Patents by Inventor Thomas Kunetz

Thomas Kunetz 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).

  • SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR REDUCING TOTAL DISSOLVED SOLIDS (TDS) IN WASTEWATER BY AN ALGAL BIOFILM TREATMENT
    Publication number: 20230348303
    Abstract: A system for reducing total dissolved solids in wastewater can include a vertical reactor that can include a flexible sheet material, where the flexible sheet material can be configured to facilitate the growth and attachment of an algal biofilm. The vertical reactor can include a shaft, where the shaft can be associated with and can support the flexible sheet material, and a drive motor, where the drive motor can be coupled with the shaft such that the flexible sheet material can be selectively actuated. The system can include a fluid reservoir containing a portion of wastewater through which the flexible sheet material is configured to pass as well as a stressor operably configured to stimulate the algae to produce an extracellular polymeric substance. A method of reducing total dissolved solids in wastewater includes moving an algal biofilm through the wastewater and moving the algal biofilm through a gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2023
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventors: Zhiyou Wen, Juan Peng, Martin A. Gross, Kuldip Kumar, Thomas Kunetz
  • Systems and methods for reducing total dissolved solids (TDS) in wastewater by an algal biofilm treatment
    Patent number: 11691902
    Abstract: A system for reducing total dissolved solids in wastewater can include a vertical reactor that can include a flexible sheet material, where the flexible sheet material can be configured to facilitate the growth and attachment of an algal biofilm. The vertical reactor can include a shaft, where the shaft can be associated with and can support the flexible sheet material, and a drive motor, where the drive motor can be coupled with the shaft such that the flexible sheet material can be selectively actuated. The system can include a fluid reservoir containing a portion of wastewater through which the flexible sheet material is configured to pass as well as a stressor operably configured to stimulate the algae to produce an extracellular polymeric substance. A method of reducing total dissolved solids in wastewater includes moving an algal biofilm through the wastewater and moving the algal biofilm through a gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Inventors: Zhiyou Wen, Juan Peng, Martin A. Gross, Kuldip Kumar, Thomas Kunetz
  • SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR REDUCING TOTAL DISSOLVED SOLIDS (TDS) IN WASTEWATER BY AN ALGAL BIOFILM TREATMENT
    Publication number: 20200231477
    Abstract: A system for reducing total dissolved solids in wastewater can include a vertical reactor that can include a flexible sheet material, where the flexible sheet material can be configured to facilitate the growth and attachment of an algal biofilm. The vertical reactor can include a shaft, where the shaft can be associated with and can support the flexible sheet material, and a drive motor, where the drive motor can be coupled with the shaft such that the flexible sheet material can be selectively actuated. The system can include a fluid reservoir containing a portion of wastewater through which the flexible sheet material is configured to pass as well as a stressor operably configured to stimulate the algae to produce an extracellular polymeric substance. A method of reducing total dissolved solids in wastewater includes moving an algal biofilm through the wastewater and moving the algal biofilm through a gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventors: Zhiyou Wen, Juan Peng, Martin A. Gross, Kumar Kuldip, Thomas Kunetz