Comminuting Patents (Class 210/173)
  • 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: 8101082
    Abstract: A method for treating waste-activated sludge comprises adding (1) a pozzolanic material to waste-activated sludge to form a mixture. The mixture is homogenized and aerated (2). The pozzolanic material reacts with the waste-activated sludge. The mixture is allowed to settle (3). A portion of the mixture is recirculated (4) from a downstream location to an upstream location. The recycled mixture includes pozzolanic material. Some embodiments provide advantages over existing wastewater treatment methods which may include: reduction or elimination of unpleasant odours, reduction of overall costs, conversion of waste into useful products, and/or reduction or elimination of discharged bacteria or other undesirable materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Pierway Envromental Inc.
    Inventor: Gerd Peter Waschke
  • Patent number: 8097152
    Abstract: An apparatus for removing oil from sea ice comprises modular crusher units which may be pivotally mounted on a barge or other vessel. A rotating, toothed drum crushes the ice against a grating and mixes it with warmed, recycled water to form an ice/water slurry which is conveyed by means of an auger to one or more melting units. The liquid phase output of the melting units is first conveyed to a surge tank and then to a separator unit which separates the oil from the water. The oil is conveyed to a storage tank for subsequent offloading and disposal and the water is returned in a recycle line to sprayers mounted in the crusher unit(s) for deicing the intake section of the crusher and mixing with the crushed sea ice to form an ice/water slurry for subsequent, on-board treatment. The modular design of the apparatus permits a plurality of units to be mounted on a vessel in a side-by-side array such that substantially the entire beam of the vessel at the stern (or bow) may be covered and used for ice intake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Inventor: James Clifford Lewis
  • Publication number: 20110315626
    Abstract: A method and system for treating domestic sewage and organic garbage are provided. The method comprises the steps of: multi-phase separation, retting, generating sewage gas, and optional biological denitrification and dephosphorization, which can convert the domestic sewage and organic garbage into clear water, sewage gas, organic manure and sludge. The system comprises a multi-phase separation device, a retting device, a sewage gas generating device and a biological denitrification and dephosphorization device, which can treat the domestic sewage and organic garbage effectively and environmental friendly to achieve a reduction in pollution emission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: HUGE ASIA LIMITED
    Inventor: Ming Lu
  • Publication number: 20110290740
    Abstract: A waste treatment system and method for treating a substantially liquid waste stream. The waste treatment system includes a conditioning stage for conditioning the waste stream for treatment. A metal ion generation stage is provided for generating metal ions for disinfection of the waste stream and for catalytic oxidation. A wet oxidation stage is provided in fluid flow communication with the metal ion generation stage for denaturing the waste stream using an oxygen-containing gas. A chelation stage in fluid flow communication with the oxidation stage is provided for deactivating metal ions in the waste stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: INNOVATION SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph B. Dooley, Jeffrey G. Hubrig
  • Patent number: 8043496
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for extracting oil from algae comprises a disruptor (125) having a plurality of deflectors (220 and 225) against which a mixture of algae and water (100) is forcibly impacted upon the urging of a pump (115). The impacting of the algal cells against the deflectors ruptures their cell walls and liberates the lipids (oil) and other materials contained therein. A tank (130) collects the mixture and after a settling period, the mixture forms at least three layers comprising oil (155), water (160), and algal residue (165). The oil layer is removed through one or more conduits (177, 178) into a holding tank (185) for further refining and use. The water is discarded, and the biomass residue comprising algal cell walls and other non-oil components is removed to another holding container (199) from which it can be discarded or used as an agricultural fertilizer or the like. If desired, the residue can be further treated in order to scavenge any remaining oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Inventors: Peter Allen Schuh, Allen John Schuh
  • Patent number: 8025798
    Abstract: A biological wastewater treatment process and modular apparatus wherein activated sludge is recirculated in all of aeration, fluidized bed and return sludge phases in the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: MYK Consultant, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Y. Kigel, Oleksandr O. Kovelenko, Leonard B. Goldman, John F. Shultis
  • Patent number: 8017021
    Abstract: Material to be processed, such as sludge, is deposited into the trough having an auger operating at a rotational speed and direction so as to force the material received within the trough upstream against a rigid surface for breaking up the sludge. A cutting fluid is added to the trough for diluting the sludge and enhancing a flow of the broken up sludge downstream under a force of gravity, allowing the sludge to enter a chopper, where it is chopped to a desired consistency before being pumped to a desired location. The diluted sludge may be filtered prior to chopping. A hopper and cutter may be used to receive the unprocessed sludge for cutting prior to being deposited into the trough. As a result, sludge in ranges from soft to hard states is converted to a fluid form capable of being pumped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Inventor: Wesley A. Staples
  • Patent number: 8002979
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to waste disposal methods and systems. In one embodiment of the present invention, a waste disposal system is positioned under a sink in a building connected to a septic system for disposal of food waste and wastewater. The waste disposal system includes a grinding chamber, a centrifugal-pump chamber, and a straining chamber for separating food waste from wastewater. The straining chamber includes a filtration basket, and an outlet pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Inventor: Michael J. Bryan-Brown
  • Publication number: 20110180484
    Abstract: The invention provides a separation device (20) for separating pulp from a feed material, the separation device comprising a tank (1) for receiving the feed material, a rake assembly (21) mounted for rotation within the tank (1) to move pulp towards an outlet (22) thereof and a shearing device (23) for shearing pulp within the tank (1), the shearing device (23) being mounted for movement independently of the rake assembly (21). The invention also provides a method for reducing donutting in a separation device (20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: OUTOTEC OYJ
    Inventors: Ian Arbuthnot, Richard Triglavcanin, Jeffrey Victor Belke
  • Publication number: 20110174745
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for supplying slurry for semiconductor, including a filter which filters slurry particles larger than a predetermined particle size; an air injector which is connected with the filter so as to back-wash the filter using compressed air injected into the filter; a slurry collecting tank which is connected with the filter so as to store the slurry filtered by the filter; and a disintegrator which is connected with the slurry collecting tank so as to crush the filtered slurry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2009
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Inventors: Hyung Il Kim, Sa Mun Hong, Se Jong Ko
  • Patent number: 7966741
    Abstract: This invention discloses systems and methods for conversion of manure to novel fertilizer and/or soil builder products useful as input for organic farming operations. The equipment systems comprise a gas turbine generator unit (preferred heat source), a dryer vessel and a processing unit, wherein the connection between the gas turbine and the dryer vessel directs substantially all the gas turbine exhaust into the dryer vessel and substantially precludes the introduction of air into the dryer vessel. The dryer vessel receives the manure for contact with the turbine exhaust gases to convert the manure to a dry material, which is passed to the processing unit where it is formed into granules, pellets or other desired form for the final dry fertilizer product. The method comprises drying, heating and converting the manure to form novel self binding fertilizer and soil builder type products for organic farming and other uses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: EarthRenew, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian N. Gorbell, Christianne Carin, legal representative, Alvin W. Fedkenheuer, John S. Jonasson, Alexander Starosud
  • Publication number: 20110139696
    Abstract: A water treatment system to be installed in a tanker or other cargo ship for destruction of aquatic organisms and microorganisms that may be contained in the water, usually seawater, being pumped into the ship's ballast tank or tanks. Included is a ballast pump having an intake conduit for drawing water from the sea, and a delivery conduit for delivering the water under pressure to the ballast tank. The delivery conduit has mounted therein a slitted or otherwise open-worked screen for mechanically killing the aquatic lifeforms contained in the water by shearing action. For chemical treatment, on the other hand, part of the water being delivered by the ballast pump is bypassed into an ozone impregnator thereby to be impregnated with ozone from an ozonizer. A bypass pump repressurizes the ozone-impregnated water for returning the same into the delivery conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicants: The Japan Association of Marine Safety, M.O. Marine Consulting, Ltd., Shinko Ind. Ltd., Laboratory of Aquatic Science Consultant Co., Ltd, Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuwo Fukuyo, Takeaki Kikuchi, Jun Waki, Seiji Kino, Kazunobu Hirao, Katsumi Yoshida, Izumi Ohnishi, Masahiro Saito
  • Publication number: 20110084029
    Abstract: A system and method for removing water from sludge is disclosed. The method (100) includes: de-watering (102) the sludge comprising an output from a wastewater treatment system to form a semi-solid sludge cake; dispensing (104) the semi-solid sludge cake in a hopper and dispensing a dewatering agent in a recipient dewatering agent hopper; depositing (10) the semi-solid sludge cake and the dewatering agent in a mixing device; mixing (108) the semi-solid sludge cake and the dewatering agent having a porous structure in a weight ratio of the semi-solid sludge cake to the dewatering agent of about from 1:1 to about 10:1; and compressing (110) the semi-solid sludge cake and the dewatering agent to release moisture. The system (100) provides an improved method of de-watering sludge, for more efficient processing, transporting and recycling, depending on the application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Inventor: Dominick O' Reilly
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20110036785
    Abstract: There is herein described the removal of fluid from fluid-contaminated waste solids and a method and apparatus for analysing and detecting the amount of oil in a fluid-contaminated waste material. In particular, there is described the removal of oil from drill cuttings at an offshore rig, onshore treatment facility and other oily wastes such as refinery wastes and an improved method and apparatus for analysing and detecting the amount of oil in solid material (e.g. drill cuttings) from an offshore rig, onshore treatment facility and other oily wastes such as from refinery wastes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Applicant: DLD ASSOCIATES LIMITED
    Inventor: Andrew Martin
  • Publication number: 20110036771
    Abstract: A ballasted anaerobic system for treating wastewater including at least one anaerobic treatment reactor. A weighting agent impregnation subsystem is configured to mix weighting agent with the biological flocs to form weighted biological flocs to create a weighted anaerobic sludge blanket in the at least one anaerobic treatment reactor. A weighting agent recovery subsystem is configured to recover the weighting agent from excess sludge and reintroduce the weighting agent to the weighting agent impregnation subsystem.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Inventor: Steven Woodard
  • Publication number: 20110024354
    Abstract: A desalination system comprises an electrical separation device configured to receive and ionize a first stream for desalination and a crystallization device. The crystallization device is configured to provide a second stream to the electrical separation device to carry away ions from the first stream, and defining a crystallization zone for facilitating precipitation of the ions and a solid-liquid separation zone in fluid communication with the crystallization zone for separation of the precipitate. A desalination method is also presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Jiyang Xia, Rihua Xiong, Wei Cai, Zijun Xia, Chengqian Zhang, James Manio Silva, Weiming Zhang
  • Publication number: 20100326905
    Abstract: Method and system for treating a waste stream. The waste is presented in containers, such as chamber pots and other containers for liquid and other kinds of waste. such waste can be supplied at different locations and is immediately comminuted. In a separating stage, the waste stream is separated into container material and actual waste. Actual waste is fed to a bioreactor where the water is purified so that it may be re-used, if desired. If biodegradable, the container material may be subjected to a fermentation step. Heat and gases released in the process may be used for heating the fermenter and/or generating power. It is also possible to feed kitchen waste, which may optionally have been comminuted, to the fermentation. The stream leaving the fermentation may be separated into hard components which are filtered off and composted and into softer components which can be fed to the purification installation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2007
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: PHARMAFILTER B.V.
    Inventor: Eduardo-Alexander Van Den Berg
  • Publication number: 20100331580
    Abstract: A biomass-based oil extraction process is disclosed. The process includes the recovery of biomass-based oil and other co-products, including but not limited to steam, electric power and chemicals, from various biomass processes and in particular, a process that involves dry biomass milling methods. The process involves extraction of oil from milled biomass-based products and residues from the fermentation step, including thick stillage, distillers wet grain, distillers dry grain and distillers dry grains with solubles, by the application of an alkyl acetate, phase separation and recovery of the separated matter. A process of drying wet co-product using ethanol and carbon dioxide from the production facility is also disclosed. Also a process for the production of syngas from oil containing or deoiled biomass-based products in a pressurized gasifier is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: Growmark, Inc.
    Inventor: William S. Ridgley
  • Patent number: 7854841
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a combined anaerobic process apparatus for treating organic wastes, comprising: a first solid-liquid separator to separate organic wastes into liquid wastes and solid wastes; an acid-forming tank to decompose the liquid wastes separated through the first solid-liquid separator using acid-forming microorganisms; a USAB reactor to decompose the liquid wastes discharged from the acid-forming tank using anaerobic microorganisms; a crushing tank to crush the solid wastes separated through the first solid-liquid separator finely; a mixing tank to mix solid wastes crushed through the crushing tank with microorganisms; and a dry-anaerobic tank to dry solid wastes mixed with microorganisms through the mixing tank, in an anaerobic manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Hanbat National University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation
    Inventor: Sae Eun Oh
  • Publication number: 20100300966
    Abstract: Systems and methods to treat wastewater are described herein. A wastewater treatment system may include a primary treatment system, a secondary treatment system, a disinfection treatment system, a solids treatment system, one or more fluid treatment systems, or combinations thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventors: Robert L. Kelsey, Qiwei Wang
  • Patent number: 7842184
    Abstract: A method for removing contaminant from feedwater by forming a dispersion comprising bubbles of a treatment gas in a continuous phase comprising feedwater, wherein the bubbles have a mean diameter of less than about 5 ?m and wherein the treatment gas is selected from air, oxygen, and chlorine. A method for removing contaminants from a feedwater by subjecting a fluid mixture comprising feedwater and a treatment gas to a shear rate greater than 20,000 s?1 in a high shear device to produce a dispersion of treatment gas in a continuous phase of the feedwater. A system for treating feedwater to remove contaminants therefrom is also presented, the system comprising at least one high shear mixing device comprising at least one generator comprising a rotor and a stator separated by a shear gap; and a pump configured for delivering feedwater and treatment gas to the high shear mixing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: H R D Corporation
    Inventors: Abbas Hassan, Ebrahim Bagherzadeh, Rayford G. Anthony, Gregory Borsinger, Aziz Hassan
  • Publication number: 20100294317
    Abstract: A separation device for removing solids from an input stream is provided, comprising a vessel, such as a production vessel or storage tank, having an inlet for receiving an input stream containing fluids, such as oil and water, and solids, such as sand and silt. The vessel also includes a fluid outlet and a drain outlet. An optional fluid recirculation and injection device is mounted inside the vessel and delivers fluid to facilitate removal of the solids through the drain outlet. The vessel also includes an agitation or flighted device mounted adjacent to the drain outlet for contacting and dislodging solids which have settled within the vessel. The agitation device includes a rotatable shaft driven by a motor, and an agitation element, such as an auger, to break up the solids and move them toward the drain outlet. A method of removing solids is also provided using the auger device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2009
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: Omni Energy Services Corporation
    Inventors: Andy Dufrene, Joey Jacob, Vincent Spekschate, Eddie Boudreaux, Brian Fontenot
  • Publication number: 20100213121
    Abstract: Anaerobic Wastewater treatment system and process in which the influent is passed through a mixing chamber and then through a series of filters of progressively smaller size to separate the materials carrying the colonized bacteria from finer solids in the influent and separate the materials according to size in a completely enclosed and flooded environment. The materials from the filters are progressively reduced to a smaller size, the materials of smaller size are returned to the mixing chamber, and new influent is inoculated with the colonized bacteria carried by the materials returned to the mixing chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2010
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Inventor: Herman P. Miller, III
  • Publication number: 20100176039
    Abstract: A treatment method of organic compounds included in waste water, comprising the steps of: supplying waste water to an adsorber 2 filled with an adsorbent 3 therein for adsorbing the organic compounds in the waste water by the adsorbent 3 in the adsorber 2, supplying a current between an anode 9 and a cathode 8 in water including an electrolyte in an electrolyzer 6 for electrolyzing the water including an electrolyte, and supplying an electrolyte resulting from electrolysis in the electrolyzer 6 to the adsorbent 3 in the adsorber 2 for contacting the electrolyte with the adsorbent 3, so that the organic compounds adsorbed by the adsorbent 3 are desorbed or decomposed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Inventors: Akio Honji, Hayahito Ishii, Akira Mochizuki, Norihide Saho, Tsutomu Tsuyama, Hisashi Isogami
  • Publication number: 20100155327
    Abstract: A system for enhancing an activated sludge process including at least one biological reactor. A weighting agent impregnation subsystem is coupled to the biological reactor for mixing biological flocs and weighting agent to impregnate the weighting agent into the biological flocs to form weighted biological flocs. A weighting agent recovery subsystem is configured to recover the weighting agent from the weighted biological flocs and reintroducing the recovered weighting agent to the weighting agent impregnation subsystem.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventors: Steven Woodard, Peter G. Marston, Ionel Wechsler
  • Patent number: 7718068
    Abstract: Wastewater treatment system and process in which the influent is passed through a mixing chamber and then through a series of filters of progressively smaller size to separate the materials carrying the colonized bacteria from finer solids in the influent and separate the materials according to size. The materials from the filters are progressively reduced to a smaller size, the materials of smaller size are returned to the mixing chamber, and new influent is inoculated with the colonized bacteria carried by the materials returned to the mixing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Inventor: Herman P. Miller, III
  • Publication number: 20100089835
    Abstract: The invention relates particularly to an equipment for processing fatty waste (1) essentially comprising a fatty fraction (11), an aqueous fraction (12), and a residual fraction (13), wherein said equipment includes at least one boiler (2), a station (3) for collecting waste (1), a fractioning station (4), a loop including a duct (5) having a constant utility volume for the waste (1) flow between the collecting station (3) and the fractioning station (4), and at least one heat exchanger (61-63) for heating the waste. According to the invention, each heat exchanger (61-63) is mounted on said duct (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2008
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Inventors: Fabrice Lefebvre, Dominique Helaine, Tristan Robino, Frédéric Vernhes
  • Patent number: 7694828
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for obtaining various components of a multi-component material. Generally, a component of a whole blood sample may be concentrated from a patient and re-introduced to the same patient. For example, a clotting component, such as thrombin, from a whole blood sample may be extracted and concentrated in an apparatus and collection to be reapplied or reintroduced into a patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing Corp.
    Inventors: Matthew J Swift, Barry F Hecker, Michael D Leach
  • Patent number: 7674379
    Abstract: Wastewater treatment systems and processes for removal of solids, pathogens, nitrogen, and phosphorus from municipal and agricultural wastewater include the simultaneous separation of solids and phosphorus from wastewater and industrial effluents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Matias B. Vanotti, Ariel A. Szogi, Lewis M. Fetterman
  • Publication number: 20090313847
    Abstract: A device for obtaining energy carriers from moist biomass includes a dehydration device for mechanically pre-dehydrating the biomass, and a drying step for post-dehydrating the pre-dehydrated biomass via the addition of heat. The dehydration device includes a first dehydration step and a second dehydration step, which is combined with the drying step to form a single assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Inventor: Horst Weigelt
  • Publication number: 20090283409
    Abstract: A target compound treatment apparatus of a size capable of being mounted under a sink, the apparatus comprising a destruction zone in which an aqueous solution containing at least one target compound is exposed to a destruction agent adapted to convert the target compound into destruction byproduct; a filtration zone in which a filtration agent removes the destruction byproduct from the solution; and a flow inducer/pump adapted to cause the aqueous solution to flow through the apparatus. The destruction agent may comprise an acid, a base, an oxidizing agent, or a reducing agent. The destruction agent may be available on a surface of a solid substrate disposed within the destruction zone, or it may be available in a gaseous or liquid reagent that is admixed with the aqueous solution. The filtration agent may be comprised of an adsorption media such as activated carbon and/or other filtration means for removing destruction byproduct.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Inventors: Tommy Stern, Todd McGee
  • Patent number: 7617617
    Abstract: This invention discloses systems and methods for conversion of manure to novel fertilizer and/or soil builder products useful as input for organic farming operations. The equipment systems comprise a gas turbine generator unit (preferred heat source), a dryer vessel and a processing unit, wherein the connection between the gas turbine and the dryer vessel directs substantially all the gas turbine exhaust into the dryer vessel and substantially precludes the introduction of air into the dryer vessel. The dryer vessel receives the manure for contact with the turbine exhaust gases to convert the manure to a dry material, which is passed to the processing unit where it is formed into granules, pellets or other desired form for the final dry fertilizer product. The method comprises drying, heating and converting the manure to form novel self binding fertilizer and soil builder type products for organic farming and other uses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: EarthRenew, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian N. Gorbell, Christianne Carin, legal representative, Alvin W. Fedkenheuer, John S. Jonasson, Alexander Starosud
  • Patent number: 7615149
    Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, a sewer system has a waste material flow path which has an entrance and a downstream digester assembly. At least one in-line agitator is disposed upstream to the digester assembly. The at least one in-line agitator adapted to break down the waste material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Inventors: David R. Hall, Tyson Wilde, Benjamin Hillyard
  • Publication number: 20090200231
    Abstract: Methods of enhancing anaerobic digestion of wastewater are provided. The methods comprise pressure oxidation of digester material to remove sulfide and/or regenerate iron. Also provided are a pressure oxidizer device and a wastewater treatment system having one or more of such devices. The methods, device, and system have application in treatment of municipal wastewater, wastewater of agricultural and livestock operations, and in biofuels production.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Applicant: U.S. Peroxide LLC
    Inventors: John R. Walton, Michael Fagan, Ian M. Watson, Chester L. Szczucki
  • Publication number: 20090159529
    Abstract: Apparatus, methods and systems for processing waste are provided. For example, a system for processing waste, wherein the waste comprises hard particulates embedded therein, can be provided. The system can comprise a waste disruptor, wherein the waste disrupter disrupts the waste and releases at least one of the embedded hard particulates from the disrupted waste; a segregator, wherein the segregator segregates at least one of the released hard particulates from the waste; and a dilution unit, wherein the dilution unit dilutes the waste. In some embodiments, the system can include a waste loader that provides waste continuously to the waste disrupter, which is configured to disrupt at least a portion of the continuously provided waste.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Inventors: Mike Kotelko, Peter Kotelko
  • Patent number: 7550076
    Abstract: A wastewater treatment system for treating wastewater by processes which include aeration. The system includes an influent conduit for delivery of wastewater to be processed and a treatment tank for processing of the wastewater. Also included is an air conduit for providing compressed air for aeration of the wastewater and a particle size regulation device disposed between the conduit and the tank, wherein the particle size regulation device regulates a size of particles present in the wastewater to provide particle size regulated wastewater. The system also includes at least one aeration jet having a nozzle diameter sized to allow the particle size regulated wastewater to pass through the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Water Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Edward J. Jordan, James E. Augustyn
  • Patent number: 7550111
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing biomedical waste comprises a waste input container having an input door in a top thereof and an output door in a bottom thereof. A shredder is mounted under the output opening and is operative to shred waste to a desired maximum size. A processing chamber is located under the shredder such that, when the output door is open, solid waste deposited in the waste input container passes through the output opening and through the shredder, and shredded waste drops into the processing chamber. Ozone gas is directed into the processing chamber, and an ozone indicator indicates ozone concentration. Exhausts are selectively operative to exhaust the atmosphere from the processing chamber and waste input container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Inventor: Peter Klaptchuk
  • Patent number: 7547390
    Abstract: A system and method for converting animal waste, in the form of waste slurry, to energy and useful byproducts. A screen mesh filters out large objects from waste slurry and the filtered slurry is chopped and fragmented to reduce binding of fibrous materials. The fragmented slurry is mixed at a rate to maintain solids in the fragmented slurry in suspension while minimizing aeration and turbulence within the mixing unit. A solids recovery unit recovers about 95% of the suspended solids. A polymer is introduced into the solids recovery unit for providing agglomeration of solids particles. The recovered solids are gasified to produce at least methane/ethane gas. The produced gas is provided to an energy production unit to generate electrical and/or heat energy. Liquid remaining after the solids recovery is treated to remove undesirable contaminants to an extent in compliance with water quality standards set for animal waste flushing, animal washing and animal drinking water, as the case may be.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Agricultural Waste Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen R. McCorkle
  • Publication number: 20090107924
    Abstract: A biological wastewater treatment process and modular apparatus wherein activated sludge is recirculated in all of aeration, fluidized bed and return sludge phases in the apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Inventors: Mark Y. Kigel, Oleksandr O. Kovalenko, Leonard B. Goldman
  • Publication number: 20090104239
    Abstract: There is provided a method for treating a fluid with an anti-microbial agent comprising the steps of: (a) contacting the fluid with a solid material containing an anti-microbial agent; and, (b) abrading an interface of the solid material and removing particles therefrom and exposing an underlying surface of the solid material to the fluid, thereby facilitating release of the antimicrobial agent of the underlying surface of the solid material and/or the removed particles into the fluid. The solid material comprises an anti-microbial agent dispersed and/or embedded in a solid carrier. Typically, the anti-microbial agent is one or more of a metal, metal oxide, metal compound, metal salt, metal-ligand complex or derivatives thereof based on silver, copper and zinc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2005
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Applicant: BACSTOP CORPORATION PTY LTD
    Inventors: Allen Roland Parsons, Donald William Atkinson
  • Patent number: 7510661
    Abstract: A wastewater separation system for separating an aqueous phase from an organic phase comprising oil, fat and/or grease in wastewater is disclosed. The wastewater may be collected from restaurant grease traps, as well as other food preparation facilities, schools, hospitals, processing plants and the like. A separator, such as a centrifugal separation device, comprises a wastewater inlet, an organic phase outlet for discharging low density liquid and solids and an aqueous phase outlet for discharging water and possibly other high density liquids and solids. The system can be portable and can be mounted on a vehicle for collection and treatment at various sites. Heat can be introduced to the system to accelerate the separation of the aqueous phase from the organic phase of the wastewater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Inventor: Blair H. Hills
  • Publication number: 20090057212
    Abstract: This invention relates to a treatment system of low concentration sanitary sewage, mainly comprising a primary filtering device, a cyclone separator assembly and an aerobic biochemical treatment fluidized bed. The primary filtering device, cyclone separator assembly and aerobic biochemical fluidized are connected orderly. The primary filtering device is composed of several filtering modules, the cyclone separator assembly is composed of several cyclone separators, and the aerobic biological treatment fluidized bed is composed of several aerobic biochemical treatment modules. Such a system is suitable for small-scale and low-concentration sanitary sewage treatment, which has the advantages of good treatment effect, compact structure, flexible installation and small land used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: BEIJING NENGTUO HIGH TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
    Inventor: Qingmei LI
  • Publication number: 20090020479
    Abstract: A device for treatment of solids and liquid waste comprising a storage container a comminution unit at least one separation unit, and an electroflotation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2007
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Applicant: GVS Gesellschaft fur Verwertungssysteme GmbH
    Inventor: Marc Jussen
  • Patent number: 7465392
    Abstract: A weeder for a pond, it mainly has a handle unit provided on one end of a long pipe, and has thereon a switch and a set of power source equipment; the other end the long pipe is provided sequentially with an electric device, a knife/blade device and a sucking mouth piece unit. The electric device is provided with a motor to make rotation of the blade and the knife, thereby a sucking mouth piece of the sucking mouth piece unit can suck in weeds or dirt in water of the pond, the matter sucked in is minced by the rotating knife and then is removed by exhausting outwards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: EIKO Electric Products Corp.
    Inventor: Yu-Chin Wang
  • Publication number: 20080257806
    Abstract: Method and apparatus (3) for treating wastes, particularly of a biological and domestic origin, whose peculiarity consists in the fact of comprising a first treating step and first means (4) for treating such wastes for the purpose of separating a liquid fraction essentially suitable for disposal and a semisolid fraction for further processing, and a second treating step and second means (5) for treating the semisolid fraction separated in such first treating step and by such first treating means for the purpose of eliminating the residual moisture contained in such semisolid fraction, so as to turn such semisolid fraction into a block of dry refuse suitable for handing over to the municipal solid refuse collecting and disposal services.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2006
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Inventor: Silvano Rossato
  • Patent number: 7439054
    Abstract: A 10,000 gallon sequencing batch reactor tank for the on-site bio-degradation of oily sludge. Bacteria already present in and adapted to oily sludge degrade the hydrocarbons found in oily sludge within two weeks from 20,000 ppm to less than 100 ppm. A degradation cycle requires 5 days. After five days a recirculation pump and aeration system are turned off and solids are allowed to settle to the bottom of the tank. An ultrafiltration unit connected to the tank requires approximately 16 hours to process the contents of the reactor tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Gerardo F. Maga, Frederick E. Goetz
  • Publication number: 20080223792
    Abstract: A flow-through mixing apparatus for incorporating a dry treatment product into a waste stream. The apparatus comprises a pump for directing a liquid waste from a storage pit/tank, a mixer that receives the liquid waste from the pump, and a valve downstream of the mixer for either recirculating the liquid waste back to the storage pit/tank via a recirculation conduit, or directing the liquid waste to a discharge conduit. The mixer comprising a jet nozzle, a venturi tube and a high-shear assembly. The recirculation conduit establishes a calibration loop for determining the appropriate treatment regimen based on the characteristics of the waste liquid. The recirculation conduit also permits the homogenization of the pit/tank contents prior to addition of the dry treatment product. The dry treatment product introduced in the region of the mixer is subjected high shear forces, thereby incorporating the dry treatment product into the waste stream with increased dispersion and reduced agglomeration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2006
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Applicant: ROGER H. WOODS LIMITED
    Inventors: Roger H. Woods, Doug Pullman
  • Patent number: RE40565
    Abstract: Method for purifying waste water, whereby the waste water is subjected to a biological treatment producing sludge, part of this sludge being recycled towards the biological treatment while being subjected to ozonation combined with mechanical stirring. A mechanical stirring energy is brought in to attack the walls of the microorganisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Societe Degremont
    Inventors: Eric Thieblin, Roger Pujol, André Haubry