Serially Connected Patents (Class 210/201)
  • Patent number: 12168614
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides adsorbent compositions of carbon-containing material and nitrogen that are co-doped with a metal, such as magnesium or calcium. The disclosure also provides methods of adsorbing phosphate, as well as beneficial end products following the process of adsorption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2024
    Assignee: Washington State University
    Inventors: Manuel Garcia-Perez, Michael A. A. Apasiku, Sohrab Haghighi Mood, Jean-Sabin McEwen
  • Patent number: 11987512
    Abstract: Methods and systems for reducing the concentration of selenocyanate in water. In the methods and systems, water containing selenocyanate is treated an oxidant to provide oxidant-treated water, which is then contacted with a zero-valent iron treatment system comprising (a) a reactive solid comprising zero-valent iron and one or more iron oxide minerals in contact therewith and (b) ferrous iron.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: The Texas A&M University System
    Inventor: Yongheng Huang
  • Patent number: 11918963
    Abstract: A nano-bubble generator includes: (i) a housing defining: an inlet for receiving a liquid with entrained macro-bubbles: a first chamber operatively downstream of the inlet; a second chamber operatively downstream of the first chamber; and an outlet operatively downstream of the second chamber; (ii) at least one blade disposed within the first chamber for, in use, cutting macro-bubbles entrained in the liquid to convert such macro-bubbles into micro-bubbles; (iii) at least one first magnet within the second chamber; and (iv) at least one second magnet associated with the second chamber, wherein: (a) the at least one first magnet and the at least one second magnet are arranged such that the polarity of the at least one first magnet is opposed to the polarity of the at least one second magnet; and (b) the at least one first magnet is movable relative to the at least one second magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Inventor: Quartus Paulus Botha
  • Patent number: 11779890
    Abstract: Provided is a nano-micro bubble generator according to one aspect of the present invention, the nano-micro bubble generator including: a housing which a fluid flows into and out of; a plurality of rotors rotatably coupled to the inside of the housing; and a plurality of stators fixed to the inside of the housing and alternately arranged with the plurality of rotors, wherein at least one of the rotors and the stators has a mesh-like structure in which a plurality of flow passages of the fluid are arranged in a lattice form, and the rotors and the stators are arranged to be adjacent to each other so as to generate a collision, friction, and cavitation due to rotation of the rotors in the fluid flowing through the flow passages, thereby generating at least one of nano bubbles and micro bubbles in the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: CYAG CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Changbae Hwang
  • Patent number: 10668409
    Abstract: A mobile water treatment plant includes a container (10) having: a plurality of tanks, including a clarifying tank fitted with a multiplicity of inclined plates defining a multiplicity of channels there between, an upstream tank from which water is arranged to be fed to the clarifying tank and a downstream tank to which water is arranged to be fed from the clarifying tank; means for introducing a neutralizing agent into water in the upstream tank; at least one storage space within the interior space of the container for accommodating the neutralizing agent. The container is of generally cuboidal shape having a length greater than its width and having sides, ends, a top and a bottom and has corner fittings positioned to enable standard equipment for handling freight containers to engage the container and the overall width of the container is substantially the same as the width of a standard freight container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Siltbuster Limited
    Inventor: Richard Henry Coulton
  • Patent number: 9079785
    Abstract: Water decontamination systems including aerator modules are described herein. Such systems are capable of removing contaminants, including volatile organic compounds, from the water. Certain volatile organic contaminants can be removed at high efficiencies. The systems may be automated to remove the contaminants and produce cleaned water on a continuous basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Liquid Separation Technologies and Equipment, LLC
    Inventor: David S. Drewelow
  • Publication number: 20150144564
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a system for treating water. The system comprises a biochar inlet, and optionally a metal salt inlet, ozone inlet, organic carbon compound inlet or any combination thereof. The biochar may be produced by biomass pyrolysis and the pyrolysis may be coupled to energy generation. The system also comprises a filtration device, such as a reactive filtration device. The system produces a treated water stream and a reject stream, which may be further separated into a recycled water stream and a solid product. The solid product may be suitable as a soil amendment for application to agricultural land, or for recycling. A method for using the system to treat water also is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO
    Inventors: Gregory Moller, Daniel Strawn
  • Patent number: 9011681
    Abstract: A self-contained water polishing system includes at least a first containment basin that has an inlet for inflow of water from a collection source and contains calcium carbonate for treatment of water flowing through the system; at least a first polishing basin in communication with the containment basin and that contains at least a first pollutant collection substrate for treatment of water flowing through the system; and a vacuum pumping system in fluid communication with the containment and polishing basins that draws water through the polishing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Wasserwerk, Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne R. Hawks
  • Publication number: 20150101967
    Abstract: A system may include a reactor, in which an anaerobic environment exists, that includes a slurry of at least contaminated water and a mixed bacterial culture of facultative bacteria and anaerobic bacteria. The mixed bacterial culture may be suspended within the slurry. The contaminated water may include contaminants associated with a non-metal, a metal, or a metalloid. The mixed bacterial culture may react with the contaminated water to reduce or remove the contaminants from the contaminated water to create a treated slurry. The reactor may output the treated slurry. The system may also include a filtration device to receive the treated slurry; remove, from the treated slurry, the mixed bacterial culture and the contaminants, reduced or removed from the contaminated water, to create treated water; and output the treated water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Bruce Merrill Thomson, Jean-Claude Yacoub Younan, Joseph D. Chwirka
  • Patent number: 8974677
    Abstract: Fluid processing apparatuses and systems are disclosed. In some embodiments the fluid processing apparatuses include a movable enclosure, a plurality of filter housings disposed substantially within the movable enclosure, and a stand disposed within the enclosure. The filter housings are in fluid communication with one another. Each filter housing defines an elongate path and is configured to support a respective filter along the elongate flow path to filter a substantially continuous flow of fluid. The stand supports each filter housing such that the elongate flow path of each filter housing is substantially parallel to a vertical axis, wherein each filter housing is independently rotatable, relative to the stand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Inventors: Saeed H. Mohseni, Deepak Mahulikar
  • Publication number: 20150060369
    Abstract: A mobile water re-use system can include a chemical treatment apparatus, at least one weir tank in fluid communication with the chemical treatment apparatus, and two or more settling tanks in fluid communication with each other and at least one of the settling tanks in fluid communication with the weir tank. The weir tank can have a first end, a second end, an internal chamber, and a plurality of baffles that induce turbulent flow of fluid through the internal chamber. The settling tanks can provide, promote, facilitate, result in, and/or induce laminar flow of fluid through at least a portion of the internal chamber. Weir tanks, settling tanks, and method of treating flowback and produced water are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: James Chance Richie, Anthony Gutta
  • Publication number: 20150044733
    Abstract: A method of separating a lignin-rich solid phase from a solution, comprising: pretreating a lignocellulosic biomass with a pretreatment fluid having to remove soluble components, colloidal material and primarily lignin containing particles; separating the pretreated lignocellulosic biomass from the pretreatment fluid with soluble components, colloidal material and primarily lignin containing particles; flocculating the separated pretreatment fluid with soluble components, colloidal material and primarily lignin containing particles using PEO or CPAM as a flocculating agent; and filtering the flocculated separated pretreatment fluid with soluble components, colloidal material and primarily lignin containing particles to remove agglomerates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicant: The Research Foundation for The State University of New York
    Inventors: Lakshmi Rakesh Kumar Yasarla, Bandaru V. Ramarao, Thomas Amidon
  • Patent number: 8945402
    Abstract: One embodiment of the invention disclosed is an apparatus for separating a solid material from a mixture containing oil, water, clay, sand, soil and drill cuttings. The apparatus comprise a series of processing cells and wash tanks. Hydrocyclonic devices are also used to further purify the solid mixture for disposal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Inventor: Larry Saik
  • Patent number: 8940162
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for processing wastewater after de-sizing. The method includes the step of executing a preliminary treatment on the wastewater to intercept slurry and to stabilize the quality of the wastewater, the step of reducing the pH of the wastewater to a range between 6.0 and 7.5, the step of providing a refractory degradation material 30 for hydrolyzing and hence liquidating starch slurry in the wastewater, the step of separating solids from liquid of the wastewater; and the step of recycling the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: New Century Membrane Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chi-Chang Kuo
  • Publication number: 20150021281
    Abstract: A hybrid scavenger operates downstream of a separator such as a gunbarrel separator for petroleum production. The separator may be overdriven to maximize use of a permitted reinjection rate. The hybrid scavenger then extracts water from the oil and oil from the water without having to treat the entire stream of incoming production fluids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: C. Michael Miller, David A. Bell
  • Publication number: 20150001161
    Abstract: A mobile liquid treatment station and operation methods are disclosed, the station having a mobile treatment unit and separate mobile treatment management unit. A plurality of serial containment compartments at the treatment unit for performance of chemical dosing and solids separation are provided and are monitored with sensors. The management unit includes a plurality of chemical dosing platforms, and a power and processing assembly. A bus links the units for data and control signal transfer and chemical feed lines are connected between the units for transfer of dosing chemicals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Reginald A. Wiemers, Bardia B. Khalili, Werner Roeder
  • Publication number: 20140346109
    Abstract: There is described a number of biological nutrient removal processes including Anammox Process, Biological Phosphorus Removal (BPR), Partial Nitrification, Full Nitrification, Partial Denitrification, Full Denitrification and Denitrification via BPR taking place in a Simultaneous Treatment of Anammox/PAOs Reactor (STAR) coupled with an Anaerobic Lateral Unit (ALU). In one aspect, there is a wastewater treatment system comprises a bioreactor having three consecutive stages: and an anaerobic lateral unit (ALU) coupled to the bioreactor; the bioreactor and A LU are configured to conduct biological removal of nutrients from the wastewater using a plurality of biological processes simultaneously. The three consecutive stages of the bioreactor comprise two Anoxic stages configured consecutively followed by one Aerobic stage. The stages may be oriented vertically and use gravity for fluid flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventors: Manuel Alvarez-Cuenca, Maryam Reza
  • Publication number: 20140342041
    Abstract: A combination micro-filtration halogen apparatus safely delivers drinking water by metering doses of concentrated aqueous iodine into a filtered water supply contained within a chamber. Untreated water is poured into the water filter column that allows for gravity to force the water through filters and the filtered or purified water depending on the filters is stored within a lower chamber of the column for disinfection. An aqueous iodine roller metering system controls the amount of iodine dispensed from an aqueous iodine container to the filter column. Turning the roller mechanism accurately meters a selected dose of concentrated aqueous iodine from the iodine container into the lower chamber of the water column. The active residual iodine disinfectant kills microbes in the filtered or purified water making it safe to consume and prevents recontamination. The iodinated drinking water also provides for essential daily human micronutrient requirements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: NEET Innovations, LLC
    Inventor: Terence F. MULLINS
  • Patent number: 8871089
    Abstract: The wastewater treatment system includes a hollow, elongate, horizontally disposed, cylindrical body made from plastic is adapted for water storage and treatment. The cylindrical body includes reinforcement ribs formed by a helically wound steel band embedded in the plastic and extending between opposite open ends of the elongate cylindrical body. A voltage source selectively energizes the steel band. A pair of bulkhead members respectively extends across and covers opposite ends of the cylindrical body. A fluid-tight wall is mounted in the cylindrical body, the first bulkhead member, the fluid-tight wall and the cylindrical body forming a fluid-tight tank defining a liquid storage chamber. The second bulkhead member and the fluid-tight wall define a dry liquid treatment equipment chamber. An inlet pipe extends into the tank for admitting the pretreatment liquid into the tank. An outlet pipe extends from the tank and discharges the treated liquid from the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Inventors: Daniel M. Early, Scott F. Easter
  • Publication number: 20140299546
    Abstract: In a nanofiltration system for removing sulfate impurity from an aqueous brine stream and for recovering the brine, introducing a dilution stream upstream of the feed stream inlet of a nanofiltration module in the system dilutes the feed stream. This increases the amount of brine salt and water obtained in the permeate stream without substantially diluting the concentration of sulfate in the pass stream and hence results in enhanced recovery of brine while efficiently removing sulfate impurity. The system and process is especially suitable for recovering brine and removing sulfate impurity from a brine stream in a brine electrolysis plant. In a conventional system, the heat exchanger typically used to cool the feed stream can be omitted if the dilution stream is provided at a temperature suitably lower than that of the feed stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventor: Chemetics Inc.
  • Publication number: 20140302163
    Abstract: A process for preparing conventional water sources for providing “ideal state” cellular wellness benefits via topical hydration and natural transdermal, epithelial or epicellular absorption. The invention's process considers preconditioned water sources that have removed solids, dissolved solids, contaminants—both organic and inorganic and subsequently the method purifies the water respective of removing pathogens, and structures the water for cellular uptake in the form of vicinal grade water, with improved characteristics of ideal frequency, cluster size, pH, before safely introducing negative ORP (highly ionized state) to the water structure and organic nutrients or other supplemental pharmaceutical grade organic materials onto the skin or epithelial/epicellular environments surrounding tissue and cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: Subtech Industries, LLC
    Inventors: David Sanchez, Len Deweerdt
  • Patent number: 8840785
    Abstract: A water heater, which allows efficient deposition of a scale component dissolved in water so as to reduce adhesion of the scale to a heat-transfer channel. The water heater includes: scale deposition device including a tank, an anode and a cathode provided in the tank so as to be opposed to each other, and a first power supply for applying a voltage between the anode and the cathode, the scale deposition device depositing a scale component dissolved in water retained in the tank; a heat-transfer channel provided at downstream of the scale deposition device, for guiding the water; and a heat source for heating the water by heat exchange in the heat-transfer channel, in which the scale deposition device includes oxygen-gas supplying/dissolving means for supplying an oxygen gas to a water feed pipe for feeding the water to the tank and dissolving the oxygen gas in the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji Furukawa, Seiji Noda, Toshiyuki Kamiya, Tadashi Saito, Isamu Hirashiki
  • Publication number: 20140262982
    Abstract: A greywater treatment and reuse system includes a collector for collecting greywater, a distributor for distributing treated greywater for reuse, and a treatment and storage device for treating collected greywater and for storing treated greywater before the greywater is sent to the distributor for reuse. The treatment and storage device is fluidly connected to the collector by a delivery line and is fluidly connected to the distributor by a distribution line. The treatment and storage device includes a first filter that is fluidly connected to a second filter by a connection line and a chlorinator fluidly connected to the delivery line, the chlorinator injecting a first dose of chlorine into the delivery line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: WATER HARVESTING SOLUTIONS, INC. (WAHASO)
    Inventor: WATER HARVESTING SOLUTIONS, INC. (WAHASO)
  • Publication number: 20140263013
    Abstract: Provided is a fresh water generation system which filters biotreated water produced by microbiologically treating waste water via a primary semi-permeable membrane (8), and then mixes concentrated water rejected by the filtration with seawater, thereby to filter the mixed water via a secondary semi-permeable membrane (14). This system enables frequencies of chemical cleaning and replacement of the secondary semi-permeable membrane to be reduced. The fresh water generation system comprises: a primary semi-permeable membrane apparatus (9) which separates microorganism treating waste water into permeated water and concentrated water; a secondary semi-permeable membrane apparatus (13) which filters mixed water prepared by mixing the concentrated water into seawater. In the fresh water generation system, the primary semi-permeable membrane (8) has an equal to or a higher microorganism adhesive property than the secondary semi-permeable membrane (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Noto, Kotaro Kitamura, Yusuke Okawa, Hiroo Takabatake
  • Publication number: 20140262988
    Abstract: A village water filtration system includes a vertical tube which can be filled with non-potable water, attached to a human powered or other air pressurization source, the pressurized air forcing the flow of the water out of the tube and through a series of filters, producing potable water. The air pressurization source may be a common bicycle pump. The filtration media would be attached by a pipe proximal the lower chamber of the tube, whereas water and pressurized air would enter proximal the top of the tube. A series of check valves prevents the pressurized air and water from exiting anywhere except through the series of filters. Accessory ports for placing eater treatment chemicals may be provided. A clean out port is provided near the bottom of the vertical tube to remove sediment which may accumulate there. Advanced models may employ UV light, ozonation or other water cleaning devices and techniques.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: Ramana Venkata Rao Sistla
  • Publication number: 20140262735
    Abstract: A water treatment system including a filter, an aerator, a hydrogen absorption manifold, a first treatment container, a second treatment container, a boiler, a superheater, a fractional distillation separator and a condenser. The filter is adapted for removing chloride ions and transmutated chlorine ions; while the hydrogen absorptive manifold is designed for absorbing hydrogen ions and reducing the pH of the water. The boiler and superheater may be utilized to convert the water to a superheated steam, while the fractional distillation separator is adapted for condensing and separating elements, including radioactive elements, from the superheated steam. A method for treating contaminated water using the water treatment system is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Wasserwerk, Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne R. Hawks
  • Patent number: 8834724
    Abstract: In reviewing the oil industry for the past 30 years there has been a need for a low maintenance, low cost, space saving Induced Gas Flotation Cell. With this said, a method has been invented to do this by making several changes in the present design philosophy of induced Gas flotation. First by providing a cylindrical vessel we have made a stronger unit with better structural integrity, and minimizing the opportunity for accelerated corrosion, secondly by changing the vital operations of the unit, specifically the recirculation rate of the system, lowering the overall discharge flow and increasing the discharge pressure we have been able to increase retention time and increase bubble dispersion, part and parcel with this change is the addition of multiple Eductors in each cell providing greater gasification per cell. The combination of these changes provides a greater overall efficiency thus the overboard water quality is improved using a smaller vessel to accomplish the objective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Enviro-Tech Systems, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Frank A. Richerand
  • Patent number: 8801923
    Abstract: A wastewater treatment apparatus that obtains treated water by adding a flocculant and magnetic powder to wastewater accumulated in a tank to thereby generate flocculated magnetic flocs, and recovering the magnetic flocs by means of a magnetic force to thereby remove the magnetic flocs from the wastewater, comprising: a magnetic flocs treatment device which treats the recovered magnetic flocs and which comprises a high pressure pump and a magnetic separation portion; wherein the magnetic separation portion has a structure in which fluid piping is arranged at a magnetic field generating portion, and magnetic powder in the magnetic flocs is recovered by using the high pressure pump to pump the recovered magnetic flocs to the fluid piping of the magnetic separation portion, and causing the magnetic powder in the magnetic flocs to attach to the fluid piping by means of a magnetic force of the magnetic field generating portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisashi Isogami, Satoshi Miyabayashi
  • Publication number: 20140217019
    Abstract: The invention is directed to systems and methods of biological and chemical treatment of wastewater comprising organic nitrogen compounds. Systems may include: an aerobic reactor, a first separation module for separating liquid and solid components of the wastewater; an oxidation module for removing organic materials from the wastewater; and a post-anoxic reactor for denitrifying at least a portion of the wastewater. Systems may include a second separation module and various feedback recycle lines between the components. Methods may include: degrading by the aerobic reactor more than 95% of organic compounds to ammonia, oxidizing by the oxidation module at least a portion of the ammonia to nitrates, and degrading by the post-anoxic reactor at least a portion of the nitrates to nitrogen gas and water. Systems and methods may reduce total organic carbon of the wastewater by more than 90%, and total nitrogen of the wastewater by more than 90%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: Infilco Degremont, Inc.
    Inventors: SUNIL MEHTA, NABIN CHOWDHURY, RICHARD UBALDI, BARBARA SCHILLING, ANTONIO LAU, BRUNO HEINIGER
  • Publication number: 20140202958
    Abstract: A portable dialysis device that can be continuously worn in and/or on the body of a patient, with a blood chamber in which the patient's blood can be received, a hydraulic chamber which can be filled with a hydraulic fluid and which adjoins the blood chamber, an at least partially flexible delivery membrane which is arranged between the hydraulic chamber and the blood chamber and which, when the hydraulic chamber is filled with hydraulic fluid, is movable in the direction of the blood chamber in such a way as to cause a compression of the blood chamber and therefore an ejection of the blood located therein, a pump for controllable filling and/or emptying of the hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic chamber, such that blood can in this way be conveyed into the blood chamber and/or out of the latter, a filter membrane which is arranged between the blood chamber and the hydraulic chamber and through which waste substances in the blood can be removed to the hydraulic fluid located in the hydraulic chamber, such that t
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: DUALIS MEDTECH GMBH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Schiller, Thomas Schmid
  • Patent number: 8778189
    Abstract: A method for removing liquid, gaseous and/or dissolved constituents from an aqueous stream includes contacting the aqueous stream with a porous material and then contacting the aqueous stream with an adsorbent material. The porous material includes pores having an average diameter of approximately 0.01 ?m to approximately 50 ?m and an extraction liquid immobilized within at least a portion of the pores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies Support
    Inventors: Dirk Thomas Meijer, Cornelis Johannes Govardus Van Strien
  • Patent number: 8747662
    Abstract: An apparatus for performing blood therapy having a plurality of pumps for engaging blood and fluid tubing is characterized by a plurality of manually mounted and disengagable panels installed on the sides of the apparatus housing, the panels having pump engaging tubing mounted on the inside of the respective panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: B. Braun Avitum AG
    Inventors: J. Michael Delmage, Harold Peters, Tommy Cooper
  • Publication number: 20140131265
    Abstract: A customizable multi-stage fluid treatment assembly typically includes a connector, a plurality of cartridges, and a cap. The plurality of cartridges have a treatment medium spaced within an interior volume of the individual cartridges, between the ends thereof. The ends of the plurality of cartridges are configured to receive a fluid, bring the fluid into operative contact with the treatment medium, and dispense the fluid from the opposing end of the cartridge. The connector is coupled with one end of the plurality of cartridges and has an inlet and an outlet for receiving and dispensing the fluid to and from an appliance. The cap is coupled with the other end of the plurality of cartridges, enclosing the fluid treatment assembly, which is configured to be received in a cavity of an appliance. The cartridges of the plurality of cartridges may be individually replaced with cartridges to meet customized needs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2012
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: GINGER ELAYNE PATERA, STEVEN JOHN KUEHL, MARK M. SENNINGER
  • Publication number: 20140116942
    Abstract: The invention relates to apparatuses, systems, and methods for the treatment of contaminated fluids, in particular water. The system is generally a continuous flow system including a multi-stage cavitation device, an electrocoagulation device, and an air flotation unit. The electrocoagulation device includes a plurality of interweaved cathode and anode plates. The anode plates are coated with an oxygen generating mixed-metal oxide coating. The air flotation unit includes a cavitation aerator and electrode blocks to introduce air bubbles into the fluid. Contaminants attach to the air bubbles and float to the fluid surface where they are removed as sludge. Treated fluid is passed through a final filtration system. The methods involve the processes imparted by the various apparatuses on the fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2014
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: CAVITATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Roman Gordon, Igor Gorodnitsky, Maxim A. Promtov
  • Patent number: 8696909
    Abstract: A bioartificial kidney equivalent and a process for producing the bioartificial kidney equivalent. The hybrid bioartificial kidney comprises human proximal and distal renal tubule cells grown on particular synthetic membranes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Gambro Lundia AB
    Inventors: David Luttropp, Bernd Krause, Markus Neubauer, Andrea Schnell, Helmut Geiger, Juergen Bereiter-Hahn, Patrick Baer, Doris Deppisch
  • Publication number: 20140014589
    Abstract: To recover drilling fluid used in sample drilling at a drilling machine, when the drilling fluid exits the drill hole, and to transport it to a separate cleaning unit wherein solid matter is separated from the drilling fluid. The cleaned drilling fluid is returned to the drilling machine and reused in sample drilling. The cleaning unit has an inlet connection and two or more precipitation basins, where the solid matter accumulates on the bottom of the basin. In the bottom part of at least one precipitation basin there is a valve arrangement for removing drilling fluid sludge containing solid matter from the precipitation basin, which drilling fluid sludge is filtered with a filter arrangement. In the top part of the precipitation basin there is a transfer connection between precipitation basins or an outlet connection for taking cleaned drilling fluid out from the cleaning unit back to the drilling process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: OY KATI AB KALOJAKI
    Inventor: Tapani Niskakangas
  • Patent number: 8603344
    Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide a method and an apparatus for removing metals in waste water, such as thallium contained in waste water generated by rinsing waste containing chlorine, ash obtained by burning garbage, fly ash, etc. and reduces the concentration of metals in the waste water to a discharge standard, and the present invention provides a method for removing metals comprising applying direct-current electricity by an electrolyzer 5 to waste water S5, which contains metal aggregate, discharged via a reaction tank 1, a settler 2, and a reaction tank 4, and thereby the waste water S5 is electrolyzed together with depositing metals dissolve in the waste water S5 as metal oxides, separating the waste water containing deposited metal oxides in a precision filtration apparatus 6 into suspended solid MP and waste water S7, and removing a small amount of metals dissolve in the waste water S7 after removing the suspended solid MP in an ion exchange unit 7.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Sumitomo Osaka Cement Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masayoshi Konishi
  • Publication number: 20130291444
    Abstract: The CMP slurry regeneration apparatus 200 for regenerating the CMP slurry used for a CMP process patterning metal conductive elements on a semiconductor circuit comprises a gravity separator 205 for precipitating solids in a diluted waste slurry used in the CMP process by gravity sedimentation; a concentrated slurry container 207 for reserving the solid through the gravity sedimentation in the gravity separator 205 as concentrated slurry 206; a solid-liquid separator 209 for catching components contained in the waste slurry as rinsed components through rinsing the waste slurry by remaining hydroxide corresponding to small amount metal ion while removing soluble and solid components formed by the CMP process; and a regenerated slurry container 211 for regenerating the small amount metal ion from the rinsed components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventors: Takashi Matsuo, Yukinari Sato, Takashi Mizuta
  • Patent number: 8574438
    Abstract: A dialysate regeneration unit adapted for regenerating a dialysate containing carrier substances comprises a first flow path and a second flow path. The first flow path comprises a first supply unit adapted for adding an acidic fluid to the dialysate flowing in the first flow path, and a detoxification unit located downstream of the first supply unit. The detoxification unit is adapted for removing toxins from the acidified dialysate flowing in the first flow path. The second flow path extends in parallel to the first flow path. The second flow path comprises a second supply unit adapted for adding an alkaline fluid to the dialysate flowing in the second flow path, and a further detoxification unit located downstream of the second supply unit. The further detoxification unit is adapted for removing toxins from the alkalised dialysate flowing in the second flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Hepa Wash GmbH
    Inventors: Bernhard Kreymann, Catherine Elisabeth Schreiber, Ahmed Nabeel Al-Chalabi
  • Publication number: 20130256228
    Abstract: This disclosure describes draw solution compositions for FO processes which increase the available membrane area for permeation and are also amenable to reconcentration with standard techniques, such as membrane filtration and evaporative technologies. The composition are comprised of a water soluble draw solute having surface active properties, i.e., a surfactant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Inventors: Upen J. Bharwada, Isaac V. Farr
  • Publication number: 20130220924
    Abstract: In order to prevent oxidation degradation of a semipermeable membrane and biofouling growth and avoid an increase in cost due to chemicals and the like, the present invention provides a fresh water production method including membrane-filtering raw water with a microfiltration/ultrafiltration membrane module, followed by performing membrane filtration with a semipermeable membrane unit, in which the membrane filtration in the microfiltration/ultrafiltration membrane module is temporarily interrupted, chlorine agent-containing water is fed from a secondary side of the microfiltration/ultrafiltration membrane module to perform back-pressure washing of the microfiltration/ultrafiltration membrane module, thereafter, an ammoniacal compound and/or an amino group-containing compound are added to a primary side of the microfiltration/ultrafiltration membrane module, and the membrane filtration in the microfiltration/ultrafiltration membrane module is resumed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventor: Tomohiro Maeda
  • Publication number: 20130206697
    Abstract: An object is to provide a fresh water generating apparatus that is capable of efficiently and stably producing fresh water. Provided is a fresh water generating apparatus equipped with a seawater-treating reverse osmosis membrane device that produces fresh water from seawater by a reverse osmosis membrane, including a mixing section that mixes wastewater as dilution water with seawater to produce mixed water, and a first seawater-treating reverse osmosis membrane device that acts as the seawater-treating reverse osmosis membrane device to filter the mixed water, in which the apparatus is configured so that used water that is wastewater resulting from the use of the produced fresh water as service water is mixed as dilution water with seawater at the mixing section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: KOBELCO ECO-SOLUTIONS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazutaka Takata, Hiromi Sato, Yutaka Ito, Mitsushige Shimada, Tomoyuki Tachimi, Masanobu Noshita
  • Patent number: 8480886
    Abstract: A multistage immersion type membrane separator includes a liquid air separator, the liquid air separator including an outlet tube, an inlet tube, and a skirt. The outlet tube is cylindrical and has a outlet tube diameter, and the inlet pipe has an inlet pipe diameter of less than the outlet tube diameter. The inlet pipe is attached to and in communication with the outlet tube so that a mixed flow of air and liquid passing through the inlet tube is introduced into the outlet tube and flows circumferentially around the inside of the outlet tube. The inlet pipe is attached to the cylindrical outlet tube so that the inlet pipe is perpendicular to the outlet tube. The outlet tube has two ends, one end being closed and the other end being open. The skirt is attached to the outlet tube and is concentric with the outlet tube. The skirt is attached to the closed end of the outlet tube, and extends to just past the point of attachment of the inlet tube to the outlet tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Ovivo Luxembourg S.A.R.L.
    Inventors: Wayne Howard, Andrew Ball
  • Publication number: 20130168326
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for separating solid and liquor components of a process slurry comprising solid material entrained in a liquor, said method comprising: (a) a pre-treatment step of adding a flocculent to the process slurry and mixing the flocculent and the slurry by selecting a higher extent of mixing in an early stage of said step than in a later stage of said step, and (b) a solid/liquor separation step of allowing separation of solid material, including aggregates of solid material, and liquor of said process slurry to produce process outputs of a clarified liquor and solid material with some entrained liquor. The invention also concernes a method and an apparatus for adding a flocculent to a process slurry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: RIO TINTO ALCAN INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
    Inventors: Nicolas-Alexandre Bouchard, Guy Peloquin, Renald Dufour
  • Publication number: 20130153515
    Abstract: Apparatus and systems for water treatment, as well as methods for treating water, are provided. An apparatus for water treatment may include one or more reactors configured for water treatment, one or more light sources configured to provide ultraviolet light inside the one or more reactors, a photocatalyst positioned in each of the one or more reactors and configured to receive the ultraviolet light from the one or more light sources, and a pure oxygen source coupled to the one or more reactors and configured to supply pure oxygen to the water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: EMPIRE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT LLC
    Inventors: Dong-Keun Kang, Beom-Keum Kwon
  • Patent number: 8454824
    Abstract: A separation process for separating two or more immiscible liquids using contactors utilizing high surface area vertical hanging fibers is disclosed. This separation process is especially useful in the separation of disulfide oil formed during the oxidation of spent caustic solution that was used to remove sulfur contaminates from light hydrocarbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Merichem Company
    Inventors: Tiejun Zhang, V. Keith Turner
  • Patent number: 8431022
    Abstract: A modular dual vessel DAF includes a frame, adjacent treatment sections mounted to the frame and including a multi-stage flocculator, aeration injector and mix chamber, stilling well, separation tank, effluent weir having an enclosed peaked upper portion and bottom inlet, clear well with height adjustable risers, surface skimmer, inclined sludge plate, and a sludge collection section, wherein the treatment sections may operate independently, in parallel, or in series. A modular dual vessel DAF may include a separator plate pack in each separation tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Inventor: Stuart Johnathan Ward
  • Publication number: 20130098820
    Abstract: A cartridge system for converting a bulk feeder which delivers a single water treatment material at a high rate to a bulk feeder that delivers two or more water treatment materials at a lower rate through locating a set of dispensing cartridges in the chamber of the bulk feeder with the dispensing cartridges held in position to maintain the fluid outlet port of one of the cartridges in fluid alignment with the fluid inlet port of another cartridge to provide cartridge to cartridge flow without having to circulate the fluid through the chamber of the bulk feeder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Inventors: Joseph A. King, Jeffrey D. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20130068530
    Abstract: Processes and systems are provided with a hydrophilic liquid or solution for clarifying drilling mud to separate diesel oil or other oil lubricants out from the drilling mud such that the diesel oil or other oil lubricants may be recycled to a well for reuse as a lubricant for drilling components, such as a drilling bit. The hydrophilic liquid or solution may be recovered and reused/recycled in the processes and/or systems as well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Inventor: Jurgen D. Scheide
  • Patent number: 8377308
    Abstract: A dialysate regeneration unit adapted for regenerating a dialysate containing carrier substances comprises a first flow path and a second flow path. The first flow path comprises a first supply unit adapted for adding an acidic fluid to the dialysate flowing in the first flow path, and a detoxification unit located downstream of the first supply unit. The detoxification unit is adapted for removing toxins from the acidified dialysate flowing in the first flow path. The second flow path extends in parallel to the first flow path. The second flow path comprises a second supply unit adapted for adding an alkaline fluid to the dialysate flowing in the second flow path, and a further detoxification unit located downstream of the second supply unit. The further detoxification unit is adapted for removing toxins from the alkalized dialysate flowing in the second flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Hepa Wash GmbH
    Inventors: Bernhard Kreymann, Catherine Elisabeth Schreiber, Ahmed Nabeel Al-Chalabi