Patents by Inventor Robert O. Hoffland

Robert O. Hoffland 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: 11634349
    Abstract: A multi-stage system comprising a digester, a bioreactor, a scrubber, a biofilter, and a membrane filter extracts and purifies biogas from a wastewater feed. The digester separates raw biogas from wastewater, the wastewater is then purified with a three-stage bacterial process in a bioreactor. The scrubber receives raw biogas from the digester under pressure, dissolving waste gases and purifying the methane, which can be further condensed and purified in the membrane filter. The bioreactor receives waste gases from the scrubber and membrane filter, with the ammonia portion of the waste gases rising through water from the bioreactor and being converted by annamox bacteria into nitrogen gas. The multiply recycled gas and water feeds produce a biogas having high purity and reduced atmospheric emissions of waste gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Inventors: Robert O. Hoffland, Prince N. Dugba
  • Publication number: 20210292203
    Abstract: A multi-stage system comprising a digester, a bioreactor, a scrubber, a biofilter, and a membrane filter extracts and purifies biogas from a wastewater feed. The digester separates raw biogas from wastewater, the wastewater is then purified with a three-stage bacterial process in a bioreactor. The scrubber receives raw biogas from the digester under pressure, dissolving waste gases and purifying the methane, which can be further condensed and purified in the membrane filter. The bioreactor receives waste gases from the scrubber and membrane filter, with the ammonia portion of the waste gases rising through water from the bioreactor and being converted by annamox bacteria into nitrogen gas. The multiply recycled gas and water feeds produce a biogas having high purity and reduced atmospheric emissions of waste gases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Inventors: Robert O. Hoffland, Prince N. Dugba
  • Patent number: 7585413
    Abstract: Novel methods and apparatuses are disclosed for the treatment of wastewater to reduce, often associated, offensive odors. Irrigation of oxygenated liquid on top of a permeable cover effectively creates an aerobic treatment zone at the top of the lagoon whereby odorous gases being produced anaerobically below the cover are metabolized within this zone before being released to the atmosphere. This same system also serves to increase evaporation from the overall waste handling system therefore substantially reducing or eliminating the need for land application of treated wastewater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Inventor: Robert O. Hoffland
  • Patent number: 7005068
    Abstract: Novel methods and apparatuses are disclosed for the treatment of wastewater to reduce often associated offensive odors by promoting aerobic conditions through decreasing the amount of oxygen required to maintain aerobic cultures and/or aerobic biological activity in the wastewater. Also, the wastewater is screened or otherwise separated the wastewater to remove or concentrate the solids which are anaerobically digested. By concentrating the solids, a smaller digester can be used. The anaerobic digestion produces biogas that may be collected and used, or burned by a flare or oxidized by a semipermeable membrane to deodorize the biogas. The heat produced from the biogas may have a variety of uses, including raising the temperature of the anaerobic digester and the bacterial metabolism. The wastewater is also clarified to remove nitrogenous and organic carbon wastes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Hoffland Environmental, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert O. Hoffland
  • Publication number: 20040159608
    Abstract: Novel methods and apparatuses are disclosed for the treatment of wastewater to reduce often associated offensive odors by promoting aerobic conditions through decreasing the amount of oxygen required to maintain aerobic cultures and/or aerobic biological activity in the wastewater. Also, the wastewater is screened or otherwise separated the wastewater to remove or concentrate the solids which are anaerobically digested. By concentrating the solids, a smaller digester can be used. The anaerobic digestion produces biogas that may be collected and used, or burned by a flare or oxidized by a semipermeable membrane to deodorize the biogas. The heat produced from the biogas may have a variety of uses, including raising the temperature of the anaerobic digester and the bacterial metabolism. The wastewater is also clarified to remove nitrogenous and organic carbon wastes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2003
    Publication date: August 19, 2004
    Inventor: Robert O. Hoffland
  • Patent number: 6630072
    Abstract: Novel methods and apparatuses are disclosed for the treatment of wastewater to reduce often associated offensive odors by promoting aerobic conditions through decreasing the amount of oxygen required to maintain aerobic cultures and/or aerobic biological activity in the wastewater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: Hoffland Environmental, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert O. Hoffland
  • Publication number: 20020113012
    Abstract: Novel methods and apparatuses are disclosed for the treatment of wastewater to reduce often associated offensive odors by promoting aerobic conditions through decreasing the amount of oxygen required to maintain aerobic cultures and/or aerobic biological activity in the wastewater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2001
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Inventor: Robert O. Hoffland
  • Patent number: 6054044
    Abstract: An system for treating livestock wastewater to provide treated water suitable for exposure to livestock and crop irrigation. The system provides an anoxic culture, an anaerobic culture, and an aerobic culture, to which wastewater is exposed sequentially. Also provided is return of water from the aerobic culture to the anoxic culture for further treatment. The aerobic culture may be provided such that conditions cycle from aerobic to anoxic. Clarified, treated water results, wherein the resulting water is suitable for exposure to livestock, such as for flushing livestock waste. The resulting water is also suitable for crop irrigation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: Hoffland Environmental, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert O. Hoffland, Jim Austin
  • Patent number: 4952066
    Abstract: The invention comprises a combination concentrated polymer storage tank, mixing tank, and aging tank with a polymer deliver pump and water control valves to deliver the polymer and water to the mixing tank and aging tank. Additionally, the mixing tank provides a residence time for mixing of 30-45 seconds, and the aging tank provides an aging residence time of 2-10 minutes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 28, 1990
    Inventor: Robert O. Hoffland
  • Patent number: 4747691
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for diluting and activating a polymer in water. More particularly, the invention relates to the use of a stirred tank in conjunction with an aging tank that allows the polymer to uncoil or become activated in water after dilution, but prior to introduction into service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1988
    Inventor: Robert O. Hoffland