ with electromagnetic power to a temperature of about 275.degree. C. where there is pyrolysis of a portion of the kerogen to gas and shale oil at a pressure sufficient to overcome the capillary pressure of the shale oil in the matrix, thereby providing substantial fluid permeability to the formation. The gas thereupon escaping from said block and the shale oil driven thereby are recovered, thereby further increasing the permeability of the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1984
    Assignee: IIT Research Institute
    Inventors: Guggilam C. Sresty, Richard H. Snow, Jack E. Bridges