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: 11208342
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated
    Inventors: Mark E. Orazem, Arthur R. Dizon
  • Publication number: 20210206682
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Inventors: MARK E. ORAZEM, ARTHUR R. DIZON
  • Patent number: 10486108
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.
    Inventors: Mark E. Orazem, Rui Kong
  • Patent number: 10315165
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: 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: 20190127256
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Inventors: MARK E. ORAZEM, ARTHUR R. DIZON
  • Patent number: 9829452
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.
    Inventors: Mark E. Orazem, Yu-Min Chen, Christopher Alexander
  • Publication number: 20170320018
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Inventors: MARK E. ORAZEM, RUI KONG, SAEED MOGHADDAM, YUELONG HUANG, DAZHI YU, HAN LAI, DAVID A. HORNER, DAVID BLOOMQUIST
  • Publication number: 20150273398
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2013
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Applicant: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark E. Orazem, Rui Kong
  • Publication number: 20150097589
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Mark E. Orazem, Yu-Min Chen, Christopher Alexander
  • Patent number: 8310251
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark E. Orazem
  • Publication number: 20100039127
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Applicant: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc
    Inventor: Mark E. Orazem