Patents by Inventor S. Timothy Spang

S. Timothy Spang 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: 4874529
    Abstract: A process and apparatus is provided for reducing the concentration of fine, residual solids still remaining suspended in clarified geothermal brine overflow from a primary brine clarification stage in which hot, flashed, silica-rich geothermal brine, containing suspended siliceous material, is gravity separated, comprises flowing the brine overflow from the primary clarification stage into a closed secondary clarifier vessel having an internal reaction well. Capacity of the secondary clarifier vessel provides a brine residence time in the vessel of between about 45 and about 150 minutes, the brine residence time in the reaction well being between about 10 and about 20 minutes. Brine in the vessel is blanketed with steam flashed from the brine to exclude air from the vessel. In the reaction well, the brine is contacted with a flocculating agent, such as a cationic, anionic, or non-ionic polyacrylamide having a molecular weight of at least about 1 million, in an amount of between about 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1989
    Assignee: Union Oil Company of California
    Inventors: John L. Featherstone, S. Timothy Spang, David G. Newell, Darrell L. Gallup