Patents by Inventor Knut Wichmann

Knut Wichmann 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).

  • Method and apparatus for purifying untreated water
    Patent number: 6852228
    Abstract: The invention relates to the purification of untreated water which is polluted with dissolved organic carbon compounds which can be biologically or adsorptively removed in a three-step process, whereby the upstream purification step is predominantly biological, i.e. operates as a biofilter (1), and both subsequent purification steps are predominantly adsorptive in nature, i.e. operate as adsorbers (2, 3). The biofilter (1) is purified by backwashing, whereby the backwashing periods occur according to the TOC determined between the biofilter (1) and the upstream adsorber (2) and/or running time and/or pressure loss. The upstream adsorber (2) is also cleaned by backwashing and is subsequently shifted into a downstream position alternating with the other adsorber (3). The method is suitable for obtaining TOC concentrations in treated water of less than 500 ppb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignees: Steag Encotech GmbH, Kraftwerks-und Netzgessellschaft mbH, DVGW-Forschungsstelle TUHH
    Inventors: Ulrich Keil, Harald Kusch, Toralf Schönfelder, Bernd Bendinger, Knut Wichmann
  • Method and device for purifying untreated water
    Publication number: 20030029794
    Abstract: The invention relates to the purification of untreated water which is polluted with dissolved organic carbon compounds which can be biologically or adsorptively removed in a three-step process, whereby the upstream purification step is predominantly biological, i.e. operates as a biofilter (1), and both subsequent purification steps are predominantly adsorptive in nature, i.e. operate as adsorbers (2, 3). The biofilter (1) is purified by backwashing, whereby the backwashing periods occur according to the TOC determined between the biofilter (1) and the upstream adsorber (2) and/or running time and/or pressure loss. The upstream adsorber (2) is also cleaned by backwashing and is subsequently shifted into a downstream position alternating with the other adsorber (3). The method is suitable for obtaining TOC concentrations in treated water of less than 500 ppb.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2002
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Inventors: Ulrich Keil, Harald Kusch, Toralf Schonfelder, Bernd Bendinger, Knut Wichmann