Patents by Inventor Mark E. Orazem
Mark E. Orazem 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: 11208342Abstract: Various examples related to electrokinetic dewatering (EKD) of suspensions such as, e.g., phosphatic clay suspensions are provided. In one example, a system for continuous EKD includes cake dewatering unit having a lower conveying belt extending across a dewatering chamber; an upper conveying belt extending across at least a portion of the dewatering chamber; and a sludge inlet configured to supply a sludge suspension on the first end of the lower conveying belt. The conveying belts can extend across the dewatering chamber at an angle. Rotation of the conveying belts draws the sludge suspension through an electric field where the sludge suspension is dewatered. The electric field can be established between an upper anode and a lower cathode. The upper and lower conveying belts can include the anode and cathode. A suspension thickening unit can provide a thickened sludge suspension the cake dewatering unit for enhanced dewatering.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2018Date of Patent: December 28, 2021Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, IncorporatedInventors: Mark E. Orazem, Arthur R. Dizon
-
Publication number: 20210206682Abstract: Various examples related to electrokinetic dewatering (EKD) of suspensions such as, e.g., phosphatic clay suspensions are provided. In one example, a system for continuous EKD includes cake dewatering unit having a lower conveying belt extending across a dewatering chamber; an upper conveying belt extending across at least a portion of the dewatering chamber; and a sludge inlet configured to supply a sludge suspension on the first end of the lower conveying belt. The conveying belts can extend across the dewatering chamber at an angle. Rotation of the conveying belts draws the sludge suspension through an electric field where the sludge suspension is dewatered. The electric field can be established between an upper anode and a lower cathode. The upper and lower conveying belts can include the anode and cathode. A suspension thickening unit can provide a thickened sludge suspension the cake dewatering unit for enhanced dewatering.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2018Publication date: July 8, 2021Inventors: MARK E. ORAZEM, ARTHUR R. DIZON
-
Patent number: 10486108Abstract: Various examples are provided for electrokinetic dewatering of e.g., phosphatic clay suspensions. In one example, among others, a system includes a separation chamber including an anode and a cathode extending ends of the separation chamber and a power supply configured to energize the anode and the cathode to establish an electric field. An inlet at one end of the separation chamber can supply a dilute feed suspension and an outlet at another end of the separation chamber can remove supernatant water. The electric field can consolidate solids in the dilute feed suspension. Consolidated solids may be removed by a removal mechanism. In another example, a method includes supplying a dilute feed suspension including suspended solids, establishing an electric field to consolidate solids, and removing supernatant water.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2013Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.Inventors: Mark E. Orazem, Rui Kong
-
Patent number: 10315165Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for electrokinetic dewatering of suspensions such as, e.g., phosphatic clay. In one example, among others, a system for continuous dewatering includes a cake formation zone including a first anode and a first cathode each extending across a first portion of a separation chamber; a cake dewatering zone including a second anode and a second cathode; an inlet configured to supply a dilute feed suspension comprising solids suspended in water to the cake formation zone; and a conveying belt extending between the first anode and the first cathode and between the second anode and the second cathode. A first electric field between the first anode and the first cathode forms a cake on the conveying belt by consolidating the solids, and a second electric field between the second anode and the second cathode dewaters the cake on the conveying belt.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2015Date of Patent: June 11, 2019Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.Inventors: Mark E. Orazem, Rui Kong, Saeed Moghaddam, Yuelong Huang, Dazhi Yu, Han Lai, David A. Horner, David Bloomquist
-
Publication number: 20190127256Abstract: Various examples related to electrokinetic dewatering (EKD) of suspensions such as, e.g., phosphatic clay suspensions are provided. In one example, a system for continuous EKD includes cake dewatering unit having a lower conveying belt extending across a dewatering chamber; an upper conveying belt extending across at least a portion of the dewatering chamber; and a sludge inlet configured to supply a sludge suspension on the first end of the lower conveying belt. The conveying belts can extend across the dewatering chamber at an angle. Rotation of the conveying belts draws the sludge suspension through an electric field where the sludge suspension is dewatered. The electric field can be established between an upper anode and a lower cathode. The upper and lower conveying belts can include the anode and cathode. A suspension thickening unit can provide a thickened sludge suspension the cake dewatering unit for enhanced dewatering.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2018Publication date: May 2, 2019Inventors: MARK E. ORAZEM, ARTHUR R. DIZON
-
Patent number: 9829452Abstract: Various examples are provided for corrosion detection in structural tendons. In one example, among others, a method includes injecting current through a portion of a tendon assembly including a tendon at least partially encased in grout, where the current is injected through the portion of the tendon assembly via contact points on a surface of the grout. A potential across the portion of the grout surface is measured and a condition of the tendon can be based at least in part upon the current and the potential. In another example, a system includes supply electrodes to inject current into grout surrounding a tendon via contact with a surface of the grout, sensor electrodes to measure a potential difference between the supply electrodes, and an impedance detection device to determine an impedance of the tendon based at least in part upon the injected current and the potential difference.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2014Date of Patent: November 28, 2017Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.Inventors: Mark E. Orazem, Yu-Min Chen, Christopher Alexander
-
Publication number: 20170320018Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for electrokinetic dewatering of suspensions such as, e.g., phosphatic clay. In one example, among others, a system for continuous dewatering includes a cake formation zone including a first anode and a first cathode each extending across a first portion of a separation chamber; a cake dewatering zone including a second anode and a second cathode; an inlet configured to supply a dilute feed suspension comprising solids suspended in water to the cake formation zone; and a conveying belt extending between the first anode and the first cathode and between the second anode and the second cathode. A first electric field between the first anode and the first cathode forms a cake on the conveying belt by consolidating the solids, and a second electric field between the second anode and the second cathode dewaters the cake on the conveying belt.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2015Publication date: November 9, 2017Inventors: MARK E. ORAZEM, RUI KONG, SAEED MOGHADDAM, YUELONG HUANG, DAZHI YU, HAN LAI, DAVID A. HORNER, DAVID BLOOMQUIST
-
Publication number: 20150273398Abstract: Various examples are provided for electrokinetic dewatering of e.g., phosphatic clay suspensions. In one example, among others, a system includes a separation chamber including an anode and a cathode extending ends of the separation chamber and a power supply configured to energize the anode and the cathode to establish an electric field. An inlet at one end of the separation chamber can supply a dilute feed suspension and an outlet at another end of the separation chamber can remove supernatant water. The electric field can consolidate solids in the dilute feed suspension. Consolidated solids may be removed by a removal mechanism. In another example, a method includes supplying a dilute feed suspension including suspended solids, establishing an electric field to consolidate solids, and removing supernatant water.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2013Publication date: October 1, 2015Applicant: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.Inventors: Mark E. Orazem, Rui Kong
-
Publication number: 20150097589Abstract: Various examples are provided for corrosion detection in structural tendons. In one example, among others, a method includes injecting current through a portion of a tendon assembly including a tendon at least partially encased in grout, where the current is injected through the portion of the tendon assembly via contact points on a surface of the grout. A potential across the portion of the grout surface is measured and a condition of the tendon can be based at least in part upon the current and the potential. In another example, a system includes supply electrodes to inject current into grout surrounding a tendon via contact with a surface of the grout, sensor electrodes to measure a potential difference between the supply electrodes, and an impedance detection device to determine an impedance of the tendon based at least in part upon the injected current and the potential difference.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2014Publication date: April 9, 2015Inventors: Mark E. Orazem, Yu-Min Chen, Christopher Alexander
-
Patent number: 8310251Abstract: A method and system for assessment of a pipe (110) is provided. The system can include a probe (100) having first (120) and second (130) electrodes and a processor (200) in communication with the probe (100). The probe (100) can be in a medium (140) proximate to a section of the pipe (110) to be analyzed. The section of the pipe (110) can have a coating (115) thereon. The processor (200) can measure a difference in potential between the first (120) and second (130) electrodes. The processor (200) can determine a local impedance with respect to the section of the pipe (110) based at least in part on the difference in potential. The processor (200) can evaluate a condition of the coating (115) on the section of the pipe (110) based at least in part on the local impedance or a parameter derived from the local impedance.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2008Date of Patent: November 13, 2012Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.Inventor: Mark E. Orazem
-
Publication number: 20100039127Abstract: A method and system for assessment of a pipe (110) is provided. The system can include a probe (100) having first (120) and second (130) electrodes and a processor (200) in communication with the probe (100). The probe (100) can be in a medium (140) proximate to a section of the pipe (110) to be analyzed. The section of the pipe (110) can have a coating (115) thereon. The processor (200) can measure a difference in potential between the first (120) and second (130) electrodes. The processor (200) can determine a local impedance with respect to the section of the pipe (110) based at least in part on the difference in potential. The processor (200) can evaluate a condition of the coating (115) on the section of the pipe (110) based at least in part on the local impedance or a parameter derived from the local impedance.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 3, 2008Publication date: February 18, 2010Applicant: University of Florida Research Foundation, IncInventor: Mark E. Orazem