Patents by Inventor Henry Behmann

Henry Behmann 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: 20050092674
    Abstract: An apparatus is described for withdrawing filtered permeate from a substrate contained in a reservoir at ambient pressure. The apparatus includes a plurality of membrane assemblies. Each assembly has a plurality of hollow fiber filtering membranes, immersed in the reservoir, at least one permeating header with the membranes sealingly secured therein, and a permeate collector to collect the permeate sealingly connected to the at least one permeating header and in fluid communication with lumens of the membranes. The membranes of each assembly extend generally vertically upwards from a first header during permeation. One or more sources of suction are provided in fluid communication with the lumens of the membranes of each assembly through the permeate collectors and apply sufficient suction to withdraw permeate from the lumens of the membranes. An aeration system for discharging bubbles assists in keeping the membranes clean.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2004
    Publication date: May 5, 2005
    Inventors: Mailvaganam Mahendran, Wayne Henshaw, Henry Behmann, Steven Pedersen
  • Publication number: 20050051481
    Abstract: A membrane supported biofilm reactor uses modules having fine, hollow fibres, for example, made from melt spun thermoplastic polymers treated after spinning to increase their permeability to oxygen, used, for example, in tows or formed into a fabric. In one module, one or more sheets of the fabric are potted into a module to enable oxygen containing gas to be supplied to the lumens of the hollow fibres. Various reactors and processes, for example to treat wastewater, using such modules are described. Mechanical, chemical and biological methods, for example endogenous respiration, are used to control the thickness of the biofilm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2004
    Publication date: March 10, 2005
    Applicant: Zenon Environmental Inc.
    Inventors: Hidayat Husain, Pierre Cote, Ian Towe, Henry Behmann, Ian Pottinger
  • Publication number: 20050006308
    Abstract: An aerator for immersed filtering membranes has an aerator shell with openings for discharging bubbles from its upper surface and a shape capable of temporarily containing a volume of air in fluid communication with the openings. The shell is open to tank water below it and located so that discharged bubbles will rise through an assembly of the filtering membranes. The shell may be wholly or partially made of parts of the assemblies of filtering membranes. A supply of air is provided to the air space in the aerators alternating between a high flow rate and a low flow rate in short cycles of between about 10 seconds and 100 seconds. A filtration system has an inlet for adding substrate and an outlet for retentate are located so as to create a horizontal flow of substrate through the tank. Membrane assemblies are located within the horizontal flow of substrate. Aerators as described above are provided and operated as described above.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2004
    Publication date: January 13, 2005
    Inventors: Pierre Cote, Steven Pedersen, Henry Behmann
  • Publication number: 20040251200
    Abstract: A method and apparatus of purifying feedwater to remove impurities including suspended solids therefrom, the method suitable for using in-line water pressure to permeate water through hollow fiber membranes and to backflush the membranes to remove solids collected or deposited thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2004
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Inventors: Hidayat Husain, Henry Behmann
  • Publication number: 20040238432
    Abstract: A membrane filtration device has a multiplicity of hollow fiber membranes, or fibers, unconfined in a shell of a module; a first header and a second header disposed in vertically spaced-apart relationship; said first header and said second header having opposed ends of each fiber sealingly secured therein, all open ends of said fibers open to a permeate-discharging face of at least one header; permeate collection means to collect said permeate, sealingly connected in open fluid communication with a permeate-discharging face of at least one of said headers; means to withdraw said permeate; said fibers, said headers and said permeate collection means together forming an integrated combination wherein said fibers are essentially vertically disposed and ends of individual fibers are potted in closely spaced-apart relationship in cured resin; with opposed faces at a fixed distance; each of said fibers having a length from 0.1% to less than 5% greater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2004
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Inventors: Mailvaganam Mahendran, Henry Behmann, Steven Kristian Pedersen, Carlos Fernando F. Rodrigues
  • Publication number: 20040229343
    Abstract: A membrane supported biofilm reactor uses modules having fine, hollow fibres, for example, made from dense wall Poly methylpentene (PMP) used in tows or formed into a fabric. In one module, one or more sheets of the fabric are potted into a module to enable oxygen containing gas to be supplied to the lumens of the hollow fibres. Various reactors and processes, for example to treat wastewater, using such modules are described. Mechanical, chemical and biological methods are used to control the thickness of the biofilm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2004
    Publication date: November 18, 2004
    Applicant: Zenon Environmental Inc.
    Inventors: Hidayat Husain, Pierre Lucien Cote, Ian Glenn Towe, Henry Behmann, Ian Alexander Pottinger
  • Patent number: 6814861
    Abstract: A method and apparatus of purifying feedwater to remove impurities including suspended solids therefrom, the method suitable for using in-line water pressure to permeate water through hollow fiber membranes and to backflush the membranes to remove solids collected or deposited thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Zenon Environmental, Inc.
    Inventors: Hidayat Husain, Andreas Draesner, Michael Blair, Henry Behmann
  • Publication number: 20040129637
    Abstract: A filtration module has a plurality of hollow fibre nanofiltration or reverse osmosis membranes suspended between a pair of opposed headers. The lumens of the membranes are the retentate or feed side. The membranes are arranged in groups, such as sectors of a cylinder, and form preceding or succeeding stages. A permeate collection plenum is in direct fluid communication with each stage. The stages are connected by caps typically having dividers located at the ends of the module. The module is used to filter water and, when optionally fitted with hollow fibre membranes adapted to selectively reject hardness causing salts, is used to remove hardness. Methods of cleaning using acidic solutions or gaseous carbon dioxide are discussed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2003
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Inventors: Hidayat Husain, Henry Behmann, Pierre Lucien Cote, Ian Alexander Pottinger, Ella Murphy
  • Publication number: 20040118767
    Abstract: A membrane filtration device has a multiplicity of hollow fiber membranes, or fibers, unconfined in a shell of a module; a first header and a second header disposed in vertically spaced-apart relationship; said first header and said second header having opposed ends of each fiber sealingly secured therein, all open ends of said fibers open to a permeate-discharging face of at least one header; permeate collection means to collect said permeate, sealingly connected in open fluid communication with a permeate-discharging face of at least one of said headers; means to withdraw said permeate; said fibers, said headers and said permeate collection means together forming an integrated combination wherein said fibers are essentially vertically disposed and ends of individual fibers are potted in closely spaced-apart relationship in cured resin; with opposed faces at a fixed distance; each of said fibers having a length from 0.1% to less than 5% greater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2003
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Inventors: Henry Behmann, Mailvaganam Mahendran, Steven Kristian Pedersen, Wayne Jerald Henshaw
  • Publication number: 20040112831
    Abstract: An aeration system for a submerged membrane module has a set of aerators connected to an air blower, valves and a controller adapted to alternately provide a higher rate or air flow and a lower rate of air flow in repeated cycles. In an embodiment, the air blower, valves and controller, simultaneously provide the alternating air flow to two or more sets of aerators such that the total air flow is constant, allowing the blower to be operated at a constant speed. In another embodiment, the repeated cycles are of short duration. Transient flow conditions result in the tank water which helps avoid dead spaces and assists in agitating the membranes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2003
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Inventors: Hamid R. Rabie, Pierre Lucien Cote, Manwinder Singh, Arnold Janson, Steven Kristian Pedersen, Henry Behmann
  • Publication number: 20040079692
    Abstract: An apparatus to transfer gas to or from a liquid has a flexible and oxygen permeable but liquid water impermeable membrane, a flexible and gas permeable spacer, an inlet conduit, an outlet conduit and a non-rigid restraint system. When used for treating wastewater, an aerobic biofilm is cultured adjacent the planar elements, an anoxic biofilm is cultivated adjacent the aerobic biofilm and the wastewater is maintained in an anaerobic state. A first reactor for treating wastewater has an anaerobic section, a plurality of gas transfer membrane modules, and an aerobic section. A biofilm is cultivated on the surface of the gas transfer membranes in fluid communication with the anaerobic section. Biological reduction of COD, BOD, nitrogen and phosphorous are achieved. In a second reactor, phosphorous is also removed chemically in a precipitation branch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2003
    Publication date: April 29, 2004
    Applicant: ZENON Environmental Inc.
    Inventors: Pierre Lucien Cote, Steven Kristian Pedersen, Henry Behmann, Hidayat Husain, Deonarine Phagoo
  • Patent number: 6702944
    Abstract: A filtration module has at least one nanofiltration or reverse osmosis membrane. The module is used to filter water and, when optionally fitted with at least one membrane adapted to selectively reject hardness causing salts, is used to remove hardness. Methods of cleaning using acidic solutions or gaseous carbon dioxide are discussed. Cleaning methods include the steps of periodically stopping permeation, injecting an acidic solution or gaseous carbon dioxide into the feed/retentate side of the module, holding the acidic solution or gaseous carbon dioxide in the module for a selected time, and flushing the acidic solution or gaseous carbon dioxide from the feed/retentate side of the module after expiration of the selected time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Zenon Environmental Inc.
    Inventors: Hidayat Husain, Henry Behmann, Pierre Côté, Ian Pottinger, Ella Murphy
  • Publication number: 20040035780
    Abstract: An apparatus is described for withdrawing filtered permeate from a substrate contained in a reservoir at ambient pressure. The apparatus includes a plurality of membrane assemblies. Each assembly has a plurality of hollow fiber filtering membranes, immersed in the reservoir, at least one permeating header with the membranes sealingly secured therein, and a permeate collector to collect the permeate sealingly connected to the at least one permeating header and in fluid communication with lumens of the membranes. The membranes of each assembly extend generally vertically upwards from a first header during permeation. One or more sources of suction are provided in fluid communication with the lumens of the membranes of each assembly through the permeate collectors and apply sufficient suction to withdraw permeate from the lumens of the membranes. An aeration system for discharging bubbles assists in keeping the membranes clean.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2003
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Inventors: Mailvaganam Mahendran, Wayne Henshaw, Henry Behmann, Steven Pedersen
  • Patent number: 6682652
    Abstract: An apparatus is described for withdrawing filtered permeate from a substrate contained in a reservoir at ambient pressure. The apparatus includes a plurality of membrane assemblies. Each assembly has a plurality of hollow fiber filtering membranes, immersed in the reservoir, at least one permeating header with the membranes sealingly secured therein, and a permeate collector to collect the permeate sealingly connected to the at least one permeating header and in fluid communication with lumens of the membranes. The membranes of each assembly extend generally vertically upwards from a first header during permeation. One or more sources of suction are provided in fluid communication with the lumens of the membranes of each assembly through the permeate collectors and apply sufficient suction to withdraw permeate from the lumens of the membranes. An aeration system for discharging bubbles assists in keeping the membranes clean.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Zenon Environmental Inc.
    Inventors: Mailvaganam Mahendran, Wayne Henshaw, Henry Behmann, Steven Pedersen
  • Publication number: 20040007525
    Abstract: A method of cleaning ultrafiltration or microfiltration membranes reduces the rate of decline in the permeability of the membranes so that intensive recovery cleaning is required less frequently. In one aspect, cleaning events using a chemical cleaner are started before the membranes foul significantly and are repeated between 1 and 7 times per week. The product of the concentration of the chemical cleaner expressed as an equivalent concentration of NaOCl and the duration of all cleaning events is between 2,000 minutes&Circlesolid;mg/l and 30,000 minutes&Circlesolid;mg/l per week. When performed in situ, each cleaning event comprises (a) stopping permeation and any agitation of the membranes, (b) backwashing the membranes with a chemical cleaner in repeated pulses and (c) resuming agitation, if any, and permeation. The pulses last for between 10 seconds and 100 seconds and there is a time between pulses between 50 seconds and 6 minutes. Each cleaning event typically involves between 5 and 20 pulses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2003
    Publication date: January 15, 2004
    Inventors: Hamid R. Rabie, Hidayat Husain, Henry Behmann
  • Patent number: 6645374
    Abstract: An apparatus to transfer gas to or from a liquid has a flexible and oxygen permeable but liquid water impermeable membrane, a flexible and gas permeable spacer, an inlet conduit, an outlet conduit and a non-rigid restraint system. When used for treating wastewater, an aerobic biofilm is cultured adjacent the planar elements, an anoxic biofilm is cultivated adjacent the aerobic biofilm and the wastewater is maintained in an anaerobic state. A first reactor for treating wastewater has an anaerobic section, a plurality of gas transfer membrane modules, and an aerobic section. A biofilm is cultivated on the surface of the gas transfer membranes in fluid communication with the anaerobic section. Biological reduction of COD, BOD, nitrogen and phosphorous are achieved. In a second reactor, phosphorous is also removed chemically in a precipitation branch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Zenon Environmental Inc.
    Inventors: Pierre Cote, Steven Pedersen, Henry Behmann, Hidayat Husain, Deonarine Phagoo
  • Patent number: 6620319
    Abstract: An apparatus for treating a multi component liquid substrate while leaving particulate matter therein as a skein of hollow fiber filtering membranes immersed in the substrate which is contained in a non-pressurized reservoir. A pumping fluid communication with the lumens of the membranes draws a component of the substrate as permeate through the membranes by applying a section to the lumens of the membranes. In various embodiments, an aeration system as a gas distributor for discharging air directly into the substrate within the skein, upper and lower headers of the skein are spaced apart by a gas tube, and a gas distribution system has through passages through the lower header to discharge bubbles into the substrate above the lower header.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Zenon Enviromental Inc.
    Inventors: Henry Behmann, Mailvaganam Mahendran, Steven Khristian Pedersen, Wayne Jerald Henshaw
  • Patent number: 6616843
    Abstract: A single tank submerged membrane bioreactor for treating feed water having unacceptable levels of ammonia or total nitrogen has both a membrane scouring bubble supply and an oxygenating bubble supply. The membrane scouring bubble supply continuously provides large scouring bubbles to clean the membranes. Permeate is continuously withdrawn from the membranes at a high rate but the large scouring bubbles do not transfer sufficient oxygen to the mixed liquor to create aerobic conditions in the reactor. The oxygenating bubble supply is operated to provide small bubbles of air or oxygen that intermittently produce aerobic conditions in a significant part of the mixed liquor. Alternating aerobic and anoxic conditions occur in a significant portion of the tank suitable for nitrification and denitrification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignees: Omnium de Traitement et de Valorisation, Zenon Environmental Inc.
    Inventors: Henry Behmann, Hidayat Husain, Herve Buisson, Michele Payraudeau
  • Publication number: 20030164332
    Abstract: An apparatus is described for withdrawing filtered permeate from a substrate contained in a reservoir at ambient pressure. The apparatus includes a plurality of membrane assemblies. Each assembly has a plurality of hollow fiber filtering membranes, immersed in the reservoir, at least one permeating header with the membranes sealingly secured therein, and a permeate collector to collect the permeate sealingly connected to the at least one permeating header and in fluid communication with lumens of the membranes. The membranes of each assembly extend generally vertically upwards from a first header during permeation. One or more sources of suction are provided in fluid communication with the lumens of the membranes of each assembly through the permeate collectors and apply sufficient suction to withdraw permeate from the lumens of the membranes. An aeration system for discharging bubbles assists in keeping the membranes clean.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2003
    Publication date: September 4, 2003
    Inventors: Mailvaganam Mahendran, Wayne Henshaw, Henry Behmann, Steven Pedersen
  • Publication number: 20030150798
    Abstract: An apparatus to transfer gas to or from a liquid has a flexible and oxygen permeable but liquid water impermeable membrane, a flexible and gas permeable spacer, an inlet conduit, an outlet conduit and a non-rigid restraint system. When used for treating wastewater, an aerobic biofilm is cultured adjacent the planar elements, an anoxic biofilm is cultivated adjacent the aerobic biofilm and the wastewater is maintained in an anaerobic state. A first reactor for treating wastewater has an anaerobic section, a plurality of gas transfer membrane modules, and an aerobic section. A biofilm is cultivated on the surface of the gas transfer membranes in fluid communication with the anaerobic section. Biological reduction of COD, BOD, nitrogen and phosphorous are achieved. In a second reactor, phosphorous is also removed chemically in a precipitation branch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2003
    Publication date: August 14, 2003
    Applicant: ZENON Environmental Inc.
    Inventors: Pierre Cote, Steven Pedersen, Henry Behmann, Hidayat Husain, Deonarine Phagoo