Gas Removed From Closed Tank Patents (Class 210/218)
  • Patent number: 6866788
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for purifying aqueous effluents, in particular polluted water, by catalytic oxidation using a three-phase reactor comprising two communicating chambers. The invention is characterised in that it consists in: maintaining the catalyst suspended and continuously circulating it between the two chambers of said reactor, by entrainment under the effect of carrier gas injected into one of said chamber, and in oxidizing the pollutants in contact with the in the other chamber, by injecting a reactive oxidizing gas in said other chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Ondeo Degremont
    Inventors: Sylvie Baig, Michel Cordier, Alain Truc
  • Patent number: 6827820
    Abstract: The invention relates to a degassing centrifugal apparatus such as a pump and to a process for pumping and degassing a fluid. The apparatus has a rotatable hollow rotor connected to a stationary fluid inlet at one end and a stationary liquid outlet at the opposite end and a gas exhaust in the center thereof. The rotor has at its inlet end a bladed wheel with arcuate blades. The bladed wheel accelerates a fluid flow in said rotor inlet end and causes the fluid to rotate at a peripherical velocity higher than the peripherical velocity of said rotor inlet end. The apparatus is especially useful for pumping and degassing backwater in the production of paper or board in a paper machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: POM Technology Oy AB
    Inventor: Paul Meinander
  • Patent number: 6811690
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for separation of suspended solid particles from fluids, for separation and mixing of fluids, and for dissolving gases in aqueous fluids. The apparatus employs a grooved ring to divide the fluid stream and impart a high velocity on each of the divided or sub-streams. A grooved ring with any number of grooves that may be spiral in shape is used to create a high velocity circular motion on a divided stream for separation of suspended solid particles by centrifugal force in a cyclone filter and for saturation of liquid with gases in a fluid mixer where gases are introduced through a diffuser. A grooved ring with any number of grooves that may be radial is used in a fluid mixer to divide a stream of fluid, produce a high velocity flow through each groove, introduce a second fluid through an orifice into the first fluid flowing through each groove, and direct the fluid mixture to a center impact zone where the various streams collide to complete the mixing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Hydrotreat, Inc.
    Inventor: Johnny Arnaud
  • Patent number: 6808637
    Abstract: An ozone water producing system and control method, which is flexibly used indoor or outdoor irrespective condition of a flow channel, is provided for reconstituting polluted water as environmentally friendly. The ozone water generating system is maintained in an optimum state for improving entire performance of the system as well as predicting and preventing the backflow of ozone water, which is occurred due to outlet blocking in a discharging process. The controlling method of the present ozone water producing enables to prevent the deteriorating the performance and ensure the operation stability. The ozone water-producing system comprises an influent air controller, an injector, a gas-liquid separator, and an ozone water-backflow, preventing device. The present system and controller is designed to prevent water backflow, being frequently occurred in the conventional system, for improving the performance, stability and extending operating lifetime.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Dong Woo Kiyoun Inc.
    Inventor: Soo Hawn Cho
  • Patent number: 6790349
    Abstract: A waste treatment apparatus for the treatment and processing of wet material is provided. The apparatus comprises an inlet hopper adapted for receipt of the wet material. A pre-conditioning unit is provided having an input and an output end wherein the wet material is received from the inlet hopper at the input end and is conveyed to the output end wherein the wet material is processed to reduce moisture and pathogen content. A blower is provided for providing a forced air stream to direct the flow of the wet material and for directing the flow from the output end of the pre-conditioning unit. A pre-separation cyclone is provided and is operatively positioned for receiving the wet material from the output end of the pre-conditioning unit via the air stream powered by the blower, wherein the wet material is processed under the influence of cyclonic forces that further reduce the moisture content, pathogen content, and reduce the particle size of the wet material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Global Resource Recovery Organization, Inc.
    Inventor: Bud Sawyer
  • Patent number: 6780331
    Abstract: Contaminated liquids are treated by ozonation in a pressurized environment. Ozone is injected into a contaminated liquid to form a gas/liquid mixture. The mixture is injected into a mixing chamber for providing turbulent gas/liquid contact. The mixture is flowed from the mixing chamber into a pressurized reaction vessel. In an alternative embodiment, contaminated liquid is treated in situ using pressurized injection wells for injecting ozone-containing liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Science Applications International Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas John Galatro, Steven Raymond Zimmers, Daniel Allen Delp, John Hale Templeton, Frank Salvatore Capitani
  • Patent number: 6730224
    Abstract: An improved method for the aerobic thermophilic treatment of organic material of the type in which air is passed through organic matter contained in a reactor, in which at least a portion of the air that has passed through the organic matter in the reactor being captured and again passed through the organic matter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University
    Inventor: James W. Blackburn
  • Patent number: 6716351
    Abstract: A system comprising a first anaerobic digester (12), an ammonia recovery vessel (16) and a second anaerobic digester (14). Microorganisms in the first digester are primarily hydrolyzers and acetogens, while those in the second digester are primarily methanogens. A nitrogen containing feed stock undegoes hydrolysis ans acetogenesis in the first digester. The effluent is passed to the ammonia recovery vessel in which ammonia is removed. The low ammonia effluent stream is passed to the second digester to undergo methanogenesis, generating a biogas. In an alternate embodiment, a single anaerobic digester is used. The effluent is treated for ammonia removal and recycled to the digester to keep the ammonia levels sufficiently low to avoid ammonia inhibition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Inventor: Alexander G. Fassbender
  • Patent number: 6710142
    Abstract: There is provided a method for extracting a gaseous fluid which comprises extracting the gaseous fluid through fluid extraction ports set up on the top face portion of a vertical-type agitation tank equipped inside with an agitator, wherein two fluid extraction ports are set up at positions approximately symmetrical about the center of the top face portion of the vertical-type agitation tank, or wherein at least three fluid extraction ports are set up each at a vertex of an approximately regular polygon having the central point identical with the center of the top face portion of the vertical-type agitation tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Idemitsu Petrochemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasunobu Kaneko, Takamichi Matsumura, Tomoo Nambu, Itaru Matsuhiro
  • Patent number: 6669843
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for separation of suspended solid particles from fluids, for separation and mixing of fluids, and for dissolving gases in aqueous fluids. The apparatus employs a grooved ring to divide the fluid stream and impart a high velocity on each of the divided or sub-streams. A grooved ring with any number of grooves that may be spiral in shape is used to create a high velocity circular motion on a divided stream for separation of suspended solid particles by centrifugal force in a cyclone filter and for saturation of liquid with gases in a fluid mixer where gases are introduced through a diffuser. A grooved ring with any number of grooves that may be radial is used in a fluid mixer to divide a stream of fluid, produce a high velocity flow through each groove, introduce a second fluid through an orifice into the first fluid flowing through each groove, and direct the fluid mixture to a center impact zone where the various streams collide to complete the mixing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Hydrotreat, Inc.
    Inventor: Johnny Arnaud
  • Patent number: 6666967
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to efficiently remove foam produced in water by the aeration. Further, another object of the present invention is to improve water and air. Said objects can be attained by providing a foam removing apparatus consisting of a core having a spiral groove on its surface and a cylinder in which said core is inserted, and an air-water treating apparatus consisting of an outer cylinder, an inner cylinder inserted in said outer cylinder, a block having gas permeability inserted in said inner cylinder, and a core inserted in said inner cylinder and disposed above said permeable block, to which block an air introducing pipe connecting from the outside, and on the surface of said core a spiral groove being formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: I.B.E. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshiharu Oyabu
  • Patent number: 6638428
    Abstract: Formation of bubbles is prevented during filtration operation by placing an oil on top of a solution-to-be filtered, where the oil is not admixable with the solution and has a lower specific gravity than the solution. The oil seals the solution from air so that no bubbles are formed. The oil does not pass through the filter even after all collectable filtrate of the solution has passed therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignees: Hitachi Chemical Research Center, Inc., Hitachi Chemical Co., LTD
    Inventor: Mieko Ogura
  • Patent number: 6627070
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for aeration in a filter system. The present invention provides an air injection adaptor for coupling between a filter tank and a valve controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Ecowater Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Marlin A. Frank
  • Patent number: 6599431
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for purifying water including groundwater contaminated with a pollutant such as organohalogenated compounds are provided. The contaminated water is purified by aeration to expel the pollutant into gas phase, and the pollutant containing gas is then mixed with a chlorine-containing gas under light irradiation to decompose the pollutant, where the chlorine-containing gas may generated from functional water by aeration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiro Kawaguchi, Kinya Kato, Akira Kuriyama
  • Patent number: 6585886
    Abstract: A wastewater treatment reactor includes an upper chamber 4 biomass therein and a lower chamber including a combination filtering/aerating unit 6 having a gas inlet 9 and a discharge outlet 10 for purified water. In operation, wastewater enters the upper reactor chamber via delivery pipe 12 and is mixed with biomass. During a filtering mode, the wastewater then enters the porous hollow body 7 defining a membrane unit 6 and is filtered thereby. In an aerating mode, gas travels across the membrane in an opposite direction freeing the membrane of biomass lodged therein. A heat exchanger 16 can be provided for exchanging heat energy between the wastewater input and the purified water output. A control device for regulating gas flow, wastewater flow, and pH may also be provided including pressure, pH and oxygen content measurement. A channel 7a may be provided for adding a cleaning medium and also an absorbent reactor 13 for treating waste air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Inventor: Wolfgang Luehr
  • Patent number: 6585899
    Abstract: Disclosed are waste processing systems capable of being used on-board a transport such as a train, bus, airplane, boat, or other similar vehicles. The liquid waste is evaporated and condensed primarily as water vapor. The resulting liquid may be safely discharged in most places without adverse environmental and health effects. If desired, the liquid can be stored and reused for non-potable applications such as toilet flushing. The solid waste is converted to inert ash or carbon and may be either stored in a filter or discharged as carbon or ash into the water, air, or onto the railroad tracks. The system may also be used in stationary or semi-stationary applications where on-site treatment of waste may be desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Microseptec, Inc.
    Inventors: Christina Edvardsson, Tomas Edvardsson
  • Patent number: 6569332
    Abstract: A process to recover energy, reduce pollution potential, and add value to organic waste such as animal manure is described. The process involves the anaerobic digestion of feedstocks, such as animal manure, at low to high temperatures in batch, semi-continuous or continuous reactors. The process makes use of existing handling and storage equipment at the farm and requires minimal supervision and skill by the operator. The system is not affected by high concentrations of volatile acids and ammonia or nitrogen. The productivity of the anaerobic digester system, in terms of methane gas production and quality, is exceptionally high. The anaerobic digester employs plural pressurizable anaerobic digesters connected in parallel. Consequently, the process is scaleable, low cost and does not interfere with regular farm operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Inventors: Jack L. Ainsworth, Dan Atwood, Tom Rideout
  • Patent number: 6565744
    Abstract: The present invention provides treatment of wastewater containing oil, organic and inorganic industrial compounds, urea, and e.t.c. The resulting products will be purified water, dry fertilizer, pure carbomide, uncontaminated gas and liquid fuel, and other products that can be separated from the concentrate after ultrafiltration. In order to accomplish those and other objectives the present invention improves the system for cleaning wastewater by subjecting the wastewater to a magnetic field and heating it before the initial settling process. In addition, before ultrafiltration, the liquid is treated in an electroflotation device. The wastewater cleaning system can also be comprised of a urea separator for separating urea from other products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Inventors: Mikhail Levitin, Boris Khaytin
  • Patent number: 6555359
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for anaerobic treatment of organic wastes in a liquid filled vessel wherein particles of the waste are buoyed and form a floating bed in the liquid by the gasses generated by the anaerobic digestion of the wastes. The bed forms to an upper stratum of the least digested, least dense waste and a lower stratum of the most digested, most dense waste. Liquid from beneath the bed is continuously sprayed over the upper surface of the bed through a series of discharge ports which expands to bed downwardly. Each spraying period is followed by a quiescent period to allow the bed to reform. Over time the floating bed is moved from an inlet end to an outlet end of the vessel where the most digested waste is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Anaerobics, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert J. Cummings
  • Patent number: 6527960
    Abstract: A process for separating oily films from sand particles carried in a solvent free water stream includes the use of a jet pump scrubber in a density classification tank to treat such oily coated particles at controlled operating temperatures above 65° C. whereby, at such controlled temperature, enhanced cavitation in the jet pump separates the oily film from the sand particles to form slop oil, the tank providing for recirculation of the particles through the jet pump before discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Canadian Environmental Equipment & Engineering Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Diana L. Bacon, Patrick J. Cochrane, Wade R Bozak, Roderick M. Facey
  • Publication number: 20030038079
    Abstract: Method and process for dramatically increasing mixing, energy and operating efficiency of wastewater treatment plants at reduced capital and operating cost per unit volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2002
    Publication date: February 27, 2003
    Inventor: Herman P. Miller
  • Patent number: 6482322
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating sewage in cold regions including a pretreatment stage, an aerobic treatment stage, and a discharge stage, where cold outside air is combined with warm recirculating air from within the sewage treatment system to provide oxygen for the aerobic treatment of the sewage, with the treated sewage being discharged intermittently in high volume, high flow-rate batches to prevent freezing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Inventor: Robert C. Tsigonis
  • Patent number: 6406630
    Abstract: A waste treatment apparatus (10) including one or more vertically oriented curtains (11) each formed of mesh material having a minimal aperture size of 0.001 mm, means for applying liquid waste to said curtain(s) located above said curtain (17, 15) and collection means (20A) for collection of treated waste after passage through said one or more curtains (12). There is also provided a method of treatment of waste using the waste treatment apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Fungi-Gulp Pty. Ltd.
    Inventor: Dick Peter Henry
  • Patent number: 6391202
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and installation for treating waste water from oil seed and cereal processing, especially olive oil mill waste water (OMW), guaranteeing a substantial reduction of environmentally damaging waste water ingredients while taking economic factors into account. The aim of the invention is to develop a method and system designed to treat olive oil mill waste water, whereby higher physical, chemical, biochemical and biological elimination rates can be achieved using the material and energy potential of the OMW while taking economic aspects into account. The installation needs to be able to operate at short notice due to the amounts of seasonal waste. In the inventive method and installation thus disclosed, the fresh waste water is pre-treated by subjecting it to acidification with biogenic flocculation and separation of solid particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Inventors: Michael Knobloch, Andreas Schmidt, Reinhard Koch, Volkmar Peukert
  • Patent number: 6383367
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating water from oil includes creating a vacuum in a container so that oil which contains water and gas bubbles is drawn upward through a first section of the container. At the top of the first section, the oil impacts a baffle plate, thereby releasing water vapor. The oil then flows downward through an obstruction component in a second section of the container, thereby releasing additional water vapor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: NOR Instruments AS
    Inventor: Jens Grötheim
  • Patent number: 6372131
    Abstract: The present invention is a waste water treatment system, which includes at least one closed, covered structure having waste water ingress and waste water egress and waste water treatment capabilities within the structure, and having an ambient air ingress with predetermined volumetric air flow rates, and having an ambient air egress for release of air to the atmosphere; and further includes an ionic oxygen generator connected to the air ingress or egress and has sufficient capacity to generate at least 200 ions of ionic oxygen for removal of odor from exiting air before it is released to the atmosphere. In some preferred embodiments, the waste water treatment is a dissolved air flotation treatment with at least one covered tank containing solid-liquid waste content, and includes sufficient pumping capacity to floatate a solid component of the solid-liquid waste content of the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Inventors: Bernard J. Mirowsky, Paul D. Mirowsky
  • Patent number: 6315893
    Abstract: A polluted water purification apparatus includes a pump 2 and nozzles 4 for delivering polluted water from a polluted water region to a pressure tank T; a gas supplying device 9, 10 for supplying a gas, e.g. oxygen, to the pressure tank; a water level controlling device 5, 6; a degasifier (e.g. 15); and a discharging device 13 for returning the polluted water to the polluted water region. The degasifier periodically discharges gas from the pressure tank in order to prevent toxic gaseous substances (e.g. ammonia) which accumulate in an upper portion of the pressure tank from re-polluting the water therein whenever a concentration of gas in the pressure tank reaches or exceeds a predetermined level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Sawada
  • Patent number: 6299782
    Abstract: A continuous process for treating a liquid-containing organic waste material. Sufficient acid is added to the material to achieve a pH of 2 or less in the material. The material is subjected to a beating treatment sufficient to (a) reduce the viscosity of the material, and (b) by heat-generated by friction during the beating treatment and by heat generated by reaction of the acid with the material, raise the temperature of the material so that liquid in the material is vaporized to gases. Sufficient alkaline medium is added to the material such that the pH of the material is raised to at least 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Conterra AS
    Inventor: Ove Blomkvist
  • Patent number: 6299774
    Abstract: A process to recover energy, reduce pollution potential, and add value to organic waste such as animal manure is described. The process involves the anaerobic digestion of feedstocks, such as animal manure, at low to high temperatures in batch, semi-continuous or continuous reactors. The process makes use of existing handling and storage equipment at the farm and requires minimal supervision and skill by the operator. The system is not affected by high concentrations of volatile acids and ammonia or nitrogen. The productivity of the anaerobic digester system, in terms of methane a gas production and quality, is exceptionally high. The anaerobic digester requires only a singe reaction vessel. Consequently, the process is low cost and does not interfere with regular farm operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Inventors: Jack L. Ainsworth, Dan Atwood, Tom Rideout
  • Patent number: 6251287
    Abstract: A system for treating a nitrate contaminated liquid to remove deleterious or undesirable nitrates therefrom wherein a supply of ionized nitrogen is entrained into a continuous stream of a nitrate contaminated liquid and thereafter is exposed to treating apparatus which changes the nitrates in the nitrate contaminated liquid into at least ionized nitrogen which then combines with the ionized nitrogen entrained in the continuous stream of a nitrate contaminated liquid to form a separated nitrogen gas and a treated liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Water Systems Integrators, LLC
    Inventors: William M. Fields, Donald L. Boyd
  • Patent number: 6153094
    Abstract: The treatment system is for use with septic tank effluent. Water is passed over polyurethane foam blocks, arranged in a heap so that air can circulate freely around the blocks. The size of the foam cells is small enough that water soaks into the blocks and is retained therin. The foam is soft and easily deformed. At the points of block-to-block engagement, the blocks deflect and conform to each other, giving rise to a large contact area through which water can pass between blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: E. Craig Jowett
    Inventors: E. Craig Jowett, Michaye Louise McMaster
  • Patent number: 6132629
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for a continuous or intermittent supply of ozonated fluid, particularly water, from a closed loop system for sanitation, consumption, and other purposes. A preferred embodiment of the apparatus aspect of the invention comprises an ozone generator, an ozone entraining system, and a closed loop water circuit. The closed loop circuit permits continuous recirculation and ozonation of fluid not drawn from the system for use. Optionally the apparatus provides for the removal of an arbitrary fraction of ozonized or ozonated water to any arbitrary service application, such as food- or medical-equipment sterilization, with simultaneous addition of makeup water to maintain a relatively constant mass balance in the overall system, so that ozonized water is continuously available. Unused water is stored indefinitely in a reservior. Further options include venting of off gases and destruction of any ozone gas fraction thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Roger J. Boley
    Inventor: Roger J. Boley
  • Patent number: 6117313
    Abstract: An improved aquaculture system is provided which, in various embodiments, utilizes a single integrated unit to perform the biologic filtering, aeration and degassing functions; has a fish tank with an integrated multiphase drain for removal of fecal solids and uneaten feed with minimum water loss, for removing most of the water from the tank to be processed and returned to the tank and for segregating and for then selectively removing moribund and dead fish from the tank, preventing their cannibalization by other fish in the tank; and a single integrated unit for performing degassing, aeration, gas concentration and reaction/separation functions. An improved biologic filter is also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Inventors: Joshua Goldman, Rosco Perham, Scott Lindell
  • Patent number: 6099741
    Abstract: Liquid containing organic waste material and chemicals are continually introduced into the upper part of a vertical, cylindical treatment chamber. While sinking through the chamber, the material is beaten by fast rotating treating elements which also mix the material. The treating elements also move in axial direction to free vapors and gases from the material. Vapors and gases are removed from the top of the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Biopartner AS
    Inventor: Ove Blomkvist
  • Patent number: 6083385
    Abstract: A cleansing system for removing pollutants from a liquid waste by being pumped from a source to a blend recycle tank. The blend recycle tank supplies liquid waste to a first receiving reactor tank through an overflow pipe. A circulating flow is established between the first receiving reactor tank and a primary reactor tank through a lower conduit and an upper overflow conduit. An ozone generator supplies ozone to the lower conduit. An upper gas fume conduit returns excess ozone from the primary reactor tank to said receiving reactor tank and to the supply of liquid being pumped from a source for further mixing of ozone and liquid waste.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Inventors: Charles O. Benskin, Harley A. Weisse
  • Patent number: 6071407
    Abstract: A method of generating an adsorbent product for use in magnetic separation of contaminants from an influent liquid comprises the steps of: (i) mixing at least one micro-organism with the liquid in a chemostat vessel; (ii) magnetically separating a magnetic fraction of liquid from the vessel from a non-magnetic fraction (iii) returning the magnetic fraction to the vessel; and (iv) collecting precipitated material from the vessel for use as the adsorbent product. In an embodiment, a solution comprising heavy metals is fed to a chemostat containing sulphur-generating micro-organisms, iron, sulphates and a nutrient compound together with N.sub.2. Liquid is drawn off to a high gradient magnetic separator where the non-magnetic fraction containing decontaminated liquid is separated off; the slurry is removed for use as an adsorbent. Sulphide generating micro-organisms are listed. Dy and Er salts or complexes can be added, as can other specified micro-organisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: University of Southampton
    Inventors: James Henry Peter Watson, Derek Clifford Ellwood
  • Patent number: 6063273
    Abstract: For the biological purification of waste water, use is made of a column containing a UASB reactor (1) at the bottom and an aerobic reactor (2) at the top. The two reactors (1; 2) are separated from one another by a partition (12) in which openings are provided to allow the anaerobic effluent through into the aerobic reactor. The partition (12) is situated at some distance above the gas collection means (8) in order to form a buffer zone (13) for anaerobic sludge which has flowed through. Preferably, a floatation apparatus (3) is mounted on the aerobic reactor in order to separate biomass from the purified water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Paques B.V.
    Inventors: Leonard Hubertus Alphonsus Habets, Antonius Johannes Hendrikus Hyacinthus Engelaar, Sjoerd Hubertus Jozef Vellinga
  • Patent number: 6054046
    Abstract: A gas treatment system for liquids can increase gas exposure and contact time. A liquid stream is directed into a vortex chamber (130). The vortex chamber (130) creates a downward spiral flow of the liquid stream forcing it into an upper end inlet (145) of a contact tank (114) and downward in the contact tank (114). When the liquid stream reaches a lower region (170) of the contact tank (114), a portion is drawn into a draw tube (120) while the other portion is drawn into a re-circulation system (160). In the re-circulation system (160), a gas injector system (166) entrains bubbles of a treatment gas into the liquid stream creating a re-circulated stream that is displaced into an upper region (168) in the contact tank (114). The portion drawn into the draw tube (120) then moves upwardly to a degassing chamber (146) wherein the treatment gas is separated from the liquid and delivered through an outlet (124) for use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Inventor: William R. Nelson
  • Patent number: 6036863
    Abstract: In a reactor for water treatment of the type that contains particle-like carriers on which a biofilm grows that generates a desired decomposition of the contamination, a forced current is created such that the water in another current flows downwardly. In a special embodiment the upwardly flowing current is created in a tube. The reactor proves to be exceptionally effective and can be utilized together with other water purification and water treatment equipment. It is a distinctive feature that the downflowing current tears air down thus causing an exceptionally high oxygen concentration in the water. The reactor can furthermore be used for denitrification. Among other things the invention provides a minibiological purification plant servicing a single or very few households. As micro film carriers are preferably used, particles having an outwardly open cell structure for increasing the total effective surface area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Inventor: Knud Peter Brockdorff
  • Patent number: 6027441
    Abstract: Blood processing systems and methods rotate a processing chamber on a rotating element. The processing chamber includes a first compartment and a second compartment. Blood is conveyed into the first compartment for centrifugal separation into components. A liquid free of blood occupies the second compartment to counter-balance the first compartment during rotation on the rotating element. In one embodiment, the second compartment is served by a single fluid flow access. Prior to use, the single access is coupled to tubing, through which a vacuum is drawn to remove air from the second compartment. While the vacuum exists, communication is opened between the tubing and a source of liquid. The vacuum draws the liquid into the second compartment through the single access, thereby priming the second compartment for use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J Cantu, Kyungyoon Min, Douglas W Reitz
  • Patent number: 6013189
    Abstract: A purifier for a batch of liquid in a reservoir has a vent space and a pumping system for the vent space above the surface of liquid in the reservoir. This allows a closure lid giving easy access to the reservoir, and the pumping system is arranged so that ozone is exhausted from the vent space and reduced before entering the atmosphere. This allows a user early access to the reservoir after completing a purification cycle and protects the user from exposure to ozone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Inventor: William Alan Burris
  • Patent number: 5980739
    Abstract: The treatment system is for use with septic tank effluent. Water is passed over polyurethane foam blocks, arranged in a heap so that air can circulate freely around the blocks. The size of the foam cells is small enough that water soaks into the blocks and is retained therin. The foam is soft and easily deformed. At the points of block-to-block engagement, the blocks deflect and conform to each other, giving rise to a large contact area through which water can pass between blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: E. Craig Jowett
    Inventors: E Craig Jowett, Michaye Louise McMaster
  • Patent number: 5972219
    Abstract: A process is described for the aerobic treatment of effluent in a reactor of the UASB type, into the bottom of which the effluent to be treated is fed and, at the same time, oxygen is fed in an amount such that the growth of a facultative and an aerobic biomass is promoted. An apparatus for the aerobic treatment of effluent is also described, which apparatus consists of a UASB rector, distributors for supplying liquid and aeration means being located at the bottom of the reactor and means for integrated settling of biomass and gas collection being located at the top of the reactor. The apparatus can also be an integrated anaerobic/aerobic reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Paques B.V.
    Inventors: Leonard Hubertus Alphonsus Habets, Wilhelmus Johannes Bernardus Maria Driessen
  • Patent number: 5961831
    Abstract: The present invention is an automated aquaculture system which comprises: one or more culture tanks connected to a closed system of filters and ultraviolet or ozone sources for water purification prior to returning water to the culture tanks. Also disclosed as part of the system are automated biofilters that automatically monitor water conditions in the system, and video cameras in the tanks that monitor growth and condition of the animals in the tank. This invention is also a process useful for culturing an aquatic species, using the disclosed systems. Preferred species include shrimp, squid, marine fishes and fingerlings and marine mollusks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Phillip G. Lee, Philip E. Turk, John L. Whitson
  • Patent number: 5958229
    Abstract: An electrolytic disinfectant system especially useful in a maritime application for treating freshwater so as to render it potable, provides a brine solution that is stored in a tank from which hypochlorite as the disinfectant is fed to a freshwater supply. Gases also fed to the disinfectant storage tank including hydrogen is discharged therefrom and passed to a hydrogen recombiner through which the hydrogen is disposed of by reaction with oxygen under control of external heating bands to generate water vapor. The system thereby provides enhanced disinfectant effectiveness and eliminates storage of hazardous chemicals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: George Filiopoulos, Thomas E. Wenzel
  • Patent number: 5951860
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for treating wastewater is provided including a cylindrical tank having a top, a bottom, an outer wall and a cylindrical inner wall. The inner wall extends from the bottom of the tank to a point above a desired water level. The inner wall, the top and the bottom define an inner aerobic zone. The inner wall, the outer wall, the top and the bottom define an outer anaerobic zone. Wastewater may pass from the outer anaerobic zone to the inner aerobic zone through holes in the inner wall. An open ended conical hopper is positioned within the inner aerobic zone with its smaller end pointed toward the bottom of the tank. Several radially spaced air outlet pipes connected to a compressed air source extend downward into the inner aerobic zone where air is discharged through the open ends of the outlet pipes. An inlet line connected to the tank opens into the outer anaerobic zone of the tank. An outlet line is positioned within the clarification zone to remove purified water from the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Delta Environmental Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Monroe Wayne Guy
  • Patent number: 5948275
    Abstract: An integrated method for purifying industrial and/or urban effluents containing a large amount of organic material in solution and/or suspension, wherein said effluents are treated in a wet oxidation reactor. The effluents are oxidized in the presence of at least one oxidizing gas to mineralize a large part of the organic material therein by producing a gas phase and an essentially liquid phase mainly containing soluble residual organic material, as well as an essentially inorganic solid phase in suspension. The essentially liquid phase from the reactor is subjected to liquid/solid separation to separate the solid phase, and at least a fraction of the separated solid phase is recycled in the wet oxidation reactor. Various alternative embodiments of the method include adding a catalyst and/or an agent for acidifying the recycled solid phase fraction. The facility may operate continuously or semi-continuously between interruptions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: OTV Omnium de Traltements et de Valorisation S.A.
    Inventors: Malik Djafer, Francis Luck, Jacques Sibony
  • Patent number: 5916437
    Abstract: The present invention provides treatment of domestic sewage containing oil. The resulting products will be purified water, dry fertilizer, and fuel (gas and liquid) containing no contaminants that could pollute the environment. After the initial settling process, two parallel flows are created: one containing liquid plus crude sediment (0.2 mm and greater) and the other containing liquid and fine particles (less than 0.2 mm), the latter termed "settled domestic sewage". The two flows are treated separately. The settled domestic sewage after treatment in a low-pressure separator that will separate out liquid fuel, followed by aeration, ultrafiltration, and finally sterilization by ozone or chlorine, results in pure water. The biochemical treatment of the sediments results in the production of gas fuel containing mainly methane gas and solid product that after drying and disinfecting is converted into fertilizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Inventor: Mikhail Levitin
  • Patent number: 5885448
    Abstract: A system for thermophilic aerobic destruction of pathogenic organisms and organic matter within waste water treatment sludge includes a tank for maintaining the sludge and an air transfer apparatus for injecting air into the sludge near the bottom thereof so as to bubble up through the sludge and react exothermically with the thermophilic microorganisms therein so as to kill or destroy the mesophilic microorganisms within the sludge. The thermophilic reaction is preferably controlled within a desired temperature range by control of the flow of fresh air versus recycled air being injected into the sludge. The fresh air to recycle air ratio can be controlled by several different mechanisms so as to produce the desired temperature range. The air is also utilized to mix the sludge within the tank. A pumping apparatus is also provided for transferring sludge into and out of the tank and for recirculating the sludge for purposes of auxiliary mixing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: IP Holding Company
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Norcross, Yanlong Li
  • Patent number: 5876594
    Abstract: The patent claims concern a method for a more efficient "wet ?combustion! oxidation" of COD-containing effluents from industrial processes and municipal plants and for a more efficient COD-reduction by enzymes in aerobic and anaerobic biological cleaning processes and for same sorts of effluents. The method implies a strong increase of the reaction speed between added oxygen and the elements in the liquid to be oxidized through so-called "Turbo Oxidation", which implies that the liquid is submitted to strong movements nd turbulence during several circulations within one or more liquid circuits during continuous addition of oxygen. By the same method, COD reduction by enzymes can also be made more effective. The single circuit is placed in connection to and communicates liquid-wise with a pressurized reaction tank, from where the developed reaction gases are continuously let out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Inventor: Sigurd Fongen