And Gas Injecting Means Other Than By Mechanical Agitation Patents (Class 210/221.2)
  • Patent number: 8465642
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating impurities from a liquid stream includes a feed tank for containing an untreated liquid, a mixer for generating and mixing bubbles throughout the wastewater, and a settling tank for allowing the wastewater to settle for removal of impurities through dissolved gas floatation. The mixer includes a housing and a rotor rotatably mounted within the housing. The rotor is electrically isolated and the peripheral wall of the housing is electrically isolated and the rotor preferably has bores formed in its peripheral surface to produce cavitation to aid in mixing of fluid within the mixer. A power supply is coupled to establish a relatively positive electrical charge on the rotor and a relatively negative electrical charge on the wall of the housing. The charge causes electrolysis to occur within the fluid, which forms small low surface tension gas bubbles on the rotor and housing wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Hydro Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventor: Bijan Kazem
  • Patent number: 8460555
    Abstract: This invention reveals to the public the centralized sump oil and acid oil treatment process and system. The process consist of (1) the filter; (2) entry to reaction kettle, the sodium carbonate solution added at the time of air floatation till PH value keeps about 6.0-8.0; and emulsion splitter and flocculating agent added for further reaction; (3) suspension of air floatation and static settlement; (4) the international crude oil is collected after the detergent oil at the upper level of the reaction kettle is dehydrated under normal and reduced pressure; the wastewater is drained after filtering by the natural oil removal tank and the oil-water filter; the sludge is solidified by the cement and the quick lime and aluminium oxide are used as the coagulant aid for solidifying the sludge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Inventor: Gang Yuan
  • Publication number: 20130140243
    Abstract: A method of purifying raw water comprises the steps of supplying the raw water to a generally vertical, open-ended inlet cylinder (23) in a reservoir (20), exposing the water in the inlet cylinder (23) to air for accomplishing oxidizing of matter, such as iron, manganese, and hydrogen sulphide in the water and/or agitation of the water, allowing the oxidized matter to fall down by gravity to the bottom of the reservoir (20), allowing the purified water to flow upwards past the inlet cylinder (23) and through a distribution disc (24) in the reservoir (20), and removing the purified water from the upper part of the reservoir (20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Inventor: Bert Gustafsson
  • Patent number: 8440077
    Abstract: A combined degassing and flotation tank for separation of a water influent containing considerable amounts of oil and gas. A rotational flow is created in the tank which forces the lighter components such as oil and gas droplets towards an inner concentric cylindrical wall where they coalesce and rise to the surface of the liquid and are removed via the outlet. The heavier particles are forced down and sink to the lower part where they can be removed as a sludge. The water is discharged via an outlet in the lower part of the tank. The combined degassing and flotation tank is particular suited for use in oil production at sea for removal of oil and gases from water streams before the water is returned to the sea.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Schlumberger Norge AS
    Inventor: Stein Egil Oserød
  • Patent number: 8440076
    Abstract: A water treatment unit comprising a bath (2) delimited by a bottom wall (3) and a lateral wall (4) developing in elevation from a whole perimeter of the bottom wall (3), means for supplying (14) the water to be treated into the bath (2), at least an aeration device (5) have dissolving functions in collaboration with the means for supplying (14), for introducing a flow of oxygen or ozone into the water contained in the bath (2) in order to saturate the water and/or to give rise to foam, means for eliminating (6) the foam, at least an outlet section (13) of the treated water from the bath (2). The bath (2) develops prevalently horizontally and internally comprises a dividing wall (7) which divides the internal volume of the bath (2) into a turbulent water zone (2a) and a calm water zone (2b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Acqua & Co. S.R.L.
    Inventor: Giovanni Magnanini
  • Patent number: 8431022
    Abstract: A modular dual vessel DAF includes a frame, adjacent treatment sections mounted to the frame and including a multi-stage flocculator, aeration injector and mix chamber, stilling well, separation tank, effluent weir having an enclosed peaked upper portion and bottom inlet, clear well with height adjustable risers, surface skimmer, inclined sludge plate, and a sludge collection section, wherein the treatment sections may operate independently, in parallel, or in series. A modular dual vessel DAF may include a separator plate pack in each separation tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Inventor: Stuart Johnathan Ward
  • Patent number: 8431027
    Abstract: A dissolved air flotation system and method for purifying fresh water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Sionix Corporation
    Inventors: Mark J. Hayes, Joey M. Anderson
  • Patent number: 8425768
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed towards systems and methods for the treatment of wastewater. A system in accordance with one particular embodiment may include an oxidation reactor configured to receive a flow of wastewater from a wastewater producing process. The oxidation reactor may be further configured to oxidize a chemical associated with the flow of wastewater with an oxidation agent. The oxidation reactor may include at least one reaction member configured to pressurize at least a portion of the oxidation reactor. The system may further include at least one resin tank configured to contain an ion exchange resin configured to target a particular metal, the at least one resin tank configured to receive an output from the oxidation reactor. Numerous other embodiments are also within the scope of the present disclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Hydroionic Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Rainer Bauder, Richard Hsu Yeh
  • Patent number: 8413968
    Abstract: The water aeration capsules provide a quick and highly portable system for aerating polluted water. The capsules contain bubbles of air, oxygen, and/or other gas(es) surrounded by a water soluble shell or membrane of a suitable substance, e.g., various salts, sugars, water-soluble polymers, such as polyvinyl alcohol. The capsules are ballasted to make their specific gravity greater than the water they displace. The ballast may comprise any non-toxic metal, sand, clay, or other non-organic material, and/or fish bait or other food for aquatic animals. Magnetically attractive ballast elements may be provided, and a magnetic sheet may be placed on the bottom of a smaller body of water to enhance the settling of the capsules. Various means of dispensing the capsules from various mobile carriers are also disclosed, including dispensing by hand from shore or by a diver, from a small boat or larger ship, and/or from aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Inventor: Bader Shafaqa Al-Anzi
  • Patent number: 8394278
    Abstract: A system for filtering organic molecules from an electrolyte solution, including a feed inlet line adapted to carry a solution with organic molecules, a filter vessel secured to the inlet line, and a pump adapted to introduce dissolved air into the solution in the feed inlet line. The filter vessel is a solvent extraction filter having coalescing media above a solution outlet at the bottom of the vessel and an organic vent outlet at the top of the vessel. The system operates by (a) dissolving air into the solution, (b) inputting the solution with dissolved air into the filter vessel, (c) outletting solution from the bottom vessel outlet to flow solution down through coalescing media, and (d) periodically venting floating organic molecules from the top of the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Smith & Loveless, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert G. Crowell
  • Patent number: 8388845
    Abstract: An aspect of the present invention provides a wastewater treatment method for treating wastewater containing ammonium nitrogen, including the steps of: oxidizing the ammonium nitrogen in the wastewater to nitrite with nitrifying bacteria in a treatment tank in which the nitrifying bacteria and anaerobic ammonium-oxidizing bacteria having a half-saturation constant of 6.1 mgN/L or more with respect to nitrite coexist; and denitrifying the nitrite formed through the oxidation of the ammonium nitrogen, with the anaerobic ammonium-oxidizing bacteria in the treatment tank, while using the ammonium nitrogen contained in the wastewater as a hydrogen donor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi Plant Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuichi Isaka, Yuya Kimura, Tatsuo Sumino
  • Publication number: 20130048575
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to water treatment systems, and specifically to mobile flotation tanks, mobile chemical mix tanks, and mobile integrated water treatment systems, and methods regarding the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: ECOLOGIX ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventors: Eli Gruber, Miguel Ribeiro
  • Patent number: 8366938
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for purifying liquid effluents, in which water is separated from substances by performing, in a single vertical enclosure (3), a vertical bubbling in the effluents fed at a flow rate d. The enclosure has a free surface and includes at least two compartments (4, 5, 6, 7) communicating together for enabling a circulation between the compartments successively from the top to the bottom and from the bottom to the top between the lower portion thereof and a medium level at a flow rate D at least three times higher than the flow rate d. The supernatant phase is continuously discharged and a hydraulic or gaseous chemical oxidation of said effluents is simultaneously carried out in the same enclosure, the chemical oxidation rate and the bubble flow rate and size being selected in order to progressively obtain a separation of the solid/liquid and liquid/liquid phases at the surface of the enclosure for obtaining a COD below a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Orege, Societe a Responsabilite Limitee
    Inventors: Patrice Capeau, Michel Lopez, Pascal Gendrot
  • Patent number: 8349177
    Abstract: A solid-liquid separator that separates raw water containing suspended solids into suspended solids (solid) and treated water (liquid) in easy and a short time is provided. A solid-liquid separator includes a separation tub, an inflow pipe configured to rotate raw water which flowed from the outlet of the inflow pipe in the separation tub, a froth discharge pipe configured to discharge the suspended solids surfaced in the separation tub and a treated water discharge pipe configured to discharge treated water by which the suspended solids were removed from raw water from the separation tub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Takashi Menju, Nobuyuki Ashikaga, Atsushi Yukawa, Hiromi Tsukui, Hirofumi Noguchi, Shinji Oono
  • Patent number: 8343355
    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: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Sionix Corporation
    Inventors: David P. Lambert, James J. Houtz
  • Patent number: 8323489
    Abstract: A method for removing immiscible fluid from contaminated water includes at least one chamber; an injection line in fluid communication with an inlet of the one chamber; bubble generation means in fluid communication with the injection line for injecting gas bubbles into the injection line and allowing mixing in the injection line of the gas bubbles and the contaminated water to form an inlet fluid; an inlet weir within the chamber adjacent the inlet; an immiscible fluid weir within the chamber; a trough for collecting the immiscible fluid and allowing the immiscible fluid to flow out of the at least one chamber through an immiscible fluid outlet; and a cleaned water outlet generally at the bottom of the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: GLR Solutions Ltd.
    Inventors: Douglas W. Lee, George Muir
  • Patent number: 8308944
    Abstract: A wastewater treatment method includes the steps of supplying a wastewater influent having nutrients for a population of phototactic heterotrophic microorganisms to an aerated bioreactor. At least a portion of the nutrients is converted into the phototactic heterotrophic microorganism population. The wastewater influent and the phototactic heterotrophic microorganism population together form a bioreactor effluent that is transferred to a light clarifier. The bioreactor effluent is concentrated in the light clarifier to form a low-solids effluent and a high-solids effluent. The concentration is performed by inducing the population of phototactic heterotrophic microorganisms to phototactically self concentrate through exposure to a light having at least one of an intensity and a wavelength sufficient to cause the phototactic heterotrophic microorganism population to migrate away from a source of the light. The high-solids effluent is then dewatered to form a concentrated biomass paste.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Algal Scientific Corporation
    Inventor: Geoff Horst
  • Patent number: 8303812
    Abstract: A method and device for removing floated matter such as sludge located near the surface of a fluid body is contemplated that employs pneumatic force to remove the floated matter. The contemplated device employs pneumatic force for lifting and blowing the floated matter into an inlet channel. The device is configured to provide uniform airflow across the inlet channel. The inlet channel of the device may also include an adjustable section, or a fixed section and an airflow damper, which allows air flow along the channel to be controlled in a periodic fashion. There are also portable devices for removing such floated matter from the surface of a body of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Inventor: Fang Chao
  • Patent number: 8292271
    Abstract: An aeration unit, an aeration apparatus and a method of aeration are provided that can quickly realize water quality with gas dissolution balance appropriate for living creatures in water, and that can be utilized for treating polluted water at sewage treatment facilities and used in a gas-liquid contact step at chemical plants or others. A multiple stage aeration apparatus constituted with an air diffuser for producing bubbles in water, a liquid foam generating channel part for changing bubbles in water into liquid foam bodies (soap-bubble-like liquid foam aggregate), a gas retention chamber having a space capable of retaining gas in water and a bubble accumulating part for collecting bubbles newly released from below the gas retention chamber and feeding the bubbles to the liquid foam generating channel part connected to the upper part thereof is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Inventors: Tetsuhiko Fujisato, Jun Ma
  • Patent number: 8281932
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and a process for efficient hydrophobic particles to gas bubble attachment in a slurry is provided. The process comprises: tangentially introducing a slurry stream into a cylindrical chamber having a cylindrical inner wall with sufficient volume and pressure to develop a vortex in the flowing slurry; introducing gas into the flowing slurry during at least a portion of its travel in the chamber, the gas being introduced orthogonally to the stream through means located at the chamber inner wall and for developing gas bubbles which move into the slurry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Hydro Processing & Mining Ltd.
    Inventors: Jakob H. Schneider, Tomasz Duczmal
  • Patent number: 8277652
    Abstract: A system for consolidating and removing contaminate such as paint sludge or oils from a fluid mixture. A contaminate tank receives a supply of the fluid mixture containing contaminate from a source such as a manufacturing line where overspray of paints or cleaning solutions containing washed away oils are collected. A free floating weir floats on the surface of the contaminate tank and mechanically separates and removes contaminate from a surface of the contaminate tank and concentrates the contaminate in a consolidation tank. In the consolidation tanks the contaminate is further separated and collected for disposal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Inventors: Gordon T. Urquhart, James E. Miller
  • Patent number: 8273165
    Abstract: A total water desalination system is disclosed that includes a centrifugal separator, a feed-water device controlled by a relative humidity sensor, an air pump, an evaporator core, an air dryer, a non-particulate coalescent air filter, and an air flow/brine gravity separating tank. The evaporator core typically contains multiple conical processing chambers and introduces a physical dynamic that increases the surface area of the water, using low-level thermal energy to vaporize micron-size water particles into a gaseous state, suitable for reconstitution into desalinated (or lower salt content) water. The evaporator core operation principles are based on creating a highly dynamic environment that separates impurities from sea, brackish, river, or turbid water; evaporating the water into a residual clean vapor, and returning the vapor to water composition with high efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Micronic Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Kelly P. Rock
  • Patent number: 8268166
    Abstract: Protein skimmers having an upright housing including an open topped body with a manually removable foam collection cup for sealing mounting on the body. The foam collection cups encircle a foam collection duct except for a recessed inspection window for exposing an area of the foam collection duct's exterior surface for enabling an aquarist a generally horizontal line of sight to continuously inspect the foam collection duct's interior. The protein skimmers have a canister-like configuration with a front control panel including a main inlet, a main outlet and at least one aspirating pump for circulating an air/water mixture. The protein skimmers include a disperser for dispersing an incoming flow of organic loaded water peripherally downward into a reaction chamber in a substantially uniform manner. The protein skimmers include a washing mechanism for periodically washing their foam collection ducts without having to remove their foam collection cups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Red Sea Fish Pharm Ltd.
    Inventors: Neil H. Marks, Sharon Ram
  • Patent number: 8251228
    Abstract: Process and apparatus are described for adsorptive bubble separation of hydrophobic particles from liquid dispersions. The process may be used to treat the gas/liquid dispersion after it has been introduced from two or more ducts near the perimeter or from a central duct of the separation vessel. When the gas-liquid-particle dispersion is introduced from a central duct, the rising bubbles are directed by, e.g., a baffle toward the perimeter of the apparatus, where they rise. At the liquid surface, bubbles with attached hydrophobic materials form a floating froth layer, which is directed toward a central froth collection launder. Rising froth at the perimeter pushing the froth bed into the reduced area of the center encourages further coalescence of the bubbles and increases liquid drainage from the froth, thus leading to concentration of the collected materials without the need for complex equipment geometry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignees: Renewable Algal Energy, LLC, Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Robert L. Clayton, Stephen N. Falling, Jeffrey S. Kanel, C. Calvert Churn, III
  • Publication number: 20120211431
    Abstract: A dissolved air flotation system and method for purifying fresh water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Inventors: Mark J. Hayes, Joey M. Anderson
  • Patent number: 8241497
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for stirring and/or aerating fluids, particularly sewage, having the following cyclically repeated steps: aerating the fluid by means of an immersed aerator for a predetermined first period of time (t1) using an aeration device (1) disposed on a carrier (3, 43) designed as a floodable hollow body (2, 42), the hollow body (2, 42) being flooded and air being brought into the fluid by the aeration device, whereby the potential for nitrification is created in the fluid; stirring the fluid by means of the immersed aerator for a predetermined second period of time (t2), the air infeed by the aeration device (1) being throttled or turned off, and previously flooded hollow body being evacuated in order to fill the hollow body (2, 42) with gar or air, the immersed aerator assuming the function of mixing device in which fluid rises upward, thus mixing the fluid, where in the potential for denitrification is created in the fluid; and an immersed aerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Bioworks Verfahrenstechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Stephan Buch, Peter Kröner
  • Patent number: 8197607
    Abstract: A dishwasher is provided having a dishwashing container and a filter system for cleaning dishwashing liquid. The filter system includes a foam volume and the filter system and the dishwashing container are communicated with one another such that at least some of the dishwashing liquid can be discharged from the dishwashing container in association with a washing cycle of the dishwashing machine to the foam volume for passage of the discharged dishwashing liquid through the foam volume. Dishwashing residue contained in the dishwashing liquid is at least partially absorbed or retained by the foam volume such that the fine-grained dirt particles can be filtered out of the dishwashing fluid, a resoiling of the dishwashing fluid or the items to be cleaned can be minimized and the dishwashing result can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: M. Yavuz Dedegil, Rüdiger Eiermann, Helmut Jerg
  • Patent number: 8196750
    Abstract: A method of concentrating particles in a liquid-particle dispersion feed by adsorptive bubble separation by intimately contacting a gas with a pressurized stream of liquid in a chamber to form an aerated dispersion that retains at least some of the kinetic energy from the pressurized stream, and removing at least some of the kinetic energy from the aerated dispersion to form a dense foam. A liquid-particle dispersion feed is then injected into the dense foam to form a gas-liquid-particle dispersion. The gas-liquid-particle dispersion is injected into a flotation chamber at a point below a surface of a liquid contained therein, where the gas-liquid-particle dispersion forms bubbles of a gas-particle agglomerate, and the bubbles are released from the feed liquid depleted in hydrophobic particles and rise to the surface to form a floating froth enriched in particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignees: Renewable Algal Energy, LLC, Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Kanel, Robert L. Clayton
  • Patent number: 8182678
    Abstract: An apparatus for treating liquid includes a tank having a water inlet for receiving water, a treated water outlet for outputting treated water and a flow path between the inlet and the outlet. An injection section of the tank is located along the flow path of the tank with an outlet toward a bottom of the tank. Ozonated liquid containing ozone microbubbles is injected through an injection manifold positioned within the injection section of the tank. The ozone microbubbles adsorb to impurities in the ozonated water. A separation section of the tank is positioned downstream of the outlet of the injection section. The separation section has a contact surface such that the ozonated water travels upward to contact the contact surface and such that at least a portion of the ozone microbubbles adsorb to the contact surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Seair Inc.
    Inventors: Harold Kinasewich, Kyle Greene
  • Patent number: 8173016
    Abstract: A mechanical vessel may effectively and simultaneously displace a first undesired gas from within water with a second desired gas, and remove at least one alkaline species and oily matter from the water. The vessel raises the pH of the water and reduces the lime requirement for subsequent lime softening. The vessel receives the water containing the first gas and passes the water through a series of gasification chambers. Each gasification chamber may have a mechanism that ingests and mixes a second gas into the water thereby physically displacing at least a portion of the first gas into a vapor space at the top of each gasification chamber from which it is subsequently removed. There is an absence of communication between the vapor spaces of adjacent chambers. An acid is added to remove the alkaline species, where the first gas is an optional by-product that is also removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventors: James C. T. Chen, Shaya Movafaghian
  • Patent number: 8157996
    Abstract: The invention concerns a water treatment device comprising a reactor (1) and means for injecting (2) at least one reagent into said reactor, characterized in that it comprises means for supporting said injection means mobile relative to said reactor (1) between an active position whereby the injecting means (2) are arranged inside said reactor and a retracted position whereby the injecting means (2) are brought outside said reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies Support
    Inventors: Abderrahmane Maloum, Abdelkader Gaid
  • Publication number: 20120085691
    Abstract: Fluid purification or treatment apparatus (10) for treating or purifying contaminated liquids such as water which includes at least one upright elongated primary treatment chamber (11) having an inlet (14) for fluid to be treated at an upper end of the chamber (11) such that fluid flows downwardly through the chamber (11) and means (20 or 24) for introducing a sterilizing agent such as ozone or ozone enriched air into a lower end of the chamber (11) for bubbling upwardly through liquid flowing downwardly through the chamber (11), means (16) at the upper end of the chamber (11) for removing waste and an ultraviolet lamp (29) for UV treatment of the liquid, the ultraviolet lamp (29) being located in a separate chamber (12) connected to the primary treatment chamber (11) or within the primary treatment chamber (11). A plurality of chambers (11) and (12) may be provided for multiple treatment of the liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2010
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Applicant: SNAPDRAGON INVESTMENTS LIMITED
    Inventor: Ian G. Cummins
  • Patent number: 8137547
    Abstract: A fluid treatment tank for use in a well fluid processing system. The tank is divided into at least three compartments, including an oil treatment compartment for receiving oil from a separator vessel of the well fluid processing system so as to allow stabilization and/or final separation and treatment of the oil, a reject treatment compartment for receiving reject fluid from one or more water treatment units of the well fluid processing system so as to allow gravitational separation of heavier and lighter components of the reject fluid, and a water treatment compartment for receiving de-oiled water from one or more water treatment units of the well fluid processing system so as to allow degassing and/or final separation of the water. Also, a well fluid processing system including such a fluid treatment tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Hamworthy PLC
    Inventors: Pål Jahre Nilsen, Matteo Chiesa, Peder Hansson, Helge Andersen
  • Patent number: 8133396
    Abstract: A system for filtering organic molecules from an electrolyte solution, including a feed inlet line adapted to carry a solution with organic molecules, a filter vessel secured to the inlet line, and a pump adapted to introduce dissolved air into the solution in the feed inlet line. The filter vessel is a solvent extraction filter having coalescing media above a solution outlet at the bottom of the vessel and an organic vent outlet at the top of the vessel. The system operates by (a) dissolving air into the solution, (b) inputting the solution with dissolved air into the filter vessel, (c) outletting solution from the bottom vessel outlet to flow solution down through coalescing media, and (d) periodically venting floating organic molecules from the top of the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Smith & Loveless, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert G. Crowell
  • Patent number: 8119000
    Abstract: A combined degassing and flotation tank for separation of a water influent containing considerable amounts of oil and gas. A rotational flow is created in the tank which forces the lighter components such as oil and gas droplets towards an inner concentric cylindrical wall where they coalesce and rise to the surface of the liquid and are removed via the outlet. The heavier parts are forced down where the heavy particles sink to the lower part where they can be removed as a sludge. The water is discharged via an outlet in the lower part of the tank. The combined degassing and flotation tank is particular suited for use in oil production at sea for removal of oil and gases from water streams before the water is returned to the sea.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Schlumberger Norge AS
    Inventor: Stein Egil Oserød
  • Patent number: 8118999
    Abstract: An improved filter capable of operating in a backwash mode that creates an upward swirling flow in the hollow interior of the pool filter container. During the backwash cycle, water or air and water are injected into the pool filter container at an angle. In the preferred embodiment, a mixture of water and air are injected into the filter container through exit jets located within the hollow interior of the filter container proximate to the bottom of the filter container. This causes the filter media to swirl upward mixing thoroughly with the backwash water promoting the separation of the mineral deposits from the filter media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Inventor: Jeffrey Swain
  • Patent number: 8114283
    Abstract: A separator for separating or partially separating oil, water, gas and solids from hydrocarbon production well fluids comprises a vessel and a cyclone contained within the vessel. An inlet passage passes through a wall of the vessel and into the cyclone, the inlet passage having means for causing the flow to rotate within the cyclone. A first outlet passage for an oil rich phase extends from a position within the cyclone and substantially on a central axis of the cyclone; a second outlet passage for a water phase extends from a base of the vessel; and a third outlet passage for the solids extends from a lower end of the cyclone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: DPS Bristol (Holdings) Limited
    Inventor: David J. Parkinson
  • Patent number: 8114296
    Abstract: A method and device for removing floated matter such as sludge located near the surface of a fluid body is contemplated that employs pneumatic force to remove the floated matter. The contemplated device employs pneumatic force for lifting and blowing the floated matter into an inlet channel. The device is configured to provide substantially uniform airflow across the inlet channel. The inlet channel of the device may also include an adjustable section which allows airflow velocity along the channel to be controlled in a periodic fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Inventor: Fang Chao
  • Patent number: 8097166
    Abstract: This invention offers effective and efficient method to produce and to use LIQUID defined as activated liquid which contains sufficient amount of micro bubbles of diameter less than 10 micrometers. LIQUID exhibits very useful properties for the purification of liquid, sterilization, extinguishment of undesirable bubbles, preservation of freshness of food, storage of gas in liquid, the decomposition of pollutants etc. The method to produce LIQUID comprises a means to rotate a rotor installed in a fixed tube wherein the rotor and the fixed tube are provided with a set of permanent magnets and a set of linear protuberances, and liquid and gas are introduced in the gap formed between the fixed tube and the rotor by pumping means driven by the motor. The micro bubbles are effectively produced with the repulsive magnetic field generated by the S (or N) pole of at least 30% of the whole magnets faced with the said gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Inventor: Takeshi Nakashima
  • Patent number: 8092692
    Abstract: A separator apparatus for separating immiscible fluid components of different specific gravities. A body includes an internal flow channel for a mixture of fluid components to be separated. A rotation generating device brings the fluid mixture to rotate about the longitudinal axis of the flow channel. An extraction device withdraws a central part of the rotating fluid mixture flowing through the flow channel. A bubble introducer introduces micro-sized gas bubbles into the fluid mixture so as to thereby enhance the separation of the fluid components. Also a method for separating immiscible fluid components of different specific gravities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Hamworthy PLC
    Inventors: Pål J. Nilsen, Matteo Chiesa
  • Patent number: 8088286
    Abstract: A gravity separator includes a vessel within which a mixture containing water, oil, and gas can separate under gravity to form vertically discrete oil and water layers and a gas phase. An inlet duct communicates with a vessel entrance for the mixture containing water, oil, and gas. The inlet duct of the gravity separator includes a gas injector that injects a gaseous medium in a volume in the range of from 0.01-1.9 Sm3 of the gaseous medium per 1 m3 of the mixture into the mixture containing water, oil, and gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Schlumberger Norge AS
    Inventor: Jorn Folkvang
  • Patent number: 8080158
    Abstract: A vessel and method for removing immiscible fluid from contaminated water, the vessel comprising: at least one chamber; an injection line in fluid communication with an inlet of the one chamber; bubble generation means in fluid communication with the injection line for injecting gas bubbles into the injection line and allowing mixing in the injection line of the gas bubbles and the contaminated water to form an inlet fluid; an inlet weir within the chamber adjacent the inlet; an immiscible fluid weir within the chamber; a trough for collecting the immiscible fluid and allowing the immiscible fluid to flow out of the at least one chamber through an immiscible fluid outlet; and a cleaned water outlet generally at the bottom of the chamber; wherein when the inlet fluid is injected into the chamber, it passes through the inlet and over the inlet weir, the cleaned water flows downwardly toward the cleaned water outlet, and a remaining mixture of the immiscible fluid and the gas bubbles floats through the chamber t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Exterran Water Solutions ULC
    Inventors: Douglas W. Lee, George Muir
  • Patent number: 8075783
    Abstract: A system and method for remediating a body of water and collecting suspended and dissolved solids therefrom are provided. The system includes a water-impervious lining positionable in a depression in or adjacent a body of water. The lining and depression define a treatment vessel, which includes a treatment portion, an outlet portion for containing treated water, and an outflow weir between the treatment portion and the outlet portion. Water to be treated is transported from the water body to the treatment portion. An entrapment element is delivered and mixed into the transported water, the entrapment element for capturing suspended and dissolved solids in the transported water and effecting a separation between the captured solids and water cleansed therefrom. The captured solids can be removed from the treatment basin, and the cleansed water can move through a channel in the outflow weir into the outlet portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: AquaFiber Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Kyle R. Jensen, Ronald P. Allen, Daniel Keys
  • Patent number: 8075770
    Abstract: A flotation device for the separation (purification or removal) of dispersed particles in a fluid, in particular removal of dispersed oil in water. The device includes a flotation cell (1) with one or more nozzles (4) provided at or near the bottom of the cell for the supply of gas or fluid to the interior of the cell. The cell is provided with an inlet (5) for the fluid to be treated and two or more outlets (6, 7) for the separated products. The flotation cell is in the form of a longitudinal pipe (1), the diameter of which is basically the same as the diameter of the fluid transport or feeding pipe (2) connected to the inlet (5) of the pipe. The nozzles (4) for the supply of gas or fluid are provided at a distance along the bottom of the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Inventors: Liv Thorsen, Karl Erik Larsen, Udo Müller
  • Patent number: 8002246
    Abstract: The invention provides an aeration apparatus for injecting air into a target substance to aerate the target substance. The aeration apparatus is capable of keeping the air jet nozzle from contacting the target substance when the apparatus is stopped, so as to prevent clogging of the air jet nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignees: Aura Tec Co., Ltd., Kawashima Seisakusho Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiko Eguchi, Kazumi Kawashima
  • Patent number: 7981287
    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: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Sionix Corporation
    Inventors: David P. Lambert, James J. Houtz
  • Patent number: 7981286
    Abstract: A liquid within a processing tank is caused to overflow, and the overflowing liquid is circulated by a circulation system. In this process, bubbles are discharged into the liquid within the processing tank. Thus, particles within the processing tank are not only carried along by a flow of the liquid but also attach to the bubbles to be carried with the bubbles outwardly of the processing tank. A dip-type substrate processing apparatus removes the particles within the processing tank in a short time with efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Dainippon Screen Mfg Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ayumi Higuchi, Kenichiro Arai
  • Patent number: 7972507
    Abstract: An apparatus for advanced wastewater treatment using up & down aerobic-anaerobic reactors of channel type in the single reaction tank provides the effluent recycle of channel type aeration reactor (internal cycle). For this, the anaerobic reactor of channel type is under the aerobic reactor of channel type in the single reaction tank. And the flow of the wastewater in the single reaction tank is based on the water level difference between inlet and outlet, and the air lift effect of the air diffusers. The partitions of channel type anaerobic reactor and the partitions of channel type aerobic reactor are cross each other. Consequently, the energy cost is cut down because the wastewater flow does not need much pumping energy. And the site need is reduced because of up & down aerobic-anaerobic reactors of channel type in the single reaction tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Inventor: Kwang Hoe Choi
  • Patent number: 7963508
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for aerating liquid which includes an aeration chamber having an inlet port at its lower end an outlet port at its upper end wherein the chamber is divided into multiple internal chambers using a plurality of internal divider walls. The chamber is weighted with a base member so that it will not float. Air is inlet at its upper end through an air inlet hole into an upper air manifold wherein the air then travels downwardly through an air feed pipe to a plurality of air outlet holes wherein the air is released and rises thereby causing a flow of material through the inlet ports upwardly along the internal divider walls and aeration chamber and then out of the chamber at its upper outlet port so that the stream of material is directed onto a series of stationary concentric ridges wherein the solids in the liquid material are forcefully impacted against the stationary concentric ridges so as to break the solid particles up into smaller particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Inventor: Thomas R. McGuffin
  • Publication number: 20110120945
    Abstract: An apparatus (100) and process (400) for the treatment of wastewater and biological nutrient removal in activated sludge systems. The process uses substantially vertically downwardly presented inlet jets for delivering the incoming wastewater and recycled activated sludge into the body of liquid in a reactor, in a vertically downward direction and at a location just below the surface of the body of liquid. An effective circulating flow pattern of liquid is thereby established, along with optional concomitant entraining, dispersion or dissolving a fluid throughout the volume of the liquid body, facilitating a universal apparatus for mixing of anaerobic, anoxic, aerobic and oxic reactors or accommodating alternating said process conditions in one reactor. When an oxygen containing gas is entrained for aerobic fermentation, optimum gas bubble size is generated for efficient reaction with the digestion bacteria throughout the volume of the liquid body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: Ekologix Earth-Friendly Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Isin Kaya