Patents by Inventor Robert P. Carnahan

Robert P. Carnahan 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: 10858273
    Abstract: A method and system of treatment of agricultural and industrial wastewaters that contain high concentrations of suspended solids, nitrogen, and phosphorus compounds is disclosed. The method and system includes pre-treating the wastewater, controlling the amount of coagulants used, and controlling the mean velocity used for mixing, surface loading rate, and solids loading rate. The method and system functions as a sedimentation unit and gas flotation unit (solid/liquid separator). The pH of the effluent wastewater is stabilized within the separator by ensuring that there is sufficient alkalinity to buffer the wastewater. Sufficient gas is produced in the coagulation reactions to float and concentrate the solids, which results in as high as 99 percent reduction in suspended solids, a 96 percent reduction of the phosphorus concentration, and a 50 percent reduction of the nitrogen concentration in the effluent from the separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: FARM PILOT PROJECT COORDINATION, INC.
    Inventors: Robert P. Carnahan, Christopher C. Tubbs, Nidal Samad
  • Publication number: 20170066671
    Abstract: A method and system of treatment of agricultural and industrial wastewaters that contain high concentrations of suspended solids, nitrogen, and phosphorus compounds is disclosed. The method and system includes pre-treating the wastewater, controlling the amount of coagulants used, and controlling the mean velocity used for mixing, surface loading rate, and solids loading rate. The method and system functions as a sedimentation unit and gas flotation unit (solid/liquid separator). The pH of the effluent wastewater is stabilized within the separator by ensuring that there is sufficient alkalinity to buffer the wastewater. Sufficient gas is produced in the coagulation reactions to float and concentrate the solids, which results in as high as 99 percent reduction in suspended solids, a 96 percent reduction of the phosphorus concentration, and a 50 percent reduction of the nitrogen concentration in the effluent from the separator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Publication date: March 9, 2017
    Inventors: Robert P. CARNAHAN, Christopher C. TUBBS, Nidal SAMAD
  • Patent number: 9517953
    Abstract: A method and system of treatment of agricultural and industrial wastewaters that contain high concentrations of suspended solids, nitrogen, and phosphorus compounds is disclosed. The method and system includes pre-treating the wastewater, controlling the amount of coagulants used, and controlling the mean velocity used for mixing, surface loading rate, and solids loading rate. The method and system functions as a sedimentation unit and gas flotation unit (solid/liquid separator). The pH of the effluent wastewater is stabilized within the separator by ensuring that there is sufficient alkalinity to buffer the wastewater. Sufficient gas is produced in the coagulation reactions to float and concentrate the solids, which results in as high as 99 percent reduction in suspended solids, a 96 percent reduction of the phosphorus concentration, and a 50 percent reduction of the nitrogen concentration in the effluent from the separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: FARM PILOT PROJECT COORDINATION, INC.
    Inventors: Robert P. Carnahan, Christopher C. Tubbs, Nidal Samad
  • Publication number: 20130068696
    Abstract: A method and system of treatment of agricultural and industrial wastewaters that contain high concentrations of suspended solids, nitrogen, and phosphorus compounds is disclosed. The method and system includes pre-treating the wastewater, controlling the amount of coagulants used, and controlling the mean velocity used for mixing, surface loading rate, and solids loading rate. The method and system functions as a sedimentation unit and gas flotation unit (solid/liquid separator). The pH of the effluent wastewater is stabilized within the separator by ensuring that there is sufficient alkalinity to buffer the wastewater. Sufficient gas is produced in the coagulation reactions to float and concentrate the solids, which results in as high as 99 percent reduction in suspended solids, a 96 percent reduction of the phosphorus concentration, and a 50 percent reduction of the nitrogen concentration in the effluent from the separator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: Farm Pilot Project Coordination, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert P. Carnahan, Christopher C. Tubbs, Nidal Samad
  • Patent number: 6632357
    Abstract: A permeable membrane system (10) for the separation of fluid components includes a laminated composition (12) having two sheets (14 and 16) formed from a polymer and positioned adjacent one another to form a fluid passage (18) therebetween. The outside surfaces (20 and 22) of the sheets (14 and 16) are permeable to allow fluid flow from the outside surface (20 and 22) to the fluid passage (18). The outside surface (20 and 22) of the laminated composition (12) includes a plurality of embossed islands spaced from one another to define feed pathways (26) around and between the embossed islands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: University of South Florida
    Inventors: Marilyn Barger, Drew Hoff, Robert P. Carnahan, Richard A. Gilbert
  • Patent number: 5133875
    Abstract: A system and method for treating wastewater containing industrial esters collected from grease traps at food establishments, septic tanks or from sludge digesters by increasing the pH of the wastewater to break down the ester. The increased pH wastewater is mixed to a predetermined mean velocity gradient which allows the influent to react. The reacted influent is then stabilized to lower the pH to normal levels suitable for input into a municipal wastewater treatment facility. Volatile gases are drawn off from all of the reactor tanks and placed into a treatment tank. In the tank a reduction of the bacterial and odor level occurs when the wastewater reacts with the chlorine-containing water output of the municipal wastewater treatment facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1992
    Assignee: University of South Florida in behalf of Board of Regents of the State of Florida
    Inventor: Robert P. Carnahan
  • Patent number: 4919814
    Abstract: A system and method for treating "septage" (i.e., wastewater collected from septic tanks and similar installations) utilizes a reactor tank for treating the anaerobic wastewater with an oxygen-containing fluid so as to substantially increase the dissolved oxygen content and thereby render the wastewater aerobic and suitable for input into a municipal wastewater treatment facility. Volatile gases are drawn off from all of the reactor tanks and placed into a treatment tank for a reduction of the bacterial and odor levels by reaction with a chlorine-containing water output of the municipal wastewater treatment facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1990
    Assignee: Hydro Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert P. Carnahan, Robert J. Murphy