Patents by Inventor John David IRELAND

John David IRELAND 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: 11673820
    Abstract: A hybrid membrane aerated biofilm reactor (MABR) and activated sludge (AS) system and process are described herein. At least a portion of the AS system includes aerobic mixed liquor, for example in an aerobic tank or zone downstream of a tank or zone containing membrane aerated biofilm modules. The flow of air to the membrane aerated biofilm is modulated considering the ammonia loading rate to the system or to the aerobic mixed liquor, for example according to a diurnal cycle. For example, air flow to the membrane supported biofilm can be below an average or initial air flow rate during a period of low ammonia loading. Air flow to the aerobic mixed liquor may remain essentially constants during the same period. Optionally, mixed liquor around the membrane aerated biofilm modules may be aerated during a period of high ammonia loading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Inventors: Dwight Cornelius Houweling, John David Ireland, Douglas Joseph Thompson, Jeffrey Gerard Peeters
  • Publication number: 20230079372
    Abstract: This specification describes a membrane aerated biofilm reactor (MABR) and processes for nitritation, nitritation-denitritation or deammonification. The supply of oxygen through the gas-transfer membrane is limited to suppress the growth of nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB). Exhaust gas from an MABR unit may have an oxygen concentration of 4% or less. The process can optionally include one or more of: intermittent (batch) feed of process air; process air modulation; process air direction reversal; process air recycle; and, process air cascade flow. The process can optionally include adding a seed sludge containing anammox to a reactor, optionally after pre-treatment and selection. The process can optionally include pre-seeding an MABR media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Inventors: JOHN DAVID IRELAND, ZEBO LONG, DANIEL COUTTS, DWIGHT CORNELIUS HOUWELING, JEFFREY GERARD PEETERS, MORENO DI POFI, SVEN BAUMGARTEN
  • Publication number: 20230045679
    Abstract: An apparatus has a plurality of gas transfer membranes. The apparatus floats in water with the membranes submerged in the water. To treat the water, a gas is supplied to the membranes and is transferred to a biofilm supported on the membranes or to the water. Gas is also used to supply mixing or membrane scouring bubbles to the water. The mixing or scouring bubbles can be provided by a cyclic aeration or other gas supply system, which optionally provides gas at a variable pressure to the membranes in parallel or series with an aerator. Condensates can be removed from the membranes, and exhaust gasses from the membranes can be monitored, optionally through one or more dedicated pipes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2022
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Inventors: Pierre Lucien COTE, John David IRELAND, Nicholas William H. ADAMS, Steven Kristian PEDERSEN
  • Patent number: 11505483
    Abstract: An apparatus has a plurality of gas transfer membranes. The apparatus floats in water with the membranes submerged in the water. To treat the water, a gas is supplied to the membranes and is transferred to a biofilm supported on the membranes or to the water. Gas is also used to supply mixing or membrane scouring bubbles to the water. The mixing or scouring bubbles can be provided by a cyclic aeration or other gas supply system, which optionally provides gas at a variable pressure to the membranes in parallel or series with an aerator. Condensates can be removed from the membranes, and exhaust gasses from the membranes can be monitored, optionally through one or more dedicated pipes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: BL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Pierre Lucien Cote, John David Ireland, Nicholas William H. Adams, Steven Kristian Pedersen
  • Publication number: 20210253460
    Abstract: A hybrid membrane aerated biofilm reactor (MABR) and activated sludge (AS) system and process are described herein. At least a portion of the AS system includes aerobic mixed liquor, for example in an aerobic tank or zone downstream of a tank or zone containing membrane aerated biofilm modules. The flow of air to the membrane aerated biofilm is modulated considering the ammonia loading rate to the system or to the aerobic mixed liquor, for example according to a diurnal cycle. For example, air flow to the membrane supported biofilm can be below an average or initial air flow rate during a period of low ammonia loading. Air flow to the aerobic mixed liquor may remain essentially constants during the same period. Optionally, mixed liquor around the membrane aerated biofilm modules may be aerated during a period of high ammonia loading.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Inventors: Dwight Cornelius HOUWELING, John David IRELAND, Douglas Joseph THOMPSON, Jeffrey Gerard PEETERS
  • Publication number: 20180022625
    Abstract: An apparatus has a plurality of gas transfer membranes. The apparatus floats in water with the membranes submerged in the water. To treat the water, a gas is supplied to the membranes and is transferred to a biofilm supported on the membranes or to the water. Gas is also used to supply mixing or membrane scouring bubbles to the water. The mixing or scouring bubbles can be provided by a cyclic aeration or other gas supply system, which optionally provides gas at a variable pressure to the membranes in parallel or series with an aerator. Condensates can be removed from the membranes, and exhaust gasses from the membranes can be monitored, optionally through one or more dedicated pipes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Inventors: Pierre Lucien COTE, John David IRELAND, Nicholas William H. ADAMS, Steven Kristian PEDERSEN
  • Patent number: 8999454
    Abstract: A nozzle for making a reinforced hollow fibre membrane discharges one or more reinforcing yarns at or near a plane where the dope exits the nozzle, or in the same plane as a discharge opening of dope passage, or both. Multiple discrete yarn discharge openings may be spaced around a longitudinal axis of the nozzle. A reinforcing yarn passage remains generally free of dope during use. The dope may be discharged in an annular ring inside of the one or more reinforcing yarns, in an annular ring outside of the reinforcing yarns, or both. Minimal tension is required to pull the yarns through the nozzle, which helps to reduce distortion of the membrane cross section in a coagulation bath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Steven Kristian Pedersen, John David Ireland
  • Publication number: 20130251909
    Abstract: A nozzle for making a reinforced hollow fibre membrane discharges one or more reinforcing yarns at or near a plane where the dope exits the nozzle, or in the same plane as a discharge opening of dope passage, or both. Multiple discrete yarn discharge openings may be spaced around a longitudinal axis of the nozzle. A reinforcing yarn passage remains generally free of dope during use. The dope may be discharged in an annular ring inside of the one or more reinforcing yarns, in an annular ring outside of the reinforcing yarns, or both. Minimal tension is required to pull the yarns through the nozzle, which helps to reduce distortion of the membrane cross section in a coagulation bath.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Inventors: Steven Kristian PEDERSEN, John David IRELAND