Abstract: Apparatus and method for mixing a tank containing a fluid with a gas, wherein the gas is fired with a periodic intensity and duration through the employment of a gas container containing an inverted siphon, with one end contained in the container and the other end extending into a fluid.

Abstract: A methodology, system and apparatus are provided that include anoxic biofilms to perform partial denitrification and anammox (PdNA) reactions. The PdNA reactions can facilitate process intensification and carbon efficient biological nitrogen removal. The anoxic biofilms can be placed in a pre-anoxic zone or a downstream anoxic zone, where the biofilm and reactions are managed, including using storage compounds, to overcome mass transfer limitations in the biofilm. The methodology, system and apparatus can, when compared to state-of-the art technologies, improve the concentration gradient or reduce mass transfer limitations to facilitate PdNA reactions.

Abstract: The subject of this invention is to use beneficial reactive support media or biofilms in the form of reactive support bases or stratums that provide structural (including dimensions) or biochemical benefits to the growth or function (including agglutination) of biofilms. The functional aspect includes the provision of reactivity to a polymeric, cellulosic or silicic framework. The functions are supplied to the structural media during manufacture, conditioning, regeneration or during colonization of biofilms. The structural support media may include biodegradable or refractory polymers/plastics, alginates or uronic acids or extracted bacterial EPS. These materials are reacted, retained or removed based on their physical characteristics.

Abstract: A system and method for using financial instruments to provide investment incentive to fund disaster mitigation projects and/or ecosystem restoration projects triggered by real world events detected at set points by sensors and analyzed by computing devices. The detection of events results in the computational analysis and determination of a characteristics of a resilience bond or ecosystem-service bond to be issued or returned to investors. Examples involve sensors used to detect events, including flood damage mitigation, earthquake damage mitigation, or air quality improvement. In one preferred embodiment of the disclosure an investor may make an initial payment into a financial instrument being a resilience bond used to fund a mitigation project, said financial instrument pays phases to the mitigation project developer at the completion of phases of the project that occur prior to the occurrence of a disaster.

Abstract: A system and method for enhancing the wastewater treatment capacity and treatment performance of a biological wastewater treatment or biological culturing process by integrating an illuminated biofilm system with the biological process increasing the inventory of biomass and enhancing the capacity for oxygenation and/or biomass production, as well as improving nutrient removal. Photo-selection or photo-deselection of organisms by actively controlling biofilm erosion, induction of photogranulation and illumination is also presented.

Abstract: This invention discloses a method of separating volatile acids and bases from liquid mixtures in wastewater treatment and aerobic culturing processes. The method uses the colligative properties of a solution to differentially separate solvent and acid vapors and employs novel techniques such as controlled volatilization, ion separation processes, and pH management to effectively remove these compounds while optimizing process efficiency. The invention facilitates the management of carbon dioxide accumulation, crucial for promoting autotrophic reactions and improving overall system performance.

Abstract: The subject of this invention is to use beneficial reactive support media in the form of reactive support bases or stratums that provide structural or biochemical benefits to the growth or function (including agglutination) of biofilms. The functional aspect includes the provision of a polymeric, cellulosic or silicic framework. The framework could also contain charge moieties such as cations, anions, amines or carboxyl groups whose pKa's allow them to be charged at the physiological pH for an organism. For example, a cation may provide a positive charge to help the adherence of a negative charge exocellular polymeric substance. The reactive support media may include biodegradable or refractory plastics, alginates or uronic acids or extracted bacterial EPS. These materials are reacted, retained or removed based on their physical characteristics.

Abstract: A method and system for deselecting biological solids in an influent containing water. The method and system include supplying an influent to an inlet of a reactor comprising at least one of a bioreactor, an internal deselector, a particle deselector, and one or more return lines; dispersing the influent in the bioreactor to form a solid-liquid mixture containing biological solids; retaining, retarding, or providing a differential of, by the internal deselector, biological solids from the solid-liquid mixture to form a deselected solid-liquid mixture and returnable biological solids; feeding said deselected solid-liquid mixture to the particle deselector; deselecting, by the particle deselector, remainder biological solids from the deselected solid-liquid mixture; and supplying, by the one or more return lines, the returnable biological solids to the bioreactor.

Abstract: The subject of the invention is a digital storage base which measures events related to one or more engineered infrastructures regarding events including but not limited to measuring a pollutant load or hazard, in some embodiments making predictions related to said systems and generating a token, blockchain or form of digital currency as a payout based on the data regarding the mitigation or adaptation of the measured event. The invention also includes a marketplace where parties can enter or leave, buy or sell, a transaction or transactions. The system enables aggregation and/or distribution of risk, performance obligations or investments, and aggregation/distribution and/or syndication of insurers or bankers, crowdsourcing/crowdfunding and/or participation of individuals and small groups within the transaction system. The integration of investment, insurance risk conditionalities and performance guarantees within a single exchangeable system is also envisioned.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to physical selection, deselection or outselection for smaller, less dense, sheared or compressed particles in sludge, wherein the first deselection step occurs at the reactor or at a clarification step, by separately deselecting for such particles and then a second deselection step occurs in an external selector. This double deselection promotes the more efficient removal of slow settling particles, while simultaneously allowing for maintenance of multiple solids residence times for fast and slow growing organisms. The deselection in a clarifier occurs typically at the periphery of the tank or at the surface of a blanket using a positive or negative pressure device. Structures such as slotted or perforated plates, pipes or manifolds can be used to assist in such deselection. Baffles can also be used for such deselection.

Abstract: The subject of the invention is an insurance claim and/or financial transaction processing system for parametric risk related claims and/or performance warranty related transactions that can be processed using transparency and in a rapid manner wherein the performance or insurance is transacted using sensors and/or analytics. The invention also includes a marketplace where parties can enter or leave, buy or sell, a transaction or transactions associated with an insurance or financial transaction. The system enables aggregation and/or distribution of risk, performance obligations or investments, and aggregation/distribution and/or syndication of insurers or bankers, crowdsourcing/crowdfunding and/or participation of individuals and small groups within the transaction system. The integration of investment, insurance risk conditionalities and performance guarantees within a single exchangeable system is also envisioned. Transaction re-risking and de-risking and associated payments or payouts is also envisioned.

Abstract: The subject of this invention is to use beneficial reactive support media in the form of reactive support bases or stratums that provide structural or biochemical benefits to the growth or function (including agglutination) of biofilms. The functional aspect includes the provision of a polymeric, cellulosic or silicic framework. The framework could also contain charge moieties such as cations, anions, amines or carboxyl groups whose pKa's allow them to be charged at the physiological pH for an organism. For example, a cation may provide a positive charge to help the adherence of a negative charge exocellular polymeric substance. The reactive support media may include biodegradable or refractory plastics, alginates or uronic acids or extracted bacterial EPS. These materials are reacted, retained or removed based on their physical characteristics.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system, apparatus, and business method for using financial instruments to provide investment incentive to fund disaster mitigation projects and/or ecosystem restoration projects triggered by real world events detected at set points by sensors and analyzed by computing devices. The detection of events results in the computational analysis and determination of a characteristics of a resilience bond or ecosystem-service bond to be issued or returned to investors. Examples involve sensors used to detect events, including flood damage mitigation, earthquake damage mitigation, or air quality improvement. In one preferred embodiment of the disclosure an investor may make an initial payment into a financial instrument being a resilience bond used to fund a mitigation project, said financial instrument pays phases to the mitigation project developer at the completion of phases of the project that occur prior to the occurrence of a disaster.

Abstract: A methodology, system and apparatus are provided that include anoxic biofilms to perform partial denitrification and anammox (PdNA) reactions. The PdNA reactions can facilitate process intensification and carbon efficient biological nitrogen removal. The anoxic biofilms can be placed in a pre-anoxic zone or a downstream anoxic zone, where the biofilm and reactions are managed, including using storage compounds, to overcome mass transfer limitations in the biofilm. The methodology, system and apparatus can, when compared to state-of-the art technologies, improve the concentration gradient or reduce mass transfer limitations to facilitate PdNA reactions.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to physical selection, deselection or outselection for smaller, less dense, sheared or compressed particles in sludge, wherein the first deselection step occurs at the reactor or at a clarification step, by separately deselecting for such particles and then a second deselection step occurs in an external selector. This double deselection promotes the more efficient removal of slow settling particles, while simultaneously allowing for maintenance of multiple solids residence times for fast and slow growing organisms. The deselection in a clarifier occurs typically at the periphery of the tank or at the surface of a blanket using a positive or negative pressure device. Structures such as slotted or perforated plates, pipes or manifolds can be used to assist in such deselection. Baffles can also be used for such deselection.

Abstract: The subject of the invention is an insurance claim and/or financial transaction processing system for parametric risk related claims and/or performance warranty related transactions that can be processed using transparency and in a rapid manner wherein the performance or insurance is transacted using sensors and/or analytics. The invention also includes a marketplace where parties can enter or leave, buy or sell, a transaction or transactions associated with an insurance or financial transaction. The system enables aggregation and/or distribution of risk, performance obligations or investments, and aggregation/distribution and/or syndication of insurers or bankers, crowdsourcing/crowdfunding and/or participation of individuals and small groups within the transaction system. The integration of investment, insurance risk conditionalities and performance guarantees within a single exchangeable system is also envisioned. Transaction re-risking and de-risking and associated payments or payouts is also envisioned.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system, apparatus, and business method for using financial instruments to provide investment incentive to fund disaster mitigation projects and/or ecosystem restoration projects triggered by real world events detected at set points by sensors and analyzed by computing devices. The detection of events results in the computational analysis and determination of a characteristics of a resilience bond or ecosystem-service bond to be issued or returned to investors. Examples involve sensors used to detect events, including flood damage mitigation, earthquake damage mitigation, or air quality improvement. In one preferred embodiment of the disclosure an investor may make an initial payment into a financial instrument being a resilience bond used to fund a mitigation project, said financial instrument pays phases to the mitigation project developer at the completion of phases of the project that occur prior to the occurrence of a disaster.

Abstract: A method and a system for selecting and retaining solids with superior settling characteristics, the method comprising feeding wastewater to an input of a processor that carries out a treatment process on the wastewater, outputting processed wastewater at an output of the processor, feeding the processed wastewater to an input of a gravimetric selector that selects solids with superior settling characteristics, and outputting a recycle stream at a first output of the gravimetric selector back to the processor.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for biological wastewater treatment that includes a biological selector and a physical selector. The apparatus comprises an internal biological reactor where wastewater and recycled biomass are combined to provide a high substrate and high electron acceptor gradient for generating morphological biomass features that favor granule formation over floc and filament formation, and an external gravimetric or external screen selector operating on the biomass waste stream for collecting and retaining densified biomass aggregates including dense granule selection and for wasting lighter filaments and flocs. In the method and apparatus, particles may be added to provide cores to promote the formation of aggregates encapsulating the seeded particles. The particles may be added as various materials, for example, in the bioreactor, to initiate or seed the formation of a granule, that could then be separated by or integrated with either the external gravimetric or external screen selector.

Abstract: A method and a system for selecting and retaining solids with superior settling characteristics, the method comprising feeding wastewater to an input of a processor that carries out a treatment process on the wastewater, outputting processed wastewater at an output of the processor, feeding the processed wastewater to an input of a gravimetric selector that selects solids with superior settling characteristics, and outputting a recycle stream at a first output of the gravimetric selector back to the processor.