Patents by Inventor Joseph Edward Zuback

Joseph Edward Zuback 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: 20200078741
    Abstract: A method of cleaning a membrane surface immersed in a liquid medium with a fluid flow, including the steps of providing a randomly generated intermittent or pulsed fluid flow along the membrane surface to dislodge fouling materials therefrom. A membrane module is also disclosed comprising a plurality of porous membranes (6) or a set of membrane modules (5) and a device (11) for providing a generally randomly generated, pulsed fluid flow such that, in use, said fluid flow moves past the surfaces of said membranes (6) to dislodge fouling materials therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Applicant: Evoqua Water Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Fufang Zha, Gerin James, Joseph Edward Zuback, Peter Zauner, Roger William Phelps
  • Patent number: 10507431
    Abstract: A method of cleaning a membrane surface immersed in a liquid medium with a fluid flow, including the steps of providing a randomly generated intermittent or pulsed fluid flow along the membrane surface to dislodge fouling materials therefrom. A membrane module is also disclosed comprising a plurality of porous membranes (6) or a set of membrane modules (5) and a device (11) for providing a generally randomly generated, pulsed fluid flow such that, in use, said fluid flow moves past the surfaces of said membranes (6) to dislodge fouling materials therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Inventors: Fufang Zha, Gerin James, Joseph Edward Zuback, Peter Zauner, Roger William Phelps
  • Patent number: 10315163
    Abstract: Separation processes using engineered osmosis are disclosed generally involving the extraction of solvent from a first solution to concentrate solute by using a second concentrated solution to draw the solvent from the first solution across a semi-permeable membrane. Enhanced efficiency may result from using low grade waste heat from industrial or commercial sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Oasys Water LLC
    Inventors: Robert L. McGinnis, Joseph Edward Zuback
  • Patent number: 10315936
    Abstract: Separation processes using engineered osmosis are disclosed generally involving the extraction of solvent from a first solution to concentrate solute by using a second concentrated solution to draw the solvent from the first solution across a semi-permeable membrane. Enhanced efficiency may result from using low grade waste heat from industrial or commercial sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Oasys Water LLC
    Inventors: Robert L. McGinnis, Joseph Edward Zuback
  • Publication number: 20170113188
    Abstract: A method of cleaning a membrane surface immersed in a liquid medium with a fluid flow, including the steps of providing a randomly generated intermittent or pulsed fluid flow along the membrane surface to dislodge fouling materials therefrom. A membrane module is also disclosed comprising a plurality of porous membranes (6) or a set of membrane modules (5) and a device (11) for providing a generally randomly generated, pulsed fluid flow such that, in use, said fluid flow moves past the surfaces of said membranes (6) to dislodge fouling materials therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2017
    Publication date: April 27, 2017
    Inventors: Fufang Zha, Gerin James, Joseph Edward Zuback, Peter Zauner, Roger William Phelps
  • Publication number: 20160207799
    Abstract: Separation processes using engineered osmosis are disclosed generally involving the extraction of solvent from a first solution to concentrate solute by using a second concentrated solution to draw the solvent from the first solution across a semi-permeable membrane. Enhanced efficiency may result from using low grade waste heat from industrial or commercial sources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Inventors: Robert L. McGinnis, Joseph Edward Zuback
  • Publication number: 20160206997
    Abstract: Separation processes using engineered osmosis are disclosed generally involving the extraction of solvent from a first solution to concentrate solute by using a second concentrated solution to draw the solvent from the first solution across a semi-permeable membrane. Enhanced efficiency may result from using low grade waste heat from industrial or commercial sources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Inventors: Robert L. McGinnis, Joseph Edward Zuback
  • Patent number: 9266065
    Abstract: Separation processes using engineered osmosis are disclosed generally involving the extraction of solvent from a first solution to concentrate solute by using a second concentrated solution to draw the solvent from the first solution across a semi-permeable membrane. Enhanced efficiency may result from using low grade waste heat from industrial or commercial sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Oasys Water, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. McGinnis, Joseph Edward Zuback
  • Patent number: 9248405
    Abstract: Separation processes using engineered osmosis are disclosed generally involving the extraction of solvent from a first solution to concentrate solute by using a second concentrated solution to draw the solvent from the first solution across a semi-permeable membrane. Enhanced efficiency may result from using low grade waste heat from industrial or commercial sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Oasys Water, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. McGinnis, Joseph Edward Zuback
  • Publication number: 20160023166
    Abstract: A system (100) for cleaning a membrane (122) includes at least one of a ceramic or polymeric membrane (122) for filtering solids from fluid in a filtration system, the membrane (122) having a clean side and a dirty side. The system further comprises at least a first supply of high pressure fluid (132) with dissolved gas therein. The first supply of high pressure fluid (132) is in fluid communication with the clean side of the membrane (122) during a cleaning process. The dissolved gas in the high pressure fluid (132) is at a concentration such that gas bubbles form on the dirty side of the membrane (122) during the cleaning process, wherein dissolved gas includes a first gas and the first gas is an oxidative gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventor: Joseph Edward ZUBACK
  • Patent number: 9206057
    Abstract: A method of cleaning a membrane surface immersed in a liquid medium with a fluid flow, including the steps of providing a randomly generated intermittent or pulsed fluid flow along the membrane surface to dislodge fouling materials therefrom. A membrane module is also disclosed comprising a plurality of porous membranes (6) or a set of membrane modules (5) and a device (11) for providing a generally randomly generated, pulsed fluid flow such that, in use, said fluid flow moves past the surfaces of said membranes (6) to dislodge fouling materials therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Evoqua Water Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Fufang Zha, Gerin James, Joseph Edward Zuback, Peter Zauner, Roger William Phelps
  • Patent number: 8894855
    Abstract: A hybrid method and system of treating wastewater with reduced energy usage is disclosed. The treatment system has a sorption system and an anaerobic digester that digests or converts at least a portion of the solids or sludge from the sorption system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Evoqua Water Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Wenjun Liu, Edward John Jordan, George W. Smith, Joseph Edward Zuback
  • Patent number: 8840783
    Abstract: A method of cleaning a membrane surface immersed in a liquid medium with a fluid flow, including the steps of providing a randomly generated intermittent or pulsed fluid flow along the membrane surface to dislodge fouling materials therefrom. A membrane module is also disclosed comprising a plurality of porous membranes (6) or a set of membrane modules (5) and a device (11) for providing a generally randomly generated, pulsed fluid flow such that, in use, said fluid flow moves past the surfaces of said membranes (6) to dislodge fouling materials therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Evoqua Water Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Fufang Zha, Gerin James, Joseph Edward Zuback, Peter Zauner, Roger William Phelps
  • Patent number: 8815096
    Abstract: An integrated process for removing sulfate from water sources, such as pretreated acid mine drainage (AMD). The multivalent cation (MVC) content of a sulfate stream is reduced by strong acid cation (SAC) ion exchange and sulfate is concentrated with a membrane system and separated as precipitate and overflow. Precipitation results from reaction of sulfate with MVC produced by regeneration of SAC with sodium chloride. The overflow is reacted with carbonate to precipitate MVC, generate sodium chloride and give a further overflow stream. This latter stream is concentrated to a level capable of being a regenerant for the SAC and when needed, used to regenerate the SAC and produce MVC for sulfate precipitation. The process minimizes the use of chemicals by treating, reconcentrating and recycling input species. Capital expenditures are minimized by precipitation of only side streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Joseph Edward Zuback, Richard Woodling
  • Patent number: 8758621
    Abstract: A method of purifying impure water contaminated with a filterable impurity and a dissolved impurity, such as seawater, comprising the steps of: providing impure water to a primary microfiltration or ultrafiltration unit to remove the filterable impurity and produce impure filtered water contaminated with a dissolved impurity; providing the impure filtered water contaminated with a dissolved impurity to a reverse osmosis unit to produce a potable water stream and a residual reverse osmosis stream; and treating the residual reverse osmosis stream prior to reuse. The treatment may be in the form of passing through a secondary filter (such as another microfiltration or ultrafiltration membrane or a cartridge filter, and the subsequently treated reverse osmosis reject may be used to backwash the microfiltration or ultrafiltration unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Evoqua Water Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Joseph Edward Zuback
  • Publication number: 20140158618
    Abstract: A method of cleaning a membrane surface immersed in a liquid medium with a fluid flow, including the steps of providing a randomly generated intermittent or pulsed fluid flow along the membrane surface to dislodge fouling materials therefrom. A membrane module is also disclosed comprising a plurality of porous membranes (6) or a set of membrane modules (5) and a device (11) for providing a generally randomly generated, pulsed fluid flow such that, in use, said fluid flow moves past the surfaces of said membranes (6) to dislodge fouling materials therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Inventors: Fufang Zha, Gerin James, Joseph Edward Zuback, Peter Zauner, Roger William Phelps
  • Publication number: 20140034573
    Abstract: A hybrid method and system of treating wastewater with reduced energy usage is disclosed. The treatment system has a sorption system and an anaerobic digester that digests or converts at least a portion of the solids or sludge from the sorption system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Inventors: Wenjun Liu, Edward John Jordan, George W. Smith, Joseph Edward Zuback
  • Patent number: 8622222
    Abstract: A method of cleaning a membrane surface immersed in a liquid medium with a fluid flow, including the steps of providing a randomly generated intermittent or pulsed fluid flow along the membrane surface to dislodge fouling materials therefrom. A membrane module is also disclosed comprising a plurality of porous membranes (6) or a set of membrane modules (5) and a device (11) for providing a generally randomly generated, pulsed fluid flow such that, in use, said fluid flow moves past the surfaces of said membranes (6) to dislodge fouling materials therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Water Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Fufang Zha, Gerin James, Joseph Edward Zuback, Peter Zauner, Roger William Phelps
  • Patent number: 8372276
    Abstract: A method of cleaning a membrane surface immersed in a liquid medium with a fluid flow, including the steps of providing a randomly generated intermittent or pulsed fluid flow along the membrane surface to dislodge fouling materials therefrom. A membrane module is also disclosed comprising a plurality of porous membranes (6) or a set of membrane modules (5) and a device (11) for providing a generally randomly generated, pulsed fluid flow such that, in use, said fluid flow moves past the surfaces of said membranes (6) to dislodge fouling materials therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventors: Fufang Zha, Gerin James, Joseph Edward Zuback, Peter Zauner, Roger William Phelps
  • Publication number: 20120285885
    Abstract: Aspects and embodiments of the present application are direction to systems and methods for treating fluids and to systems and methods for cleaning membrane modules used in the treatment of fluids. Disclosed herein is a membrane filtration system and a method of operating same. The membrane filtration system comprises a plurality of membrane modules positioned in a feed tank, at least one of the membrane modules having a gas slug generator positioned below a lower header thereof, the gas slug generator configured and arranged to deliver a gas slug along surfaces of membranes within the at least one of the membrane modules. The membrane filtration system may further comprise a global aeration system configured to operate independently from an aeration system providing a gas to the gas slug generator. The global aeration system may be configured and arranged to induce a global circulatory flow of fluid throughout the feed tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: SIEMENS INDUSTRY, INC.
    Inventors: Gerin James, Roger Phelps, Peter Zauner, Fufang Zha, Joseph Edward Zuback, Edward John Jordan, Wenjun Liu