Diverse Type Patents (Class 210/202)
  • Patent number: 7972501
    Abstract: A fluid clarification system and method is described in which fluid is passed through one or more settling compartments, each having a solids outlet at the base of the compartment. The base of each compartment includes inclined surfaces for guiding settled solids to the outlet. Also described is a polymer reaction trough including baffles to promote gentle mixing of inflow fluid with flocculant. The system is designed to reduce costs of transportation, flocculent, and solids handling. The system is preferably arranged to facilitate transport on a skid or trailer, while maximizing fluid handling capabilities and minimizing costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Inventor: Scott Blair Godlien
  • Publication number: 20110159150
    Abstract: A mineral water producing method includes the steps of inputting basic data to obtain data about human mineral intake and data about average mineral intake from food; selecting a water supply area to obtain data about mineral intake from daily water intake; selecting an eating habit and a physical/mental condition; inputting personal body weight and calculating mineral intake; setting a daily water intake and calculating a daily mineral supplement; and outputting mineral water. A mineral water producing apparatus includes a water inlet and a water outlet; a first filter being connected at a first end to the water inlet and at a second end to the water outlet; at least one mineral substance container being located between and connected to the second end of the filter and the water outlet; and a controller for controlling the mineral substance container to supply a mineral substance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Inventors: Tzu-Wen Uen, Shu-Fei Chan, Chen-Neng Chen, Yan-Yng Shen
  • Publication number: 20110147293
    Abstract: A wastewater treatment ship is provided which is capable of purifying and treating oil bearing wastewater collected from a ship or the sea, wastewater such as domestic water and of reusing the purified water on the ship and easily discharging it. The wastewater treatment ship has a hull able to navigate by being towed or being self-propelled and a purification treatment unit disposed on the hull and configured to collect, purify, and treat wastewater. The purification treatment unit includes a floated oil collecting tank to collect floated oil collected from raw wastewater tank, a stirring tank having a cylindrical straight drum and a funnel-shaped bottom to stir wastewater taken out from the raw wastewater tank together with a coagulant and a collecting path to discharge precipitates, a plurality of filter treatment tanks to be used in multistage filtering treatment of wastewater in the stirring tank, and purified water tanks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: KANTO KOSAN CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Soujirou Imahashi
  • Patent number: 7959012
    Abstract: An apparatus for treating oil-based sludge includes a boiler, a heat exchanger having a circulatory steam path in fluid communication with the boiler and a sludge path receiving sludge, a plurality of serially-aligned mixers in fluid communication with the sludge path of the heat exchanger, a separation tank in fluid communication with the plurality of mixers, and wherein the separation tank includes a tank having a plurality of walls, a hydrocyclone mounted within the tank receiving sludge from the plurality of mixers, wherein the hydrocyclone includes a solids outlet directing a solids component towards a bottom portion of the tank and a fluid outlet directing a fluid component into the tank, a means for conveying separated solids along the bottom portion of the tank to a solids outlet, and a plurality of fluid outlets vertically located along a tank wall, wherein each outlet includes a valve providing selective fluid communication from the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: M-I L.L.C.
    Inventor: Catalin Ivan
  • Publication number: 20110132839
    Abstract: An integrated process for removing sulfate from water sources, such as pretreated acid mine drainage (AMD). The multivalent cation (MVC) content of a sulfate stream is reduced by strong acid cation (SAC) ion exchange and sulfate is concentrated with a membrane system and separated as precipitate and overflow. Precipitation results from reaction of sulfate with MVC produced by regeneration of SAC with sodium chloride. The overflow is reacted with carbonate to precipitate MVC, generate sodium chloride and give a further overflow stream. This latter stream is concentrated to a level capable of being a regenerant for the SAC and when needed, used to regenerate the SAC and produce MVC for sulfate precipitation. The process minimizes the use of chemicals by treating, reconcentrating and recycling input species. Capital expenditures are minimized by precipitation of only side streams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2009
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: Siemens Water Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Joseph Edward Zuback, Richard Woodling
  • Publication number: 20110132827
    Abstract: A filtration and demineralization apparatus that is capable of reducing the cost of the apparatus and building cost by using an apparatus whose height is limited, and that is also capable of ensuring sufficient treatment capacity, as well as good operability, is provided. A filtration and demineralization apparatus 10 comprises a vessel 20 in a form of a body of revolution; a hollow columnar body 40 that is located in an internal space of the vessel 20, one end 40a of the columnar body being connected to an inner surface of the vessel 20 along an entire circumference of the end, and the other end 40b of the columnar body forming an opening; and a partition plate 44 that is connected to the other end 40b of the hollow columnar body along an entire circumference of the other end 40b, the partition plate being configured to separate an inside space or an outside space of the hollow columnar body 40 as an independent space in the vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2009
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: ORGANO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mitsuru Yoden, Satoshi Kasahara, Mikio Sugano
  • Publication number: 20110120927
    Abstract: A combined sedimentation and pressure floatation wastewater treatment tank includes a tank body, a sedimentation treatment device and a pressure floatation treatment device. The tank body contains a predetermined amount of wastewater for treatment. The sedimentation treatment device is used to remove relatively heavier sludge from the wastewater by means of sedimentation treatment and the pressure floatation treatment device is used to remove relatively lighter sludge from the initially treated wastewater by means of pressure floatation treatment. In operation, the wastewater is initially treated by the sedimentation treatment device and is further treated by the pressure floatation treatment device. Alternatively, the wastewater is initially treated by the pressure floatation treatment device and is further treated by the sedimentation treatment device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Inventor: Kuei-Lin Tsai
  • Patent number: 7947170
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally provide a method and an apparatus for treating waste effluents from substrate polishing processes, such as from an electrochemical mechanical polishing (ECMP) process. In one embodiment, a method for treating a waste effluent mixture generated during a substrate process is provided which includes flowing a waste effluent comprising chelated metal complexes from a substrate process system, combining an oxidizing agent and the waste effluent to produce free chelators, flowing the waste effluent through an organoclay media and an activated carbon media to remove the free chelators, and flowing the waste effluent through an anion exchange resin to remove metal ions and produce a waste water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Josh H. Golden, Peter I. Porshvev, Michael R. Woolston, Cormac Kissane
  • Patent number: 7947176
    Abstract: A filtration and remediation system is disclosed herein including a quiet tank component, a circulation component, and a storage and filtration component, each with frames. The system can include a scalping shaker which can receive a slurry and separate a particulate from the slurry, forming an effluent. A tank can receive the effluent and a weir can remove oil from the effluent, forming a cleaned effluent. A second weir can discharge the cleaned effluent. The circulation component can include a tank and an absorbent material. The absorbent material can receive the cleaned effluent and remove oil from the cleaned effluent, forming a circulation effluent. A sludge can settle within the circulation tank from the circulation effluent, forming a cleaned circulation stream. The storage and filtration component can include a filtration membrane which can receive and separate the cleaned circulation stream into a clean permeate and a dirty concentrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Tri-Flo International, Inc.
    Inventors: Tom Jamieson, Edward Beverly Moe
  • Publication number: 20110114545
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning sewage, having a housing (1) of substantially rectangular outline which is formed in the manner of a transportable container, wherein a plurality of compartments (C1, C2, C3, C4) are provided one behind the other along a longitudinal direction of the outline, wherein a first compartment (C1) contains at least two treatment basins (B1, B2, B3, B4) and an adjoining, second compartment (C2) contains a tank (7) with a lamellar separator (8) and a clarifying basin (9) arranged one after the other downstream of it. In order to improve the cleaning efficiency, it is proposed according to the invention that the clarifying basin (9) be arranged between the lamellar separator (8) and the first compartment (C1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2009
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: INVENT UMWELT-UND VERFAHRENSTECHINK AG
    Inventors: Marcus Hoefken, Walter Steidl, Peter Huber
  • Patent number: 7943040
    Abstract: A system and process for removing contaminants from wastewater where the wastewater is treated into a cleaned water that can be reused or discharged into the environment. The wastewater is transported through purification sections, depending on the system including several of the following: pre-treatment via screening and weirs to remove debris and certain heavy solids; a second pretreatment via a sump; strainer; conductivity solution injection system and electrolytic coagulation system; polymer injection system; inline mixers for mixing the polymer in the wastewater stream; retention tubes for providing residence time for the polymer to react in the wastewater stream; a multi-stage separation system comprised of a plurality of water separation compartments for consecutively separating contaminants from the wastewater stream by removing contaminants that float and heavy contaminants that settle to the bottom; and an ozone treatment system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Karcher North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Shannon L. Taylor, Richard W. Frederick, Bernie L. Larson, Paul W. Linton
  • Patent number: 7943041
    Abstract: A system for and method of removing particulate material from wastewater discharged from an industrial source. The method using filtration, sedimentation, coagulation and skimming to remove the particulate material from the wastewater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Inventors: Kurt Standley, Troy Hartzell
  • Publication number: 20110100890
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the process of re-mineralizing treated potable water that has had hardness components removed by dissolving a magnesium compound in the treated water. The resulting concentration of magnesium, pH level and alkalinity level are controlled by the inclusion of a calcium compound such as calcium carbonate and a bypass orifice. The bypass orifice allows a portion of pretreated wafer to bypass a filter that contains the magnesium compound. The process is particularly useful as an in-line process for continuous or semi-continuous treatment of water. The preferred magnesium and calcium compounds include magnesium phosphate dibasic trihydrate and calcium carbonate, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2009
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Inventor: Mark Brotman
  • Publication number: 20110094963
    Abstract: To provide a membrane separation method capable of attaining reduced adsorption of a membrane-fouling substance contained in treatment water onto the surface of a separation membrane during membrane separation of the treatment water, to thereby lead retarded deterioration in membrane separation performance, and a membrane separation apparatus for performing the method. In the membrane separation method, to treatment water, a particulate cationic polymer which swells in water but does not substantially dissolve therein is added, and the treatment water is subjected to membrane separation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: Kurita Water Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keijirou Tada, Masanobu Osawa, Shigeru Sato, Hiroyuki Ikeda
  • Publication number: 20110089106
    Abstract: An anaerobic water purification system including an anaerobic water purification unit receiving water to be treated and providing an anaerobic-treated water output and biomass carriers for supporting anaerobic microorganisms in the anaerobic water purification unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Applicants: AQWISE- WISE WATER TECHNOLOGIES LTD., WESTT
    Inventors: Tamar ARBEL, Nir ASSULIN, Antonius Johannes Hendrikus Hyacinthus ENGELAAR, Tammy YALIN
  • Patent number: 7918348
    Abstract: In a filter device and in a method for the periodic cleaning of a filter of a water treatment or sewage treatment plant, a rotating filter is arranged within its own separate filter chamber, the bottom of which is designed as following a contour of the rotating filter. The provision of an own separate filter chamber makes it possible for the rotating filter to be cleaned, without other parts of a filtering installation having to be taken out of operation, and without the rotating filter having to be dismantled and removed from the filter chamber. Therefore no lifting cranes or separate cleaning basins are necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Utisol Technologies AG
    Inventors: Eberhard Harms, Mark Grigo
  • Patent number: 7919001
    Abstract: A method for purifying water, comprising separating a supply stream into a permeate stream and a reject stream, removing non-monovalent salt impurities from the reject stream to produce a treated stream; providing the treated stream to a concentrating compartment of an electrodeionization unit; and, producing an EDI product stream of purified water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: GE Mobile Water, Inc.
    Inventors: William Haas, Joel Robinson, Abel Queen
  • Publication number: 20110073536
    Abstract: The treatment system known as SMBR for treatment of batik waste effluent, said system combines the activated sludge process with a semi permeable bio-membrane submerged in the process water that is capable of treating and filtering particulate waste constituents from the mixed liquor solution of batik effluent, thus subsequently provide treated batik effluent of high quality, reusable and particle free effluent. The semi-permeable membrane (bio-membrane) (7) has a pore size of approximately 6 nm to provide permeate comprised of batik effluent compliant to the Standard A of regulations stipulated by the Department of Environment (DOE) Malaysia. Air scouring (8) is maintained in the body of water in the range of 1 LPM to 4 LPM for purpose of minimizing membrane fouling, subsequently lead to relatively stable suction operation at low transmembrane pressure (TMP below 1 bar), lesser hydraulic retention time (4-24 hours) and longer backwash requirement (30 days).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventors: Zularisam ABDUL WAHID, Mimi Sakinah Abdul Munaim
  • Patent number: 7914677
    Abstract: Water (23) that contains micro-nano bubbles generated in a micro-nano bubble generation tank (6) is introduced and treated in a charcoal water tank (ii) which is filled with a charcoal (15) and in which an air diffusing pipe (12) is placed and thereafter introduced and treated in a membrane device (21). Thus, activities of microorganisms propagating in the charcoal (15) are increased by the micro-nano bubbles, markedly increasing ability of decomposing organic matters in the water. Therefore, a clogging phenomenon due to the organic matters can be prevented by reducing organic loads on the membrane device (21). Moreover, a very small amount of alcohols or salts are added as a micro-nano bubble generation aid to the micro-nano bubble generation tank (6), improving an incidence rate of the micro-nano bubbles. The alcohols and salts are easily decomposed by the charcoal water tank (ii) and easily removed by the membrane device (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Yamasaki, Kazuyuki Sakata, Kazumi Chuhjoh
  • Patent number: 7914684
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating mixed waste by pyrolysis. Organic mass is carbonized by heating to carbon in a pyrolysis reactor (3) in an oxygen-free environment. Pyrolysis gases are distilled for oil and the gases are used for energy production. Solid matter resulting from pyrolysis is sieved for separating inorganic coarse particles from a carbon fraction. The carbon fraction is milled in two operations, first with a roller mill (8) and then with a jet mill (10), a removal of metal being performed between the operations. The pulverized carbon fraction is classified by means of ionizing particle separators (11, 12, 13). The multi-stage particle separation is followed by discharging clean air and recovering fine carbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: BCDE Group Waste Management Ltd Oy
    Inventor: Hannu L. Suominen
  • Publication number: 20110042286
    Abstract: This is a water cleansing system intended for very low technology primitive communities buildable for between $600 and $1,000 of parts with labor extra. A gravity feed system is contemplated with an initial filtering stage(s), a settling stage, a UV treatment stage, and an ozonator stage. Other filtering is useful and a stand-alone power system with solar power needing no infrastructure is contemplated to enhance purification. The objective is to improve water quality from the worst of conditions; and under some conditions to end up with clean water of a quality found in developed countries with mature water systems. The general principle is that if water had to be carried to the site in communities with low precipitation, the water brought in would be emptied into the initial stage of the water cleansing system, and the person who brought the water would draw from the last stage an equal amount or high percentage of the amount of water carried in.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Inventor: Brooke Schumm, III
  • Publication number: 20110042291
    Abstract: A waste fluid treating apparatus including a pure water generating unit including an ion exchanger for purifying a fresh water sent by a fresh water pump to obtain a pure water. The ion exchanger includes a housing, an anion exchange resin layer accommodated in the housing, and a mixed resin layer accommodated in the housing. The anion exchange resin layer is composed of only anion exchange resin, and the mixed resin layer is composed of a mixture of anion exchange resin and cation exchange resin. The housing is provided with a fresh water inlet for introducing the fresh water into the anion exchange resin layer and a pure water outlet for discharging the pure water from the mixed resin layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: DISCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Miki Yoshida, Takeshi Furonaka
  • Patent number: 7892426
    Abstract: A reducing water purification material having a reducing iron-based precipitate selected from green rust, iron ferrite, reducing iron hydroxide, and a mixture thereof. A wastewater treatment process having steps of adding a reducing iron compound to wastewater, leading the wastewater to which the reducing iron compound is added to a reaction tank and forming a precipitate, separating the formed precipitate by a solid-liquid separation to obtain a sludge, and alkalinizing all or a portion of the separated sludge to form an alkaline sludge followed by returning to the reaction tank, wherein in the precipitation step, the wastewater to which the reducing iron compound is added and the alkaline sludge are mixed and are allowed to react in a non-oxidizing atmosphere under alkaline condition to form a reducing iron compound precipitate as the precipitate, thereby incorporating contaminants in the precipitate to remove the contaminants from the wastewater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Materials Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Hayashi, Hitoshi Takeuchi, Hajime Negishi, Shigeyuki Tsuzaki, Yoshio Aikawa, Ayako Mimoto, Shintaro Nakaya
  • Patent number: 7887696
    Abstract: This disclosure describes a commercial/industrial remineralizer designed to be added to a purification system that raises the pH by non-chemical methodology while replacing important electrolytes to the water that were extracted along with the toxic, non-essential minerals from the water. The remineralizer can be designed for heavy commercial continuous production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: CWP Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Paul L. Simmons
  • Patent number: 7887698
    Abstract: An apparatus for treatment of water in an aquatic environment. Water is first pumped from a reservoir to a first mixing station. An inert gas is introduced into the pumped water at the first mixing station to provide inert gas saturated water, which inert gas saturated water will displace undesired gasses in the water in the reservoir. The inert gas saturated water is then pumped to a sparging column such that the inert gas and undesired gasses will be released from the inert gas saturated water to provide depleted water. The depleted water is oxygen enriched at a second mixing station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Revalesio Corporation
    Inventor: Anthony B. Wood
  • Publication number: 20110024358
    Abstract: A process removes boron from ion exchange system regeneration solution including introducing a borate precipitator into the regeneration solution in a precipitation zone to generate borate precipitate; introducing a coagulator into the regeneration solution that coagulates solids and/or borate precipitate generated by the borate precipitator and absorbs boron into the solids; introducing the regeneration solution, solids and borate precipitate into a separation zone; introducing anionic polymer into the regeneration solution adjacent to or in the separation zone to increase the propensity of borate precipitate and solids to separate from the regeneration solution; and filtering the regeneration solution to remove residual suspended solids from the regeneration solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: INFILCO DEGREMONT, INC.
    Inventor: Michael L. Pudvay
  • Publication number: 20110024352
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and process integrating the chemical-free oxidation of a photocatalytic decontamination process with a biological decontamination system to eliminate the THM and HAA precursors in drinking water. In one embodiment, a system may comprise a source providing fluid media contaminated with toxic natural organic matter, and a photocatalytic decontamination subsystem configured to oxidize the toxic natural organic matter via a photocatalytic process into non-toxic natural organic matter having a molecular weight low enough for biodegrading said non-toxic matter. The system may include a biological decontamination subsystem configured to immediately receive the contaminated fluid output from the photocatalytic decontamination subsystem, and employing a biological agent to biologically degrade the low-molecular weight non-toxic natural organic matter in the contaminated fluid to a concentration sufficient to prevent the formation of trihalomethanes or haloacetic acids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Inventors: Brian E. Butters, Anthony L. Powell
  • Publication number: 20110024364
    Abstract: A filtration separation method for waste resin containing highly radioactive uranium powder and device thereof is mainly used for the waste resin after water treatment process in a nuclear facility. The uranium powder contained in the waste resin is highly radioactive. Thus, prior to the treatment of the waste resin, it is necessary to filter and separate the highly radioactive uranium powder to reduce the radioactivity. It is to put the uranium powder containing waste resin into an underwater holding tank and withdraw the waste resin by an underwater pump into a uranium powder filtration box. Then the uranium powder filtration box is lifted by a hoist to move to an underwater ultrasonic cleaner. High-pressure water flushing is applied and followed by underwater ultrasonic cleaning. Then the cleaning water (containing precipitated uranium powder) from the ultrasonic cleaner is drained to uranium powder collection device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Inventors: Kuo-Yuan Chang, Ling-Huan Chiao, Chin-Teng Hsu, Chin-Chun Chu Ko, Bing-Rong Wu
  • Publication number: 20110017664
    Abstract: A wastewater treatment system is provided comprising a biological reactor having a separation subsystem, a suspension system and a membrane operating system. The separation subsystem is constructed and arranged to maintain adsorbent material in the biological reactor with a mixed liquor. The suspension system is positioned in the biological reactor and is constructed and arranged to maintain adsorbent material in suspension with mixed liquor. The membrane operating system is located downstream of the biological reactor and is constructed and arranged to receive treated mixed liquor from the biological reactor and discharge a membrane permeate. In addition, a wastewater treatment system is provided comprising a first biological reaction zone, a second biological reaction zone and a membrane operating system. The first biological reaction zone is constructed and arranged to receive and treat the wastewater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Inventors: William G. CONNER, Mohammed A. AL-HAJRI, Thomas E. SCHULTZ, Michael HOWDESHELL, Chad L. FELCH, Matthew PATTERSON, Samuel SHAFARIK, Curt COOLEY
  • Publication number: 20110006002
    Abstract: A low concentration wastewater treatment system is provided that includes a high flux adsorbent material treatment system integrated with a low flux adsorbent material biological regeneration reactor. The high flux adsorbent material treatment system includes one or more unit operations for mixing low concentration wastewater with adsorbent material that is fresh, recycled, or a combination of both, and for decanting a liquid effluent having a reduced level of contaminants. The adsorbent material with adsorbed contaminants is regenerated in a low flux adsorbent material biological regeneration reactor in which a biological reaction occurs, such as biological oxidation, wherein organic contaminants in the wastewater are metabolized generally into carbon dioxide and water. Excess biomass is removed from the adsorbent material, and the thus-regenerated adsorbent material is recycled to the high flux adsorbent material treatment system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Inventors: William G. CONNER, Thomas E. SCHULTZ
  • Publication number: 20110000850
    Abstract: A process for the treatment of water comprising at least the steps of: (a) providing the water in laminar flow; and (b) providing bubblefree aeration to the water. The present invention introduces aerobic treatment into wastewater settlement without any hindrance to the settlement process. The present invention is useable for any settlement step or stage, without limitation, the commonest being primary settlement or final settling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Inventors: Elaine . Groom, Simon Murray, Joel Ferguson
  • Publication number: 20100326908
    Abstract: The wastewater treatment system includes a tank having first and second partition walls dividing the tank into first, second and third chambers. An inlet port is formed through the first chamber and an outlet port is formed through the third chamber. A first port is formed through the first partition wall for controlling fluid flow from the first chamber to the second chamber, and a second port is formed through the second partition wall for controlling fluid flow from the second chamber to the third chamber. Oils and sludge are removed from the wastewater in the first chamber. Anaerobic bacteria within the second chamber then removes organic material from the water. The water is stored in the third chamber is irradiated by germicidal ultraviolet light before discharge from the third chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Inventors: Abdullah Saeed Al-Ghamdi, Abdul Rahaman S. Alghamdi
  • Publication number: 20100314302
    Abstract: A dissolved air flotation system and method for purifying fresh water. The system is self-contained within a standard shipping container, with all components disposed in-line within the shipping container. Float is removed from the flotation tank with a skimmer that drives float downstream onto a conveyor belt, and the conveyor belt conveys float away from the flotation tank, in the downstream direction, and deposits the float in a collection tank. Clean water may be drawn from the flotation tank continuously, while float may be removed periodically.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Inventors: David P. Lambert, James J. Houtz
  • Publication number: 20100314263
    Abstract: Provided is a standalone integrated water treatment system for a distributed water supply. A filter input receives water to be treated. A coagulation system is in operative connection with the filter input, wherein the water which has been filtered is subjected to a coagulation process performed by the coagulation system to create pin floc from suspensions in the water. A maturation buffer tank is in operative connection with the coagulation system, wherein floc is aggregated in size within the water. A spiral separator is in operative connection with the maturation buffer tank, and the water is separated into two water streams, a first stream of water having most of the floc removed, and a second stream of water which includes a concentrated amount of the floc. An optional filtration system is in operative connection with the spiral separator and is configured to receive the first stream of water and to perform a filtration operation on the first stream of water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Applicant: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Meng H. Lean, Armin R. Volkel, Scott A. Elrod, Nitin S. Parekh
  • Patent number: 7850848
    Abstract: A self-sustaining wastewater treatment facility abates greenhouse gas abatement, captures CO2 and produces biomass to address multiple critical environmental needs. The facility includes an array of rotating media wheels that create an optimum ordered mixing of algae for sustained growth. Biomass harvested from the rotating media wheels may be provided to other processing facilities to produce, for instance, bio-fuels. Waste CO2 from the processing facility may also be returned to the treatment system for enhanced algae growth. Bacteria are provided to form a symbiotic relationship with the algae, fueled by sunlight to effectively remove toxic materials from the wastewater. The multi-functional facility may also be integrated into a regenerative facility in which the biomass obtained from the algal and bacterial colonies is used in a separate facility and byproducts of the operation of the separate facility are used by the multi-functional facility to fuel further algal growth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Inventor: Christopher A. Limcaco
  • Patent number: 7850769
    Abstract: An air filtering apparatus including a housing having an air suction port and air blow-out port, an electrolytic bath for generating electrolytic water, a gas-liquid contact member disposed in the housing, an electrolytic water supply unit for supplying the electrolytic water to the gas-liquid contact member so that the electrolytic water infiltrates into the gas-liquid contact member, an air blowing fan for bringing indoor air sucked from the air suction port into contact with the electrolytic water infiltrating in the gas-liquid contact member and blowing out the indoor air from the air blow-out port, a water receiving portion for receiving the electrolytic water passed through the gas-liquid contact member, and a foreign material removing mechanism for removing foreign materials contained in the electrolytic water. The foreign material may be a filter member disposed in front of the gas-liquid contact member, or a dam member disposed in the water receiving portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuo Takahashi, Yoichi Uchida, Hiroaki Usui, Tetsuya Yamamoto, Keiko Kurokawa, Masayuki Motegi, Tomohito Koizumi, Hiroyuki Umezawa, Tsuyoshi Rakuma, Toshio Fukushima, Toru Arakawa, Hiroyuki Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20100311148
    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 disruptor 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 disruptor, which is configured to disrupt at least a portion of the continuously provided waste.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Inventors: Mike Kotelko, Peter Kotelko
  • Publication number: 20100307973
    Abstract: The subject of the present invention is a mobile unit for the treatment of raw water. It relates to the technical field of mobile installations and processes for potabilizing raw water for the purpose of providing an immediate solution to supplying drinking water to the heart of regions to be treated as being difficult to access. According to the invention, the mobile unit comprises:—a pumping means (5) for pumping the raw water (4) to be treated, connected to a supply circuit (6);—a transportable container (1) provided with said supply circuit and containing: <span lang=EN-GB style=‘font-size:11.0pt:font-family:Symbol’></span> a system (8) for analyzing the characteristics of the raw water to be treated, <span lang=EN-GB style=‘font-size:11.0pt:font-family:Symbol’></span> a first treatment module (9) for treating soft surface water or drilling water, <span lang=EN-GB style=‘font-size:11.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2007
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Inventor: Vladimir GRCEVIC
  • Publication number: 20100282678
    Abstract: An improved livestock wastewater treatment system for treating wastewater produced by a confined animal feeding operation (CAFO) facility to reclaim water and solids from the wastewater, and to reduce the environmental footprint of the CAFO facility is provided. The treatment system combines both mechanical and chemical water treating and includes separation of liquids from solids, collection of the separated solids at various stages, and treatment of the remaining liquid so that it can be reclaimed. Methods of treating livestock wastewater with the livestock wastewater treatment system is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Inventors: Ross Thurston, Karen Schuett
  • Publication number: 20100282689
    Abstract: A low energy water treatment system and method is provided. The system has at least one electrodialysis device that produces partially treated water and a brine byproduct, a softener, and at least one electrodeionization device. The partially treated water stream can be softened by the softener to reduce the likelihood of scale formation and to reduce energy consumption in the electrodeionization device, which produces water having target properties. At least a portion of the energy used by the electrodeionization device can be generated by concentration differences between the brine and seawater streams introduced into compartments thereof. The brine stream can also be used to regenerate the softener.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Inventors: Gary C. Ganzi, Li-Shiang Liang, Frederick C. Wilkins
  • Patent number: 7828962
    Abstract: An integrated unit operations for the treatment of a waste stream, such as spent caustic, is provided in a single vertical vessel having at least three separate zones: a mixing, a settling, and a mass transfer zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Merichem Company
    Inventors: Tom Varadi, Marie-Cecile Medine, Arturo Ramon Puigbo, Ramiro G. Vazquez
  • Publication number: 20100276361
    Abstract: A wastewater treatment system and process biologically treats wastewater to produce substantially clean water effluent and byproducts. The treatment system includes an array of media wheels that rotate into and out of exposure to sunlight for sustained algae growth. One byproduct is algae removed from the rotating media wheels, which may be provided to other processing facilities to produce, for instance, bio-diesel fuel. Waste CO2 from the processing facility may also be returned to the treatment system for enhanced algae growth. Bacteria is provided to form a symbiotic relationship with the algae, fueled by sunlight to effectively remove toxic materials from the wastewater. Large scale facilities may integrate the treatment systems in a regenerative cycle in which the biomass obtained from the algal colonies is used in a separate facility and byproducts of the operation of the separate facility are used by the treatment system to fuel further algal growth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Inventor: Christopher A. Limcaco
  • Patent number: 7820038
    Abstract: A water treatment system that performs a water purifying treatment by use of ultraviolet radiation, comprises a front stage ultraviolet radiation device for radiating ultraviolet light in a front stage process in a water purifying treatment process, a rear stage ultraviolet radiation device for radiating ultraviolet light in a rear stage process, and a controller for controlling these ultraviolet radiation devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Norimitsu Abe, Takeshi Ide, Takeshi Matsushiro, Hiroyuki Suzuki, Seiichi Murayama
  • Publication number: 20100264082
    Abstract: A system and process for treating an industrial wastewater stream is provided using a membrane biological reactor in which granular activated carbon material is introduced into an aeration portion and maintained upstream of a membrane operating system. The size of the granules of activated carbon is selected so that they can be screened or otherwise readily separated from the mixed liquor stream before the mixed liquor enters the membrane operating system tank(s) containing the submerged membranes, thereby preventing abrasion of the membrane by the carbon granules. The aeration portion includes a waste discharge port whereby a portion of spent granular activated carbon can be removed when the effluent concentration of chemical oxygen demand compounds approaches limits typically set by governmental agencies, and replaced by addition of fresh or regenerated granular activated carbon having greater adsorbent capacity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Inventor: William G. Conner
  • Publication number: 20100258502
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are decontamination techniques that use a chemical that acts as an oxygen source and adsorption/binding agent in a UV reactor to bring together organic contaminant molecules and TiO2 molecules in the photoreactive slurry, or to alternatively bind directly to the contaminant molecules if no photocatalyst is employed. In one embodiment, one such system may comprise a contaminated fluid media source providing a contaminated fluid media, which could even be at near-boiling conditions. In addition, the decontamination system may include an adsorption accelerant comprising oxygen and soluble in the fluid media. The adsorption accelerant adsorbing to contaminant molecules in the contaminated fluid media, and should be stable if the fluid media is provided at near-boiling conditions. Also, such a decontamination system may include an irradiation source configured to irradiate the contaminated media containing the adsorption accelerant to eliminate the contaminant molecules from the fluid media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Inventors: Brian E. Butters, Anthony L. Powell
  • Publication number: 20100258503
    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: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Inventors: Bernhard Kreymann, Catherine Elisabeth Schreiber, Ahmed Nabeel Al-Chalabi
  • Publication number: 20100252500
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for the treatment of caustic wastewater. Specifically, systems and methods are provided for combining refinery spent caustic and ethylene spent caustic solutions and treating the combined spent caustic mixture using a wet air oxidation process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Inventors: Bryan J. Kumfer, Chad L. Felch, Bruce L. Brandenburg, Richard W. Lehmann
  • Publication number: 20100243561
    Abstract: A local sewage processing unit is provided that receives sewage from a local source of sewage, extracts water from the received sewage that is suitable for re-use and includes a pump that is configured to pump sewage from a receiving section of the local sewage processing unit into a pressure sewer network, as required.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventors: Alan CREFFIELD, Andrew Moore, Stephen Watt
  • Publication number: 20100243550
    Abstract: A system, that may be portable, for purifying liquid flowing gravitationally from a source/reservoir into a purified liquid receptacle is described. The system includes a housing with a generally horizontal filtering space. More than one liquid inlet disposed at a top portion of the filter is provided as well as one or more liquid outlets disposed at a bottom portion. The liquid flows in a generally lateral direction through the liquid treatment medium. Two or more first walls extending upwardly into the filtering space from a bottom wall thereof and ending with an apex are provided inside the device. One or more second walls downwardly extending into the filtering space from a top wall thereof are also provided. Each of the walls defines a closed path. The first and second walls jointly cause the liquid to flow in a curvilinear flow path from the inlet to the outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: H2Q Water Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Haim Wilder, Abraham J. Domb
  • Patent number: 7799218
    Abstract: A paint reclamation clarifier system in communication with a sump tank in a paint booth containing a carrier fluid for capturing paint droplets and a conduit for transporting the carrier fluid mixed with paint droplets to the reclamation clarifier system is presented. The clarifier system includes an influent port, a detackification agent inlet, a sludge tank in a lower portion of the clarifier for collecting the dispersed carrier liquid, where the paint droplets bond with the agent and settle to the bottom of the sludge tank, a sludge outlet, and, at least one effluent port located on or near an upper portion of a sidewall of the clarifier system permitting unsettled material to exit from the clarifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventor: John M. Spangler