Thermal Patents (Class 210/149)
  • Patent number: 8308946
    Abstract: Systems and methods for performing anaerobic digestion of biomaterials using a clarifier, a batch reactor, and/or a digester are disclosed. The clarifier performs pretreatment processing of biomaterial to improve anaerobic digestion. The batch reactor and/or the digester are coupled to the clarifier and are configured to digest the processed biomaterial. A control system for an anaerobic digestion process includes a flow control system, a temperature control system, and a totalization system. The flow control system controls the flow of biomaterial and the delivery of chemical agents to the biomaterial based on conductivity, temperature, pressure, and/or composition of the biomaterial. The temperature control system includes a heat source and heat exchangers that control the temperature of the biomaterial.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Epcot Crenshaw Corporation
    Inventor: Charles Satish Smith
  • Publication number: 20120266864
    Abstract: A solar water heating arrangement comprising a solar water heating element and a hot water storage vessel having a heat insulated internal volume for storage of hot water for use by a user and conduits linking them to form a fluid circulation loop is improved by providing a further, intermediate storage tank linked to the solar water heating arrangement to form another fluid circulation loop whereby the flow of fluid from the solar water heating element to the hot water storage vessel and the intermediate storage tank through the respective fluid circulation loops may be controlled for enhanced heat capture efficiency and heat storage management.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Inventor: Alan Derek Wright
  • Patent number: 8287724
    Abstract: A dialysis system instrument includes a dialysis instrument, a disposable pumping and valving cassette apparatus operable with pumping and valving actuators of the dialysis instrument, the disposable cassette including an electronic cell and electronics associated with the electronic cell, the electronics configured to determine an electrical property of a solution flowing through the electronic cell of the disposable apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignees: Baxter International Inc., Baxter Healthcare S.A.
    Inventors: James S. Slepicka, Mark Perry, William Chan, Richard Kienman, Angel M. Lasso, Donald Busby, Rodolfo G. Roger, Michael E. Hogard
  • Patent number: 8282819
    Abstract: Disclosed is a filter device (10), particularly a liquid filter, comprising a filter element (16) that is disposed in a filter housing (12, 14) and a heater (28) for heating medium flowing through the filter device (10). The inventive filter device (10) is characterized in that the heater (28) is designed with at least one heating circuit (30) that is molded into the filter housing (12, 14). Alternatively or additionally, the heater (28) is designed with at least one heating circuit (30) which is provided with an electrical contact (34) in at least one of the final zones thereof, said electrical contact (34) being riveted to the heating circuit (28).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Alberto Parra Navarrete, Alfonso Baz, Bernhard Hager, Carlos J. Blasco Remacha, Volker Brielmann, Leopold Bernegger
  • Publication number: 20120234760
    Abstract: A desalination apparatus includes a first reverse osmosis membrane device 13 that removes a salt content from raw water supplied with predetermined pressure, a second reverse osmosis membrane device 15 that removes a salt content in first permeated water 12 from the first reverse osmosis membrane device 13, a first flow regulation valve 17 that regulates flow rate of first concentrated water 16 from the first reverse osmosis membrane device 13, a second flow regulation valve 19 that regulate flow rate of second concentrated water 18 from the second reverse osmosis membrane device 15, and a control device that measures a supply temperature of the raw water 11 by a thermometer 20, controls the first flow regulation valve 17 to maintain discharge amount of concentrated water constant, and controls the second flow regulation valve 19 to reduce a return amount of water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Ito, Kazuhisa Takeuchi, Kenji Tanaka, Hideo Iwahashi
  • Patent number: 8257583
    Abstract: A fuel separation apparatus comprises a stock fuel storage tank storing stock fuel, a separator provided with a separation film separating the stock fuel into high octane value fuel with an octane value higher than the stock fuel and a low octane value fuel with an octane value lower than the stock fuel, and a high octane value fuel storage tank storing the high octane value fuel separated by the separator. When the temperature of the separation film is lower than the high octane value fuel separation temperature, the high octane value fuel stored in the high octane value fuel storage tank is supplied to the separator. Due to this, vaporization of fuel is suppressed and the fuel can be quickly raised in temperature. Due to this, a vehicle mounted fuel separation apparatus able to quickly raise the temperature of the fuel supplied to the separation film so as to quickly raise the temperature of the separation film at the time of engine cold start can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignees: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Randall D. Partridge, Kouseki Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 8252174
    Abstract: A vehicle-integrated water harvesting system is provided that enables water-vapor or condensation in a vehicle to be captured, and made available onboard the vehicle for drinking or other uses. The system includes a water emitting component and may include a purification system operatively connected to the water emitting component. The purification system at least partially purifies the water and then sends the purified water to a storage reservoir or directly to a dispenser or outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Thomas A. Jones, Therese A. Tant, Gregory A. Major, Frances H. James, Jeffrey M. Pleune
  • Patent number: 8221617
    Abstract: An apparatus for reclaiming hot process water from a animal processing facility includes a screen portion, a filtration portion and optionally a UV sterilization portion. The screen portion receives dirty hot process water and removes macroscopic debris to produce raw tank water. Raw tank water is pumped through the filtration portion at relatively high pressure in order to remove substantially all solids to produce a permeate side stream. The permeate is optionally passed through a very intense ultra-violet field in order to produce uncontaminated reclaimed hot process water which may be safely reintroduced as hot scald water for the poultry cleaning process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: American Water Purification, Inc.
    Inventors: Danny E. Gates, James E. Loewen, Aron T. Wilde
  • Patent number: 8216452
    Abstract: A dialysis system includes a first fluid heater, a second fluid heater, a supplemental power source and a logic implementer. The logic implementer is configured to use the supplemental power source such that when the first and second heaters are powered simultaneously, a collective current draw does not exceed a maximum allowable current draw of a branch power source powering the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignees: Baxter International Inc., Baxter Healthcare S.A.
    Inventors: Justin Rohde, William W. Han
  • Patent number: 8211300
    Abstract: A vehicle-mounted fuel separation system 24 is provided with a fuel heating device 56 heating stock fuel and a separator 57 separating stock fuel heated by the fuel heating device into a plurality of types of fuel. Furthermore, a forced exhaust device 66 forcibly exhausting the fuel in the fuel heating device from the fuel heating device when the temperature of the fuel in the fuel heating device becomes a reference temperature or more or is expected to become a reference temperature or more is provided. Due to this, a fuel separation system where excessive heating of the fuel by the fuel heating device of the fuel separation system is prevented is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignees: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Randall D. Partridge, Kouseki Sugiyama
  • Publication number: 20120160749
    Abstract: A filter group for diesel-powered internal combustion includes an external casing an internal volume of which is divided into two distinct chambers by a filter wall into which an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit for the fuel open, at least one heater being fitted internally of the casing, the at least one heater is housed inside a protection body and is connected to a control circuit, and at least one temperature sensor, the at least one temperature sensor being located externally of the protection body and being connected to the control circuit managing the heater device on a basis of a temperature registered by the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2010
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: UFI FILTERS S.P.A.
    Inventor: Giorgio Girondi
  • Publication number: 20120152517
    Abstract: A system for providing supplemental or auxiliary heat to a crude oil separator is provided. The system includes a primary circuit carrying a fluid heated by a solar panel and a secondary circuit carrying a fluid heated by heat exchangers engaged with the primary circuit. The secondary circuit includes heat exchangers engaging the separator to provide auxiliary heat. The system may also include a source of off-grid electrical energy, such as a wind turbine and/or photoelectric cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Inventors: Wallace Bruce, Richard Chacon, Mark Ray
  • Publication number: 20120152721
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for treating water in order to desalinate said water, including a step of reverse osmosis or distillation of said water in order to produce water that is at least partially desalinated and a first concentrate. According to the invention, said method includes: a first demineralisation step including a step of nanofiltering said first concentrate such as to produce a nanofiltrate and a second concentrate; a second step of demineralising said second concentrate by means of at least one active material including cationic and/or anionic ion-exchange resins, said second demineralisation step including the extraction of a third concentrate and the extraction of at least partially demineralised water, said at least partially demineralised water being mixed with said at least partially desalinated water; a step of regenerating said at least one active material, said regeneration step including a step of recirculating said nanofiltrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: VEOLIA WATER SOLUTIONS & TECHNOLOGIES SUPPORT
    Inventors: Abdelkader Gaid, Michel Coeytaux
  • Patent number: 8192588
    Abstract: Water is removed from oily water produced during operation of a separation column by withdrawing the oily water from the column during separation into an external separator where the oily water is separated into a water phase and an oily phase. The oily phase is then heated to a temperature effective to produce a density differential that drives the oily phase back into the operating column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Fluor Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: John Mak
  • Patent number: 8182688
    Abstract: A biogas generator employs an anaerobic digestion process to convert organic waste material within a sealed reservoir to a biogas. A solar thermal panel connected to the reservoir heats a fluid traveling through a conduit, which is connected to a heat exchanger within the reservoir. The heated fluid travels through the heat exchanger and heats the waste material to facilitate the anaerobic digestion process. Solar cells produce electricity to operate one or more pumps that pump the heated fluid through the conduit, and pump the waste material and the generated biogas, into and out of the reservoir. A rotating lid structure has elongated agitators which extend into the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Inventor: Robert E. Simmons
  • Publication number: 20120111804
    Abstract: An apparatus for purifying thermoplastic polymers, including a means for generating and conveying a polymer melt, the means including a first heating unit and a filter means, and the filter means including a second heating unit. And a method for purifying thermoplastic polymers, including a step of filtering a polymer melt by way of a filter means, wherein the filter means is at least temporarily heated to a temperature which is higher than that of the polymer melt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Thomas Friedlaender, Klaus-Karl Wasmuht, Jörg Zacharias, Stephan Mayr
  • Publication number: 20120091049
    Abstract: A water treatment sensor includes a housing having a bottom with an exterior surface in contact with a flow path of a fluid and an interior surface. First and second probes spaced from one another extend from the exterior surface and into the flow path. A first circuit electrically connects the first and second probes and determines a conductivity from a measured resistivity between the probes. First and second temperature sensors are spaced from one another and are coupled to the interior surface. The first sensor determines a temperature of the fluid. A temperature elevated by a heat source and determined by the second sensor is maintained above the temperature of the fluid. A second circuit determines a flow rate of the fluid based on adjustments to the heat source. Communication circuitry communicates the conductivity, the temperature, and the flow rate of the fluid to a controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2010
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: DELAWARE CAPITAL FORMATION, INC.
    Inventors: Stephen J. West, Taylor M. Goon, Terry Tincher
  • Patent number: 8147117
    Abstract: A means for mitigating or precluding formation of ice in water stored in large storage tanks generates large mixing bubbles toward the bottom of the tank, causing mixing of thermally stratified layers of water in the tank through turbulence created as the bubbles rise through the tank. Incipient stratification of water along thermoclines is detected and the mixer is engaged only when temperatures of portions of stratified water in the tank approach freezing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Inventors: Kristinn G. Drewry, Richard J. Koopmans
  • Publication number: 20120024781
    Abstract: The present application relates to systems and methods for processing organic materials. The method may, for example, yield nutrient-rich materials that may have various agricultural uses. The method can include, in some embodiments, forming a slurry from components comprising liquid and organic material; combining the slurry with microorganisms to form a biomass; anaerobically digesting the organic material in the biomass; and at least partially separating liquid components from the digested biomass. In some embodiments, the anaerobic digestion produces low amounts of methane. The systems may, in some embodiments, be configured to perform the method of processing organic materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: WISErg Corporation
    Inventors: Jose Lugo, Larry LeSueur
  • Patent number: 8105258
    Abstract: A hemofiltration system and method for pumping blood from a patient's blood stream into an access line, introducing an anticoagulant solution into the pumped blood, filtering the pumped blood and delivering it to a return line, introducing a substitution fluid into the pumped blood, introducing a calcium and magnesium solution into the blood traveling through the return line, and returning the blood back to the patient's blood stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignees: Baxter International Inc., Baxter Healthcare S.A.
    Inventor: Jean-Michel Lannoy
  • Publication number: 20120000836
    Abstract: A liquid chromatograph device was provided wherein operations inside a thermostatic chamber can be safely performed even while a heat block is being heated. The liquid chromatograph device comprises: a thermostatic chamber; outer doors and that are disposed at the front surface of the thermostatic chamber; a heat block; heater for heating said heat block; temperature sensor for the heat block; flowing means for flowing air between the inside and outside of the thermostatic chamber; a control means for controlling the supply of power to the heater based on the result of the temperature sensor; and an inner door between the outer door and the heat block, the inner door comprising a hollow inner door main body, a heat-insulating material that is housed within the inner door so as to form an air chamber between the heat-insulating material and the surface of the outer door of the inner door main body and inlet/outlet slits and that are formed in the inner door main body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takao OKADO
  • Publication number: 20110309030
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing hydrocarbon contaminants from a body of water, comprising a skimming device having a driven skimming member arranged to be passed into and out of said body of water for collecting hydrocarbon contaminants, a temperature sensor for sensing the ambient temperature of the body of water and a control device for controlling operation of the skimming device in response to the output of the temperature sensor. The control device is programmed to operate the skimming device when the temperature sensor indicates that the ambient temperature of the mixture of hydrocarbon contaminants and water and/or the body of water and/or the hydrocarbon contaminants is at or above a predetermined minimum temperature such that the skimming device is operated during periodic increases in the temperature of the body of water without requiring additional heating means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Inventor: Michael Dorman
  • Publication number: 20110284473
    Abstract: A cleaning method is provided for fluids of a fluid circuit (31) of a mobile device (2) comprising a mobile cleaning module (1), wherein the mobile cleaning module (1) comprises at least one connection element (3, 4, 5, 6) for making a connection to the fluid circuit (31) so that the fluid can be withdrawn from the fluid circuit (31), at least one filter unit (27) for cleaning the fluid, and a connection element (3, 4) for making a connection to the fluid circuit (31) so that the fluid can fed back to the fluid circuit. In a first step, the mobile cleaning module (1) is connected to the fluid circuit by way of the connection element (3, 4, 5, 6). In a next step, the fluid is at least partially withdrawn from the fluid circuit (31) and then the fluid is led through the filter unit (31). Preferably, the fluid can be heated or cooled prior to being introduced to the filter unit (27). In a last step, the cleaned fluid is fed back to the fluid circuit (31) of the mobile device (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Inventor: Markus Kemper
  • Publication number: 20110262990
    Abstract: The invention provides a settling device comprising an acoustic wave generator and an inclined settling chamber. The angle ? between the acoustic wave direction and the inclined settling chamber is greater than 0 and less than 90°. The invention also provides a concentration method and a separation method using the device. The invention can be used to concentrate or separate particles such as inorganic particles, organic particles, and biological particles, for example, mammalian cells, bacteria, yeast, algae, and plant cells. The invention exhibits technical merits such as higher efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and large-scale production.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Inventors: Zhaowei Wang, Donald Feke, Joanne Belovich
  • Patent number: 8043556
    Abstract: An ablutionary installation including a mixing valve having respective inlets for hot and cold water and an outlet for temperature controlled water, a temperature sensor for monitoring outlet water temperature and providing a signal representative of the outlet water temperature to an electronic controller, a user interface permitting selection of outlet water temperature up to a pre-determined temperature, the electronic controller being operable to compare the selected and sensed outlet water temperatures for controlling the mixing valve to adjust the ratio of hot and cold water delivered to the outlet according to the selected outlet water temperature, and apparatus for initiating a disinfection cycle to deliver water to the outlet at a temperature higher than the pre-determined temperature, wherein the initiating apparatus includes an operating sequence with at least two inputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Kohler Mira Limited
    Inventors: Kevin Peel, Timothy James Shepherd, Geoffrey Hawke Whale, Paul Vigars, Nicholas John Beck
  • Patent number: 8034235
    Abstract: A dialysis system includes: a water purification unit; a dialysate generation unit configured to use water purified by the water purification unit; a dialysate delivery unit configured to deliver dialysate prepared by the dialysate generation unit; a supplemental power source; a first electrical connection configured to electrically connect a branch power source with at least one of the water purification unit, the dialysate generation unit and the dialysate delivery unit; and a second electrical connection configured to electrically connect the supplemental power source with at least one of the water purification unit, the dialysate generation unit and the dialysate delivery unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignees: Baxter International Inc., Baxter Healthcare S.A.
    Inventors: Justin Rohde, William W. Han
  • Patent number: 8025797
    Abstract: An integrating system of a pressurized fluid generator and vortex separator comprises a pressurized fluid generator and a vortex separator. The pressurized fluid generator includes a high pressure tank which connects to a fluid storage tank and a pressure indicator through a pressure booster pump. A heating element and a temperature indicating controller are installed in the high pressure tank. The vortex separator is connected to the pressurized fluid generator through transfer pipes. The vortex separator includes a vortex separating tank. The vortex separating tank has an outlet at a bottom side thereof; the outlet is connected to a plurality of collection bottles. A spindle is located in the vortex separating tank and is driven by a driving device. The spindle is installed with a penetrating fluid channel which is connected to a plurality of transfer pipes; each of the transfer pipes is installed with a plurality of electric controlled switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Inventor: Chen Hsieh
  • Publication number: 20110220572
    Abstract: Disclosed is a filtering system and method which facilitates to maximize cleaning efficiency, minimize heat energy consumption for cleaning, and shorten cleaning time by a concentrated heating only in a filtering membrane for a maintenance cleaning or recovery cleaning, wherein the filtering system comprises a membrane module including a filtering membrane; an air supplying means for cleaning the filtering membrane; and a heater for heating air supplied from the air supplying means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: KOLON INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventor: Kwang-Jin Lee
  • Patent number: 8017003
    Abstract: In a processing waste liquid treating apparatus, a housing includes a bottom wall, an upper wall, a left lateral wall, a rear wall and an opening/closing door for opening/closing a front opening. A waste liquid tank is disposed on the bottom wall and close to the rear wall. A clear water storage tank is disposed adjacently to the waste liquid tank and at the central portion of the bottom wall. A pure water generating unit is disposed on the bottom wall adjacently to the clear water storage tank and close to the front opening. A waste liquid filtering unit is disposed above the pure water generating unit. A pure water temperature adjusting unit is disposed above the waste liquid tank. A control unit and a console panel are disposed above the waste liquid filtering unit and the console panel is disposed on the front side of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Disco Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Furonaka, Miki Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20110192805
    Abstract: Water is removed from oily water produced during operation of a separation column by withdrawing the oily water from the column during separation into an external separator where the oily water is separated into a water phase and an oily phase. The oily phase is then heated to a temperature effective to produce a density differential that drives the oily phase back into the operating column.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: FLUOR TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: John Mak
  • Publication number: 20110186517
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a dialysis machine, in particular a peritoneal dialysis machine, to which a fluid system having a multi-chamber container with at least two chambers with individual solutions separated by a partition arrangement to be opened mechanically can be coupled having a controller and at least one sensor for the determination of a measured variable in the fluid system, wherein the controller has an apparatus for the automatic checking of the proper opening of the partition arrangement of the multi-chamber container which automatically checks the proper opening of the partition arrangement of a multi-chamber container of a fluid system coupled to the dialysis machine with reference to the measured variable determined by the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Inventors: Frank Hedmann, Sven Sebesta
  • Patent number: 7976702
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for filtering particulates and volatiles from fluid systems. The apparatuses and methods include particulate filter and evaporator sections. The apparatuses and methods may furthermore include a heater disposed at least in part in the evaporator section having a ridge on a surface of the heater. The apparatuses and methods may furthermore include an evaporation tube positioned around the heater having a conically shaped outer surface and a heater safety sensor. The apparatuses and methods may also include an air inlet and an air outlet in the evaporator section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Inventor: Kenneth L. Geiger
  • Patent number: 7955503
    Abstract: A pure water producing apparatus prevents fluctuations in the amount of produced pure water without requiring a heat exchanger. Raw water is filtered with an activated carbon filtration device, sent through a water supply pump to the reverse osmosis device, and demineralized. Demineralized water output from the reverse osmosis device contacts a water quality sensor including a water temperature sensor, is sent to an electrodeionization device, and subjected to electrodeionization. Water subjected to electrodeionization contacts a water quality sensor having a water temperature sensor, and is taken out as treated water. A sensing signal output from the water temperature sensor is input to a pump control circuit to control an amount of the water supplied from the pump so that an amount of water passing through the reverse osmosis device is maintained constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Kurita Water Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiichi Onota, Masayuki Miwa
  • Patent number: 7955476
    Abstract: A multiple application recycling and purification device has a coaxial core that is horizontally oriented, non-rotating, cylindrical distillation chamber. The enhanced, completely coaxial configuration continuously cleans the entire distillation chamber and spreads a thin film of liquid to enhance distillation and positively aid in the removal of remaining contaminants. Through a timed and positioned valve, the device removes and purges lower-temperature contaminants. Timed valves and sensors control all phases of the distillation to provide a coaxially integrated, stand-alone, adaptable, scalable and maintenance free distillation unit that self-monitors, self-cleans and economically functions to produce the pure distilled liquid, e.g., water. This device can be modified to purify any numerous array of liquids and can be scaled to produce any amount of purified liquids for either household, commercial, or industrial applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Mansur Corporation
    Inventor: Pierre G. Mansur
  • Patent number: 7918994
    Abstract: A system for removing contaminant from sulfur to a level that allows re-processed sulfur to reenter a supply chain. The system melts contaminated sulfur, filters the molten sulfur, and then dispenses the less contaminated sulfur after filtering it. More specifically, solid contaminated sulfur enters a settling tank, while heated molten sulfur circulates through the system and the settling tank. The circulation of the molten sulfur assists in the melting process of the solid sulfur, allowing the solid sulfur to melt efficiently. In preferred embodiments of the system, the system uses steam jacked sulfur lines and steam tracing to maintain temperatures for melting the solid sulfur and maintaining the molten state of the sulfur circulating through the system. Furthermore, the system comprises a programmable logic controller, which controls motors, pumps, valves, and environment monitoring instruments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Brimrock International Inc.
    Inventors: Leslie Lloyd Leroy Lang, Paul Roy Larson, John Alexander MacDonald
  • Publication number: 20110073546
    Abstract: Contaminating water and/or fuel material may be removed from a stream of internal combustion engine lubricating oil being circulated over parts of an operating engine. A suitable membrane material is supported in a suitable housing. At least a portion of the oil stream is flowed over one side of the membrane and water and/or fuel material diffuses through the membrane to its other side where they are gathered and removed from the housing. The water and fuel material may be recovered separately using different membranes or different regions of a membrane. They may be swept from the membranes and housings using streams of flowing air heated to a pre-selected temperatures using waste engine heat for disposition outside the housing. Application of this practice to other membrane-separable mixtures is described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Gregory Mordukhovich, Andrew M. Mance
  • Patent number: 7897050
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods and systems for the extraction of solutes from solid matter using dense gases in a mechanical auger separation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Accudyne Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Jeffrey Waibel, Wayne C. Morton, Sandra M. Cope
  • Patent number: 7892423
    Abstract: A dialysis system includes a first fluid heater, a second fluid heater, and a logic implementer configured to synchronize the duty cycles of the first and second heaters so that (i) power is not supplied to the first heater when power is supplied to the second heater and (ii) power is not supplied to the second heater when power is supplied to the first heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignees: Baxter International Inc., Baxter Healthcare S.A.
    Inventors: Justin Rohde, William W. Han
  • Patent number: 7886752
    Abstract: A filter having a filter body with a plurality of filter openings, each having a passage cross-section which varies automatically in response to a characteristic inherent to a medium flowing through the openings to filter the medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventor: Helmut Jerg
  • Patent number: 7887696
    Abstract: This disclosure describes a commercial/industrial remineralizer designed to be added to a purification system that raises the pH by non-chemical methodology while replacing important electrolytes to the water that were extracted along with the toxic, non-essential minerals from the water. The remineralizer can be designed for heavy commercial continuous production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: CWP Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Paul L. Simmons
  • Publication number: 20110030824
    Abstract: Thermal energy management for production installations is provided. A storage tank for storing a fluid heated in relation to the ambient temperature has a heat-insulated wall and at least one discharge and one feed. The storage tank stores the amounts of heat occurring at various process stations in an installation, and, if required, delivers them again, with a high level of efficiency. The discharges and the feeds are arranged at different height levels of the storage tank and associated with the storage tank is a control device which passes a fluid flow at higher temperature through a discharge or feed at a higher height level and a fluid flow at a lower temperature through a discharge or feed at a lower height level. Alternatively the feeds and discharges can be displaceable in respect of height. In that case one feed and one discharge can be sufficient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Inventor: Thomas Rauch
  • Publication number: 20110024363
    Abstract: The invention provides a vacuum dehydrating system for gypsum slurry, comprising a vacuum dehydrating apparatus, a first water supply apparatus for supplying filter cake washing water to the vacuum dehydrating apparatus, and a water heating apparatus for heating the filter cake washing water. The invention also provides a vacuum dehydrating method, comprising the following steps: 1) heating the filter cake washing water by the water heating apparatus; 2) supplying the heated filter cake washing water to a vacuum dehydrating apparatus during dehydrating the gypsum slurry by the vacuum dehydrating apparatus. In the invention, the filter cake washing water is heated. Due to the higher temperature of filter cake washing water, the dehydration rate of gypsum slurry is improved so that water content of gypsum filter cake after dehydration is decreased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: Shanghai Clyde Bergemann Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yueqi Xin, Handong Wen
  • Patent number: 7879231
    Abstract: This invention is an improvement to the existing reverse osmosis water filtration systems used in under-the-sink and similar commercial applications. This improvement uses a thermally conductive liner that allows an increase of efficiency to heat or cool water within the reverse osmosis system. In addition, it includes a controller that determines the amount of cooling required without contact with the water. The controller provides slow-rate pulse-width modulation of the Peltier-like device to cool, and dependant on room temperature, potentially heat the water within the reverse osmosis system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Inventor: Daniel B. Cavataio
  • Publication number: 20110000835
    Abstract: A pump in fluid communication with the outlet of a fluid purification apparatus. A pump may furthermore provide fluid to the inlet of the fluid purification apparatus. An embodiment includes a fluid driven rotating inlet device in fluid communication with the inlet of the fluid purification apparatus and an outlet impeller in fluid communication with the outlet of the fluid purification apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2009
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: Next Generation Filtration Systems, LP
    Inventor: Kenneth L. Geiger
  • Patent number: 7862784
    Abstract: A flow through aqueous liquid sterilization apparatus which employs substantially fixed temperatures and pressures and variable flow rates through the apparatus for controllably processing aqueous liquids to achieve predetermined values of SALs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Inventor: John Guy Bowen
  • Publication number: 20100314320
    Abstract: The present invention includes: a water separation membrane device 2 that separates a process-target fluid into a dehydrated product and water; and a temperature monitoring device 3 for the water separation membrane device 2. The temperature monitoring device 3 detects a temperature. Further, a temperature adjustment device 4 is provided in a previous stage of the water separation membrane device 2. The temperature adjustment device 4 controls a temperature of the process-target fluid on the basis of the temperature detected by the temperature adjustment device 3 to thereby optimize an amount of water permeation in a separation process in the water separation membrane device 2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Osora, Yoshio Seiki, Atsuhiro Yukumoto
  • Publication number: 20100310711
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for microfiltering milk before the milk is allowed to cool is disclosed that removes bacteria and other filtrates from the milk thus producing a microfiltered milk product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Inventor: Lamar Chet KENDELL
  • Publication number: 20100300946
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for concentrating a fluid with improved energy efficiency. The method comprises the steps of: providing a membrane distillation unit having an evaporation side in fluid communication with a first reservoir for containing the fluid, and a condensation side being in fluid communication with a second reservoir for containing a coolant; evaporating at least a portion of the fluid and condensing the fluid in the second reservoir. The method further comprises the steps of controllably transferring heat from the coolant to the fluid such that the temperature of the fluid is maintained at a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN SYDNEY
    Inventors: Minh H. Nguyen, Anh Viet Bui
  • Patent number: 7842121
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for providing aqueous stream purification services. The system includes at least one separation unit. Each separation unit may include a mechanical vapor recompression separator, a steam stripper, and a secondary recovery heat exchanger. The system for wastewater purification may receive water from a waste water storage, purify the water, and return the purified water to a purified water storage. The system may include a controller. The controller may include an operating conditions module configured to interpret at least one operating condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Capital Corporation
    Inventors: Larry D. Sanderson, James W. Schleiffarth, Leslie D. Merrill, Bradford M. Rohwer
  • Publication number: 20100294720
    Abstract: Provided is a method that can remove fission products in a spent electrolyte produced in a dry reprocessing process by an easy operation and can vitrify the fission products easily, the fission products including not only the fission products that generate precipitate but also the fission products that generate no precipitate. A spent electrolyte produced in a dry reprocessing process is subjected to a phosphate conversion processing to obtain a processing target substance; the processing target substance is passed through a separating material 10 including an iron phosphate glass at a temperature of not more than a softening point of the iron phosphate glass in order to remove insoluble fission products included in the processing target substance by filtration with the separating material and to sorb fission products in solution to the separating material for separation; and the iron phosphate glass holding the fission products is used as a waste vitrification material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Inventors: Ippei Amamoto, Hirohide Kofuji, Mineo Fukushima, Munetaka Myochin