Superposed Compartments Or Baffles, E.g., Parallel Plate Type Patents (Class 210/521)
  • Patent number: 11873612
    Abstract: A screen intake has a central body with two screens attached on either end. Each of the screens has an interior that communicates with a hollow of the body via flow modifiers. These flow modifiers include one or more pipes disposed in the interior of the screens and through passages in ends of the body. A flow control support device disposed within the body supports the body's sidewall and divides the hollow into at least two portions—each communicating with flow from one of the flow modifiers. The device can include one or more plates disposed adjacent one another within the internal hollow with a peripheral edge attached to an inside of the body's sidewall. At least one of the one or more plates can be solid, or one or more of the plates can define openings therein allowing passage of at least some fluid therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: JOHNSON SCREENS, INC.
    Inventor: Michael R. Ekholm
  • Patent number: 11839839
    Abstract: A filtration apparatus is provided. The filtration apparatus includes a housing and a plurality of filtering sheets. The housing is enclosed by a first end cap and a second end cap. The first end cap includes a liquid inlet, and the second end cap includes a liquid outlet. The plurality of filtering sheets is disposed on an internal sidewall of the housing. A portion of the filtering sheets interlaces with another portion of the filtering sheets to form a winding flow path in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: XIA TAI XIN SEMICONDUCTOR (QING DAO) LTD.
    Inventors: Sangyong Choi, Chang-Hyeon Nam, Injoon Yeo
  • Patent number: 11801459
    Abstract: A stormwater treatment device may include a chamber having a floor and a wall; an inlet formed in the wall that receives stormwater into an inlet side of the chamber; an outlet formed in the wall that discharges stormwater from an outlet side of the chamber; an enhanced settling device positioned in the outlet side of the chamber; a flow diverter plate in a lower portion of the chamber; and an outlet control diverter positioned proximate to the outlet. Stormwater is received by the inlet in a first flow direction, flows from the inlet side to the lower portion of the chamber in a second flow direction, flows through the enhanced settling device to an upper portion of the chamber in a third flow direction, flows through the outlet control diverter in fourth flow direction, and is discharged by the outlet in a fifth flow direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Stormtrap, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Williams, Dan Fajman, Robert J. Moran, Luke Matteson
  • Patent number: 11707699
    Abstract: Various systems, apparatus, and methods used to remove solids from water are provided. A plate assembly for a plate settler assembly is provided which includes a plate body with a plate body thickness. The plate assembly also includes a first support plate attached to the plate body on a first axis extending between the first and second end of the plate body. The plate assembly may further include a second support plate attached to the plate body on a second axis extending between the first and second end. The plate assembly may also include a stiffener or a central stiffener attached to the plate body on a third axis. The plate assembly may still further include a flow control plate along the first end. The thickness of the support plates, stiffener, and flow control plate are greater than the plate body thickness. A corresponding method of manufacture is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: JIM MYERS & SONS, INC.
    Inventors: Timothy E. Krell, Kerry E. Dissinger
  • Patent number: 11691093
    Abstract: Coalescer plates, coalescer plate units, and coalescers, are provided. An exemplary embodiment provides a coalescer plate for separating a mixture of immiscible fluids. The coalescer plate comprises a pattern of wetting and non-wetting regions, wherein the pattern is based, at least in part, on phyllotaxis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Olanrewaju Malcolm Oshinowo, Fahad Saleh Alrashed
  • Patent number: 11685669
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a clarifier for water treatment including a module. The module includes a planar inclined sheet; a plurality of vertically-oriented supports; and a tensioner. The at least one planar inclined sheet is tensioned between the plurality of vertically-oriented supports and the tensioner is configured to bring the planar inclined sheet to an even centerline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Xylem Water Solutions Zelienople LLC
    Inventors: Salvador Dominguez Madeira, Matthew Sudak
  • Patent number: 11679345
    Abstract: Settling devices for separating particles from a bulk fluid with applications in numerous fields. The particle settling devices include a stack of cones with a small opening oriented upwardly or downwardly. The cones have an interior surface that is convex. These devices are useful for separating small (millimeter or micron sized) particles from a bulk fluid with applications in numerous fields, such as biological (microbial, mammalian, plant, insect or algal) cell cultures, solid catalyst particle separation from a liquid or gas and waste-water treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Sudhin Biopharma
    Inventors: Dhinakar S. Kompala, Braden L. Smith
  • Patent number: 11639640
    Abstract: An electro-separation apparatus for separation of drilling fluids is provided. The apparatus can include a reaction chamber and a set of electrode plates provided in the reaction chamber. A sediment outlet can be provided near a bottom of the reaction chamber and wiper blades can be provided for sweeping sediment that has collected on the electrode plates towards the sediment outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Ground Effect Environmental Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean Frisky, Jason Beaudin, Justin Lee, Joel Wolensky
  • Patent number: 11560326
    Abstract: A fluid treatment system is provided. A clarification reactor or chamber, configured for receiving an influent, is provided wherein separated water and separated solids may be formed from the influent while inside and/or outside the reactor. An influent inlet, positioned essentially at the top of the reactor, configured to allow the influent to enter the reactor is provided. A separated water outlet is provided, positioned essentially at the top of the reactor, that is configured to allow the separated water to exit the reactor. A solids discharge is also provided, positioned essentially at the bottom of the reactor, that is configured to allow the separated solids to exit the reactor. A downward angled baffle, positioned inside the reactor, is configured to deflect the separated solids towards the solids discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Synergy Watercare Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Ticia L. Heward, Michael E. Blair, Blaine S. Barbour, Duncan C. Hepburn
  • Patent number: 11469133
    Abstract: A bonding apparatus includes a body part; a vacuum hole disposed in the body part; a first protruding part protruding in a first direction from a first surface of the body part; a second protruding part protruding from the first surface of the body part in the first direction and spaced farther apart from a center of the first surface of the body part than the first protruding part in a second direction intersecting with the first direction; and a trench defined by the first surface of the body part and second surfaces of the first protruding part, the second surfaces protruding in the first direction from the first surface of the body part, and the trench being connected to the vacuum hole, wherein the second protruding part protrudes farther from the first surface of the body part in the first direction than the first protruding part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seok Geun Ahn, Min Keun Kwak, Ji Won Shin, Sang Hoon Lee, Byoung Wook Jang
  • Patent number: 11247146
    Abstract: A lamella for a clarifier formed by a rectangular or square plate, the upper edge and the lower edge of which run parallel to a transverse direction, the two remaining edges running parallel to a longitudinal direction, the plate being provided with longitudinal folds curved in the longitudinal direction and running from the upper edge to the lower thereof; the plate being curved longitudinally, so that the area closer to the lower edge of the plate is less inclined relative to the horizontal than the area closer to the upper edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Atca Asesoria Proyectos E Instalaciones, S.L.
    Inventor: Pedro Roberto Rodriguez Gomez
  • Patent number: 11173423
    Abstract: A side-flushing mechanical filter system includes a spring positioned within a pipe and a plurality of plates attached to the spring, each plate defining at least one hole, and a rod positioned partially within the pipe, a proximal end of the rod attached to a distal-most plate and a distal portion of rod extending from the distal end of the pipe. A major face of each plate is configured to arrest sediment from water flowing into the pipe via a first water inlet while the holes defined by the plates enable filtered water to flow therethrough and out of the first water outlet when the first water inlet and first water outlet are opened. During cleaning of sediment, graywater flows into the pipe via the second water inlet and over the plates while a user moves the rod to dislodge sediment from the plates and toward an outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Inventor: Ian L. Roback
  • Patent number: 11167223
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a device for improving water quality, said device comprising: an inlet for inflow of liquid into the device; a hydraulic circuit for receiving liquid from the inlet, the hydraulic circuit comprising at least a first tank and a second tank, wherein the first tank is upstream of the second tank and wherein one of said first and second tanks is nested within the other of said first and second tanks; an outlet at a downstream end of the hydraulic circuit for discharge of liquid from the device; one or more contaminant separation elements in the hydraulic circuit for separation of contaminants from liquid passing therethrough using at least one of: gravitational separation; sized-based filtration; chemical separation; magnetic separation; electrolytic separation; and adsorption or attraction-based separation, wherein the first tank is a settlement tank for gravitational settlement of contaminants from the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: One Water Naturally Pty, Ltd
    Inventor: David Sparke
  • Patent number: 11148073
    Abstract: A tensile structure density current baffle for use in a clarifier tank having a side wall includes a tensioning cable and a central baffle portion formed from a membrane fabric. The central baffle portion has an upper baffle portion with an upper end, a lower baffle portion with a lower end, and a junction between the upper baffle portion and the lower baffle portion. The tensioning cable engages the central baffle portion at the junction. The upper end of the central baffle portion being fastenable to the side wall above the junction and the lower end of the central baffle portion being fastenable to the side wall below the junction. When the upper end and lower end are fastened to the side wall and the tensioning cable is tensioned, the tensioning cable and membrane fabric comprise a self-supporting tensile structure that extends toward the center of the clarifier tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Inventor: Richard Steele Winters
  • Patent number: 11090583
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a bottom section for being connected to an assembly for separating a solid component from a fluid. The assembly includes an inclined plate settler with at least one sedimentation channel for letting a solid component to be separated settle, said plate settler comprising a lower portion and an upper portion, wherein said at least one sedimentation channel extends from the lower portion to the upper portion. The bottom section is configured to be connected to the lower portion of the inclined plate settler. The bottom section comprises at least one inlet channel for feeding a fluid comprising the solid component to be separated to the plate settler, and at least one collection channel for collecting a settled solid component descending from the at least one sedimentation channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: TAKEDA PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Nikolaus Hammerschmidt, Alois Jungbauer, Hannah Engelmaier
  • Patent number: 11045749
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to settler plates for a plate settler. The settler plates generally include a hollow support with a hollow interior to receive clarified liquid from a flow channel between adjacent settler plates. An orifice is formed through the hollow support to direct clarified liquid from the flow channel into the hollow interior. The orifice can be positioned such that clarified liquid can flow upwardly out of the flow channel and downwardly through the orifice into the hollow interior. The hollow support can be integrally formed with the settler plate. For example, the hollow support can be formed by bending a tab extending from an end of the settler plate. The tab can be bent into a hollow support with a cross section that is generally polygonal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: MEURER RESEARCH INC.
    Inventors: Christopher D. Hanson, Galen J. M. Fitzpatrick, Donald F. Bersell
  • Patent number: 11040889
    Abstract: A waste fluid treatment apparatus removing processing debris from a processing waste fluid discharged from a processing apparatus. The waste fluid treatment apparatus includes a fluid bath storing the processing waste fluid, an inflow port through which the processing waste fluid is introduced to the fluid bath, a collecting area having an inclined surface for depositing the processing debris at a predetermined portion of a bottom of the fluid bath in a concentrated manner, a vacuum pump discharging the processing debris deposited in the collecting area to an outside of the fluid bath, and an outflow port through which a processing waste fluid obtained by removing the processing debris is discharged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: DISCO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shinichi Namioka
  • Patent number: 11027225
    Abstract: A sedimenting assembly for sedimenting debris contained in a processed waste liquid in a sedimentation tank includes a plurality of partition plates extending vertically across a direction in which the processed waste liquid flows and disposed at spaced intervals in the direction, thereby defining a zigzag channel through which the processed waste liquid flows horizontally. The zigzag channel ensures a time during which to sediment the debris against a time during which the processed waste liquid flows through the zigzag channel, allowing the debris to settle reliably.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: DISCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jun Suwano, Takeshi Furonaka
  • Patent number: 10927019
    Abstract: A monitoring system is configured to detect a threshold amount of petroleum in a storm water-based fluid of an oil handling facility. For instance, the storm water-based fluid can be drained from a floating roof of a petroleum storage tank, a diked area, or a retention pond.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: ENVIROEYE LLC
    Inventors: Mark S. Rauch, Ronald Kleineke
  • Patent number: 10923237
    Abstract: Debris filters fit in fuel assembly lower tie plates and filter fluids passing therethrough. Filters use a series of adjacent plates with aligned peaks and valleys to create several channels. The plates have small excisions in diamond, triangle, or other debris-catching shapes, such as near a lower portion of the filter where fluid enters the filter. Excisions may alternate around each channel, such as four alternating cut-outs in 90-degree intervals about a channel circumference. Excisions may be sized to entrap smaller debris common in reactor coolant flow and liable for fretting damage to fuel cladding. Multiple vertical stages can be used in filters, with different channels for each stage. Ligaments may hold each stage to the next, potentially with a gap between stages for intermixing. Plates, peaks, valleys, ligaments, and excisions may all be formed in a single stamping operation to eliminate excess or overlapping pieces or extensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Global Nuclear Fuel—Americas, LLC
    Inventors: Brandon P. Smith, Carlton W. Clark, Richard C. Longren, Gerald M. Latter
  • Patent number: 10914128
    Abstract: A diffuser and solids collection system includes an enclosure including an input for receiving from a petroleum well a stream of fluid carrying solids. A set of baffles within the enclosure reduces the velocity of the stream of fluid. A solids collector in fluid communication with the enclosure receives the stream of fluid after the reduction in the velocity of the fluid by the set of baffles. A weighing system coupled to the solids collector for weighing the collected solids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Inventor: Robert Alan Tucker
  • Patent number: 10881988
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to settler plates for a plate settler. The settler plates generally include a hollow support with a hollow interior to receive clarified liquid from a flow channel between adjacent settler plates. An orifice is formed through the hollow support to direct clarified liquid from the flow channel into the hollow interior. The orifice can be positioned such that clarified liquid can flow upwardly out of the flow channel and downwardly through the orifice into the hollow interior. The hollow support can be integrally formed with the settler plate. For example, the hollow support can be formed by bending a tab extending from an end of the settler plate. The tab can be bent into a hollow support with a cross section that is generally polygonal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: MEURER RESEARCH INC.
    Inventors: Christopher D. Hanson, Galen J. M. Fitzpatrick, Donald F. Bersell
  • Patent number: 10870072
    Abstract: A clarifier tank insert assembly configured to be inserted into a frac tank. The clarifier tank insert assembly includes a housing that defines a housing interior and includes a bottom opening, at least a first plate pack assembly disposed in the housing interior, and at least a first pipe positioned within the housing interior and above the first plate pack assembly. The first plate pack assembly includes at least first and second parallel plates and the first plate defines a plate angle with the bottom surface of the housing. The first pipe includes a plurality of inflow openings defined therein. A water path extends through the bottom opening, between the first and second parallel plates and into the inflow openings in the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: UNITED RENTALS, INC.
    Inventors: Douglas J. Herber, Bruce J. Lesikar
  • Patent number: 10850214
    Abstract: An inclined sedimentation acceleration apparatus includes an inclined part having a plurality of inclined flow paths through which raw water flows, and side plates disposed on both sides of the inclined part. An upper ridge part of the inclined part is disposed at a height different from that of an upper ridge part of the side plate. Suspended solids are less likely to accumulate on an upper surface of the inclined sedimentation acceleration apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignees: METAWATER CO., LTD., ACE WATER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junichi Shiga, Toshiyuki Kitada, Takahito Sugimoto, Dabide Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 10815059
    Abstract: A variety of vehicle-based and warehouse-based solutions are provided to increase the adaptability, utility, and efficiency of materials handling vehicles in the warehouse environment, such as a goods storage and retrieval system, comprising a multilevel warehouse racking system, a mobile storage cart, a cart home position, and a materials handling vehicle disposed on a vehicle transit surface and comprising a fork carriage assembly, a navigation subsystem, a cart engagement subsystem, and one or more vehicular controllers to use the navigation subsystem to navigate the materials handling vehicle along the vehicle transit surface to a localized engagement position where the cart home position is within a cart engagement field of view, and use the cart engagement subsystem to engage the mobile storage cart in the cart home position with the fork carriage assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Crown Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew J. Otto, Gregory S. Garmann, Mark E. Addison
  • Patent number: 10662081
    Abstract: Improved apparatus and methodologies for separating production water arising from conventional oil well production operations, the production water containing less than 1% oil-in-water, where the apparatus and methodologies may include the use of a large separation vessel configured to perform a phase separation mid-stream of a continuous fluid flow path, thereby increasing the overall retention time of the separation vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Gas Liquids Engineering, Ltd.
    Inventor: A. W. (Arnie) Toews
  • Patent number: 10655318
    Abstract: A stormwater drain baffle to be disposed in a flow-through stormwater sump or chamber for baffling a stormwater flow-path. The baffle has a plurality of openings distributed over the area of the baffle. The baffle comprises at least two baffle portions connected to each other. The baffle portions are disposed near to and in superposed relation to each other, so that the baffle portions overlap each other and are adjustably connected to each other for adjusting the width (Wtot) of the baffle. At least the outermost baffle portions of the baffle comprise fixing members which are monolithic with the baffle portion and adapted for fixing the baffle to the vertical inner wall of the sump or the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: UPONOR INFRA OY
    Inventor: Niko Päivinen
  • Patent number: 10563495
    Abstract: Disclosed herewith a separation device for performing phase separation on a three-phase liquid. The device includes: a housing; at least one pair of longitudinal baffle plates; a flow channel formed between every pair of longitudinal baffle plates; and collection chambers formed between adjacent pairs of longitudinal baffle plates. Each collection chamber is provided with a transverse baffle plate to separate the collection chamber into a first phase and a second phase collection cells. Each flow channel is provided with multiple lateral baffle plates to separate the flow channel into multiple sub-channels. In the areas of each longitudinal baffle plate where the first phase and second phase collection cells are located respectively, said longitudinal baffle plate is provided with a first and a second phase guiding holes in communication with the first phase and the second collection cells respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignees: CHINA PETROLEUM & CHEMICAL CORPORATION, SINOPEC EXPLORATION & PRODUCTION RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Changchao Hu, Wei Dang, Xiaoxuan Xu, Zhiwei Tang, Lili Wang, Wenjie Tan, Pengyuan Ding, Caixia Bi, Youlin Zheng
  • Patent number: 10486089
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of filtering a feed and waste water treatment system using the filtration method. The method utilizes a filtration cake for the filtration, which filtration cake is formed by elements contained in a liquid having a different composition than the feed to the filtered. The invention relates in particular to a method for filtering a liquid containing solid particles of different sizes which utilizes a filtration cake formed at least partly and preferably only from particles contained in said liquid containing solid particles of different sizes. The particles of the filtration cake are deposited on a filtration cake support and the method involves separation of the liquid containing solid particles of different sizes into two fractions: one fraction containing solid particles above a certain size and one containing smaller particles, and filtering the fraction containing smaller particles through the filtration cake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: GRUNDFOS HOLDING A/S
    Inventors: Dominik Marek Dominiak, Tom Bjerregaard Jæger
  • Patent number: 10464829
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a residue and grease trap chamber for catering wastewater. It includes a grease trap main body and a main lid, wherein the main body is divided into a residue trap chamber, a first grease trap chamber, a second grease trap chamber and a third grease trap chamber and a residue bucket is provided within the residue trap chamber. The present disclosure has the following functions and technical features: the residue trap chamber and the residue bucket facilitate the separation of food residue in the sink; the residue discharge pipes and the three grease trap chambers are convenient for discharging residues from the chamber; the grease scrapers are convenient for removing grease intercepted in water surface. The grease interception efficiency of the system is improved compared with traditional grease traps; the structure is simple, and it is easy to mount and operate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Inventor: Ngo Suet Sit
  • Patent number: 10385635
    Abstract: A diffuser and solids collection system includes a first baffle section having an input for receiving from a petroleum well a fluid carrying solids and a first set of internal baffles for reducing a velocity of the fluid. A second baffle section in fluid communication with the first baffle section has a second set of internal baffles for further reducing the velocity of the fluid. A solids collection container separates the solids from the fluid received from the second baffle section. A weighing system, supported by the second baffle section and supporting the solids collection container, weighs the solids collected in the solids collection container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Southpaw Fabrication
    Inventor: Robert Alan Tucker
  • Patent number: 10150063
    Abstract: A separator unit includes a tank defining an internal volume and having an inlet and an outlet. A deck within the tank separates the tank into an upper chamber and a lower chamber. A weir at an upper side of the deck defines an inlet side atop the deck for receiving an influent liquid and an outlet side atop the deck, with a first opening through the deck on the inlet side for delivering liquid down into the lower chamber, and a second opening through the deck on the outlet side for delivering liquid from the lower chamber back up into the upper chamber. The separator includes one or more of an integrated drop pipe assembly with a dispersal manifold, a riser pipe with a vortex disrupting vane and/or a weir configuration that in part follows a periphery of the second opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: CONTECH ENGINEERED SOLUTIONS LLC
    Inventors: Joel A. Garbon, Jordan S. Kahlenberg, Benjamin S. Farrell, Scott D. Perry
  • Patent number: 9889392
    Abstract: A grease separator incorporating a vessel having an upper opening and an interior space, the vessel further having a floor, a front wall, a rear wall, a left wall, and a right wall; a water ejection port positioned at the front wall; left and right flow ports respectively positioned at the left and right walls; a separator baffle and a damping baffle; slide channels adapted for alternatively positioning the separator baffle at the left and right ends of the vessel's interior, the slide channels being further adapted for positioning the damping baffle oppositely from the separator baffle; and a submersible pump having a water intake port positioned at the lower end of the vessel's interior, the submersible pump having an output communicating with the water ejection port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Inventor: Teik Sim Quah
  • Patent number: 9868077
    Abstract: Apparatus and method to remove sediment from tubes of a tube settler assembly used in water clarification. A series of tube laterals extends beneath the area of the tube settler assembly and allows air to escape from air exit holes in the tube laterals. An air supply provides air to the tube laterals. The air released from one tube lateral may be released by a second tube lateral at a time different from the time of air released by the first tube lateral. The air entrained in liquid rises and dislodges sediment in the tubes of the tube settler assembly. A flow deflector may be located below the structure supporting the tube settler assembly to deflect rising air into the tube settler assembly which would otherwise be blocked from air entry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Inventors: Hambley David M, Hambley Philip
  • Patent number: 9808778
    Abstract: The present application is directed towards systems and methods for continuously reacting a combination of materials by use of an acoustic agitator and a continuous process vessel. The system can react, fluidize, mix, coat, dry, combine or segregate materials. The continuous processing system can include an acoustic agitator capable of being removably coupled to a continuous process vessel. The continuous process vessel can include a first inlet for introducing at least one process ingredient, a plurality of plates configured for directing a flow of the at least one process ingredient through the continuous process vessel and capable of transferring acoustic energy generated by the acoustic agitator into the at least one process ingredient, an outlet for discharging a product of the at least one process ingredient, and a fastener for removable coupling the continuous process vessel to the acoustic agitator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Resodyn Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence C. Farrar, Scott L. Coguill, Peter A. Lucon, Janice Lucon
  • Patent number: 9782698
    Abstract: An apparatus for refining a liquid stream using 180 degree redirection and inclined plates. The apparatus includes a first flow chamber, a second flow chamber, and a separation chamber. The first flow chamber directs the liquid stream downwards in a first direction at a first velocity, the second flow chamber directs the liquid carrier upwards in a second direction opposite the first direction, and the separation chamber is disposed between the first flow chamber and the second flow chamber. The separation chamber includes a redirection portion that has inclined plates across which the liquid carrier flows and, as the liquid slows from a first velocity to a second velocity, the solid particles fall out of the liquid carrier and collect in the collection portion of the separation chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: RECOVERED ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Richard Lewis, Kurt Scott
  • Patent number: 9782697
    Abstract: An apparatus for refining a liquid stream using 180 degree redirection and inclined plates. The apparatus includes a first flow chamber, a second flow chamber, and a separation chamber. The first flow chamber directs the liquid stream downwards in a first direction at a first velocity, the second flow chamber directs the liquid carrier upwards in a second direction opposite the first direction, and the separation chamber is disposed between the first flow chamber and the second flow chamber. The separation chamber includes a redirection portion that has inclined plates across which the liquid carrier flows and, as the liquid slows from a first velocity to a second velocity, the solid particles fall out of the liquid carrier and collect in the collection portion of the separation chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: RECOVERED ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Richard Lewis, Kurt Scott
  • Patent number: 9782699
    Abstract: An apparatus for refining a liquid stream using 180 degree redirection and inclined plates. The apparatus includes a first flow chamber, a second flow chamber, and a separation chamber. The first flow chamber directs the liquid stream downwards in a first direction at a first velocity, the second flow chamber directs the liquid carrier upwards in a second direction opposite the first direction, and the separation chamber is disposed between the first flow chamber and the second flow chamber. The separation chamber includes a redirection portion that has inclined plates across which the liquid carrier flows and, as the liquid slows from a first velocity to a second velocity, the solid particles fall out of the liquid carrier and collect in the collection portion of the separation chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: RECOVERED ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Richard Lewis, Kurt Scott
  • Patent number: 9731222
    Abstract: A solvent extraction settler arrangement comprises a settler (1) having a feed end (2) and a discharge end (3), said settler being arranged to separate solution phases from a dispersion fed from the feed end while the dispersion flows to the discharge end. Elongated discharge launders (4, 5) are arranged at the discharge end (3) of the settler for each solution phase to be separated from the dispersion, each discharge launder (4, 5) including a first end (6), an outlet (7, 8) arranged at the first end, and a closed second end (9). At least one of the discharge launders (4, 5) has a form of a conical tube with a cross-section converging from the first end (6) towards the second end (9) and an inclined bottom (10, 11) descending from the second end (9) towards the first end (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Outotec (Finland) Oy
    Inventors: Jussi Vaarno, Rami Saario, Henri Fredriksson
  • Patent number: 9656188
    Abstract: The disclosed method and apparatus separates solid impurities from a fluid containing solid impurities. The method and apparatus allow the introduction of influent comprising a fluid containing solid impurities into a plurality of channels and allowing at least a portion of the solid impurities initially present in the influent to settle on upward-facing surfaces of a plurality of plates forming the channels or slide down the upward-facing surfaces, while permitting fluid, which has been depleted of at least a portion of solid impurities, to flow upward toward the top edges of the plurality of plates. The influent is introduced into the plurality of channels in a manner that inhibits a disrupting or disturbing of the solid impurities, which have separated from the influent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: PARKSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Russell L. Cook, Alejandro Mejia, Lakshminarasimha Krishnapura
  • Patent number: 9583222
    Abstract: A debris filter for a nuclear reactor installation is provided. The debris filter comprises a plurality of plates arranged side-by-side in a spaced relationship and delimiting between them flow passages extending through the debris filter from a lower inlet face to an upper outlet face of the debris filter, each passage having an intermediate section offset with respect to an inlet section and an outlet section. At least one of the plates is formed with debris catching features distributed along the plate and protruding into at least one passage delimited by the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: AREVA NP
    Inventors: Erhard Friedrich, Robert Koch, Dirk Blavius, James Tolar
  • Patent number: 9506237
    Abstract: A method of flow baffle installation is disclosed herein. The method, in various aspects includes the steps of orienting a side support at a specified elevation about a sidewall of a sump using a leveling support, bolting the side support to the sidewall of the sump following the step of orienting a side support at a specified elevation about a sidewall of a sump using a leveling support, orienting an opposing side support at the specified elevation about the sidewall of the sump using a corresponding leveling support, bolting the opposing side support to the sidewall of the sump following the step of orienting an opposing side support at the specified elevation about the sidewall of the sump using a corresponding leveling support, adjusting an adjustable cross-member to span between the side support and the opposing side support. This Abstract is presented to meet requirements of 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b) only.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: UPSTREAM TECHNOLOGIES INC
    Inventors: William F. Braunwarth, Bonnie Brewer, Aaron Gendler
  • Patent number: 9500051
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating drilling or completion fluids is described. The apparatus may include a fluid container that is operable to at least temporarily contain a drilling or completion fluid. The fluid container may have an inlet port and at least one outlet port. The apparatus may further include an excitation element. The excitation element may be operable to impart a pre-determined vibratory force on the drilling or completion fluid within the fluid container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: John Adrian Hall
  • Patent number: 9480936
    Abstract: A multistage composite fluid separator capable of isolating a first liquid from a composite fluid having at least a first and second liquid, in which the first and second liquids have differing specific gravities or for separating solid contaminates from at least one liquid. An outer housing encloses a plurality of separation chambers. An inlet port delivers the composite fluid through an elongated spillway into the sump of the chambers. Positioned between the inlet and the outlet of each chamber is a plurality of stacked baffles, composed of individual separation flow plates, placed in an inclined relationship. The plurality of baffles creates a flow path in which the composite fluid is forced to flow over each of the individual separation flow plates as the fluid travels upward in the separation chamber toward the outlet port shearing the liquid causing coalescence and coagulation of liquids due to their density and/or viscosity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Inventor: Gary D. Hanks
  • Patent number: 9345992
    Abstract: A remote submerged chain conveyor system for separating particles from a coal ash/water slurry from one or more remotely located boiler units. A tank forms an ash holding section, a dewatering section, and an ash settling section. The ash holding section receiving the slurry with first and second opposite ends. The dewatering section dewaters the slurry. The settling zone is an elongated trough connected with the ash holding section at one end with a discharge drain trough at near an opposite end. The tank sections being oriented in a generally linear arrangement wherein a net flow of water from the ash/water slurry is in a direction from the settling zone toward the distal and. A drag chain moves along the ash settling conveying the particles settling from the slurry to the dewatering section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: DIAMOND POWER INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Austin Tyler Little, Louis A. Zotti, Tony F. Habib, Alan J. Dore
  • Patent number: 9339742
    Abstract: In this respect, the present arrangement provides a density current baffle that employs a baffle that is dimensioned to balance the fact that larger horizontal projections of density current baffles improve performance while simultaneously recognizing that an overly large baffle would simply not correctly function, be unnecessarily large and complex and may in fact have a negative impact on the otherwise ordinary operation of flows within the clarifier tank. Thus, the present arrangement provides a baffle that improves performance while satisfying the desire to remain conservative in defining an upper limit for the projection. The horizontal projection of the baffle is structured according to the following equation: HP=24?+0.4 inches/foot×(Diameter?30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Inventor: Earle Schaller
  • Patent number: 9056266
    Abstract: A system to separate solids from liquids is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, the system includes a series of alternating baffles disposed along a length of a tank, where the series of alternating baffles define a vertical tortuous flow path of the fluid from a first end of the tank to a second end of the tank to cause solids to settle out of the fluid. The alternating baffles each have a sloped planar surface disposed between a lower horizontal planar surface and an upper horizontal planar surface to cause at least one eddy in a vertical plane as the fluid flows through the tank. The system may also include a series of tanks in fluid communication with the at least one tank and secured side by side, where the solids progressively settle out from the fluid in stages as the fluid passes from one tank to another in series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Inventor: Don M. Buckner
  • Publication number: 20150114903
    Abstract: An apparatus for enhancing the coalescence of a dispersed phase from a continuous phase in an emulsion is presented. The apparatus includes at least one inlet for receiving the emulsion, at least one outlet for discharging the emulsion after coalescing the dispersed phase, and at least one article disposed between the inlet and the outlet. The article includes a plurality of regions disposed on a surface in a predefined pattern, wherein a portion of the plurality of regions is substantially wetting with respect to the dispersed phase, and a portion of the plurality of regions is substantially non-wetting with respect to the dispersed phase, and wherein the pattern includes a plurality of inter-connected regions that are substantially non-wetting with respect to the dispersed phase. A related article is also presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Shyam Sivaramakrishnan, Oscar Max Sittner, Terje Glomsaker, Luc Stephane Leblanc, Ambarish Jayant Kulkarni, Vaibhav Bahadur, Yifan Gao
  • Publication number: 20150108073
    Abstract: The disclosed method and apparatus separates solid impurities from a fluid containing solid impurities. The method and apparatus allow the introduction of influent comprising a fluid containing solid impurities into a plurality of channels and allowing at least a portion of the solid impurities initially present in the influent to settle on upward-facing surfaces of a plurality of plates forming the channels or slide down the upward-facing surfaces, while permitting fluid, which has been depleted of at least a portion of solid impurities, to flow upward toward the top edges of the plurality of plates. The influent is introduced into the plurality of channels in a manner that inhibits a disrupting or disturbing of the solid impurities, which have separated from the influent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: PARKSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Russell L. COOK, Alejandro MEJIA, Lakshminarasimha KRISHNAPURA
  • Patent number: 9010548
    Abstract: A method and arrangement for separating two solutions mixed in dispersion into two solution phases in a liquid-liquid extraction separation cell. A lighter solution phase placed on the heavier solution phase is forced to flow as a thin overflow layer over the top edge of a front panel such that the dispersion thickens A rear panel is essentially parallel with the front panel so that in between the front panel and the rear panel, there is formed an uptake shaft along which the thickened dispersion can rise and be compressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Bror Nyman, Eero Ekman, Pertti Pekkala, Hannu Laitala, Rami Saario