Patents by Inventor Michael J. Rutsch

Michael J. Rutsch 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: 20170225992
    Abstract: A wastewater concentrator a liquid evaporator assembly, a gas-liquid separator, an exhaust assembly, and a slurry thickening and storage system. The slurry thickening and storage system includes a slurry thickening tank fluidly connected to the gas-liquid separator and a thickened slurry storage tank fluidly connected to the slurry thickening tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Inventors: Bernard F. Duesel, JR., Michael J. Rutsch, Craig Clerkin
  • Patent number: 9617168
    Abstract: A compact and portable liquid concentrator includes a gas inlet, a gas exit and a flow corridor connecting the gas inlet and the gas exit, wherein the flow corridor includes a narrowed portion that accelerates the gas through the flow corridor. A liquid inlet injects liquid into the gas stream at a point prior to the narrowed portion so that the gas-liquid mixture is thoroughly mixed within the flow corridor, causing a portion of the liquid to be evaporated. A demister or fluid scrubber downstream of the narrowed portion removes entrained liquid droplets from the gas stream and re-circulates the removed liquid to the liquid inlet through a re-circulating circuit. Fresh liquid to be concentrated is also introduced into the re-circulating circuit at a rate sufficient to offset the amount of liquid evaporated in the flow corridor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: HEARTLAND TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS LLC
    Inventors: Bernard F. Duesel, Jr., Michael J. Rutsch, Craig Clerkin
  • Patent number: 9366479
    Abstract: An exhaust gas plume mitigation process and system includes either mixing secondary heat into a moisture rich exhaust gas stream, or diverting a moisture rich exhaust gas stream into a primary exhaust stack having hot exhaust gases flowing therethrough. Moisture rich exhaust gas from a liquid concentrator may be diverted into a high temperature exhaust stack of an engine, a generator, or a flare. The high temperature exhaust gases from the engine, the generator, or the flare raise the temperature of the moisture rich exhaust gas from the concentrator. The high temperature exhaust gases from the engine, the generator, or the flare are also lower in moisture content, so that the moisture rich exhaust gas from the concentrator is diluted by the drier high temperature exhaust gas. As a result, the mixed gas is less likely to develop a moisture plume upon exit to the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: HEARTLAND TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS LLC
    Inventors: Bernard F. Duesel, Jr., Michael J. Rutsch, Craig Clerkin
  • Publication number: 20160096744
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and/or apparatuses for treating wastewater produced at a thermoelectric power plant, other industrial plants, and/or other industrial sources are disclosed. The wastewater is directed through a wastewater concentrator including a direct contact adiabatic concentration system. A stream of hot feed gases is directed through the wastewater concentrator. The wastewater concentrator mixes the hot feed gases directly with the wastewater and evaporates water vapor from the wastewater. The wastewater concentrator separates the water vapor from remaining concentrated wastewater. A contained air-water interface liquid evaporator may be arranged to pre-process the wastewater before being treated by the wastewater concentrator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventors: Michael J. Rutsch, Bernard F. Duesel, JR., Craig Clerkin
  • Patent number: 9296624
    Abstract: A compact and portable liquid concentrator includes a gas inlet, a gas exit and a flow corridor connecting the gas inlet and the gas exit, wherein the flow corridor includes a narrowed portion that accelerates the gas through the flow corridor. A liquid inlet injects liquid into the gas stream at a point prior to the narrowed portion so that the gas-liquid mixture is thoroughly mixed within the flow corridor, causing a portion of the liquid to be evaporated. A demister or fluid scrubber downstream of the narrowed portion removes entrained liquid droplets from the gas stream and re-circulates the removed liquid to the liquid inlet through a re-circulating circuit. The compact and portable liquid concentrator is mountable on a truck bed or skid for easy transportation to remote sites.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: HEARTLAND TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS LLC
    Inventors: Bernard F. Duesel, Jr., Michael J. Rutsch, Craig Clerkin, Robert F. Irwin, IV
  • Patent number: 9156711
    Abstract: An air stripper includes a vessel, a gas delivery tube to deliver a gas into the vessel and a contaminated liquid inlet that provides a contaminated liquid to the vessel at a rate sufficient to maintain a controlled constant level of process fluid within the vessel. A weir is disposed within the vessel adjacent the gas delivery tube to form a first fluid circulation path between a first weir end and a wall of the vessel and a second fluid circulation path between a second weir end and an upper end of the vessel. During operation, gas introduced through the tube mixes with the process fluid and the combined gas and fluid flow at a high rate with a high degree of turbulence along the first and second circulation paths defined around the weir, thereby promoting vigorous mixing and intimate contact between the gas and the process fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: HEARTLAND TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS LLC
    Inventors: Bernard F. Duesel, Jr., Michael J. Rutsch
  • Publication number: 20150202545
    Abstract: A direct contact liquid concentrator selectively separates and concentrates water soluble salts from a wastewater stream containing two or more water soluble salts by concentrating the wastewater stream until the concentrated wastewater stream approaches or reaches a saturation level of the first water soluble salt; delivering the concentrated wastewater to a first settling tank, where the first water soluble salt begins to precipitate out of solution in solid form; drawing a first liquid solution from the first settling tank and sending the liquid solution to a second settling tank; and drawing a second liquid solution from the second settling tank, the second liquid solution having a higher ratio of a second water soluble salt to the first water soluble salt than the first liquid solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Inventors: Bernard F. Duesel, JR., Michael J. Rutsch, Craig Clerkin
  • Publication number: 20150122498
    Abstract: A wastewater concentrator a liquid evaporator assembly, a gas-liquid separator, an exhaust assembly, and a flowback water concentrating system. The flowback water concentrating system includes a settling tank fluidly connected to the gas-liquid separator and a supernatant liquid concentration sensor for measuring a concentration of dissolved solids in the supernatant liquid in the settling tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Bernard F. Duesel, JR., Michael J. Rutsch, Craig Clerkin
  • Publication number: 20140346032
    Abstract: A desalination system in the form of a submerged gas evaporator that includes a vessel, a gas delivery tube partially disposed within the vessel to deliver a gas into the vessel and a fluid inlet that provides a fluid to the vessel at a rate sufficient to maintain a controlled constant level of fluid within the vessel. During operation, gas introduced through the tube mixes with the fluid and the combined gas and fluid flow at a high rate with a high degree of turbulence, thereby promoting vigorous mixing and intimate contact between the gas and the fluid, which leads to a more efficient and complete evaporation. Additionally, vapor exiting the submerged gas evaporator is condensed in a condensing unit thus precipitating vapor into a liquid for removal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventors: Bernard F. Duesel, JR., Michael J. Rutsch
  • Publication number: 20140332454
    Abstract: A compact and portable liquid concentrator includes a gas inlet, a gas exit and a flow corridor connecting the gas inlet and the gas exit, wherein the flow corridor includes a narrowed portion that accelerates the gas through the flow corridor. A liquid inlet injects liquid into the gas stream at a point prior to the narrowed portion so that the gas-liquid mixture is thoroughly mixed within the flow corridor, causing a portion of the liquid to be evaporated. A demister or fluid scrubber downstream of the narrowed portion removes entrained liquid droplets from the gas stream and re-circulates the removed liquid to the liquid inlet through a re-circulating circuit. Fresh liquid to be concentrated is also introduced into the re-circulating circuit at a rate sufficient to offset the amount of liquid evaporated in the flow corridor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Inventors: Bernard F. Duesel, JR., Michael J. Rutsch, Craig Clerkin
  • Publication number: 20140319032
    Abstract: A compact and portable liquid concentrator and contaminant scrubber includes a gas inlet, a gas exit and a flow corridor connecting the gas inlet and the gas exit, wherein the flow corridor includes a narrowed portion that accelerates the gas through the flow corridor. A liquid inlet injects liquid into the gas stream at a point prior to the narrowed portion so that the gas-liquid mixture is thoroughly mixed within the flow corridor, causing a portion of the liquid to be evaporated. A demister or fluid scrubber downstream of the narrowed portion removes entrained liquid droplets from the gas stream and re-circulates the removed liquid to the liquid inlet through a re-circulating circuit. A reagent may be mixed with the liquid to react with contaminants in the liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: Heartland Technology Partners LLC
    Inventors: Bernard F. Duesel, JR., Michael J. Rutsch, Craig Clerkin
  • Publication number: 20140311684
    Abstract: A reservoir evaporation system for evaporating fluid from an open reservoir of effluent containing a contaminant includes a fluid evaporator, an air pump, and an air supply conduit functionally connecting the fluid evaporator with the air pump. The fluid evaporator includes a vessel adapted to be positioned in an operative position partially submerged on the top surface of the effluent in the reservoir with a lower chamber submerged in the effluent and an upper chamber extending above the top surface of the effluent. In operation, air from the air pump mixes with the effluent inside the fluid evaporator and subsequently is discharged through exhaust openings. A fluid discharge pipe can also simultaneously discharge aerated effluent back down into the reservoir. Fluid is thereby separated from the effluent in the lower chamber by evaporation in a controlled manner that minimizes spread of contaminants to surrounding environments by wind.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventors: Bernard F. Duesel, JR., Craig Clerkin, Michael J. Rutsch
  • Publication number: 20140262054
    Abstract: A compact and portable liquid concentrator includes a gas inlet, a gas exit and a flow corridor connecting the gas inlet and the gas exit, wherein the flow corridor includes a narrowed portion that accelerates the gas through the flow corridor. A liquid inlet injects liquid into the gas stream at a point prior to the narrowed portion so that the gas-liquid mixture is thoroughly mixed within the flow corridor, causing a portion of the liquid to be evaporated. A demister or fluid scrubber downstream of the narrowed portion removes entrained liquid droplets from the gas stream and re-circulates the removed liquid to the liquid inlet through a re-circulating circuit. Fresh liquid to be concentrated is also introduced into the re-circulating circuit at a rate sufficient to offset the amount of liquid evaporated in the flow corridor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: HEARTLAND TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS LLC
    Inventors: Bernard F. Duesel, JR., Michael J. Rutsch, Craig Clerkin
  • Patent number: 8833738
    Abstract: A desalination system in the form of a submerged gas evaporator that includes a vessel, a gas delivery tube partially disposed within the vessel to deliver a gas into the vessel and a fluid inlet that provides a fluid to the vessel at a rate sufficient to maintain a controlled constant level of fluid within the vessel. During operation, gas introduced through the tube mixes with the fluid and the combined gas and fluid flow at a high rate with a high degree of turbulence, thereby promoting vigorous mixing and intimate contact between the gas and the fluid, which leads to a more efficient and complete evaporation. Additionally, vapor exiting the submerged gas evaporator is condensed in a condensing unit thus precipitating vapor into a liquid for removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Heartland Technology Partners LLC
    Inventors: Bernard F. Duesel, Jr., Michael J. Rutsch
  • Publication number: 20140251881
    Abstract: A wastewater concentrator a liquid evaporator assembly, a gas-liquid separator, an exhaust assembly, and a slurry thickening and storage system. The slurry thickening and storage system includes a slurry thickening tank fluidly connected to the gas-liquid separator and a thickened slurry storage tank fluidly connected to the slurry thickening tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: HEARTLAND TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS LLC
    Inventors: Bernard F. Duesel, JR., Michael J. Rutsch, Craig Clerkin
  • Patent number: 8808497
    Abstract: A reservoir evaporation system for evaporating fluid from an open reservoir of effluent containing a contaminant includes a fluid evaporator, an air pump, and an air supply conduit functionally connecting the fluid evaporator with the air pump. The fluid evaporator includes a vessel adapted to be positioned in an operative position partially submerged on the top surface of the effluent in the reservoir with a lower chamber submerged in the effluent and an upper chamber extending above the top surface of the effluent. In operation, air from the air pump mixes with the effluent inside the fluid evaporator and subsequently is discharged through exhaust openings. A fluid discharge pipe can also simultaneously discharge aerated effluent back down into the reservoir. Fluid is thereby separated from the effluent in the lower chamber by evaporation in a controlled manner that minimizes spread of contaminants to surrounding environments by wind.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Heartland Technology Partners LLC
    Inventors: Bernard F. Duesel, Jr., Michael J. Rutsch, Craig Clerkin
  • Patent number: 8801897
    Abstract: A compact and portable liquid concentrator and contaminant scrubber includes a gas inlet, a gas exit and a flow corridor connecting the gas inlet and the gas exit, wherein the flow corridor includes a narrowed portion that accelerates the gas through the flow corridor. A liquid inlet injects liquid into the gas stream at a point prior to the narrowed portion so that the gas-liquid mixture is thoroughly mixed within the flow corridor, causing a portion of the liquid to be evaporated. A demister or fluid scrubber downstream of the narrowed portion removes entrained liquid droplets from the gas stream and re-circulates the removed liquid to the liquid inlet through a re-circulating circuit. A reagent may be mixed with the liquid to react with contaminants in the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Heartland Technology Partners LLC
    Inventors: Bernard F. Duesel, Jr., Michael J. Rutsch, Craig Clerkin
  • Patent number: 8790496
    Abstract: A compact and portable liquid concentrator includes a gas inlet, a gas exit and a flow corridor connecting the gas inlet and the gas exit, wherein the flow corridor includes a narrowed portion that accelerates the gas through the flow corridor. A liquid inlet injects liquid into the gas stream at a point prior to the narrowed portion so that the gas-liquid mixture is thoroughly mixed within the flow corridor, causing a portion of the liquid to be evaporated. A demister or fluid scrubber downstream of the narrowed portion removes entrained liquid droplets from the gas stream and re-circulates the removed liquid to the liquid inlet through a re-circulating circuit. Fresh liquid to be concentrated is also introduced into the re-circulating circuit at a rate sufficient to offset the amount of liquid evaporated in the flow corridor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Heartland Technology Partners LLC
    Inventors: Bernard F. Duesel, Jr., Michael J. Rutsch, Craig Clerkin
  • Publication number: 20140159259
    Abstract: An exhaust gas plume mitigation process and system includes either mixing secondary heat into a moisture rich exhaust gas stream, or diverting a moisture rich exhaust gas stream into a primary exhaust stack having hot exhaust gases flowing therethrough. Moisture rich exhaust gas from a liquid concentrator may be diverted into a high temperature exhaust stack of an engine, a generator, or a flare. The high temperature exhaust gases from the engine, the generator, or the flare raise the temperature of the moisture rich exhaust gas from the concentrator. The high temperature exhaust gases from the engine, the generator, or the flare are also lower in moisture content, so that the moisture rich exhaust gas from the concentrator is diluted by the drier high temperature exhaust gas. As a result, the mixed gas is less likely to develop a moisture plume upon exit to the atmosphere.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: Heartland Technology Partners, LLC
    Inventors: Bernard F. Duesel, JR., Michael J. Rutsch, Craig Clerkin
  • Patent number: 8721771
    Abstract: An exhaust gas plume mitigation process and system includes either mixing secondary heat into a moisture rich exhaust gas stream, or diverting a moisture rich exhaust gas stream into a primary exhaust stack having hot exhaust gases flowing therethrough. Moisture rich exhaust gas from a liquid concentrator may be diverted into a high temperature exhaust stack of an engine, a generator, or a flare. The high temperature exhaust gases from the engine, the generator, or the flare raise the temperature of the moisture rich exhaust gas from the concentrator. The high temperature exhaust gases from the engine, the generator, or the flare are also lower in moisture content, so that the moisture rich exhaust gas from the concentrator is diluted by the drier high temperature exhaust gas. As a result, the mixed gas is less likely to develop a moisture plume upon exit to the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Heartland Technology Partners LLC
    Inventors: Bernard F. Duesel, Jr., Michael J. Rutsch, Craig Clerkin