Controlling Process In Response To Stream Constituent Or Reactant Concentration Patents (Class 210/614)
  • Patent number: 12103882
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an A/O tower integrated device for biological treatment of organic sewage containing COD and nitrogen, comprising a cylinder; a water distributing zone, a filtrating zone, a three-phase contact aerobic zone, a nitrification liquid reflux discharging zone and an anoxic zone are successively arranged in the cylinder from top to bottom; the three-phase contact aerobic zone is the non-ponding zone and the atmospheric high oxygen biofilm filling zone; the sewage inlet is set in anoxic zone; the water outlet of the anoxic zone is connected with the water inlet of the water distributing zone. The device integrates water distribution, filtration, aerobic and anoxic, thus saving occupied zone. The pollutant removal load per unit volume of the device is high; the aerobic zone can coordinately deal with the odor generated in the anoxic zone; the removal rates of COD, ammonia nitrogen and total nitrogen are high.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: ZHEJIANG HAIHE ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jingwei Jiang, Fangfang Bao, Zhenghai Jiang
  • Patent number: 12099926
    Abstract: A water treatment plant which performs water treatment using a water treatment device includes an imaging device, a processing device, and a control device. The imaging device images a water treatment environment of the water treatment device and outputs image data obtained by imaging. The processing device causes an arithmetic device which performs an arithmetic operation using one or more calculation models generated by machine learning to execute the arithmetic operation employing the image data output from the imaging device as input data of the one or more calculation models. The control device controls the water treatment device on the basis of output information output from the arithmetic device by executing the arithmetic operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eiji Imamura, Yuki Sato, Wataru Yoshida, Seiji Noda, Yohei Ueno, Nozomu Yasunaga, Go Wakamatsu, Kenta Shimoda, Takushi Kawada
  • Patent number: 12060288
    Abstract: A wastewater treatment device has: an ozone generator which supplies ozone; a mixer which mixes ozone supplied from the ozone generator with wastewater and supplies ozone mixed wastewater; an ozone oxidation unit which progresses ozone oxidation in the ozone mixed wastewater while passing the ozone mixed wastewater therethrough and discharges wastewater in which the ozone has been consumed; a biological treatment unit which performs biological treatment on the wastewater discharged from the ozone oxidation unit using microorganisms; and an adjusting device which adjusts the amount of ozone to be mixed with the wastewater by the mixer so that ozone in an amount that inhibits the microorganisms of the biological treatment unit does not remain in the wastewater discharged from the ozone oxidation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: IHI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nobuhiko Kubota, Yuka Yoshida, Xia Huang, Chun Liu, Jing Zhang, Hong Zheng Zhou, Xiao Xuan Chen, Lei Zhang
  • Patent number: 12049416
    Abstract: A method of operating a sequencing batch reactor process includes introducing wastewater to be treated into the sequencing batch reactor and subjecting the wastewater to treatment in the sequencing batch reactor in an aerated anoxic mode in in which a quantity of oxygen is supplied at a level insufficient to meet a biological oxygen demand of the wastewater, but sufficient to cause simultaneous nitrification and denitrification reactions to occur in the wastewater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignee: Evoqua Water Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Brandon Martin Olson
  • Patent number: 11993524
    Abstract: Systems and methods for enabling dynamic volumetric transitioning and segmentation of treatment conditions are disclosed. Such treatment conditions may include, by way of example, systems and methods for dynamically transitioning treatment environments within a reactor for activated sludge treatment processes. Such environments may include anaerobic, anoxic, fermentation, suboxic, and aerobic environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Enviromix, Inc
    Inventors: Sarah O. Elger, David D. Lauer, John Edward Koch, III
  • Patent number: 11926547
    Abstract: Disclosed are floating micro-aeration unit (FMU) devices, systems and methods for biological sulfide removal from water/wastewater bodies and streams. In some aspects, a system includes a manifold structure including one or more opening to flow air out of an interior of the manifold structure; one or more support structures connected to the manifold structure, in which the one or more support structures are floatable on a surface of a fluid that includes water or a wastewater; and an air source that flows air to the manifold structure, such that the manifold structure supplies the air containing a predetermined amount of oxygen (e.g., less than 0.1 mg/L of oxygen) to oxidize sulfide of the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: AQUACYCL, INC.
    Inventors: Sofia Malinova Babanova, Orianna Bretschger, Jaime Octavio García Cornejo, Jason Daniel Jones
  • Patent number: 11905192
    Abstract: A method for collaborative optimization control method for organic nitrogen and inorganic nitrogen in a denitrification process is provided. The method includes: establishing ASM-mDON-DIN models for simultaneous simulation of microbial dissolved organic nitrogen (mDON) and inorganic nitrogen (DIN) in denitrification processes; and selecting a corresponding ASM-mDON-DIN model according to a set carbon/nitrogen ratio to collaboratively optimize the concentration values of mDON and DIN in the effluent in the denitrification process, to obtain best process operation parameter values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: NANJING UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Haidong Hu, Xian Cui, Kewei Liao, Lili Ding, Bing Wu, Hongqiang Ren
  • Patent number: 11845680
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a system for monitoring and/or controlling the delivery of one or more organic carbon compounds to a wastewater treatment system. The system comprises a bio-electrochemical sensor to monitor metabolic activity of a population of exo-electrogenic bacteria and provide an electrical output corresponding with the metabolic activity, the bio-electrochemical sensor comprising an electrode pair and a power source to deliver a voltage across the electrode pair, and an electrical output analyzer to analyze the electrical output and correlate the electrical output with a value representing the amount of the one or more organic carbon compounds in the wastewater treatment system. A method and sensor for monitoring and/or controlling the delivery of one or more organic carbon compounds to a wastewater treatment system are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: SENTRY: WATER MONITORING AND CONTROL INC.
    Inventors: Patrick Desmond Kiely, Jack R. Ambler, Colin Ragush
  • Patent number: 11827550
    Abstract: A method of operating a sequencing batch reactor process includes introducing wastewater to be treated into the sequencing batch reactor and subjecting the wastewater to treatment in the sequencing batch reactor in an aerated anoxic mode in in which a quantity of oxygen is supplied at a level insufficient to meet a biological oxygen demand of the wastewater, but sufficient to cause simultaneous nitrification and denitrification reactions to occur in the wastewater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Evoqua Water Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Brandon Martin Olson
  • Patent number: 11793175
    Abstract: A method (110) for monitoring at least one aquaculture pond (112) is proposed. The method (110) comprises: a) monitoring at least one aerial parameter of use of the at least one aquaculture pond (112); b) determining a temporal development of the aerial parameter of use; and c) determining an intensity of use of the aquaculture pond (112) by using the temporal development of the aerial parameter of use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Peer Staehler, Moritz Erhart, Daniel Aydin
  • Patent number: 11638394
    Abstract: A system for agricultural irrigation water oxygenation for enriching soil oxygen level comprises a source of compressed oxygen (and not compressed air) coupled to a water line feeding an irrigation system, such as a drip irrigation system. The coupling system may include a pressure sensor for measuring the pressure in the water line, a solenoid safety valve, a control valve, a flow meter and a controller that controls the flow of oxygen from the source of compressed liquid oxygen to the water line using the components of the coupling system, without using a special cavitation valve and using off-the-shelf components while achieving the same benefits as a system incorporating the special cavitation valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: AG-OX, LLC
    Inventors: Buford J. Creech, Gary T. Henderson
  • Patent number: 11603327
    Abstract: Provided are a water treatment method and a water treatment device wherein in a biological treatment of ammonium nitrogen-containing water to be treated, the water to be treated can be treated stably at a high treatment speed even when the nitrogen concentration of the water to be treated is high. This water treatment device biologically treats ammonium nitrogen-containing water to be treated. The water treatment device (water treatment method) is provided with: a nitrification device (nitrification step) for oxidizing ammonium nitrogen to nitrite or nitrate nitrogen using nitrifying bacteria including autotrophic ammonia-oxidizing bacteria and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria contained in microbial activated sludge; and a nitrification rate control means which maintains a molybdenum compound in the nitrification device in such a manner as to control the molybdenum concentration of the water to be treated to 0.025 mg Mo/gN or more, and controls the nitrification rate for the sludge to 0.11 [kgN/(kgVSS·day)].
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: ORGANO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaki Miyake, Yoshiaki Hasebe
  • Patent number: 11459245
    Abstract: Automated systems and methods for treating wastewater or effluent are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin G. Kleinguetl, Brice Aaron Jackson, Lawrence Joseph Herskowitz, Adam Dotson
  • Patent number: 11459251
    Abstract: In the field of wastewater or effluent treatment, a method for treating wastewater includes a first step of treating carbon contained in the wastewater by means of oxygen, a second step of treating the nitrogen contained in the treated water at the end of the first step, a third step of determining a ratio between a concentration of carbon and a concentration of nitrogen in the water at the end of the first step, a fourth step of controlling the supply of oxygen necessary for the first step as a function of a difference between the determination carried out in the third step and a strictly positive setpoint of concentration ratio. A device implementing the method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: SUEZ GROUPE
    Inventors: Irène Mozo, Marc Caligaris
  • Patent number: 11390544
    Abstract: A system and method for automatically controlling aeration and mixing processes are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: ENVIROMIX, INC.
    Inventors: Theodore K Jenkins, Robert Elliott Locklair, Stuart F. Humphries
  • Patent number: 11370681
    Abstract: Provided are a water treatment method and a water treatment device wherein in a biological treatment of ammonium nitrogen-containing water to be treated, the water to be treated can be treated stably at a high treatment speed even when the nitrogen concentration of the water to be treated is high. This water treatment device biologically treats ammonium nitrogen-containing water to be treated. The water treatment device (water treatment method) is provided with: a nitrification device (nitrification step) for oxidizing ammonium nitrogen to nitrite or nitrate nitrogen using nitrifying bacteria including autotrophic ammonia-oxidizing bacteria and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria contained in microbial activated sludge; and a nitrification rate control means which maintains a molybdenum compound in the nitrification device in such a manner as to control the molybdenum concentration of the water to be treated to 0.025 mg Mo/gN or more, and controls the nitrification rate for the sludge to 0.11 [kgN/(kgVSS·day)].
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: ORGANO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaki Miyake, Yoshiaki Hasebe
  • Patent number: 11365141
    Abstract: An aeration balance controller in a wastewater treatment process allows for precise control of aeration medium in situations where the oxygen concentration must be controlled in more than one aeration zone or compartment, with reduced instrumentation. The system also has application controlling aeration media where the aeration of one or more zones may interfere with the stable control of aeration in another zone. This is accomplished by the use of two control schemes: one which determines the overall aeration effort required, and one or more controllers which adjust the balance between zones to equalize the process error from setpoint from zone to zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Ovivo Inc.
    Inventor: Calvin Robertson
  • Patent number: 11053148
    Abstract: A device and method for shortcut nitrogen removal and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria activity inhibition are disclosed herein. An embodiment of the present invention provides a yarn fiber diffuser comprising: a plurality of yarn fibers on which bacteria can be attached and grow; and an inlet capable of supplying gas to one sides of the plurality of yarn fibers, wherein the gas includes oxygen and carbon dioxide, nitrite can be produced by the oxygen, and the concentration of oxygen in the gas is adjusted by the oxygen and the carbon dioxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Inventors: Daehwan Rhu, Minki Jung, Dongjin Ju, Hongkeun Park, Dongwoo Kim, Hojae Hwang
  • Patent number: 10800688
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for measuring ionic activity by quantifying total dissolved solids (TDS) concentration in wastewater. In some embodiments, ionic activity of wastewater is monitored by quantifying the total dissolved solids concentration, which can be used for determining the ammonia reduction progress through nitrification and the luxurious phosphorous uptake process reaction and/or the reaction progress of soluble phosphorous species and reactive ions, including one or more alkali and alkaline-earth species and/or soluble metals species, to form non-soluble ionic phosphorous precipitate during biological activated wastewater processes and digester biosolids treatment processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Aquaconeer, LLC
    Inventor: Albert Bock
  • Patent number: 10709117
    Abstract: An aquaculture system can include stacked growth trays. Animals, such as shrimp, can be transferred between the growth trays for different stages of growth. Waste water can be removed from the growth trays and can be processed by a water treatment system. Treated water can be returned to the growth trays. A valve in a first configuration can permit water to circulate through the growth tray, while impeding the animals from exiting the growth tray. In a second configuration, the valve can permit the animals to exit the growth tray, such as for transition to a subsequent growth tray. A sweeper system can be used for cleaning and/or mixing the water in the growth tray, and/or for pushing the animals out of the growth tray during a transition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Grand Shrimp, LLC
    Inventors: Johan Perslow, Andrew Komor, Michael Morrow
  • Patent number: 10611655
    Abstract: A renewable energy microgeneration apparatus is disclosed that includes a mixing tank that mixes waste with a liquid, a buffer tank that receives and pre-warms the mixed waste, a pasteurization tank that pasteurizes on the pre-warmed mixed waste, a digestion tank that performs anaerobic digestion on the pasteurized waste, a de-watering device that separates liquid digestate and removes salt from the liquid, sensors that measure salinity and biogas quality, and a controller. The controller causes the transfer of digestate from the digestion tank to the pasteurization tank to the dewatering device, causes the de-watering device to separate the liquid and remove the salt from the liquid, monitors the salinity of the liquid and the quality of biogas using the sensors, and causes the mixing of the liquid with the waste and adjusts the feed rate of the waste to reduce the salinity of the waste and increase methane production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: SEAB POWER LIMITED
    Inventor: Nicolas W. Sassow
  • Patent number: 10539546
    Abstract: In various implementations, methods and systems are designed for predicting effluent total phosphorus (TP) concentrations in an urban wastewater treatment process (WWTP). To improve the efficiency of TP prediction, a particle swarm optimization self-organizing radial basis function (PSO-SORBF) neural network may be established. Implementations may adjust structures and parameters associated with the neural network to train the neural network. The implementations may predict the effluent TP concentrations with reasonable accuracy and allow timely measurement of the effluent TP concentrations. The implementations may further collect online information related to the estimated effluent TP concentrations. This may improve the quality of monitoring processes and enhance management of WWTP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Inventors: Honggui Han, Junfei Qiao, Wendong Zhou
  • Patent number: 10407330
    Abstract: A process for biological nutrient removal including: receiving fluid having sludge in a basin through a sludge inlet; activating an aeration system based at least partially on a time of day; periodically measuring a potassium level of the fluid; determining a potassium rate of change based on the periodic measurements of potassium level; and deactivating the aeration system based at least partially on the determined potassium rate of change. A system for biological nutrient removal is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Xylem Water Solutions U.S.A., Inc.
    Inventors: Trevor Wayne Ghylin, Sarah Olivia Elger, Daniel Sheldon
  • Patent number: 10294134
    Abstract: A control system and method for digestion of waste activated sludge (“WAS”) includes treating the WAS first at anaerobic conditions for? a fixed period of time and then at aerobic conditions for?a fixed period of time prior to either dewatering or optional anoxic conditions followed by dewatering, supplying air to initiate aerobic conditions when a predetermined set point for maximum ammonium nitrogen has been reached within the fixed anaerobic time, and initiating dewatering or optional anoxic conditions followed by dewatering when a predetermined set point for minimum ammonium nitrogen and optional standards for vector and pathogen reduction are met within the fixed aerobic time, the method and system including monitoring either consumption of soluble alkalinity or orthophosphate reduction or both for maximum orthophosphate reduction within aerobic time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Inventors: Albert Bock, Stephen R. Wilson
  • Patent number: 10052573
    Abstract: An apparatus for treating water in a reservoir includes a funnel. A support assembly supports the funnel in a lengthwise upright orientation when the funnel is submerged. A water moving arrangement is arranged to move water through the funnel in a direction from an inlet at an upper end of the funnel towards an outlet at lower end of the funnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: WEARS X PTY LTD
    Inventor: Stephen Elliott
  • Patent number: 10010830
    Abstract: A system for removing undesirable compounds from contaminated air includes a biofilter having a fuzzy logic based controller. A contaminant, such as hydrogen sulfide, is removed from contaminated air by passing the contaminated air through the biofilter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Evoqua Water Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Frank Matheis, Eric C. Hansen, Yunjie Zhang
  • Patent number: 10005683
    Abstract: One or more reactor and one or more control methods are used for nitrogen removal in wastewater treatment to achieve measured control of maintaining high ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB) oxidation rates while achieving nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB) out-selection, using various control strategies, including: 1) ammonia and the use of ammonia setpoints; 2) operational DO and the use of DO setpoints; 3) bioaugmentation of anammox and lighter flocculant AOB fraction; and 4) implementation of transient anoxia in several reactor configurations and conditions for removal of oxidized nitrogen using anammox or heterotrophic organisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignees: D.C. Water & Sewer Authority, Hampton Roads Sanitation District
    Inventors: Bernhard Wett, Ahmed Omari, Pusker Regmi, Mark Miller, Charles B. Bott, Sudhir N. Murthy
  • Patent number: 9758410
    Abstract: A method and system for treating wastewater is disclosed. In one embodiment the method includes introducing the wastewater into an aerated anoxic treatment unit, flowing an oxygen containing gas into the wastewater in the aerated anoxic treatment unit at a first flow rate, measuring a concentration of a nitrogen species in the wastewater in the aerated anoxic treatment unit, comparing the measured concentration of the nitrogen species to a target nitrogen species concentration, adjusting the flow of the oxygen containing gas into the wastewater in the aerated anoxic treatment unit to a second flow rate in response to a difference in the nitrogen species and the target nitrogen species concentrations, and maintaining the second flow rate for a time period sufficient for the wastewater to be treated in the aerated anoxic treatment unit and form an anoxically treated liquid having a reduced concentration of the nitrogen species.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Evoqua Water Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Michael L. Doyle, Michael Casey Whittier
  • Patent number: 9747544
    Abstract: A method and system for wastewater treatment based on dissolved oxygen control by a fuzzy neural network, the method for wastewater treatment comprising the following steps: (1) measuring art inlet water flow rate, an ORP value in an anaerobic tank, a DO value in an aerobic tank, an inlet water COD value, and an actual outlet water COD value; (2) collecting the measured sample data and sending them via a computer to a COD fuzzy neural network predictive model, so as to establish an outlet water COD predicted value, (3) comparing the outlet COD predicted value with the outlet water COD set value, so as to obtain an error and an error change rate, and using them as two input variables to adjust a suitable dissolved oxygen concentration. Accordingly, the on-line prediction and real-time control of dissolved oxygen wastewater treatment are achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: SOUTH CHINA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Jinquan Wan, Mingzhi Huang, Yongwen Ma, Yan Wang
  • Patent number: 9745217
    Abstract: A lime stabilization system and method is provided in which thickened liquid sludge and lime are separately delivered, under controlled conditions, to a reaction tank and mixed therein to a predetermined pH, controlled via a programmable logic computer. The weight of liquid sludge in the reaction tank is controlled from the computer via load cells that measure the weight of such liquid sludge in the reaction tank. The computer monitors the amount of liquid sludge and lime delivered to the reaction tank, for mixing therein to a desired pH, for a predetermined amount of time, and the resultant mix is discharged from the reaction tank, to a holding tank, for return to the land.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: RDP TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Richard W. Christy, Michael Quici, Stephen H. Yost
  • Patent number: 9676642
    Abstract: A system comprising method and apparatus for separating biologically-digestible materials from an influent sewage stream. The system may comprise a primary clarification tank to capture sixty percent or more of the total solids from an influent stream; a sludge classifying press (SCP) to isolate and concentrate biologically digestible materials from sludge formed in the primary clarification tank, releasing valuable organics, such as are found in corn kernels, by fracturing the protective casings; a grit capture mechanism in a chamber within the primary clarification tank and isolated from the bulk of the sludge containing biologically-degradable materials; a grit trap to remove grit from the sludge prior to classifying the sludge with the SCP; apparatus for adding thickener to the sludge after classification and prior to digestion; and automation of one or more elements of the process for separating and digesting the biologically digestible materials in an influent stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: ClearCove Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Terry Wright
  • Patent number: 9633307
    Abstract: An intelligent method is designed for predicting the effluent ammonia-nitrogen concentration in the urban wastewater treatment process (WWTP). The technology of this invention is part of advanced manufacturing technology, belongs to both the field of control engineering and environment engineering. In order to improve the predicting efficiency, a recurrent self-organizing neural network, which can adjust the structure and parameters concurrently to train the parameters, is developed to design this intelligent method. This intelligent method can predict the effluent ammonia-nitrogen concentration with acceptable accuracy and solve the problem that the effluent ammonia-nitrogen concentration is difficult to be measured online. Moreover, the online information of effluent ammonia-nitrogen concentration, predicted by this intelligent method, can enhance the quality monitoring level and alleviate the current situation of wastewater to strengthen the whole management of WWTP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: BEIJING UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Junfei Qiao, Ying Hou, Honggui Han, Wenjing Li
  • Patent number: 9567245
    Abstract: A system and method for automatically controlling aeration and mixing processes are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: EnviroMix, Inc.
    Inventors: Theodore K. Jenkins, Robert Elliott Locklair, Stuart F. Humphries
  • Patent number: 9522832
    Abstract: A wastewater treatment apparatus includes: an air diffusing unit that supplies gas to nitrogen-containing water, so that ammonia contained in the nitrogen-containing water is nitrified to nitrate according to a flow of the water, and each desired proportion of the nitrate is denitrified at each position along the flow direction; a denitrification confirming unit provided at a halfway position between an upstream-side denitrification zone for obtaining a requisite minimum denitrified nitrogen amount and a downstream-side nitrification zone for obtaining ultimately required nitrified water quality, which follows the upstream-side denitrification zone on a downstream side thereof; and a gas supply-amount control unit that controls a gas supply amount from the air diffusing unit at least on an upstream side of the denitrification confirming unit, so that a desired proportion of the nitrate is denitrified at the halfway position, based on the denitrification state confirmed by the denitrification confirming unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: METAWATER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuji Furuya, Shigehiro Suzuki, Nobuki Tsuboi, Hiroyuki Takahashi, Noriaki Inagaki, Tsutomu Wada, Makoto Maeda
  • Patent number: 9440871
    Abstract: A treatment agent for salt-containing organic waste liquid, the treatment agent including: Scuticociliatida, wherein the treatment agent treats salt-containing organic waste liquid; and a treatment method for salt-containing organic waste liquid, the treatment method including: bringing Scuticociliatida and salt-containing organic waste liquid into contact with each other to treat the salt-containing organic waste liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: MICROBIAL CHEMISTRY RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventor: Hiroyasu Doi
  • Patent number: 9399591
    Abstract: An effective amount of at least one nitrogen-containing compound may be added to a wastewater stream within a water treatment system. The wastewater stream may have or include an aqueous-based fluid, a first bacteria, a second bacteria, organic acids, and combinations thereof. The first bacteria may be or include, but is not limited to, filamentous bacteria, Zoogloea bacteria, and combinations thereof. The second bacteria may be or include, but is not limited to facultative bacteria, spore-forming bacteria, phenol degrading bacteria, denitrifying bacteria, organic acid-degrading bacteria, high temperature bacteria, and combinations thereof. The addition of the nitrates to an anoxic zone within the wastewater treatment system may at least partially reduce the amount of the first bacteria within the wastewater stream as compared to an otherwise identical wastewater stream in the absence of the nitrogen-containing compound(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventor: Roy Hernandez-Mena
  • Patent number: 9340439
    Abstract: A reactor and control method thereof for nitrogen removal in wastewater treatment achieves a measured control of maintaining high ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB) oxidation rates while achieving nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB) repression, using various control strategies, including: 1) ammonia and the use of ammonia setpoints, 2) operational DO and the proper use of DO setpoints, 3) bioaugmentation of a lighter flocculant AOB fraction, and 4) proper implementation of transient anoxia within a wide range of reactor configurations and operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignees: D.C. Water & Sewer Authority, Hampton Roads Sanitation District
    Inventors: Bernhard Wett, Ahmed Omari, Pusker Regmi, Mark Miller, Charles B. Bott, Sudhir N. Murthy
  • Patent number: 9145316
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for treating wastewater. The process includes the steps of (a) mixing different constituents of said wastewater inside a container, (b) withdrawing said wastewater from container, (c) feeding said wastewater to a bioreactor, (d) contacting said wastewater with an isolated microorganism or an isolated microorganism consortium, (e) aerating a suspension of said wastewater with said isolated microorganism or said isolated microorganism consortium, (f) withdrawing said suspension of said wastewater with said isolated microorganism or said isolated microorganism consortium from said bioreactor, (g) filtering receiving flow from step (f) to separate a concentrate stream from a permeate stream, (h) returning said concentrate stream to said bioreactor and (i) removing permeate stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Universiti Putra Malaysia
    Inventors: Fakhrul-Razi Ahmadun, Alireza Pendashteh
  • Patent number: 9039897
    Abstract: The present invention describes a method of optimizing CO2 concentration to increase the specific growth rate of Anammox bacteria and methanogens in wastewater and sludge treatment, as well as novel systems and methods of treating wastewater and sludge. The specific growth rate or doubling time of the Anammox bacteria and methanogens were determined to be sensitive to dissolved CO2 concentration. Optimizing dissolved CO2 concentration increases the specific growth rate of the Anammox bacteria, which may be used as an alternative biological nitrogen removal process for the treatment of domestic wastewater. In the method and system of treating sludge, the CO2 stripper returns biogas with low CO2 concentration to the headspace of an anaerobic digester in order to lower the headspace CO2 concentration and therefore, the soluble CO2 concentration. The lower soluble CO2 concentration increases the specific growth rate of the methanogens for a more efficient anaerobic digestion process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: University of South Florida
    Inventor: Peter George Stroot
  • Patent number: 9017556
    Abstract: Ultrapure water of high purity having extremely low TOC concentration is produced by efficiently degrading urea in raw water by biological activated carbon treatment even when the raw water contains ammonium nitrogen. The ultrapure water production method, where raw water is treated in a primary pure water system, and then the resulting water is treated in a subsystem, contains a step of treating pretreated water with chlorine based oxidizer added by a biological treatment means installed upstream to the subsystem. Chlorine based oxidizer is added so that the chlorine based oxidizer concentration is 5 times or more than the ammonium nitrogen concentration of water treated in the biological treatment means in terms of Cl2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Kurita Water Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Nozomu Ikuno, Motomu Koizumi
  • Patent number: 9011689
    Abstract: An artificial recharge system and method for recharging an aquifer. The artificial recharge system includes a constructed wetland, a settling pond, and a porous recharge reservoir. The constructed wetland receives water from a surface water source and has aquatic vegetation used to remove sediments and chemicals from the water. The settling pond receives the water from the constructed wetland and provides additional sediment removal. The porous recharge reservoir, which is hydraulically connected to the aquifer, receives the water from the settling pond. The water flows by gravity from the porous recharge reservoir to the aquifer. A backflush tube installed within a sand layer in the porous recharge reservoir is used to remove sediment and particulates from the sand layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Department of the Interior
    Inventor: John B. Czarnecki
  • Patent number: 8980090
    Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and method for alternative aeration-effluent wastewater treatment using a ceramic membrane, which allows the biological treatment to be performed sufficiently in an intermittent aeration tank by combining an anaerobic tank with a plurality of intermittent aeration tanks and selectively changing an inflow path of influent water according to an operation status of the intermittent aeration tanks. The present disclosure is directed to providing an apparatus and method for alternative aeration-effluent wastewater treatment, which allows the aeration and treated water to continuously discharge through two intermittent aeration tanks by independently forming an air injection line and a treated water discharge line at a ceramic membrane provided in each intermittent aeration tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Yong Su Choi, Seok Won Hong, Jae Shik Chung, Yong Bae Park, Gyo Bum Kim, Yun Chul Chung
  • Patent number: 8980091
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling dissolved oxygen levels in a secondary treatment system of a wastewater treatment facility that can employ a membrane bioreactor in which oxygen introduction into mixed liquor is controlled to prevent bulking and minimize generation of extra cellular polymeric substances. The control is exercised by insuring that dissolved oxygen levels within the mixed liquor do not fall below a minimum system level at which microorganism stress would occur. This is done by setting a minimum dissolved oxygen level control point equal to a sum of the minimum system level and an adjustment factor determined on the basis of oxygen uptake rate and time delays inherent in sensing oxygen levels and changes thereof within the mixed liquor. The minimum system dissolved oxygen level can be continually calculated on the basis of an inferred food to mass ratio that would vary with sensed mixed liquor suspended solids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Malcolm E. Fabiyi
  • Patent number: 8974669
    Abstract: Novel methods and systems for efficient and economic treatment of wastewater, and other fluidized and solid organic wastes, comprise heating the aerobic digestion process with waste heat given off by the generation of power fueled by the biogas by-product of a co-located anaerobic digestion process. Other power generation processes may be utilized for supplying supplemental waste heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Ecocyclet LLC
    Inventor: David Anthony Del Porto
  • Publication number: 20150053613
    Abstract: The object is to provide an activated sludge treatment method whereby production of excess sludge is brought substantially to zero; and a method for upgrading existing waste water treatment equipment, employing this method. The method includes a step (1) in which sludge 1 produced in a bioreactor is supplied to a waste water aeration-conditioning tank for activated sludge treatment; a step (2) in which waste water into which the sludge 1 has been mixed is subjected to aeration-conditioning to bring the oxidation-reduction potential to a positive value, and the conditioning treated waste water 1 supplied to the bioreactor; a step (3) in which released water from the bioreactor is considered to release water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: JAPAN ALSI CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kiyoharu Fujino
  • Publication number: 20150053612
    Abstract: A method of maintaining a bioreactor of a waste material treatment system is disclosed. The method comprises monitoring the condition of bacteria and/or waste material. If the condition satisfies a first set of criteria, bacteria is transferred from a bacterial backup container to the bioreactor. If the condition satisfies a second set of criteria, bacteria is transferred from the bioreactor to the bacterial backup container. In some embodiments of the present invention the method predicts the condition of the bacteria and/or waste material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2013
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: BIOLOGICAL PETROLEUM CLEANING LTD.
    Inventors: Gilli Bitan-Banin, David Amir, Yael Barash, Idit Berlatzky
  • Publication number: 20150048026
    Abstract: A system and method for automatically controlling aeration and mixing processes are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2014
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: ENVIROMIX, LLC
    Inventors: Theodore K. Jenkins, Robert Elliott Locklair, Stuart F. Humphries
  • Patent number: 8956540
    Abstract: A process for treating water that includes ammonium. The water is directed to a biological reactor and the quantity of nitrates formed in the reactor and the quantity of ammonium reduced in the reactor is determined. A ratio of the quantity of nitrates formed to the quantity of ammonium reduced is determined. Further, the percentage of ammonium reduced is also determined. The water in the biological reactor is aerated by injecting oxygen into the reactor where the amount of oxygen injected is a function of the ratio and the percentage of ammonium reduced in the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies Support
    Inventors: Romain LeMaire, Daniel Olivier
  • Publication number: 20150034553
    Abstract: A method of operating a waste water treatment plant (WWTP) having at least one of an aerobic digester (AD) and a membrane bioreactor (MBR) is described. The method of operating AD is comprised of monitoring and controlling AD in real-time using an online extended Kalman filter (EKF) having a online dynamic model of AD. The EKF uses real-time AD measured data, and online dynamic model of AD to update adapted model parameters and estimate model based inferred variables for AD, which are used for AD control by AD control system having supervisory and low-level control layers. The method of operating MBR is similar to that of AD. The supervisory control ensures the WWTP satisfying the effluent quality requirement while minimize the operation cost. A WWTP having at least one of AD or MBR is disclosed. The method of operating a WWTP can be implemented using a computer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Aditya Kumar, Anthony John Murray, Ruijie Shi, Zhaoyang Wan, Mustafa Tekin Dokucu, Vijaysai Prasad
  • Publication number: 20150021264
    Abstract: A plant effluent treatment method includes a mixing treatment step that mixes a microorganism activating agent into plant effluent containing organic compounds as discharged from a chemical plant, petroleum plant or petrochemical plant and discharges it as mixing treatment effluent, and an aerobic treatment step that subjects the mixing treatment effluent to aerobic biological treatment and solid-liquid separation treatment in a membrane bioreactor tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Applicants: Chiyoda Corporation, Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Kanako Tsuda, Yusuke Shinoda, Masayo Shinohara, Kazuyuki Tejima, Atsushi Kitanaka, Masahide Taniguchi