With Gas-liquid Surface Contact Means Patents (Class 210/150)
  • Patent number: 11293705
    Abstract: An open mesh member for insertion into a cooling tower utilizing polluted or clean water and counterflow or crossflow airflow includes a plurality of corrugations including upper support frames, lower support frames and a wall strand. The upper and lower support frames extend at a corrugation angle relative to a height axis. The corrugations have a plurality of openings through a thickness of the mesh member. A planar edge positioned at a first end of the mesh member. A beveled edge positioned at a second end of the mesh member. The beveled edge includes a first bevel extending distally from one of the upper support frames. The bevel includes first and second legs and a distal end. The first and second legs extend substantially parallel relative to the associated upper support frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: BRENTWOOD INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Frank M. Kulick, III, Luke Lingle, William Miller
  • Patent number: 11254594
    Abstract: A treatment system of the present invention generally includes a floating support structure having an upper flotation assembly, a base assembly that secures the bottom edges of a plurality of low density sheets, and vertical frame members that connect the upper flotation assembly to the base assembly. The sheets are generally vertically oriented although able to flex and sway independently. Substantially all regions of substantially all sheets are aerated. The sheets are constructed of an open weave substrate that allows the diffusion of gas, nutrients and food, while protecting and serving as an attachment site for a variety of microbial colonies in both anoxic and aerobic zones. In use a system of the present invention is inserted into a wastewater reservoir, and aerated, for treatment of the wastewater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: ENTEX Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey B. Danner, Wayne J. Flournoy
  • Patent number: 11254598
    Abstract: In view of the current pollution to sewage by nitrate nitrogen, the present invention discloses a method for promoting denitrification to remove nitrate nitrogen in water by magnetic resins. In the method disclosed by the present invention, magnetic anion exchange resins are in contact with and mixed with sewage, and nitrate nitrogen in the sewage is removed quickly and efficiently by both the ion exchange between the magnetic anion exchange resins and the nitrate nitrogen in the sewage and the denitrification enhanced by the magnetic material. Meanwhile, the regeneration and recycle of the magnetic anion exchange resins are realized by the denitrification of microorganisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignees: NANJING UNIVERSITY, NANJING UNIVERSITY & YANCHENG ACADEMY OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION TECHNOLOGY AND ENGINEERING
    Inventors: Chendong Shuang, Guang Zhang, Ting Ye, Aimin Li, Liang Tan, Ke Wang
  • Patent number: 11241663
    Abstract: An axial impeller has blades formed from sheet metal blanks that are configured from taking a desired impeller blade and mathematically “unwinding” the blade to its flat counterpart. Preferably, the impeller blade is formed from a single rolling operation. The result of a thin, elongate blade, preferably having a trailing edge that defines a helix with rearwardly skewed, forwardly raked blades, provides an efficient impeller having good anti-ragging properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Philadelphia Mixing Solutions, Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert W. Higbee, Wojciech Wyczalkowski, Jason J. Giacomelli
  • Patent number: 11186505
    Abstract: A treatment system is disclosed and includes a storage basin for retaining liquid, a cover system that covers the storage basin, and media disposed within liquid retained in the storage basin. In an embodiment, the media may be attached to the cover system. In an additional or alternative embodiment, the media may be detached from the cover system. In some embodiments of treatment systems having detached media, one or more stands may be provided for supporting the media. Configuring the treatment system to include both the cover system and the media may improve the operational efficiency of the storage basin, and may increase the volume or amount of liquid that may be treated by the treatment system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Industrial & Environmental Concepts, Inc.
    Inventors: Dave Anderson, Michael Sean Gallant, Michael Allan Morgan, Dorothy Paszek
  • Patent number: 11124959
    Abstract: A stormwater treatment system and method for removing sediment, chemical pollutants, and debris from stormwater runoff by utilizing bioretention practices including physical, chemical and biological processes. Stormwater is directed into a primarily open-bottomed, multi-dimensional container whereby entrained sediment and other transportable materials are filtered and treated through a media filter layer consisting of inorganic and/or organic materials. A live plant (preferably a tree) situated within the container with roots resident in the media filter layer with the ability for expansion beyond the perimeter of the container through openings in one or more sidewalls. The treated water may be further conveyed beyond the perimeter of the container by additional openings and/or piping. A vertically positioned overflow/bypass/clean out piping apparatus may be included within the stormwater treatment system to provide additional water conveyance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: MMT, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Anthony Iorio
  • Patent number: 11078098
    Abstract: A method of treating wastewater is disclosed in which a flow equalization reactor is provided that includes at least one wastewater treatment zone. A first wastewater treatment process is performed in the at least one wastewater treatment zone, which can be switched to a second wastewater treatment process. The flow equalization reactor is designed with a variable liquid depth and volume that can operated as a mixed wastewater zone, an anaerobic reactor zone, an anoxic reactor zone or an aerobic reactor zone. The equalization reactor provides sufficient variable liquid depth and volume above a minimum liquid depth and residual volume to provide the necessary hydraulic flow equalization or surge volume to achieve a relatively constant effluent pumping rate or feed forward flow rate over 24 hours per day, seven days per week into the downstream biological treatment processes, clarifiers, filters, or disinfection units, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Inventor: John H. Reid
  • Patent number: 11008234
    Abstract: Systems and methods for treating a metal or metalloid ion-contaminated liquid are provided. The method may include (i) feeding the metal or metalloid ion-contaminated liquid into a bioelectrochemical reactor containing a bacteria selected by the cathode to produce extracellular metal or metalloid nanoparticles; and (ii) operating the bioelectrochemical reactor anaerobically to reduce the metal or metalloid ions in the metal or metalloid ion-contaminated liquid to extracellular metal or metalloid nanoparticles. The method may further include separating the metal or metalloid nanoparticles from the bacteria with no energy input. A bioelectrochemical reactor system for production of extracellular metal and metalloid nanoparticles may include a bioelectrochemical reactor, a separation device, and a tangential flow filtration unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: THE FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.
    Inventors: Youneng Tang, Gang Chen
  • Patent number: 10995026
    Abstract: A wastewater treatment apparatus for remediation of a wastewater treatment system has a septic tank with a lower sludge layer and an upper liquid effluent layer. The apparatus is comprised of a brush that includes a brush arm having a first end, a second end, and bristles disposed on the brush arm between the first end and the second end. The brush is configured to be positioned within the liquid effluent layer in the septic tank in a vertical orientation such that the second end is disposed below the first end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: AERO-STREAM, LLC
    Inventor: Karl K. Holt
  • Patent number: 10981112
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a filter material which can be used in reducing the content of contaminants in a raw gas or liquid and a device which comprises the filter material. The disclosure also relates to a method for reducing the content of contaminants in a raw gas or liquid which applies the filter material and/or device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Inventor: Bonno Koers
  • Patent number: 10981817
    Abstract: A technique for wastewater treatment involves ensuring that all paths for wastewater must pass through at least one porous microbial support to go from the inlet to the outlet, and allowing a biofilm to grow on the porous microbial support under microaerobic conditions (concentration of oxygen between 0.05 and 0.35 mg/L). The biofilm formed comprises a population of anaerobic microbes for digesting organics in the wastewater including methanogenic microbes, and an aerobic methanotrophic and heterotrophic population that catabolizes methane from the methanogenic microbes, and oxygen from the injector, to produce heat. The support may be an electrode, and the technique is applied in a microbial electrolysis cell, with substantial COD removal rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: National Research Council of Canada
    Inventors: Boris Tartakovsky, Yehuda Kleiner
  • Patent number: 10976293
    Abstract: A method and device for processing an agricultural product is provided. The device includes a chamber having an opening, and a heater operative to heat the contents of the chamber. A sensor having an output is coupled to the chamber, the sensor output being processed to provide information about at least one of: a state of decarboxylation, or a quantity of a material in the contents of the chamber. The method includes loading a quantity of the agricultural product in a chamber having an port and applying an elevated temperature to the chamber to increase a rate of decarboxylation. A property of a gas is measured at the port the measurement being processed to determine one of either: a state of decarboxylation, or a quantity of material in the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Inventor: Mark Alan Lemkin
  • Patent number: 10934196
    Abstract: In a lagoon-based wastewater treatment process, reduction of total nitrogen in the product water is facilitated by including a denitrification process. In an initial phase of the overall process, raw wastewater is processed in a lagoon to reduce BOD5 and TSS. Nitrification occurs in the lagoon and/or in a distinct or separate nitrification reactor. At least a portion of product water that has been nitrified is mixed with a portion of raw, incoming wastewater, and the mixture is introduced into an anoxic region of the lagoon in a manner that promotes denitrification within the anoxic region of the lagoon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Triplepoint Environmental LLC
    Inventors: Patrick D. Hill, Braden J. Galbreath-O'Leary
  • Patent number: 10934520
    Abstract: Algae harvesting and cultivating systems and methods for producing high concentrations of algae product with minimal energy. In an embodiment, an algae harvesting method is provided for performing dead-end filtration in an algae harvesting system having at least one treatment tank defining a plurality of filtration stages including at least a first filtration stage and a second filtration stage. An algae medium is pulled through the hollow fiber membranes such that a retentate and a permeate are produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Global Algae Technology, LLC
    Inventors: David A. Hazlebeck, William Rickman
  • Patent number: 10899644
    Abstract: Wastewater is received at an inlet of a nested coil of tubing. The nested coil of tubing includes an outer coil of tubing and at least one inner coil of tubing. The nested coil of tubing includes at least one of protrusions or filaments within an interior of the nested coil of tubing. The filaments or protrusions are radially arranged within an interior of the tubing, and microbial growth that is configured to treat the wastewater is disposed on at least portions of the interior. The wastewater is flowed through the nested coil of tubing. The microbial growth treats the wastewater to remove at least portions of sanitary waste in the wastewater. The treated wastewater is flowed through an outlet of the nested coil of tubing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Serhan Gerçek
  • Patent number: 10889517
    Abstract: Provided is a nano-photocatalyst-microorganism composite multilayered light-transmitting combination support, comprising a plurality of wave-shaped plexiglass plates (1), a tandem rod holder (4), hollow elastic spacers (5), and fixing screws (6); each of the wave-shaped plexiglass plates (1) is provided with four fixing holes (7); the tandem rod holder (4) is provided with four tandem rods (8), and the four tandem rods (8) pass through the fixing holes (7); the tandem rods (8) between the two adjacent wave-shaped plexiglass plates (1) pass through the hollow elastic spacers (5); each of the tandem rods (8) is provided with a fixing screw (6) at the top end; each of the wave-shaped plexiglass plates (1) have different loading layers on the upper and lower surfaces, with a nano-photocatalyst-loading layer (2) on one surface and a degrading bacteria-loading layer (3) on the other surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: HOHAI UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Juan Chen, Peifang Wang, Chao Wang, Yanhui Ao, Han Gao
  • Patent number: 10807892
    Abstract: A device for the housing and stimulation of underwater microbial activity has a lower inlet end and an upper discharge end, the lower inlet end defining an inlet opening therein, the housing defining multiple channels therein extending to the upper discharge end of the housing, the inlet opening communicating with interconnected channels, following an indirect non linear path between the inlet end opening to a discharge opening defined in the discharge end, so as to disrupt the path of fluid as it travels from the inlet opening to the discharge opening. The device has at least one leg extending from the lower inlet end to keep the device off the bottom of a waterbody floor to limit its susceptibility to clogging from the sediment bottom or growing organics. The leg has sufficient weight to sink to the bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: BLUE PLANET ENVIRONMENTAL INC.
    Inventors: David Burns, Richard Lonetto, Jason Yeo
  • Patent number: 10807885
    Abstract: A low energy nitrogen removal wetland system is disclosed to provide high rates of nitrogen removal treatment for wastewater with low energy requirements. The wetland system uses down-flow rock-filled wetlands for nitrogen removal. The system has no aeration requirements, thus resulting in low energy consumption. The wetland system comprises a first column receiving drainage influent, a mid-level reservoir, a second column receiving drainage from the mid-level reservoir and a lower level reservoir receiving discharge from the second column. The first and the second columns are filled with media layers comprise rock media with ammonia adsorption capacity for ammonia removal. The wetland system operates in a flood and drain operation mode or a continuous flow mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: CLEAN WATER SERVICES
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Williamson, Jamie Hughes, David Austin, Scott Wallace
  • Patent number: 10800673
    Abstract: A water treatment apparatus 100 subjects water to be treated to ultraviolet treatment with ultraviolet light emitted from LED elements 31. The water treatment apparatus 100 comprises: a flow channel 10 through which water to be treated flows; an LED element housing chamber 30 located on outside of the flow channel 10, with a window portion 20 formed by a transparent member being interposed therebetween; and a plurality of LED elements 31 arranged in the LED element housing chamber 30, wherein the LED element housing chamber 30 has an inlet 34 and an outlet 35 for dry gas, and light emitting surfaces of the plurality of LED elements 31 are exposed to a space in the LED element housing chamber 30.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignees: METAWATER Co., Ltd., SENKO RIKEN Co., Ltd., NIKKISO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junichi Shiga, Tsukasa Kusano, Tetsumi Ochi, Shinya Watanabe, Eiichi Tsuga, Yusuke Kawakami
  • Patent number: 10800667
    Abstract: A multi-functional slurry processing system (“VARCOR”) and associated methods is disclosed. The present examples provide a multi-functional slurry processing system incorporating systems and methods for separating liquid and solid components in slurries. In particular the systems and methods described herein produce clean water, dried solids, and potential concentration of desirable constituents with a boiling point lower than water. At least one example of the multi-functional slurry processing system provides a self-contained processing facility configured to efficiently convert high water-content slurries into its constituent solid and liquid fractions and subsequently generating and collecting clean water and concentrating desirable constituents with a boiling point lower than water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: SEDRON TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Peter William Janicki, Sara Amber Van Tassel, John Edward Weller, Stanley James Janicki, Warren Lewis Heartwood, Keith Boyd Fackler, II, Alex James Gross, Tyler Everett Hamke, Austin George Law, Eric Christopher McBride, Ann Kate Nowinski, Liam Joseph Potocsnak, James O'Keefe Armstrong
  • Patent number: 10794051
    Abstract: A liquid treatment system is provided having a vault that contains a treatment chamber and an outflow chamber. The treatment chamber may have a filtration media layer containing media that treats liquid as it descends through the filtration media layer, where it will accumulate in a porous layer or open space. The liquid will then be directed through the plurality of pipes to the outflow chamber, where the treated liquid is further directed to outside the system. Accumulated debris settled at the bottom of the treatment chamber may be flushed out by a spray bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: SUNTREE TECHNOLOGIES HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas H. Happel
  • Patent number: 10773984
    Abstract: Media beds containing worms living in an oxygenated aqueous environment are provided for the remediation of water containing excreted and other oxidizable organic or chemical waste. The media beds may include cultivated plant life in addition to the cultivated worm population for the uptake of nitrates, as well as other nutrients rendered soluble through digestion of the worms to remediate water to levels sufficient to be safely returned to the environment; alternatively the water may be remediated to higher nitrate levels in the absence of plants so that the water can be used in subsequent fertilization operations outside the waste treatment system. The system further includes cultivated microbial populations that may be present in the media beds and/or in separate bioreactors within the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: INTEGRATED AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Paul W. Nickerson, David K. Foster
  • Patent number: 10759683
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods for removing mercury contaminant from an aqueous solution, the methods including: providing an aqueous solution, the aqueous solution being contaminated with at least trace amounts of an oxidized mercury species; culturing a photoheterotrophic or fermentative heterotrophic bacteria in the aqueous solution under anaerobic conditions in which the bacteria reduce the oxidized mercury species to elemental mercury (Hg0), wherein the bacteria comprises one or more bacteria of the order Clostridiales; and removing the elemental mercury from the aqueous solution. Also provided are bioreactors for removing mercury contaminant from an aqueous solution, as well as uses of photoheterotrophic or fermentative heterotrophic bacteria, wherein the bacteria comprises one or more bacteria of the order Clostridiales, for removing mercury contaminant from an aqueous solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: University of Ottawa
    Inventors: Alexandre Poulain, Daniel Grégoire
  • Patent number: 10753914
    Abstract: A flow controller includes a channel assembly, a pressure sensor, and a pressure control valve. The channel assembly includes a laminated substrate comprised of a plurality of substrates laminated, the laminated substrate having a surface on which a gas inlet and a gas outlet are formed, and having, inside the laminated substrate, a plurality of resistance channels not communicating with one another inside the laminated substrate as internal channels. In the flow controller, the gas inlet and the gas outlet communicate to each other to form a flow rate control channel. The pressure sensor and the pressure control valve are provided on the flow rate control channel. At least one of the resistance channels which is selected to have a desired channel resistance of the flow rate control channel is connected to the flow rate control channel as part of the flow rate control channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventors: Kiyonori Koga, Yuki Komori
  • Patent number: 10745306
    Abstract: Provided is an aquifer storage and recovery system, in which microbes extracted from an underground aquifer are involved in an assimilable organic carbon (AOC) removal mechanism and applied to an aerobic reactor, and a predetermined portion of assimilable organic carbon in raw water is removed through the aerobic reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: KOREA INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Seong Pil Jeong, Jae Woo Choi, Kyungjin Cho, Hien Thi Nguyen, Youngjae Kim, Am Jang, Seunghak Lee, Seockheon Lee
  • Patent number: 10703658
    Abstract: A tank is disclosed as having a tub therein that divides the volume of the tank into an anoxic chamber inside the tub and an equalization chamber outside of the tub. The anoxic chamber anoxically treats wastewater while the equalization chamber equalizes fluctuations in wastewater influent as well as provides a holding space for wastewater if power to the tank is cut off. The tank can be part of a system for treating wastewater, such as one with an anaerobic tank having an anaerobic chamber for anaerobically treating wastewater, an aerobic/filtration tank having a filtration sub-tank therein that divides the volume of the tank into a filtration chamber inside the sub-tank and an aerobic chamber outside of the sub-tank. The aerobic chamber can aerobically treat wastewater while the filtration chamber has a membrane unit for filtering wastewater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: TANGENT COMPANY LLC
    Inventors: John Merrin, Travis Genshock, Brendan Matheny, Paul Wadham, Adam Arnold
  • Patent number: 10676382
    Abstract: A treatment system of the present invention generally includes a plurality of low density, high surface area sheets anchored in parallel along their bottom ends to fixed base. The sheets are buoyant in wastewater, and generally vertically oriented although able to flex and sway independently. Substantially all regions of substantially all sheets are aerated. The sheets are constructed of an open weave substrate that allows the diffusion of gas, nutrients and food, while protecting and serving as an attachment site for a variety of microbial colonies in both anoxic and aerobic zones. In use a system of the present invention is inserted into a wastewater reservoir, and aerated, for treatment of the wastewater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: ENTEX Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey B Danner, Wayne J Flournoy
  • Patent number: 10647600
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of reducing at least one of nitrogen, carbon and phosphorous in a lagoon that includes at least three cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: BLUE FROG TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventor: Griscom Bettle, III
  • Patent number: 10633270
    Abstract: A filter enhancement device applied to a circulating water culture system and the method of making same, the device includes four components: protective shell, protective agents, microbial powder and proliferation promoting agents. The interior of the protective shell contains protective agents, microbial powder and proliferation promoting agents. Microbial powder and proliferation promoting agents are embedded in the modified-release layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: KYORIN INDUSTRY (SHENZHEN) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tommy Chi-Kin Wong, Christopher Kenneth Clevers, Tin-Han Chien
  • Patent number: 10597311
    Abstract: A self-cleaning ultraviolet wastewater disinfection unit and method are provided. The disinfection unit has a wastewater treatment chamber comprising a UV lamp for treating/disinfecting the wastewater. A plurality of pieces of media may be positioned in the treatment chamber. When wastewater is present in the chamber, gas is injected into the wastewater through a gas inlet conduit. The gas agitates the pieces of media in the wastewater to cause the pieces of media to rub against the UV lamp unit to remove matter that has accumulated on the UV lamp unit. The removal of accumulated matter on the UV lamp and other surfaces in the chamber may improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the disinfecting unit. Furthermore, the cleaning operation may be performed automatically at scheduled periods to increase the time between major cleanings of the unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: BIOTURBINE SYSTEMS INC.
    Inventor: Paul Mayrand
  • Patent number: 10570040
    Abstract: A reactor for treating water, the reactor comprising a buoyant structure for supporting at least one cell for suspension in a body of water in use, wherein each cell is removeably attachable to the buoyant structure and is arranged to house biomedia. A water treatment system comprising the reactor in a body of water. A method of treating water comprising passing water to be treated through the reactor in a body of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: BIONEST TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Etienne Boutet, Serge Baillargeon, Garfield R. Lord
  • Patent number: 10566642
    Abstract: A sediment microbial fuel cell is provided. More specifically, the present invention provides a sediment microbial fuel cell characterized by comprising: an oxide electrode unit located within the sediment of polluted water; a reduction electrode unit located adjacent to the water surface within the water; and a solid matter separator unit arranged inside the sediment and located in an upper part of the oxide electrode unit spaced apart from the oxide electrode unit, wherein one or more surfaces of the oxide electrode unit are exposed in the separation space formed by the solid matter separator unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: GWANGJU INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: In Seop Chang, Bong Kyu Kim, Yoo Seok Lee, Hyun Jun Park, Ji Su Kim
  • Patent number: 10566633
    Abstract: This invention uses the process of osmosis and diffusion of a liquid of low concentration into a liquid of high concentration. The invention taps the energy created by a liquid of low concentration flowing into a liquid of high concentration. The inventor has created several embodiments that can be heat engines, heat pumps, energy storage devices, and batteries. The invention changes solar ponds and concentration cells into heat storage devices and rechargeable batteries. Osmosis at two semipervious membranes, one heated and one cooled, in a loop of tubing produces a heat engine. A heat pipe is changed into a heat engine by using different concentration at each end. Two vessels, one a high concentration of a liquid and the other containing a low concentration of a liquid, can be configured with the used of electrodes, turbines, semipervious membranes into be heat engines, heat pumps, energy storage devices, and batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Inventor: Jerry Semer
  • Patent number: 10550018
    Abstract: A nonpowered mixing and coagulation basin is provided, which generates turbulences of at least two kinds inside the mixing and coagulation basin to which the raw water flows so that foreign matters contained in the raw water come into contact with each other while circulating by a water flow to be coagulated into a predetermined size, and a dissolved air floatation device using the same. The nonpowered mixing and coagulation basin has multiple stages with different packing materials and packing densities to form turbulent flows inside the raw water and control a flow speed, thereby uniformly mixing raw water and coagulant to enhance coagulation efficiency. The nonpowered mixing and coagulation basin simultaneously carries out mixing and coagulation at the front end part of the water treatment system, reduces equipment expenses by having no electric motor and agitator, and reduces power consumption because it does not use any power unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Doosan Heavy Industries Construction Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Yong Hae Park, Sung Won Park, Byung Sung Park, Sung Woo Woo
  • Patent number: 10543461
    Abstract: Provided is a cartridge-type hollow fiber membrane module including a hollow fiber membrane unit module with a free end and a cartridge frame and a submerged water treatment apparatus including an air diffuser apparatus capable of intermittent and continuous aeration disposed below the hollow fiber membrane module, wherein the cartridge-type membrane module with the free end using the coarse bubble generating air diffuser apparatus capable of intermittent/continuous aeration in conjunction with an air accumulation pipe may control aeration/non-aeration cycles through adjustment of the volume of an air chamber and an amount of inflow air and carry out continuous aeration based on changes in raw water load and a concentration of solids in a membrane separation tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Econity Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jinho Kim, Minsoo Park, Kongsuen Hong, Namseok Gil, Hanhyoung Cho, Byungho Choi
  • Patent number: 10532940
    Abstract: Aeration discs used in water treatment and methods of using same are disclosed. According to one or more embodiments, an aeration disc may comprise projections and depressions located on at least one of its surfaces. The aeration discs may be incorporated into aeration devices and water treatment systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Evoqua Water Technologies LLC
    Inventors: George W. Smith, Mark F. Pamperin, Charles S. Applegate, Christopher K. Waul, Marc E. Roehl, Michael L. Doyle
  • Patent number: 10457613
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an anaerobic column reactor for biodegradation of wastes. Particularly the present invention relates to a process for conversion of biodegradable wastes to biogas and compost. More particularly, the present invention relates to an anaerobic reactor with unique arrangement of expanded and constricted portions alternatively placed vertically over each other which enhances the mixing pattern and thereby the mass transfer rates while controlling the biomass washout by regulating the upflow liquid velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Council of Scientific & Industrial Research
    Inventors: Sandeep Y. Bodkhe, Atul N. Vaidya
  • Patent number: 10434549
    Abstract: Temporary transfer stations for facilitating distribution of debris from at least one damaged area to at least one landfill may include at least one excavatable transfer station slab. The at least one transfer station slab may include at least one waterproof layer. At least one layer support frame may be provided on the at least one waterproof layer. At least one debris support layer may be provided on the at least one layer support frame. The at least one debris support layer may have at least one controlled low strength material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Inventor: John M. McConnell
  • Patent number: 10421679
    Abstract: Aerobic processes are disclosed for the treatment of wastewater which contains at least one substrate comprising at least one of organocarbon component and ammonium cation. A bioreactor is used for the treatment which contains ME biocatalysts to provide high bioreactor bioactivity density. The processes reduce sludge generated and are capable of effecting the metabolic oxidation at low dissolved oxygen concentrations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: MICROVI BIOTECH, INC.
    Inventors: Fatemeh Razavi-Shirazi, Ameen Razavi
  • Patent number: 10399865
    Abstract: An enhanced septic system includes a storage tank having an inlet that receives liquid gray water from a standard septic system having at least one digester and a pump located in the storage tank. The pump is coupled to an actuator to selectively provide power to the pump from a power supply to pump the gray water from the storage tank when the gray water reaches a predetermined level within the storage tank. The system also includes an outlet pipe coupled to the storage tank and to receive gray water pumped from the storage tank by the pump, at least one ultraviolet light in communication with the outlet pipe, and a detector to determine when the pump is actuated and to turn on the at least one ultraviolet light upon actuation of the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Charles E. Hill & Associates, Inc
    Inventor: Charles E. Hill
  • Patent number: 10351451
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an ozone water having enhanced storage stability and a method for producing the ozone water. An ozone water of the present invention as a means for resolution is produced by dissolving 0.1 ?M to 1 mM of an organic iron compound and 1 to 300 mM of an inorganic salt in a water with ozone-microbubbles generated using an ozone gas at a concentration of 1 to 300 g/Nm3. The half-life of ozone of the ozone water of the present invention is 3 days or longer, for example, when the water filled in an airtight container under atmospheric pressure is stored under a temperature condition of 40° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED INDUSTRIAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventor: Masayoshi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10342189
    Abstract: An aerobic treatment system includes a plurality of highly porous, high surface area, inert, synthetic, inorganic, or natural material particles, having a specific gravity of less than 1.0 that float on an enclosed aqueous environment whereby plants and/or microbes can be grown thereon and/or animals such as fish can be raised therein. The inert particles trap air bubbles and nutrients for the growth of diverse types of plants, animals, or microbial systems, which enable phyto treatment of an aqueous waterbody with the ability to limit the growth of unwanted plant and algae such as blue-green algae. The above aerobic bio treatment system contains desirably bioremediation media having one or more microorganisms that are able to withstand system shocks while minimizing energy usage associated with aeration. The system can generally be utilized in any aqueous environment such as waste water and/or polluted water in an enclosed area such as a container, tank, pond, lake, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: BUBBLECLEAR
    Inventors: Mehmet A. Gencer, Kaan E. Gencer, Paul M. Zakriski, Clark B. Langmack, Jay L. Schabel
  • Patent number: 10273173
    Abstract: A plant and method for controlling such a plant suitable for treatment of waste water. The plant includes a basin, a flow generating machine adapted to generate a liquid flow in the basin, equipment in the basin that effects the momentum of the liquid flow, and a control unit. The method includes the steps of: storing a predetermined relationship between the operational speed N of the flow generating machine and an operational parameter P from which the torque M of the flow generating machine may be derived, determining the operational speed N, determining a set value of the operational parameter P of the flow generating machine, determining a real value of the operational parameter P of the flow generating machine, and adjusting the operational speed N if the real value of the operational parameter P is different than the set value of the operational parameter P.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: XYLEM IP MANAGEMENT S.À R.L.
    Inventor: Lars Uby
  • Patent number: 10260222
    Abstract: A liquid treatment system is provided having a vault that contains a treatment chamber and an outflow chamber. The treatment chamber may have a filtration media layer containing media that treats liquid as it descends through the filtration media layer, where it will accumulate in a porous layer or open space. The liquid will then be directed through the plurality of pipes to the outflow chamber, where the treated liquid is further directed to outside the system. Accumulated debris settled at the bottom of the treatment chamber may be flushed out by a spray bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: SUNTREE TECHNOLOGIES HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas H. Happel
  • Patent number: 10259732
    Abstract: A method for treating effluents containing nitrogen in the form of ammonium, implementing chemical reactions for oxidizing and reducing the nitrogen in a sequencing batch reactor, the method including: introducing a volume of effluents to be treated into the reactor, injecting oxygen or air into the reactor for partial oxidation of the ammonium into nitrites and/or nitrates, interrupting the injection of oxygen or air, thus producing gaseous nitrogen, depositing the sludge at the bottom of the reactor and clarifying the content of the reactor close to the surface of same, discharging a clarified fraction of the content of the reactor. The draining and feeding steps occur simultaneously. During the feeding step, the volume of effluents is introduced close to the bottom of the reactor. During the draining step, the clarified fraction of the content of the reactor is discharged close to the surface of the content of the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: SUEZ INTERNATIONAL
    Inventors: Philippe Ginestet, Laure Graveleau Billemaz
  • Patent number: 10252241
    Abstract: The present invention provides a spring tube type flexible micro chemical reactor. It comprises a reactor body, a thermal control device, and a gas generating device. The spring tube type flexible micro chemical reactor enhances the heat and mass transfer using the scroll spring tube, which is able to achieve accurate mixing and dynamic adjustment of the heat and mass transfer and is able to effectively solve the problems of blocking of channels by solid reactant, the poor portability of the reaction, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: DONGGUAN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Simin Huang, Kui He, Guanfeng Qin
  • Patent number: 10226746
    Abstract: The present technology relates to a gas transfer system having removable nozzle assemblies, ejectors or other gas transfer device(s). The nozzle assemblies are removably connected to a monolithic liquid/gas manifold. The present technology also provides nozzle assemblies having an inner nozzle, an outer nozzle adapted for connection to the inner nozzle, and a pipe adapter for connecting the inner nozzle to a liquid manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: KLa Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Neville, Frederick Siino, Jeffrey Williamson
  • Patent number: 10202295
    Abstract: A water treatment unit has a support housing vertically extending between a support housing upper end and a support housing lower end. The support housing includes a pair of opposing primary housing walls and a pair of opposing secondary housing walls. Each of the secondary housing walls is formed separately from, and mechanically joined to, each of the primary housing walls. Each of the primary housing walls is perforated to allow airflow in a first direction laterally through a treatment cavity defined by the housing walls. A plurality of hangers extend in the first direction between the primary housing walls and are supported by the support housing. The hangers are mutually spaced between the secondary housing walls across the treatment cavity (23). A plurality of biotreatment membranes each carry a biomass culture and are draped over, and supported by, one of the hangers to define two opposing membrane walls each extending downwardly from the hanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: BioGill Environmental Pty Limited
    Inventors: John David West, Mark John Smith
  • Patent number: 10189734
    Abstract: An apparatus for the treatment and transformation of municipal wastewater sludge or any other organic putrescible matter into biogas and liquid fertilizer by methanation. Several consecutive floating cylindrical bioreactors almost totally immersed in water, are bathing longitudinally in a thermally insulated basin to maintain set temperatures, mixing their contents by revolving on themselves by the action of air ejected from a conduit underneath them, engaging all elements in a collective momentum, from a multiplied force, because of the constant free power of each air bubble lodged in exterior buckets and grouped as a lifting force. The gas produced by methanation of the organic waste furnishes a source of heat and its pressure is used for the functioning of the whole apparatus, including several types of pumps, valves, and a new model of steam engine. A network of hoses is provided to bring the fertilizer to the farmlands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Inventor: Gilles Nadon
  • Patent number: 10138625
    Abstract: A water treatment apparatus includes a membrane in a contact with a soil structure, a hollow elongated member being passed through membrane and being mounted vertically within a vertical well with the bottom end of the elongated member being configured to expel treated water into the soil structure, a filtration member mounted stationary or for a linear reciprocal movement so as to filter the water prior to entry into a hollow interior of the elongated member, a trash rack positioned on the membrane and surrounding an upper portion of the elongated member and a barrier positioned adjacent and/or on said peripheral side wall of said trash rack, said barrier configured to reduce flow of the water and/or absorb a portion of the contaminant(s) prior to the water entering said filtration member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Inventor: Edward Patton