Patents by Inventor Torleif Holt

Torleif Holt 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: 7972514
    Abstract: A method and system for performing maintenance on a membrane having semi-permeable properties and is used in a pressure retarded osmosis PRO, the membrane having a high pressure first side and second side of lower pressure. A time controllable first valve or pump (31; 41; 51; 61; 71; 81; 91) is connected between an input (12) to the low pressure side of the membrane (13?) and an input (11) to the high pressure side of the membrane (13?), said first valve or pump operable to selectively deliver a plug (21) of a second type of water (FW) to the first side of the membrane to lower concentration of dissolved substance (s) in water of a first type (SW) thereat, thereby creating a PRO pressure backwash function with the water of the second type (FW) from the first to the second side of the membrane pressurized on said first side by high pressure supply of water of the first type (SW) upstream of said plug (21) of water of the second type (SW).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Statkraft Development AS
    Inventors: Thor Thorsen, Torleif Holt
  • Publication number: 20090250392
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a semi-permeable membrane for use in osmosis consisting of one thin layer of a non-porous material (the diffusion skin), and one or more layers of a porous material (the porous layer), where the porous layer has a structure where porosity ?, thickness of the porous layer (m), and tortuosity ?, are related to one another as given by the expression: x·?=?·S wherein S is a structure parameter having a value equal to or less than 0.0015 meter. Further a method for providing elevated pressure by osmosis as well as a device for providing an elevated osmotic pressure and electric power is described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Inventors: Thor THORSEN, Torleif HOLT
  • Patent number: 7566402
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a semi-permeable membrane for use in osmosis consisting of one thin layer of a non-porous material (the diffusion skin), and one or more layers of a porous material (the porous layer), where the porous layer has a structure where porosity ?, thickness of the porous layer (m), and tortuosity ?, are related to one another as given by the expression: x·?=?·S wherein S is a structure parameter having a value equal to or less than 0.0015 meter. Further a method for providing elevated pressure by osmosis as well as a device for providing an elevated osmotic pressure and electric power is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Statkraft Development AS
    Inventors: Thor Thorsen, Torleif Holt
  • Patent number: 7563370
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a semi-permeable membrane for use in osmosis consisting of one thin layer of a non-porous material (the diffusion skin), and one or more layers of a porous material (the porous layer), where the porous layer has a structure where porosity ?, thickness of the porous layer (m), and tortuosity ?, are related to one another as given by the expression: x·?=?·S wherein S is a structure parameter having a value equal to or less than 0.0015 meter. Further a method for providing elevated pressure by osmosis as well as a device for providing an elevated osmotic pressure and electric power is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Statkraft Development AS
    Inventors: Thor Thorsen, Torleif Holt
  • Publication number: 20090008330
    Abstract: A method and system for performing maintenance on a membrane having semi-permeable properties and is used in a pressure retarded osmosis PRO, the membrane having a high pressure first side and second side of lower pressure. A time controllable first valve or pump (31; 41; 51; 61; 71; 81; 91) is connected between an input (12) to the low pressure side of the membrane (13?) and an input (11) to the high pressure side of the membrane (13?), said first valve or pump operable to selectively deliver a plug (21) of a second type of water (FW) to the first side of the membrane to lower concentration of dissolved substance (s) in water of a first type (SW) thereat, thereby creating a PRO pressure backwash function with the water of the second type (FW) from the first to the second side of the membrane pressurized on said first side by high pressure supply of water of the first type (SW) upstream of said plug (21) of water of the second type (SW).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Applicant: STATKRAFT DEVELOPMENT AS
    Inventors: Thor Thorsen, Torleif Holt
  • Publication number: 20080210634
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a semi-permeable membrane for use in osmosis consisting of one thin layer of a non-porous material (the diffusion skin), and one or more layers of a porous material (the porous layer), where the porous layer has a structure where porosity ?, thickness of the porous layer (m), and tortuosity ?, are related to one another as given by the expression: x·?=?·S wherein S is a structure parameter having a value equal to or less than 0.0015 meter. Further a method for providing elevated pressure by osmosis as well as a device for providing an elevated osmotic pressure and electric power is described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2008
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Inventors: Thor Thorsen, Torleif Holt
  • Publication number: 20080169723
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a semi-permeable membrane for use in osmosis consisting of one thin layer of a non-porous material (the diffusion skin), and one or more layers of a porous material (the porous layer), where the porous layer has a structure where porosity ?, thickness of the porous layer (m), and tortuosity ?, are related to one another as given by the expression: x·?=?·S wherein S is a structure parameter having a value equal to or less than 0.0015 meter. Further a method for providing elevated pressure by osmosis as well as a device for providing an elevated osmotic pressure and electric power is described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2001
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Inventors: Thor Thorsen, Torleif Holt