With Rehabilitation Means Patents (Class 210/269)
  • Patent number: 11801471
    Abstract: A support frame apparatus for a thermal fluid includes: a support frame adapted to be coupled to an inner wall of an adsorption device, and defining a chamber therein, a first channel for accommodating the thermal fluid being formed in a wall of the support frame, and a plurality of first holes being formed in the wall of the support frame and being opened to the chamber to spray the thermal fluid into the chamber; and a plurality of support arms disposed within the chamber and each having a first end coupled to the support frame and a second end extended inwardly from the support frame, the support arm defining a second channel therein fluid communicated to the first channel, and the support arm having a plurality of second holes communicated to the second channel and opened to the chamber to spray the thermal fluid into the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: XI'AN THERMAL POWER RESEARCH INSTITUTE CO., LTD
    Inventors: Xiaofeng Xiang, Zhichao Wang, Xiangyu Zhang, Xiaoyu Lu, Minghao Li, Bo Zhang, Zhonghua Jin, Ke Zhou, Wei Yao
  • Patent number: 11745117
    Abstract: An atmospheric water harvesting generator includes an adsorbent with a nanopore structure and a moisture-condensing substrate with an amphiphilic structure such that water can be efficiently harvested from the atmosphere even in a dry climate, the generator is easy to operate with little power, and the flow of air can be controlled with a simple control to efficiently and continuously harvest water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Inventor: Yoonseo Do
  • Patent number: 11485662
    Abstract: A compact, portable system and process separates dissolved and suspended solids from water containing high levels of those solids. Gas flotation is used with and oxidant as an initial stage. The resulting foam is dewatered in a fluid conveyance, with the gas being recycled to the flotation column, the foam sent to a holding tank and the water passed through one of a number of filtration vessels having granular filter media. As at least one filtration vessel is kept in operation filtering, another filtration vessel can be backwashed when the flow therethrough is diminished of the fluid level inside rises. Treated water is used for backwashing and provided to a collection conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: GEMINI SCIENCE, LLC
    Inventor: Wayne Wolf
  • Patent number: 11306260
    Abstract: Systems and methods to enhance the removal of inorganic contaminants, including metals, from hydrocarbon feedstocks at a refinery. One or more embodiments of such systems and methods may be used to provide a renewable hydrocarbon feedstock having a reduced amount of metal contaminants. The reduction of metal contaminants in the renewable hydrocarbon feedstock mitigates catalyst fouling and/or deactivation during downstream refinery processing of the renewable hydrocarbon feedstock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: MARATHON PETROLEUM COMPANY LP
    Inventor: Mark D. Cox
  • Patent number: 10801736
    Abstract: A liquid distribution unit, for use in a liquid distribution system designed for saving liquid and thermal energy. It comprises and inlet manifold (FL) with a number of branch connections (CI, C2) for connection, in use, with associated feeding conduits (FC1, FC2) and liquid tap units. The inlet manifold device has an inlet end (IE) for joint connection, in use, with a liquid source (LS). Each branch connection has an associated control valve (CV1, CV2) for selective communication, in use, between the liquid source and an associated one of the feeding conduits. Each branch connection is also provided with an additional branch connection located downstream in relation to the associated control valve, as seen when the liquid is refilled into the feeding conduit, and having an associated, separate liquid evacuation valve (EV1, EV2) and an outlet end (OE1, OE2). The outlet ends of the additional branch connections are jointly connectable to an evacuation liquid pump (EP).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: 3EFLOW AB
    Inventor: Erik Abbing
  • Patent number: 10669162
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a portable water filter kit including a portable housing unit with an interior space. The portable housing unit includes an input nozzle and an output nozzle for connecting to a hose, piping between the input and output nozzle located in the interior of the portable housing unit, and a filter. The portable water filter kit is configured such that all components may be stored in the interior space of the portable housing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Inventor: Herbert Stricker
  • Patent number: 10207945
    Abstract: A system for improving sludge water into ecological water system, including a water area separator, a sludge dehydrator and a water filtration device, the water area separator separates the water area to be treated by a water barrier, the sludge dehydrator dehydrates the sludge by a centrifugal sieve; the water filtration device includes a suction pipe, a water pump, an inlet pipe, a filter bag, a steel cage and a drainage pipe. The system for improving sludge water into ecological water system has the mechanism of to separate the water area by the water area separator, then rapidly dehydrate the sludge by the sludge dehydrator, remove sundries from the treated sludge water by the water filtration device, and finally drains the water filtered after adding microbubbles, and thus to realize the improvement of sludge water into ecological water system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Inventor: Zhengkui Bian
  • Patent number: 10143943
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for liquid/solid separation for use in applications such as dewatering fine particulate solids, and recovery of valuable metals from ore in a leaching process are provided. One application relates to methods of agitation leaching of metals such as gold from gold-bearing feedstock. A slurry is formed in a tank by agitation, and allowed to settle. A filter bed forms to drain the liquid from the tank, and a vertical screen pipe such as a well point addresses the formation of an impervious film on the upper surface of the filter bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Sepro Mineral Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Steven Alexander McAlister, Mark Donald Van Kleek, Michael Charles Jillings, Brennan James Mallory, Mark Henry Vinchoff
  • Patent number: 9776892
    Abstract: A process is described for treating water, in particular for obtaining ultrapure water, in which a decationized water stream is passed at least through a first strong base anion exchange bed and a second strong base anion exchange bed, which is arranged downstream, in particular directly downstream, of the first strong base anion exchange bed. Furthermore, a water treatment system and a counter-current ion exchange unit for carrying out such a process are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Ovivo, Inc.
    Inventor: Dominique Gensbittel
  • Patent number: 9328001
    Abstract: A method and system for fluid treatment that provides fluid release cycles within the regeneration sequence of a fluid treatment device. The fluid release or backwash air cycle permits the slow, controlled and metered release of air or gases from a treatment tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Water-Right, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt Gruett, Guy Gruett
  • Patent number: 8999155
    Abstract: The cleansing apparatus is equipped with: an upright outer cylinder and a screw conveyor is rotatably provided within the outer cylinder. The screw conveyor conveys filtration media introduced through an inlet at the lower end of the outer cylinder upward to an outlet at the upper end of the outer cylinder. A drive section rotationally drives the screw conveyor. A control section controls the rotation of the drive section. A regulating blade regulates the upward movement of the filtration media is above the outlet and is coaxially with the screw conveyor. A cleansing liquid is introduced through an aperture above the regulating blade within the outer cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Nihon Genryo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Saito
  • Patent number: 8993643
    Abstract: Methods for producing or regenerating an iodinated anion exchange resin are presented. The methods include treating an iodide loaded anionic resin with an aqueous solution comprising an in situ formed I2 to produce the iodinated resin. The iodinated resins show reduced and stable levels of iodine elution compared to resins produced by conventional methods. Methods and systems for purifying water are also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Water Security Corporation
    Inventors: Sivarooban Theivendran, Terryll Riley Smith, James J. Kubinec
  • Patent number: 8980962
    Abstract: Methods for producing or regenerating an iodinated resin are presented. The methods include converting iodide residues on a surface of and in pores of an iodide loaded anion exchange resin to iodine and iodine intermediates using a source of active halogen to form an iodinated resin having iodine and iodine intermediate residues on the surface of and in the pores of the iodinated resin. The iodinated resins show reduced and stable levels of iodine elution compared to conventional iodinated anion exchange resins and may utilizes less iodine raw materials during the manufacturing process. The iodinated resin can also act as an end-of life indicator in a water purification system that incorporates the iodinated resin to reduce microbial, including bacterial and viral, contamination in drinking water sources. Methods and systems for purifying water are also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Water Security Corporation
    Inventors: Sivarooban Theivendran, Terryll Riley Smith, Marian Pettibone
  • Publication number: 20150068565
    Abstract: A water softening apparatus having an improved structure to provide a function of an air brake, a dishwasher including the same and a control method thereof, the water softening apparatus having an air brake assembly and a regeneration tank and configured to soften wash water being supplied from a tub, wherein the air brake assembly including a water supply valve allowing wash water to be introduced therethrough, an ion exchange tank to accommodate an ion exchange resin therein, and a plurality of valves installed on a first path allowing wash water being introduced through the water supply valve to flow toward the ion exchange tank, wherein the regeneration tank is connected to the air brake assembly and accommodates regeneration material configured to purify the ion exchange resin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang Hoon LEE, Jeong Myeong KIM, Seung Ah JOO
  • Patent number: 8945380
    Abstract: Systems for treating biomass for the production of ethanol are disclosed. The systems are configured to treat a liquid component separated from biomass to yield sugars available to be fermented into a fermentation product. The systems comprise a filter configured to remove particulate matter to provide a filtered component and an apparatus configured to remove inhibitors from the filtered liquid component provide a treated liquid component comprising sugars available for fermentation. Methods for treating for treating biomass useful in the production of a fermentation product are also disclosed. The methods include the steps of filtering a liquid component to remove particulate matter thereby yielding a filtered liquid component, and treating the filtered liquid component to remove inhibitors thereby yielding a treated liquid component comprising sugars available to be fermented into a fermentation product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Poet Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Richard Kwiatkowski, William F. McDonald, David Charles Carlson
  • Patent number: 8945384
    Abstract: A method and system for fluid treatment that provides fluid release cycles within the regeneration sequence of a fluid treatment device. The fluid release or backwash air cycle permits the slow, controlled and metered release of air or gases from a treatment tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Water-Right, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt Gruett, Guy Gruett
  • Patent number: 8926839
    Abstract: The present invention describes a device for the distribution of fluids in a multi-stage column operating in simulated moving bed (SMB) mode comprising, in the direction of flow of the principal fluid, a distribution system (6) for auxiliary fluids, and a distributor plate (10) supported by stiffening elements (7) located below said plate (10), said device being interposed between two successive beds of granular solid (2) denoted the upstream and downstream bed, the distribution system and the stiffening elements being immersed in the upstream and downstream granular beds to a slight extent with an upper limit for the degree of immersion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: IFP Energies Nouvelles
    Inventors: Frederic Augier, Gerard Hotier
  • Publication number: 20150001145
    Abstract: The invention relates to a biofilter for wastewater digestion, comprising: an outer tank (1), a supply pipe (7) that extends to the centre of the tank (1) through a sealed upper inner tank (8) having peripheral openings (22) at a height lower than that of the supply pipe (7), and a discharge pipe (19). The aforementioned supply pipe (7) includes a T-branch (11) in which one arm (12) extends to the cover (10) of the tank (1) and the other arm (14) extends downwards through a sealed lower inner tank (15) having peripheral openings (25, 16) in the upper and lower part of the wall. According to the invention, the biofilter comprises two packing sections, namely a lower section (17) having randomly distributed packing and an upper section (23) having packing formed by corrugated tube bundles. In addition, the biofilter includes a self-cleaning system consisting of an inclined duct (18) having a horizontal branch (20) with a valve (21) at the outer end thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventor: Jose Rogelio Perez Monsrreal
  • Publication number: 20140374351
    Abstract: A process for treating feed water for desalination, the process comprising: (a) removing one or more polyvalent anions from the feed water by feeding the feed water into a bed comprising one or more anion exchange resins under conditions sufficient to exchange the polyvalent ions in the feed water with one or more monovalent anions in the resin; and (b) regenerating the bed by feeding a brine stream into the bed under conditions sufficient to exchange one or more polyvalent anions in the resins with one or more monovalent anions in the brine stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Applicant: Lehigh University
    Inventors: Arup K. SenGupta, Ryan C. Smith
  • Patent number: 8877049
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, water to be treated is passed through each of a first reactor vessel and second reactor vessel, phosphorus contained in the water is removed by using an adsorbent, thereafter the liquid held in each of the reactor vessels is discharged from each of a first treated water discharge path and second treated water discharge path, and thus the influence of soluble impurities derived from the water is eliminated. Further, when suspended solids impurities contained in the water are accumulated in the phosphorus adsorbent, the accumulated impurities are eliminated by a reverse cleaning operation using a liquid to be thereafter introduced from a reactor vessel liquid introduction path into the reactor vessel, and hence the influence of the suspended solids in the water on a desorption agent liquid to be thereafter introduced into a crystallization vessel, and containing phosphorus from the phosphorus adsorbent is eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Shinobu Moniwa, Hidetaki Shiire, Satomi Ebihara, Masahiko Tsutsumi, Nobuyuki Ashikaga, Satoshi Haraguchi, Akiko Suzuki, Hideyuki Tsuji, Tatsuoki Kohno, Kazuhiko Noda, Katsuya Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8877050
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the treatment of liquid effluents laden with hydrocarbons, which comprises: feeding the effluents into a treatment tank; supplying the treatment tank with a reversible sorbent having a defined particle size; mixing the effluents with the reversible sorbent in the treatment tank in order to load said reversible sorbent with the hydrocarbons in the effluents; removing the hydrocarbon-laden reversible sorbent from the top of the treatment tank; extracting the treated effluents from the bottom of the treatment tank; and separating the hydrocarbons from the laden reversible sorbent from the treatment tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Osead Hydrocarbon Technologies, SAS
    Inventors: Christian Martin, Rene Pascal
  • Patent number: 8871961
    Abstract: A process for continuous production of biodiesel from vegetable oils or animal fats by transesterification with methanol or ethanol to give crude fatty acid alkyl esters, subsequent washing with water in a wash column to remove water-soluble impurities, subsequent drying by vaporization of the water content and subsequent removal of steryl glycosides by adsorption onto calcium bentonite, wherein the adsorption column(s) used is/are regenerated in a first step, for desorption of the steryl glycosides, by rinsing with a mixture consisting of fatty acid alkyl esters and methanol or ethanol, and in a subsequent second step, for removal of methanol residues, by rinsing with fatty acid alkyl esters or with gaseous nitrogen or carbon dioxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Air Liquide Global E&C Solutions Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Eckhard Seidel, Rudolf Boensch, Norbert Palauschek, Helmut Saft
  • Patent number: 8864987
    Abstract: Disclosed is an internal circulation resin ion exchange adsorption reactor with a mechanical stirrer. The upper part ?˜? of the reactor main body is an open cylinder and the lower part ?˜? is a cone-shaped body with a slope of 30°±10°. A bell-jar shaped reaction slot with a turbine water stirrer inside is located in the center of the reactor main body. The reactor main body is equipped with a cylindrical guide plate. A water collection weir, an inclined tube separator and an annular resin collection hopper are located between the shell of the reactor main body and the guide plate. The reactor is equipped with a water inlet pipe and a water outlet pipe. A resin removal pipe is connected with the annular resin collection hopper and a resin desorption slot respectively, and a regenerated resin reflux pipe is connected to the bell-jar shaped reaction slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignees: Nanjing University, Nanjing University Yancheng Environmental Protection Technology and Engineering Research Institute
    Inventors: Chao Long, Jun Fan, Aimin Li, Chendong Shuang
  • Publication number: 20140305873
    Abstract: Systems and methods for separating mine tailings from water-absorbing polymers and regenerating the separated water-absorbing polymers. The systems and methods include a separation assembly that is configured to receive an augmented mine tailings slurry that includes mine tailings, water, and a swollen water-absorbing polymer. The separation assembly separates the swollen water-absorbing polymer from the augmented mine tailings slurry to produce a dewatered mine tailings slurry. The systems and methods further include a water-absorbing polymer regeneration unit that is configured to receive the swollen water-absorbing polymer. The water-absorbing polymer regeneration unit at least partially releases water from the swollen water-absorbing polymer to produce a regenerated water-absorbing polymer, and as a separate output or product, the released water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Inventors: Wei Ren, Paul L. Tanaka, Aaron Ortiz Gomez, Babak A. Jajuee, Chien-Chiang Chen, Robert D. Kaminsky
  • Patent number: 8845888
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a water treatment system includes: a membrane separation device and a water softening device including a valve unit switching between a softening process in which soft water is obtained by passing raw water through a cation exchange resin bed downward and a regeneration process in which a whole of the cation exchange resin bed is regenerated by generating an opposite flow of a regenerant by supplying the regenerant from both sides of a top portion and a bottom portion of the cation exchange resin bed and collecting a liquid at an intermediate portion of the cation exchange resin bed, and a regenerant supply supplying the regenerant in a volume which gives a regeneration level of 1 to 6 eq/L-R, to a hardness leakage prevention region set in a predetermined depth on the bottom portion of the cation exchange resin bed, in the regeneration process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Miura Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsuyuki Manabe, Hayato Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20140263023
    Abstract: A filtration media and a filter assembly therefor is provided. The filtration assembly comprising a tank comprising an upper portion, a bottom portion, a water inlet in the upper portion, a water outlet, and a holding chamber at the bottom portion of the tank, a grate positioned within the tank and separating the holding chamber from the upper portion of the tank, and a filtration media positioned within the upper portion of the tank, the filtration media comprising a filter membrane having a lubricious surface for automatic de-caking of particulate when a pump connected to the tank is turned off, wherein when the pump is turned off the particulate de-cakes from the filtration media and drops through the grate to the holding chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Hayward Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin Potucek
  • Patent number: 8828237
    Abstract: A filtering device comprises a vessel for containing filtering media such as nutshells. Associated with the filtering device is an eductor for scrubbing and cleaning the media and removing contaminants such as oil from the media. The eductor includes an inlet port for receiving a motive liquid. Further, the eductor includes an inlet port for receiving media held in the vessel. In operation, a motive liquid is directed into the eductor and this induces media in the vessel into the eductor. By continuously directing motive liquid from an external source into the eductor, this results in the media being fluidized and circulated and recirculated through the eductor, giving rise to a slurry that contains liquid, the media and removed contaminants. A portion of the slurry is discharged from the filtering device while the media is retained in the filtering device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Veolia Water Solutions and Technologies Support
    Inventor: Neville Ernest Lange
  • Patent number: 8802913
    Abstract: A process for separating a product from a multicomponent feedstream to an adsorption apparatus or system is described. The apparatus or system may comprise a moving-bed or a simulated moving-bed adsorption means. The product comprises at least one organic compound, such as an aryl compound with alkyl substitutes. In embodiments the conduits used to supply the feedstream to the apparatus or system are flushed with media of multiple grades. The improvement is a more efficient use of the desorbent. In embodiments the process achieves improvements in one or more of efficiency of adsorption separation, capacity of adsorption apparatus systems, and purity of product attainable by adsorption process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventor: John R. Porter
  • Patent number: 8784657
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a novel method for cleaning a filter surface using a plasma discharge self-cleaning filtration system. The method involves utilizing plasma discharges to induce short electric pulses of nanoseconds duration at high voltages. These electrical pulses generate strong Shockwaves that disintegrate and dislodge particulate matter located on the surface of the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Drexel University
    Inventors: Young I. Cho, Alexander Fridman, Alexander F. Gutsol, Yong Yang
  • Patent number: 8758608
    Abstract: A continuously flowing, inner circulatory, quasi-fluidized-bed reactor for resin ion exchange and adsorption. The reactor comprises a main body casing, an inclined pipe separator, an outlet weir, an inlet pipe, an outlet pipe, a reducing fluidization tank, a guide plate, a resin regeneration tank, a resin discharge pipe, and a return pipe for regenerated resin and a distributing ejector. The reactor is particularly suitable for advanced treatment of supply water, wastewater, biochemical effluent and reclaimed water by using (magnetic) powder resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignees: Nanjing University, Nanjing University Yancheng Environmental Protection Technology and Engineering Research Institute
    Inventors: Chao Long, Jun Fan, Aimin Li, Chendong Shuang
  • Publication number: 20140155674
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for separating isomers by simulated moving bed (SMB) adsorption, comprising separating the raw materials comprising isomers by SMB adsorption, said SMB comprising many adsorption beds each of which is equipped with grids, each of the grids being equipped with the feedstock inlet and outlet pipeline of the bed, the feedstock charged into and discharged from SMB at least comprising feedstocks, desorbent, extract, and raffinate, the extract being enriched with the target product, characterized in that the extract is used as a flushing liquid and respectively charged to first or second bed at the upstream of the feedstock charging position and to one of second to fourth beds at the downstream of the extract withdrawing position. Such process is used for separation of C8 aromatic isomers by adsorption, and can improve the capacity of the device while effectively increasing the purity of the target product separated by adsorption.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Inventors: Dehua Wang, Zhuo Yu, Huiguo Wang, Jiangfeng Ma
  • Patent number: 8734651
    Abstract: An apparatus for conducting single-pass filtration of ink waste is disclosed. The apparatus includes: a filter connected to a housing unit and a plurality of absorbent layers within the housing unit, wherein the plurality of absorbent layers are in any order and include: a layer for removing metal and polar compounds, a layer for removing non-polar color impurities, a layer for removing acid functional components, a layer for removing additives with polar or protic functional groups, and a layer for removing residual water. A process and a system that include or utilize the apparatus are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Doris Pik-Yiu Chun, Hou T. Ng
  • Patent number: 8728320
    Abstract: This invention relates to a lignin sorbent, a lignin removal unit, a biorefinery, a process for removing lignin, a process for binding lignin, and a renewable material. The lignin sorbent includes a substrate, and a lignin binding material dispersed with respect to the substrate. The lignin binding process includes the step of adding a lignin binding material to an input stream, and the step of converting the input stream into a renewable material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: BP Corporation North America Inc.
    Inventor: Jacob Borden
  • Patent number: 8721875
    Abstract: A hot-water supply system includes a switching valve (35) which has a bypass circuit which bypasses the water softening device (30) by directly connecting the water supply pipe (P1) and the inlet pipe (P3) of a hot-water supply device to each other, and a control unit (50). The control unit (50) includes a switching valve drive circuit which switches the switching valve (35) to the mode in which water is supplied from the water supply pipe (P1) to the hot-water supply device (1) via the bypass circuit, based on the determination of the timing of salt replenishment, and a display drive circuit which displays intention, in which salt replenishment is needed, on a display portion (51) of a remote controller (RC).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Rinnai Corporation
    Inventor: Fumio Ogai
  • Publication number: 20140116950
    Abstract: To achieve high efficiency in regeneration of waste fluid from metal plating electrolytes for example, a device and a method for recovering a recovering material from a recovering fluid containing the recovering material are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: ATOTECH DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Jens Heydecke, Sebastian Kuhne
  • Patent number: 8709241
    Abstract: A control unit for a softening device, comprising a primary inlet for untreated water, a primary outlet for blended water, a sensor for determining the water hardness of the untreated water WHraw, or the blended water WHblend, a secondary outlet, a secondary inlet, a bypass line, a blending means which can be automatically adjusted for mixing a blended water flow Vblend(t) from a first partial flow (V(t)part1soft of the secondary inlet and a second partial flow V(t)part2raw of the bypass line, and an electronic control means, wherein the control means is designed to readjust the adjustment position of the blending means by means of the determined water hardness in such a fashion that the water hardness in the blended water flow Vblend(t) is adjusted to a predetermined desired value, enables partial softening of water on the basis of fully automatic blending, thereby utilizing already existing softening devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Judo Wasseraufbereitung GmbH
    Inventors: Carsten Dopslaff, Ralf Soecknick, Klaus Neidhardt, Alexander Haug, Siegfried Melcher
  • Publication number: 20140110316
    Abstract: Using seawater as a benchmark of water with high TDS (total dissolved solids) Raw seawater can be instantly and significantly desalted just by passing a flow through adsorber (FTA) without applying electricity to the adsorbent therein. Various precursors may be converted to dual-functional adsorbents for the FTA. A cation-adsorbing group and an anion-adsorbing group are grafted onto the surface of the adsorbents by phosphorylation and amination, respectively. Based on the applications, the adsorbent may be configured as membrane form or packed bed in the FTA. When the adsorbent becomes saturated, it can be regenerated online using liquids cleaner than the intake. Besides seawater, the FTA may be utilized for treating other TDS-infested wastewaters at very minimal cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: ECO Watertech, Inc.
    Inventors: Lih-Ren Shiue, Dzung-Shi Chang, Rui-Yao Li
  • Publication number: 20140061134
    Abstract: A water treatment system (50) utilizing granular activated carbon (GAC) for the removal of organic contaminants in a process water circuit (52), and including a carbon regeneration circuit (54) in fluid communication with the process water circuit. The carbon regeneration circuit may include a dedicated regeneration vessel (16), or the regeneration process may proceed within a GAC/water contactor (58) of the process water circuit. A process is described wherein spent GAC from the water treatment system is regenerated within the system with an oxidation process that minimizes damage to the carbon granules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventors: Chad L. Felch, Kurt M. Knuth, Robert J. Wenta, Thomas E. Schulz, Bryan J. Kumfer
  • Publication number: 20140054160
    Abstract: A system and process for removing divalent cations from a rich MEG feed stream is presented. An ion exchange bed containing a cation exchange resin adsorbs the divalent cations in the rich MEG feed stream as it flows through the ion exchange bed. After the divalent ions have been removed, the feed stream flows through a flash separator and a distillation column to reclaim MEG. Alternatively, the feed stream flows through a distillation column to regenerate MEG. The spent cation exchange resin may be regenerated in place using a regeneration brine comprised of sodium chloride and water. After use, the regeneration brine may be disposed as waste or recycled to the brine storage tank and re-used to regenerate the cation exchange resin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Inventors: Daniel W. PHELPS, Luis Eduardo Caires FERNANDEZ
  • Patent number: 8658036
    Abstract: A filtration and demineralization apparatus 10 including a vessel 20 in a form of a body of revolution; a hollow columnar body 40 that is located in an internal space of the vessel 20, one end 40a of the columnar body being connected to an inner surface of the vessel 20 along an entire circumference of the end, and the other end 40b of the columnar body forming an opening; and a partition plate 44 that is connected to the other end 40b of the hollow columnar body along an entire circumference of the other end 40b, the partition plate being configured to separate an inside space or an outside space of the hollow columnar body 40 as an independent space in the vessel. The partition plate 44 has a circulation port 43 that allows water that is to be treated to pass therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Organo Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuru Yoden, Satoshi Kasahara, Mikio Sugano
  • Patent number: 8641906
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device for distributing fluids which are to supply a multi-stage column having a succession of plates, each plate supporting a bed of granular solid (2) and being provided with a network for distributing said fluids constituted by substantially horizontal lines (6) having a plurality of degrees of branching from 1 to rank N, the ensemble of lines from rank P to rank N being adherent to the base plane of the plate under consideration, and the lines of the last degree of branching N communicating with mixing chambers (8) disposed immediately below said base plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: IFP Energies Nouvelles
    Inventor: Frederic Augier
  • Patent number: 8608963
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a twin tank water treatment system and method. The water treatment system includes first tank with a first set of sensors and a first resin bed, a second tank with a second set of sensors and a second resin bed, and a valve assembly with a flow meter and a controller in communication with the first set of sensors, the second set of sensors, and the flow meter. The method includes determining when the resin beds are exhausted based on input from the flow meter, the sensors, and a water hardness setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Pentair Residential Filtration, LLC
    Inventors: John Stewart, Andrew F. Tischendorf, Kenneth J. Sieth, Rahul Sadashiv Kamble
  • Publication number: 20130299430
    Abstract: Methods for producing or regenerating an iodinated anion exchange resin are presented. The methods include treating an iodide loaded anionic resin with an aqueous solution comprising an in situ formed I2 to produce the iodinated resin. The iodinated resins show reduced and stable levels of iodine elution compared to resins produced by conventional methods. Methods and systems for purifying water are also presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: Water Security Corporation
    Inventors: Sivarooban Theivendran, Terryll Riley Smith, James J. Kubinec
  • Patent number: 8574439
    Abstract: A valuable resource recovery system includes an engineered powder supply unit that supplies an engineered powder into drainage water (the engineered powder can adsorb a valuable resource and can be desorbed from the engineered powder), an agitation unit that agitates the drainage water supplied with the engineered powder, an engineered powder separation unit that separates the engineered powder from the drainage water agitated by the agitation unit, an engineered powder collection unit that collects the engineered powder separated by the engineered powder separation unit, and a desorption-recycle unit that desorbs the valuable resource from the engineered powder collected by the engineered powder collection unit to recycle the engineered powder and the valuable resource. According to the system, the valuable resource can be desorbed from the engineered powder and then recycled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hidetake Shiire, Nobuyuki Ashikaga, Shinobu Moniwa, Tomoaki Kiuchi
  • Patent number: 8518253
    Abstract: An electrochemical device comprises an electrochemical cell. The electrochemical cell comprises a composite cation-exchange member including a conductive base and a cation-exchange material in physical contact with the conductive base, a composite anion-exchange member including a conductive base and an anion-exchange material in physical contact with the conductive base; and a compartment between the composite cation-exchange and anion-exchange members. The compartment comprises an inlet for introducing a feed stream, and an outlet for exiting of an output stream out of the compartment. The electrochemical device comprises a control device configured to transmit an electrical current to the composite cation-exchange and anion-exchange members at a regeneration stage in a manner that the conductive base on the composite cation-exchange member loses electrons and the conductive base on the composite anion-exchange member gains electrons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Rihua Xiong, Wei Cai, Liping Zheng, Hai Yang, Su Lu, Zhigang Deng, Lin Chen
  • Patent number: 8500999
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a method and system for providing a regeneration stage in a water treatment system. The method can include entering a first air bleed state to allow pressurized, deoxygenated air to exit the water treatment system, entering a second air bleed state to equalize a first air pressure of remaining deoxygenated air inside the water treatment system with a second air pressure outside the water treatment system, entering a backwash state to expel remaining deoxygenated air and particulates from inside the water treatment system, and entering an air draw state to allow oxygenated air to enter the water treatment system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Pentair Residential Filtration, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Tischendorf, Michael M. Lindfors, Kyle Paull
  • Patent number: 8440074
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for treating wastewater in which the majority of solids and biological oxygen demand compounds are separated from the wastewater feed using a primary separation process, to produce a solids phase and a water phase. The solids phase is irradiated to reduce the level of pathogens such that it is safe to use as a soil substitute and/or additive so that the solids can thus be disposed of in an environmentally-friendly manner. In additional embodiments, the solids that have been disinfected by radiation are mixed with a suitable inert filler material to produce a soil substitute, fertilizer, compost, or other soil additive. The liquid phase is treated in a substantially smaller system than would be required for treating the full-strength wastewater that can include a suspended media biological regeneration reactor system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignees: Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: William G. Conner, Osama I. Fageeha, Thomas E. Schultz
  • Patent number: 8394267
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, in order to eliminate impurities, and the like, water to be treated is passed through each of reactor vessels, phosphorus contained in the water to be treated is removed by using an adsorbent, and thereafter the liquid held in each of the reactor vessels is discharged through each of first to third treated water discharge paths, thereby eliminating the impurities, and the like derived from the water to be treated. It is possible to eliminate the influence of the impurities in the water to be treated on the discharged desorption agent liquid containing phosphorus from the phosphorus adsorbent can be eliminated, and hence it is possible to obtain a phosphorus-containing liquid containing no substance other than the recovered phosphoric matter material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Shinobu Moniwa, Hidetake Shiire, Satomi Ebihara, Masahiko Tsutsumi, Nobuyuki Ashikaga, Satoshi Haraguchi, Akiko Suzuki, Hideyuki Tsuji, Tatsuoki Kohno, Kazuhiko Noda, Katsuya Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8388840
    Abstract: Device for stiffening the plates of a multi-stage column with a diameter of more than 2 meters, whereby each plate supports a particle bed and the flow of at least one fluid passes through it from top to bottom, whereby said device consists of a number of beams that are located under the plate in question, each beam having a lower surface that is shaped like a triangle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: IFP Energies Nouvelles
    Inventors: Frederic Augier, Denis Darmancier, Gerard Hotier
  • Publication number: 20130037489
    Abstract: The present invention is a gravity continuously operating filtration system for separating impurities from liquids. The liquid flows upward through a bed of filter media in a vessel and filtered liquid (filtrate) is collected above the top of the bed. Dirtied filter media are withdrawn from the bottom of the vessel and returned to the vessel from the top. The dirtied filter media are first conveyed to a separation device by which the bulk of solids are separated from the filter media. The reject liquid from the separation device is discharged as waste. The filter media are then cleaned in a spiral wash path and are then returned back to the system. The described cleaning process is far more effective than other similar filtration systems. Majority of essential components are located outside of the vessel and are convenient to access for maintenance and inspection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Inventor: Hua Jiang