Patents by Inventor Robert J. Ritz

Robert J. Ritz 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: 9044747
    Abstract: An improved process for regenerating ion exchange resin, includes a regeneration step of displacing captured ions from the resin to regenerate its ion-capture functionality, followed by one or more fluid-employing post-regeneration steps such as a fluid displacement or rinse, a fluid transporting or mixing, and a rinse down to quality. To avoid problems of early leakage of weakly held ions such as boron, the post-chemical or postdisplacement steps use water that is essentially free of boron, or otherwise avoid localized contamination in the regenerated resin which is used in bottles or beds (30). A two-stage polish may be operated with modified lead/lag bottles. A detector (D) for an indicator condition (conductivity, silica breakthrough) between stages determines when to shift the lag bottle forward, and periodically both bottles are replaced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: William W. Carson, Charles Dale, William D. McClain, Robert J. Ritz, Charles Swenson
  • Publication number: 20120283343
    Abstract: An improved process for regenerating ion exchange resin, includes a regeneration step of displacing captured ions from the resin to regenerate its ion-capture functionality, followed by one or more fluid-employing post-regeneration steps such as a fluid displacement or rinse, a fluid transporting or mixing, and a rinse down to quality. To avoid problems of early leakage of weakly held ions such as boron, the post-chemical or postdisplacement steps use water that is essentially free of boron, or otherwise avoid localized contamination in the regenerated resin which is used in bottles or beds (30). A two-stage polish may be operated with modified lead/lag bottles. A detector (D) for an indicator condition (conductivity, silica breakthrough) between stages determines when to shift the lag bottle forward, and periodically both bottles are replaced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: William W. Carson, Charles Dale, William D. McClain, Robert J. Ritz, Charles Swenson
  • Patent number: 8177981
    Abstract: An improved process for regenerating ion exchange resin, includes a regeneration step of displacing captured ions from the resin to regenerate its ion-capture functionality, followed by one or more fluid-employing post-regeneration steps such as a fluid displacement or rinse, a fluid transport or mixing, and a rinse down to quality. To avoid problems of early leakage of weakly held ions such as boron, the post-chemical or postdisplacement steps use water that is essentially free of boron, or otherwise avoid localized contamination in the regenerated resin which is used in bottles or beds (30). A two-stage polish may be operated with modified lead/lag bottles. A detector (D) for an indicator condition (conductivity, silica breakthrough) between stages determines when to shift the lag bottle forward, and periodically both bottles are replaced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: William W. Carson, Charles Dale, William D. McClain, Robert J. Ritz, Charles Swenson
  • Patent number: 7264737
    Abstract: A water treatment system and method including a membrane-based boron removal unit includes a boron analyzer for detecting the concentration of boron in a treatment stream. The boron removal unit can be a reverse osmosis (RO) or electrodeionization (EDI) treatment unit. A controller responds to the detected boron concentration to control an operation of the RO or EDI units. In an EDI system, the controller may adjust current or voltage supplied to match current to changes in ionic load and maintain a portion of the dilute cell in a substantially regenerated state. In an RO system, the controller may control the high pressure side flow rate, the brine blowdown rate, the product water permeation rate, pH, or feed rate of chemicals in response to the detected boron concentration value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Ionics, Incorporated
    Inventors: Richard D. Godec, Robert J. Ritz, William W. Carson, Thomas J. Susa
  • Publication number: 20040245175
    Abstract: A water treatment system and method including a membrane-based boron removal unit includes a boron analyzer for detecting the concentration of boron in a treatment stream. The boron removal unit can be a reverse osmosis (RO) or electrodeionization (EDI) treatment unit. A controller responds to the detected boron concentration to control an operation of the RO or EDI units. In an EDI system, the controller may adjust current or voltage supplied to match current to changes in ionic load and maintain a portion of the dilute cell in a substantially regenerated state. In an RO system, the controller may control the high pressure side flow rate, the brine blowdown rate, the product water permeation rate, pH, or feed rate of chemicals in response to the detected boron concentration value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2004
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Inventors: Richard D Godec, Robert J Ritz, William W Carson, Thomas J Susa
  • Patent number: 6796436
    Abstract: Water treatment systems or assemblies are normally tested after construction, at least for leaks, prior to shipping or storage. Pressure testing with a gas is hazardous, so testing with water is a standard method. After testing, the water is displaced from the system by draining or gas phase flushing. It is nearly impossible to remove all of the water from the system or assembly. This remaining water provides an environment for biological growth which contaminates the system or assembly over time. The purpose of this invention is to eliminate or minimize this biological contamination by adding a biocidal agent to the system or assembly before sealing it for shipment or storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Ionics, Incorporated
    Inventors: William W. Carson, Keith J. Sims, Bernard Mack, Robert J. Ritz, William C. Whitehill
  • Publication number: 20030019818
    Abstract: Water treatment systems or assemblies are normally tested after construction, at least for leaks, prior to shipping or storage. Pressure testing with a gas is hazardous, so testing with water is a standard method. After testing, the water is displaced from the system by draining or gas phase flushing. It is nearly impossible to remove all of the water from the system or assembly. This remaining water provides an environment for biological growth which contaminates the system or assembly over time. The purpose of this invention is to eliminate or minimize this biological contamination by adding a biocidal agent to the system or assembly before sealing it for shipment or storage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2002
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Applicant: Ionics, Incorporated
    Inventors: William W. Carson, Keith J. Sims, Bernard R. Mack, Robert J. Ritz, William C. Whitehill