Patents by Inventor Robert Elefritz

Robert Elefritz 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: 20080047895
    Abstract: A method and system of treating wastewater that can provide operating flexibility is disclosed. The system is operated with a sequencing batch reactor, which is typically cycling to any of fill, react, settle, decant, and idle stages, to treat the wastewater. The system can further utilize a membrane filtration system to further treat water from the sequencing batch reactor and produce suitable water. A solids-reducing system can be connected to the sequencing batch reactor and reduce an amount of biodegraded solids by converting the character or distribution of microorganisms population in the biomass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Applicant: SIEMENS WATER TECHNOLOGIES CORP.
    Inventors: Robert Elefritz, James Scott
  • Patent number: 7329344
    Abstract: The invention relates to a membrane bioreactor process combined with an advanced biological sludge digestion process that provides significant improvements in sludge digestion by reducing the costs and resources required for disposing of digested sludge. The offline treatment vessel is used to solubilize the organic material by operating in a very low oxygen environment. Digested process fluid is transferred back to the membrane bioreactor. The processes and apparatus substantially reduce the production of waste sludge. The device includes one or more weirs operable to remove grease and scum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Water Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Edward John Jordan, Robert Elefritz
  • Publication number: 20070170112
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a wastewater treatment system having an anoxic biological treatment zone, an aerobic biological treatment zone and a separator. The concentration of oxygen in streams within the system is strategically managed for improved removal of nutrient from the wastewater. A source of biodegradable carbon may be introduced to reduce the concentration of oxygen within the system. An effective treatment time under anoxic or aerobic conditions may further be varied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2006
    Publication date: July 26, 2007
    Applicant: USFilter Wastewater Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Elefritz, Wenjun Liu
  • Publication number: 20070084791
    Abstract: The invention relates to a membrane bioreactor process combined with an advanced biological sludge digestion process that provides significant improvements in sludge digestion by reducing the costs and resources required for disposing of digested sludge. The offline treatment vessel is used to solubilize the organic material by operating in a very low oxygen environment. Digested process fluid is transferred back to the membrane bioreactor. The processes and apparatus substantially reduce the production of waste sludge. The device includes one or more weirs operable to remove grease and scum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Publication date: April 19, 2007
    Inventors: Edward Jordan, Robert Elefritz
  • Publication number: 20070000836
    Abstract: Contaminated wastewaters comprising biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), nitrogen and phosphorus are treated by an activated sludge process. The process utilizes an activated sludge tank, a solid-liquid separator, and a bioreactor to significantly reduce, or eliminate, waste activated sludge (WAS) within a sludge stream. A sidestream reactor is employed downstream from the bioreactor to remove soluble phosphates left in the sludge stream by the low WAS process. Within the sidestream reactor, a source of multivalent metal ions is added to a slightly alkaline sludge stream to precipitate the phosphates. The solid phosphates have a specific gravity higher than that of the organic matter in the sludge stream and may be separated from the sludge stream based upon differential settling velocity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Publication date: January 4, 2007
    Applicant: USFilter Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Elefritz, Dennis Barnes