Patents by Inventor Harry Futselaar

Harry Futselaar 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: 10266439
    Abstract: A method for cleaning membranes and an inlet side of a membrane filtration module of an apparatus includes filling a basin with a treatment fluid; feeding an incoming fluid to the treatment fluid present in the basin and mixing and treating it with the latter fluid so as to obtain a fluid mixture; feeding the fluid mixture to the membrane filtration module; discharging permeate filtered by and retentate retained by the membranes; and periodically closing the fluid mixture feed-through line and opening the flushing discharge line, so that at least the inlet side of the membranes and the connection chamber of the membrane filtration module disposed underneath it are flushed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: X-Flow B.V.
    Inventors: Harry Futselaar, Rob Borgerink
  • Publication number: 20140311975
    Abstract: A method for cleaning membranes and an inlet side of a membrane filtration module of an apparatus includes filling a basin with a treatment fluid; feeding an incoming fluid to the treatment fluid present in the basin and mixing and treating it with the latter fluid so as to obtain a fluid mixture; feeding the fluid mixture to the membrane filtration module; discharging permeate filtered by and retentate retained by the membranes; and periodically closing the fluid mixture feed-through line and opening the flushing discharge line, so that at least the inlet side of the membranes and the connection chamber of the membrane filtration module disposed underneath it are flushed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: X-Flow B.V.
    Inventors: Harry Futselaar, Rob Borgerink
  • Publication number: 20100193435
    Abstract: A method for the filtration of a fluid applying a certain preferred setting of one or more process parameters (e.g. a minimal concentration of coagulants) while maintaining desirable process performance by regulating the initial filtration resistance. This is achieved by a feedback controller. Applying the invention on in-line coagulation during membrane filtration has shown, that the initial resistance of the last filtration before the chemical cleaning phase can be controlled within an accuracy of approximately 3% (of the total resistance) or 9% (of the fouling resistance). Compared to current dosing strategy, a significant reduction in coagulant consumption can be achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: NORIT Process Technology B.V.
    Inventors: Bastiaan Blankert, Brian Roffel, Harry Futselaar, Frederik Jan Spenkelink
  • Patent number: 7611634
    Abstract: A method of filtering a fluid wherein after filtering a contaminated fluid, which causes the formation of a filter cake, a substantially non-contaminated fluid is fed through the filter cake and filter at varying flux or at varying driving force. At the same time the necessary driving force or the obtained flux, respectively, are measured. The measured value and the respective value setting are compared with at least one standard set of data and on the basis of this comparison the fouling status of the fluid to be filtered, the filter and the filter cake is determined. The method makes it possible to accurately determine characteristics of a fluid to be filtered. This may be realized by simply varying the flux and measuring the driving force at different flux values, or vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: NORIT Membraan Technologie B.V.
    Inventors: Harry Futselaar, Bastiaan Blankert, Bernardus Henricus Louis Betlem, Matthias Wessling
  • Publication number: 20090107929
    Abstract: An apparatus for treatment of an incoming fluid, comprising a bioreactor with a basin (2) with a fluid space and a membrane filtration module (12) comprising a housing (13) with one or more incorporated membranes (14), an inlet side, a permeate side and a retentate side, wherein the housing (13) delimits a connection chamber (18) on the inlet side of the membranes (14) into which a fluid inlet line (10) discharges which is connected to the fluid space of the basin (2). A closable flushing discharge line (20) is provided which is connected on one side to the connection chamber (18) and on the other side discharges outside the fluid space. A fluid mixture feed-through line from the basin to the connection chamber is closable, and a control unit (23) is provided for periodically closing the fluid mixture feed-through line and opening the flushing discharge line (20), and vice versa, for periodic flushing of at least the inlet side of the membranes (14) and the connection chamber (18) disposed underneath it.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2007
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: X-FLOW B.V.
    Inventors: Harry Futselaar, Rob Borgerink
  • Patent number: 7351335
    Abstract: A filter module provided with a housing (3) having an inlet (6) for a liquid to be filtered and an outlet (10) for filtered liquid, with a first filter element (7-9, 12) accommodated in the housing (3), in the form of a porous mass provided with a central through-opening, to which the inlet (6) connects, and with a second filter element (1) accommodated in the housing (3) in the form of a number of lengths of tube-shaped filtering membrane (2), which together define a cylinder shape, which cylinder shape, at at least one extremity, between the open-ended filter membranes (2), is filled up with a sealing material, to which extremity the outlet (10) connects. The inlet (6) connects to the central through-opening of the first filter element (7-9, 12), which is surrounded by the second filter element (1), which has the form of a tubular casing obtained by winding from tube-shaped filtering membrane (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Norit Proces Technologie Holding B.V.
    Inventors: Lute Broens, Harry Futselaar, Ingo Blume, Annemieke Bernadette Edmond Mattheeuws, Michiel Jan Lensink, Lucas Johannes Cornelis Kouters, Marc Johannes Fleuren
  • Publication number: 20070241058
    Abstract: A method of filtering a fluid wherein after filtering a contaminated fluid, which causes the formation of a filter cake, a substantially non-contaminated fluid is fed through the filter cake and filter at varying flux or at varying driving force. At the same time the necessary driving force or the obtained flux, respectively, are measured. The measured value and the respective value setting are compared with at least one standard set of data and on the basis of this comparison the fouling status of the fluid to be filtered, the filter and the filter cake is determined. The method makes it possible to accurately determine characteristics of a fluid to be filtered. This may be realized by simply varying the flux and measuring the driving force at different flux values, or vice versa.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2007
    Publication date: October 18, 2007
    Applicant: NORIT Membraan Technologie B.V.
    Inventors: Harry Futselaar, Bastiaan Blankert, Bernardus Betlem, Matthias Wessling
  • Publication number: 20050067340
    Abstract: A filter module provided with a housing (3) having an inlet (6) for a liquid to be filtered and an outlet (10) for filtered liquid, with a first filter element (7-9, 12) accommodated in the housing (3), in the form of a porous mass provided with a central through-opening, to which the inlet (6) connects, and with a second filter element (1) accommodated in the housing (3) in the form of a number of lengths of tube-shaped filtering membrane (2), which together define a cylinder shape, which cylinder shape, at at least one extremity, between the open-ended filter membranes (2), is filled up with a sealing material, to which extremity the outlet (10) connects. The inlet (6) connects to the central through-opening of the first filter element (7-9, 12), which is surrounded by the second filter element (1), which has the form of a tubular casing obtained by winding from tube-shaped filtering membrane (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Publication date: March 31, 2005
    Inventors: Lute Broens, Harry Futselaar, Ingo Blume, Annemieke Bernadette Mattheeuws, Michiel Lensink, Lucas Kouters, Marc Fleuren
  • Patent number: 6846414
    Abstract: A membrane filtration unit comprises a housing having a feedstock inlet, a permeate outlet and a retentate outlet, at least one bundle of tubular membranes accommodated in the housing, sealing bodies which hold end parts of the membranes sealed in a fixed position with respect to the housing, and at least one flexible, permeable sleeve element which encloses the bundle of membranes and holds it together. The sleeve element encloses a center part, which is situated between the held end parts, of the bundle. Socket members are provided, which delimit transitional parts of the bundle, which transitional parts are situated at the location of the transitions from the end parts to the center part. Part of each socket member is fixedly connected with respect to the housing and part of each socket member movably encloses an end of the sleeve element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: X-Flow B.V.
    Inventors: Harry Futselaar, Paul Erik Hoogeveen
  • Publication number: 20020185439
    Abstract: A process is provided for the removal of organic substances (TOC), pesticides or other specific compounds from an aqueous salt solution, for example from a regenerate derived from water purification. The TOC-containing aqueous salt solution is treated in a desalination membrane according to the dead-end principle, wherein neither longitudinal flow over the membrane with air and/or water, nor continuous concentrate discharge takes place, after which the obtained permeate is reused, and the concentrate obtained after flushing is discharged. The TOC-containing aqueous salt solution is introduced at the feed side of the membrane module at a flux of 5-75 1/m2·h, a feed pressure of 4-12 bars for 30-40 minutes, while the obtained TOC-depleted permeate is discharged. Preferably, operation takes place at a flux of 15-25 1/m2·hr, a pressure of approximately 8 bars, and the duration of treatment is approximately 30 minutes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2002
    Publication date: December 12, 2002
    Applicant: DHV Water B.V.
    Inventors: Leo Peter Wessels, Wilhelmus Cornelis Van Paassen, Harry Futselaar, Walterus Gijsbertus Joseph Van Der Meer
  • Publication number: 20020162785
    Abstract: A membrane filtration unit comprises a housing having a feedstock inlet, a permeate outlet and a retentate outlet, at least one bundle of tubular membranes accommodated in the housing, sealing bodies which hold end parts of the membranes sealed in a fixed position with respect to the housing, and at least one flexible, permeable sleeve element which encloses the bundle of membranes and holds it together. The sleeve element encloses a center part, which is situated between the held end parts, of the bundle. Socket members are provided, which delimit transitional parts of the bundle, which transitional parts are situated at the location of the transitions from the end parts to the center part. Part of each socket member is fixedly connected with respect to the housing and part of each socket member movably encloses an end of the sleeve element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Publication date: November 7, 2002
    Applicant: X-FLOW B.V.
    Inventors: Harry Futselaar, Paul Erik Hoogeveen
  • Patent number: 5143613
    Abstract: A counter-current flow membrane module for liquid separations consisting of a body comprising hollow fiber membranes wherein the hollow fiber membranes are arranged transversely of the longitudinal axis of the module and the channels in the hollow fibers are connected to spaces present around the body which is furthermore surrounded by a shell. The module comprises two or more transverse current flow (cross-flow) segments formed by seals between the body and the shell, wherein at least one fiber layer or fiber fabric is applied per segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1992
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Johan G. A. Bitter, Harry Futselaar, Imre G. Racz