With Distinct Reactor Tank, Trough Or Compartment Patents (Class 210/205)
  • Patent number: 11932431
    Abstract: A machine for the packaging of paper rolls with a packaging sheet, including a station for the entry of the rolls to be packaged and the packaging sheet, folding elements for the upper and lower edges of each packaging sheet around the rolls to be packaged, lateral folding elements for folding the packaging sheet on the lateral ends, elements for the thermal welding of the packaging sheet at the folds, handling elements for moving the rolls along a predetermined direction, and an exit station for the packages, where the lateral folding elements include a plurality of independent lateral folding devices moved along two horizontal circuits and more lateral folding devices of a same circuit can be placed side by side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: PLUSLINE S.R.L.
    Inventor: Vittorio Gerri
  • Patent number: 11857980
    Abstract: In a conventional flocculation and magnetic separation device, it was not possible to make the device downsized because the flocs are easily broken. In addition, there was no system for the ballast water treatment that is capable of simultaneous removal of plastics and microplastics drifting in the ocean. Furthermore, there were no ships and their navigation method capable of solving the pollution problem caused by plastics and microplastics floating in the ocean. By arranging a magnetic drum that rotates in a direction opposite to the flow of a fluid containing flocs and by changing the flow path by about 180 degrees or so immediately before contacting the magnetic drum, the flocs can be removed without breaking. This method can downsize the size of the magnetic drum with the required area reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Ambitious Technologies, LTD.
    Inventor: Akira Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 11772044
    Abstract: A waste water processing system includes an upflow contacting column having a flue gas input for receiving flue gas having a temperature of at least 500 degrees F., a waste water input, and a flue gas output. The waste water input is coupled to a fluid injector, e.g., atomizing nozzles, positioned in the throat of a Venturi portion of the upflow contacting column or in a sidewall of the throat of the Venturi portion of the upflow contacting column. The flue gas in the upflow contacting column has a high velocity, e.g., a gas velocity exceeding 65 fps in the throat of the Venturi portion of the upflow contacting column at a position where the fluid injector is located. Drying additives such as recycled ash, lime, and/or cement may be, and sometimes are, input into the upflow contacting column downstream of the waste water input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Power Americas, Inc.
    Inventors: Song Wu, Sandhya Eswaran, Allan Kukoski, Robert Nicolo, Edward Bialkin
  • Patent number: 11772048
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a perfusion filtration module or bioreactor for filtering a fluid, wherein the filtration module or bioreactor has a plurality of hollow fiber filter membranes that are splayed to reduce fouling of the filtration array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: WaterSep Bioseparations LLC
    Inventors: Attila Herczeg, Julie-Anne Burdick
  • Patent number: 11718818
    Abstract: A system includes a photobioreactor that provides a channel configured to contain an algae slurry, a duct positioned adjacent the channel and configured to convey a gas, and a barrier separating the duct from the channel and providing one or more apertures to allow a portion of the gas to be injected into the algae slurry from the duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: EXXONMOBIL TECHNOLOGY AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Everett J. O'Neal, Patrick L. Hanks, Kevin B. Daly
  • Patent number: 11684926
    Abstract: Systems and methods for handling a variety of sample and preparatory fluids in a rack specifically configured for compatibility with predetermined liquid handlers such as automated pipettors or multi-channel manual pipettors and set up for magnetic based sample preparation. The rack can hold all of the necessary sample and reagent vials, and present them to the pipettor in some embodiments in a way that allows for parallel operation. The rack includes slidable magnets that in some embodiments are actuatable directly by the pipettor, eliminating a layer of complexity. Combined with a suitable pipettor the magnet enabled rack supports a multistep magnetic based sample preparation capability in a high throughput manner at one station that enhances sample purity throughout magnetic separation processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: ZHUHAI SANMED BIOTECH LTD.
    Inventors: Behrad Vahidi, William M. Strauss, Mike Trejo, Xin Ye, Dongwen Li
  • Patent number: 11512009
    Abstract: A floatation separation apparatus includes a stirring tank, a stirring pump installed in the stirring tank, a floatation tank into which flocculated water flows from the stirring tank through an overflow dam, a scraping device (scraper) configured to scrape floating substances in the floatation tank, a treated water tank into which treated water in the floatation tank flows, and a pump and a hose for returning the treated water in the treated water tank to a raw water tank. The stirring pump sucks air and water inside the stirring tank, and discharges water mixed with air bubbles to a lower part of the stirring tank. The height of the overflow dam is adjustable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: KURITA WATER INDUSTRIES LTD.
    Inventor: Koichi Oki
  • Patent number: 11504676
    Abstract: A method for controlling the saturation level of gas in a liquid discharge includes obtaining temperature and pressure measurements of a solvent in a mixing vessel and obtaining a pressure measurement of a source feedstock in a feedstock tank, correlating the temperature and pressure measurements of the solvent to baseline data to generate a theoretical uptake rate for the source feedstock into the solvent and a theoretical flow rate of the source feedstock into the mixing vessel, and determining a required opening setting for a feedstock valve in the feedstock input line in order to achieve a desired liquid displacement in the mixing vessel. The method includes determining an uptake duration and achieving an uptake displacement equivalent to the reverse of the desired liquid displacement. The method includes generating a valve operating control law for how the feedstock valve should function in a cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Benjamin E. Bishop
  • Patent number: 11492280
    Abstract: A method for improved anaerobic digestion is presented. The method includes mixing a volume of waste material with water to form a feedstock mixture. The volume of waste material includes an initial amount of biomass and the feedstock mixture includes methanogenic bacteria either naturally present in the waste material or introduced artificially. The method also includes introducing one or more promoter substances to the feedstock mixture. The one or more promoter substances are capable of modifying the methanogenic bacteria. Modifying includes stimulating novel enzyme production in the methanogenic bacteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: TOPSTONE VENTURES, LLC
    Inventor: Christopher J. Barry
  • Patent number: 11465922
    Abstract: Methods for generating methane from animal waste by anaerobic digestion using bacteria. A screen separator removes suspended solids greater in size than a predetermined size ranging from about 50? to about 150?. An electrocoagulation unit electrochemically hydrolyses the waste, causing particles to settle out. A dissolved carbon air flotation has a CO2 bubbler for separating large particles from small particles by flotation. An anaerobic digester produces biogas. The digester has a biocurtain for growing the bacteria and a heat exchanger for heating the bacteria. The biocurtain surface is convoluted to retain the bacteria. A membrane module removes CO2. A knock out pot for removes droplets of water. A scrubber removes water vapor, particulates, and contaminant gas. A compressor boosts pressure. A gas chromatograph monitors the biogas composition. A flare skid lowers excess pressure for safety. Biogas is injected into a local pipeline system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Trane International Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Don Yochum, Stanley Scott Selman, Nathalie Shaffer
  • Patent number: 11434159
    Abstract: The present invention provides a device and method for sulphur cycle-based advanced denitrification of wastewater coupling autotrophic denitrification and heterotrophic denitrification, and belongs to the technical field of wastewater treatment. The unit generating hydrogen sulfide during the wastewater treatment process adopts a lye to absorb hydrogen sulfide; the absorbed sulfide is introduced into an anoxic tank that removes nitrate nitrogen through sulfur-based autotrophic denitrification; and the remaining organic matters in the anaerobic methane-producing reaction tank are subjected to heterotrophic denitrification in the anoxic tank, and the anoxic unit combines the sulfur-based autotrophic denitrification with the heterotrophic denitrification of organic matters. The coupling of sulfur-based autotrophic denitrification and heterotrophic denitrification strengthens the removal of nitrate nitrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Beijing Jiaotong University
    Inventors: Hong Yao, Anming Yang, Sheng Tian
  • Patent number: 11401185
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method and a device for treating high ammonia-nitrogen wastewater using a microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) assisted SANI system, including an SANI system, an MEC and a power supply. The cathode chamber and anode chamber of the MEC are separated by a separator and are respectively connected to the cathode and anode of the power supply, and a cathode electrode is enriched with hydrogen autotrophic denitrifying bacteria. The cathode chamber has two main functions. Firstly, a higher denitrification efficiency is achieved due to the enriched hydrogen autotrophic denitrifying bacteria; and secondly, the alkalinity produced in the cathode can adjust the pH of the nitrification chamber. In addition, the cathode chamber can oxidize the residual sulfide in the effluent to meet the discharge standard. This system retains the advantage of less sludge in a SANI process, but also can be applied to the treatment of wastewater with high ammonia-nitrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: ZHEJIANG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Zhongjian Li, Gaoming Wu, Bin Yang, Yuxuan Yang, Lecheng Lei
  • Patent number: 11390543
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a method, system and apparatus for inactivating microorganisms in an aqueous solution. The method comprises passing bubbles of a gas through the aqueous solution, wherein the gas comprises at least 10% CO2 by volume and has a temperature of at least 18° C. The system comprises a gas supply to supply gas comprising at least 10% CO2 and having a temperature above 18° C., a gas-delivery apparatus to receive the gas and deliver it into the aqueous solution in the form of bubbles. The apparatus comprises a gas-permeable material having a flow surface configured to enable the flow of the aqueous solution across the flow surface, a chamber arranged at an opposite side of the gas-permeable material to supply a gas that inactivates microorganisms such that the gas is able to pass through the gas-permeable material and into the aqueous solution as gas bubbles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: NEWSOUTH INNOVATIONS PTY LIMITED
    Inventors: Richard Mark Pashley, Adrian Garrido Sanchis, Barry Ninham
  • Patent number: 11383998
    Abstract: A system for disinfecting aqueous solutions for destroying harmful bacteria, viruses and pathogens in industrial processes including an influent stream containing an invasive species, a pH adjustment stage for maintaining the pH of the influent to within a specific range, a preparation stage for preparing a disinfectant for destroying the invasive species, the disinfectant comprising a quantity of calcium hypochlorite, water, and a catalyst including the metal minerals manganate and manganese oxide, a process mixing stage for receiving and mixing the pH adjusted influent and the disinfectant, a filtration and discharge stage receiving the pH adjusted and disinfected influent for removing foreign matter prior to discharging a filtered disinfected effluent, and a microprocessor control panel for monitoring a plurality of process sensors in each of the stages for controlling the disinfecting of the influent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Inventor: Wayne W. Spani
  • Patent number: 11174101
    Abstract: A method for the destruction of data carriers preventing access to the process of rendering confidential data carriers, which consist of paper or similar material, unreadable and allowing the carriers to be destroyed. In the method, confidential data carriers are collected at the point of origin in secure collection containers, removed by a collection vehicle, and are supplied to a paper recycling plant in a final step. The interior of a mobile pulper, which is connected to the collection vehicle, is filled with the confidential data carriers, the carriers are mixed with a pulping fluid and the mixture is blended by an agitator to form a suspension of defibrated documents and pulping fluid, a hydromechanical pulping process taking place in the pulper before the suspension is supplied to the paper recycling plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: RHENUS DATA OFFICE AG
    Inventor: Michael Jörg Huber
  • Patent number: 10822302
    Abstract: A method to reduce the aldehyde content of a pine chemical composition is disclosed. The pine chemical composition is selected from gum turpentine, gum rosin, CST BLS, CTO, depitched CTO, DTO, TOH, TOR, TOP, TOFA, fractionated TOFA, TOFA dimer, TOFA trimer, TOFA monomer, isostearic acid, stearic acid, and ester- and amide derivatives thereof. The pine chemical composition is treated with an aldehyde scavenger such as anthranilamide at a temperature between 20° C. to 300° C., for 1 minute to 5 hours.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Kraton Polymers LLC
    Inventors: Jos H. M. Lange, Mark C. Schaapman
  • Patent number: 10519055
    Abstract: Aerobic wastewater treatment systems may include a treatment tank having a tank interior. An aeration chamber may be provided in the tank interior. A wastewater inlet conduit may be disposed in fluid communication with the aeration chamber. An air inlet conduit may be disposed in fluid communication with the aeration chamber. A diffuser may be provided in the aeration chamber. The diffuser may be disposed in pneumatic communication with the air inlet conduit. A clarifier in the tank interior may include a vertical outside clarifier wall portion. An inside clarifier wall portion may be disposed at an acute angle to the outside clarifier wall portion. A clarifier interior may be formed by and between the outside clarifier wall portion and the inside clarifier wall portion. A clarifier inlet may establish fluid communication between the aeration chamber and the clarifier interior. An effluent outlet conduit may be disposed in fluid communication with the clarifier interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Inventor: George E. Johnson, III
  • Patent number: 10058800
    Abstract: A filter device is provided with an annular filter element. A central tube is inserted into the annular filter element so as to delimit an inwardly positioned cavity of the annular filter element. A functional part is inserted into the annular filter element and extends parallel to a longitudinal axis of the annular filter element, wherein the functional part is arranged in radial direction of the annular filter element outward of the central tube. The functional part has a radial inwardly positioned wall facing the central tube. The central tube has a facing wall that is facing the radial inwardly positioned wall of the functional part. The radial inwardly positioned wall of the functional part is positioned parallel to or concentric to the facing wall of the central tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: MANN+HUMMEL GmbH
    Inventors: Pamela Gohl, Marco Faisst, Guenter Jokschas, Pius Trautmann
  • Patent number: 10017675
    Abstract: Method for separating a polishing material, which is capable of separating and recovering cerium oxide from a used polishing material that is mainly composed of cerium oxide and a regenerated polishing material which can be obtained by the separation method. This method for separating a polishing material is characterized in that a divalent alkaline earth metal salt is added into the slurry of the used polishing material, while controlling the temperature of the slurry within the range of 10-70 DEG C., thereby causing the polishing material to aggregate under such conditions that the mother liquor has a pH of less than 10.0 as the pH is converted to one at 25 DEG C. so that the polishing material is separated from the mother liquor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Atsushi Takahashi, Yuuki Nagai, Akihiro Maezawa
  • Patent number: 10000396
    Abstract: An ozone dissolution chamber utilizes the principle of laminar stratification of gas in a turbulent dissolution chamber. The dissolution chamber is much shorter in height than the conventional tower dissolution chamber, and ensures a high degree of dissolution of ozone in water and, consequently, a high degree of oxidation of organic and metal impurities to a final oxidation state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Inventor: Adrian A. Preiss
  • Patent number: 9901884
    Abstract: A dispensing system includes a dispenser, a logic device, a nozzle, a diluent source, and a solid product. The logic device controls spray on and spray off cycles to pulse diluent supplied to the nozzle. The diluent contacts the solid product to dissolve a portion of the solid product and create a use solution. Pulsing the spray of diluent controls the concentration of the dispensed product in the use solution by limiting the amount of excess dilutant added to the dispensed product. The product is more consistently dispensed and the concentration of the dispensed product in the use solution is more consistent. Additionally, the concentration of the dispensed product in the use solution can be controlled by changing at least one of a volume of diluent dispensed through the nozzle, a pressure of diluent, a pulsed diluent spray frequency, and a pulsed diluent spray duration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: R. Ryan S. Carroll, Henry L. Carbone, II, Charles E. Wensman, Bruce W. White, John D. Morey
  • Patent number: 9896364
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods, apparatuses, and systems for treating water. The methods, apparatuses and systems reduce scaling associated with solubilized water hardness using a sequence of water treatment agents, including an inlet, one or more treatment reservoirs containing a first treatment agent that is an exhausted ionic resin that is incapable of performing ion exchange and a second treatment agent consisting of a metal oxide and/or hydroxide compound, an outlet, and a treated water delivery line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: ECOLAB USA INC.
    Inventors: Kim R. Smith, Lee J. Monsrud, Keith E. Olson, Kristen Mills, Erik C. Olson, Erin Jane Dahlquist Howlett
  • Patent number: 9796894
    Abstract: Abrasive material regeneration method regenerates a cerium oxide abrasive material from a used abrasive material slurry containing the cerium oxide abrasive material and resulting from grinding a grinding subject having silicon as the primary component, characterized by regenerating the abrasive material containing cerium oxide through: a slurry recovery step (A) for recovering an abrasive material slurry discharged from a grinder; an isolation/concentration step (B) for adding a magnesium salt as an inorganic salt to the recovered abrasive material slurry, aggregating the abrasive material under the condition that the pH value of the mother liquor converted to 25 DEG C is at least 6.5 and less than 10.0, and thus isolating and concentrating the abrasive material from the mother liquor; and an abrasive material recovery step (C) for recovering the isolated and concentrated abrasive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Atsushi Takahashi, Yuuki Nagai, Akihiro Maezawa
  • Patent number: 9381519
    Abstract: An apparatus for separating magnetic particles from a liquid which contains said particles, said liquid being contained in an elongated vessel (11) having a length axis (12), said vessel being arranged in a vessel holder (13) with its length axis (12) in a substantially vertical position, said vessel (11) having a bottom and a tapered cross-section that diminishes towards the bottom of the vessel and a side wall (14) which has an outer surface which forms an angle with the length axis (12) of said vessel (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: ROCHE MOLECULAR SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Tobias Holenstein, Rolf Schneebeli, Renato Belz
  • Patent number: 9365488
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing alkyl nitrate. The centrifugal extraction equipment acts as the esterification separator; a mixed acid solution containing sulfuric acid and nitric acid enters from the heavy phase inlet of the centrifugal extraction equipment; alkyl alcohol enters from the light phase inlet of the centrifugal extraction equipment; the feeding molar ratio of alkyl alcohol and nitric acid equals to 1:1.0-3.0; esterification reaction occurs with the mixed acid and alkyl alcohol at a temperature of 10˜60° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: SHANDONG LIBAODE CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Deliang Xu, Hengtao Mao
  • Patent number: 9321661
    Abstract: The invention relates a magnetic particle control system positioning a magnetic particle (or magnetic particles) at a specific area, and more particular, to a magnetic particle control system including at least two magnets apart from each other, wherein a magnetic particle is positioned at a specific area between the at least two magnets by a repulsive force between the magnets. According to the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the magnetic particle can be consistently positioned at a wanted area by the at least two magnets with the same poles facing each other. Accordingly, the magnetic particle can be effectively controlled by arbitrarily adjusting the position of the magnets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Lee Seock Heon, Na Yong Hun, Yang Seung Heun
  • Patent number: 9321657
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus having a double wiper structure for sterilizing ballast water. Each wiper for use in removing foreign substances from an ultraviolet lamp has a double structure including a main wiper part and auxiliary wiper parts. The auxiliary wiper parts are disposed on opposite sides of the main wiper part so that when the wiper body is moved forward or backward, the corresponding auxiliary wiper part primarily removes foreign substances before the main wiper part wipes the ultraviolet lamp unit. Each auxiliary wiper part includes an inclined protrusion and a pointed part so that friction between the surface of the ultraviolet lamp and the auxiliary wiper part can be minimized. The main wiper part includes a first blade and a second blade that are respectively disposed on opposite sides of a depression formed in an inner circumferential surface of the main wiper part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Panasia, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Soo-Tae Lee, Tae-Sung Pyo, Su-Kyu Lee
  • Patent number: 9193616
    Abstract: The mobile buoyant aerator has a buoyant toroidal capture tray for capturing contaminants and a large diameter tube extending downward through the center of the tray. The aerator may have air or other gas pumped down through a smaller concentric tube to exit at the bottom of the larger tube to entrain and carry contaminated water up the larger tube, capturing contaminants in the capture tray. Alternatively, the aerator may have a compressed gas tank at the bottom of the larger tube to preclude the need for a smaller diameter tube. In another alternative, the aerator has an air pump at the top of the structure to pump air down through the device. In a further alternative, the aerator has a water pump at the top of the structure that draws water from outside the aerator and pumps the water down through the center to entrain contaminated water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Inventor: Bader Shafaqa Al-Anzi
  • Patent number: 9073063
    Abstract: A liquid treatment system using gas flotation to separate suspended matter from liquid influent, including a flotation tank into which the liquid influent is fed through an inlet, an outlet conduit through which treated effluent is fed from the flotation tank, a separation conduit for feeding liquid to a bubble release point, means for pressurising the liquid in the separation conduit and dissolving gas in the pressurised liquid, wherein an energy recovery device is used for reducing pressure of the liquid before the bubble release point such that gas bubbles are released into the flotation tank for floating said suspended matter to a surface of the liquid in the tank, and wherein the energy recovery device supplies energy obtained through said pressure reduction of the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: BEIJING CHINA WATER GOLDEN WATER DESALINATION TECHNOLOGY APPLICATION AND RESEARCH CO., LTD
    Inventor: Mark Owen Woodthorpe
  • Publication number: 20150144540
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for restoring the extractive potential of organic hydroxyoxime-based extraction solution used in the recovery of metals by liquid-liquid extraction are provided. The method is two-stage, in which an aqueous solution of hydroxylamine or some hydroxylamine compound is used in the reaction stage, and the removal of the undesirable compounds generated in the reaction occurs in the second stage by adsorption purification. The reaction stage and the adsorptive stage are carried out in a mixing tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2015
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: OUTOTEC (Finland) Oy
    Inventors: Erkki Paatero, Kai Jyrkkä, Sami Virolainen
  • 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: 9028685
    Abstract: A water purification system for continuously disinfecting water in a holding tank that provides uniform mixing and increased residence time. The system comprises a double disinfectant tank for potable water, comprising an inner tank and an outer tank. The inner tank being located wholly within and in the lower portion of the outer tank. The water and disinfectant inlet feeds water directly into the inner tank through a tube extending into the inner tank. The inner tank is sealed off from the outer tank except for limited openings located primarily in the lower half of the inner tank wall. The inlet tube preferably extends at least about 50% of the height of the inner tank, to a point above the location of the limited openings in the lower half of the inner tank. This results in better mixing, especially when the flow through the limited openings is high enough to create turbulent flow, and greater residence time compared to baffled tanks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Flexcon Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Wind Evans
  • Publication number: 20150122740
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates, according to some embodiments, to systems and methods of fluid treatment systems. Fluid treatment systems and methods thereof may be operable to remove contaminants and optionally reduce hardness. A fluid treatment system may comprise a feed stream configured to provide a contaminated fluid, a concentrate tank configured to receive the contaminated fluid from the feed stream, a filtration unit configured to receive the contaminated fluid from the concentrate tank, and a permeate stream operable to receive a treated fluid from the filtration unit. A concentrate tank may be operable to reduce hardness of the contaminated fluid. A filtration unit may be operable to filter contaminants from the contaminated fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2013
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Anthony L. Powell, Brian E. Butters
  • Publication number: 20150114910
    Abstract: The present invention relates an apparatus for cleaning water, in particular precleaning seawater, including at least one tank for receiving water containing at least one flocculating agent for separating organic and possibly biological constituents contained in the water. The at least one tank includes at least one contact zone K for contacting the water containing the flocculating agent with at least one gas, in particular air, and at least one separation zone S for separating the flocculated organic constituents buoyed up by the gas. At least one gassing unit is arranged in the at least one contact zone K and at least one filtration unit is arranged in the at least one separation zone S. The at least one gas is injected via the at least one gassing unit without using a liquid carrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Jens-Uwe Repke, Guenter Wozny, Matan Beery
  • 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: 9005443
    Abstract: An anaerobic digestion device includes a digester body configured to receive organic waste and a plurality of plates coupled to one another so as to divide an interior volume of the digester body into a plurality of compartmentalized chambers. The compartmentalized chambers are movable relative to the digester body to advance a slurry of said organic waste along a length of the digester body. A plurality of ports spaced along the digester body and arranged to vent biogas from the digester body. A storage vessel is configured to receive and store biogas received from the digester body via the ports, and a heating system configured to heat the digester body. The heating system is fuelled by the biogas vented from the digester body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Inventors: Ronald E. Arnoldsen, Jr., Debra A. Arnoldsen
  • Patent number: 8999154
    Abstract: Disclosed is a water treatment apparatus for treating Lake Okeechobee water. The treatment apparatus operates on a continuous flow of water which is subjected to hydrodynamic waves, acoustic ultrasonic waves in combination with injected ozone and electrolysis. The treatment system provides a cost efficient and environmentally friendly process for cleaning contaminated water that is directed into estuaries, lagoons, intracoastal waterway, everglades, and the ocean. Treatment includes addressing various levels of contaminants such as aerobic bacteria, often called a green slime that produces a bio-film. The apparatus can be mounted on a vessel to permit targeting of algae blooms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Ecosphere Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Dennis McGuire
  • Patent number: 8992781
    Abstract: A water filter-pitcher includes a water pitcher with at least two chambers separated by at least one filter, and an ozone generator to generate ozone for sanitizing at least internal surfaces of said two chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Soda-Club (CO2) SA
    Inventors: Guy Daniely, Avraham Cohen
  • Patent number: 8992665
    Abstract: Provided is a valuable-metal recovery method for recovering metals from lithium ion batteries using comparatively simple equipment and without using a cumbersome process. In said method, a positive electrode material from lithium ion batteries, containing lithium and a transition metal, is dissolved in an acidic solution, thereby generating lithium ions and ions of the transition metal in the acidic solution. Said acidic solution and a recovery liquid are then made to flow with an anion-permeable membrane interposed therebetween, causing the lithium ions to permeate from the acidic solution to recovery solution. Lithium ions are then recovered from the recovery liquid containing dissolved lithium ions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihide Yamaguchi, Takehiko Hasebe, Yasuko Yamada
  • Patent number: 8986541
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a copper recovery apparatus includes a precipitation tank, a mixing tank, a filter-aid feeder, a solid-liquid separator includes a filter, a cleaning-water supply line, a cleaning-water discharge line, a separation tank, and a filter-aid return line. The precipitation tank is configured to receive copper ions-containing water to be treated and an alkali to prepare treated water containing a precipitate of copper compound. The solid-liquid separator is configured to allow the treated water to be passed through the filter on which the precoat layer is deposited to separate the precipitate retained on the precoat layer from a filtrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Taro Fukaya, Kenji Tsutsumi, Atsushi Yamazaki, Ichiro Yamanashi, Hirofumi Noguchi, Yasutaka Kikuchi, Shuji Seki
  • Publication number: 20150076045
    Abstract: Provided are a purification method and apparatus for radioactive wastewater. The purification method and apparatus for radioactive wastewater according to the present invention, which is a biological purification apparatus for radioactive wastewater containing radioactive iodine, includes: an anoxic tank into which wastewater containing radioactive iodine is introduced; and a microbial purification tank connected to the anoxic tank so as to allow wastewater in an anaerobic state to be introduced and supplied with a metal reducing bacteria source, an electron donor, and a copper ion source, wherein radioactive iodine and copper ions are bound to each other to form copper iodide by metal reducing bacteria, and the formed copper iodide is precipitated in the microbial purification tank, such that the radioactive iodide in the wastewater is removed as sludge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: KOREA ATOMIC ENERGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Seung Yeop LEE, Ji Young LEE, Jong Tae JEONG, Kyung Su KIM
  • Publication number: 20150060371
    Abstract: A reactor and process for the oxidation of substrates, comprising: a first reaction chamber configured to dissolve substrates in a fluid, the first reaction chamber comprising a linking outlet; the linking outlet being connected to a tubular reaction chamber downstream of the first reaction chamber, conditions in the first reaction chamber being subcritical for the fluid, and conditions in the tubular reaction chamber being supercritical for the fluid carrying the dissolved substrates
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: The University of Birmingham
    Inventor: Bushra Al-Duri
  • Patent number: 8968575
    Abstract: Ballast and/or cooling water biocidal treatment and disinfection systems and techniques are provided. The systems utilize oxidation reduction potential control to regulate addition, or concentration of an electrocatalytically generated biocidal agent to disinfection levels in ship buoyancy and to biofouling levels in ship cooling water systems. The disinfection and biofouling control systems provide suitable treatment while reducing the potential for corrosion of ship components and, in some cases, undesirable disinfection byproducts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Evoqua Water Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Vadim Zolotarsky, Irina A. Ivanter, Louis J. Lombardo, Robert Weddle, Michael Upjohn
  • Patent number: 8961797
    Abstract: A valve assembly for a twin tank-type water treatment system includes and a tank selector valve assembly that includes first and second rotary selector valves driven in concert with another by a reversible electric motor. The motor drives the first and second selector valves between (a) a first position in which an untreated water inlet and a treated water outlet of the valve assembly are coupled to a first resin tank, and a second resin tank is connected to a regeneration valve, and (b) a second position which the untreated water inlet and the treated water outlet of the valve assembly are coupled to the second resin tank, and the first resin tank is connected to a regeneration valve. The rotary valves may be disks that rotate relatively rapidly on a common shaft driven by the electric motor through an arc of 180° or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Clack Corporation
    Inventor: Don Vaughan
  • Publication number: 20150041402
    Abstract: A method and system for de-oiling a feed comprising oil and water. The feed has an input temperature above the boiling point of water and an input pressure sufficient to maintain the water in a liquid state. In at least one embodiment, the method comprises pumping the feed with a motive pump through a phase separator having a restriction to effect a phase separation of oil and water in the feed and produce an agitated mixture, supplying the agitated mixture from the phase separator into a pressure vessel operating at a pressure sufficient to maintain in a liquid state water that is at a temperature above the boiling point of water, removing an oil phase from the pressure vessel, and removing a water phase from the pressure vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventor: Wade R. Bozak
  • Publication number: 20150027179
    Abstract: An anaerobic digester is fed a feedstock, for example sludge from a municipal wastewater treatment plant, and produces a digestate. The digestate is dewatered into a cake. The cake may be dried further, for example in a thermal drier. The cake is treated in a pyrolysis system to produce a synthesis gas and biochar. The gas is sent to the same or another digester to increase its methane production. The char may be used as a soil enhancer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Juan Carlos Josse, Andrew Benedek
  • Publication number: 20150014235
    Abstract: Feedwell devices are described herein. While the described feedwells can include any suitable component, in some cases, the feedwell has a center portion, a launder, a weir, and/or a mixing zone. While the various components can have any suitable relationship with respect to each other, in some cases, the weir surrounds a portion of the feedwell's center portion and is configured to allow supernatant from a thickener (e.g., a thickener in which the feedwell device has been placed) to flow into the launder. In turn, in some implementations, the launder is configured to direct the supernatant to the mixing zone. Additionally, in some implementations, the mixing zone is configured to mix the supernatant with a feed slurry, prior to introducing a mixture of the supernatant and the feed slurry into the center portion of the feedwell. Other implementations are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: Michael Empey, Glenn Welch
  • Patent number: 8926842
    Abstract: A water treatment system using a high pressure advanced oxidation process with unreacted ozone reusing is disclosed, which are able to increase a decomposition speed of a pollutant by reusing a high pressure advanced oxidation process which uses an ozone and photocatalyst and a photo-oxidation reaction of a ultraviolet ray. The capacity of the expensive ozone generator can be reduced as compared to the conventional advanced oxidation process which uses a large capacity ozone generator in which almost ozone is discharged into the air. In addition, it is possible to decrease the load of the off-gas ozone removing apparatus for removing the off-gas ozone which is discharged into the air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Inventor: Jong Seob Shim
  • Patent number: 8920647
    Abstract: A method and apparatus provide pulsed fluid treatment at a plurality of distinct points utilizing pulsed magnetic energy concentrated in a plurality of distinct areas along a fluid flow path. The instant invention prevents the formation and accumulation of contaminants within conduits and on equipment utilized in the transportation, delivery and processing of fluid columns. It may also be utilized to accelerate the separation of oil and water and increase the efficiency of oil/water separation equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Wilsa, Inc.
    Inventor: Herbert William Holland