Hyperfiltration (e.g., Reverse Osmosis, Etc.) Patents (Class 210/652)
  • Patent number: 8679342
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of treating water effluent from purging or cleaning steam generator circuits. In characteristic manner, the following steps are performed: filtering the raw effluent to separate insoluble matter from the filtered effluent; and concentrating the filtered effluent to below the solubility limit of the dissolved species so as to obtain a liquid concentrate, the concentration step including at least evapo-concentration treatment and reverse osmosis treatment; the pH of the effluent being adjusted to a value in the range 5 to 6.5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies Support
    Inventors: Hervé Paillard, Jérôme De Benedittis, Joseph Bonnefoy
  • Publication number: 20140079803
    Abstract: Aspects for utilizing a seawater fluid to optimize egg-production characteristics are disclosed. In one aspect, a method is provided, which includes identifying a desired optimization, determining a corresponding seawater to non-seawater ratio, and generating a seawater fluid according to the ratio. An egg-cultivation method is also provided, which includes ascertaining a desired optimization, selecting a corresponding seawater to non-seawater ratio, and providing a seawater fluid comprising the ratio to a hen. In another egg-cultivation method, hens are provided with a mixed feed comprising a feed to seawater-mineralized produce ratio selected according to a desired optimization. A method to grow produce is also provided, which includes mineralizing soil with a seawater fluid comprising a seawater to non-seawater ratio corresponding to a preferred optimization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: Luberski Inc. (dba Hidden Villa Ranch)
    Inventors: Timothy E. Luberski, Neal Rye, Edward E. Anderson
  • Publication number: 20140076808
    Abstract: A system and method for purifying and recycling cold wastewater is provided. Contaminated wastewater is supplied at a temperature no greater than 45° F. through an ultrafilter. The wastewater is fed through a reverse osmosis filter unit. Clean water is reused whereas reject is sent to disposal. Cold temperatures are preferably maintained throughout the treatment process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Inventors: Robert Morrison, Vahid Gholami, Steven R. Gagnon, Tracy Barker, James Braun
  • Publication number: 20140076812
    Abstract: Systems, components, and methods for water purification are described. In an example, a system may comprise an array of light-focusing elements, a heat exchanger device, a turbine generator, or other components and can be configured to use a source of light (e.g., sunlight) to filter water from a water source and to generate electricity. The electricity may be looped back into the system to further produce filtered water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Inventor: Kevin E. Munro
  • Patent number: 8657528
    Abstract: Brine disposal systems are configured to receive brine from a brine source and to passively collect seawater from a nearby ocean during high tide using one or more tidal forces. Tidal movements during high tide, low tide, or both may be used to mix and thereby dilute the brine with the seawater. The mixture of seawater and brine is then passively discharged into the ocean during low tide using the tidal force, thereby minimizing the impacts on the marine ecosystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC
    Inventors: Sung-Wei Chen, Colin Chan
  • Patent number: 8652333
    Abstract: A process for removing a solvent from a source solution, said process comprising a) contacting the source solution with one side of a selectively permeable membrane, b) contacting a draw solution having a higher osmotic pressure (higher solute concentration) than the source solution with the opposite side of the membrane, such that solvent from the source solution passes across the membrane to dilute the draw solution by direct osmosis, c) removing solvent from the diluted draw solution to regenerate the draw solution, and d) recycling the regenerated draw solution to step a), characterized in that a portion of the draw solution is discarded or treated before and/or after the draw solution is regenerated in step c) so as to reduce the concentration of any solute species present in the draw solution from the source solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Surrey Aquatechnology Limited
    Inventor: Peter Nicoll
  • Patent number: 8641905
    Abstract: A process for treatment of water. Hardness and non-hydroxide alkalinity are removed from feedwaters to an extent sufficient to avoid scaling when concentrated. Sparingly ionizable components in the feedwater are urged toward increased ionization by increasing the pH of the feedwater. In this manner, species such as silica become highly ionized, and (a) their rejection by membranes used in the process is significantly increased, and (b) their solubility in the reject stream from the membrane process is significantly increased. Sparingly ionized species such as boron, silica, and TOC are highly rejected. Recovery ratios of ninety percent (90%) or higher are achievable with many feedwaters, while simultaneously achieving a substantial reduction in cleaning frequency of membranes used in the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Inventor: Debasish Mukhopadhyay
  • Publication number: 20140021135
    Abstract: A process for a purification of water with multiple contaminants including dissolved solids. The process may involve one or more steps of separating oil and water, metals precipitation, dissolved air flotation (DAF), filtration, forward or reverse osmosis and crystallization. An improved DAF unit is described which increases air dissolution to oxidize impurities and improve flotation. Various embodiments of staged osmotic membrane systems are provided to generate an essentially pure water stream and a highly concentrated solute stream. In some embodiments, reverse osmosis and nanofiltration units are employed in a staged manner. In other embodiments, all stages are reverse osmosis units and the osmotic pressure of each stage is adjusted by the provision of a solution on the low pressure side of the reverse osmosis membrane using nanofiltration membranes. Various recycle options are employed to improve the efficiency of the systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: LIBERTY HYDRO, INC.
    Inventors: John E. Sawyer, Arthur L. Lucas, Vincent Maurice Davis, Bernard Duane Dombek, George Ernest Keller, II
  • Publication number: 20140021134
    Abstract: This invention concerns a method for desalination of sea water and a design and construction of a centrifugal filter for desalination of water. The process uses the filter developed based on reverse osmosis technology as a fundamental component that uses hollow fiber membrane modules arranged in a spiral manner around a central support pipe and distributed in concentric rings around the periphery of the rotating section to favor the formation of Dean vortices. Wherein the membrane is built with a structure of an aromatic polyamide as the first layer, followed by a layer of polyestersulfone and a support layer of polyester; applying the material Kevlar 49 in position 1 and 4 on the aromatic chain structure to increase the structure and resistance of the membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Inventors: Jorge Antonio de la Cruz Lechuga Andrade, Joaquim Lloveras Macia
  • Patent number: 8632682
    Abstract: A method for operating a tapered flow pressure driven arrangement containing a plurality of membrane modules, which comprises positioning said membrane modules in at least two successively arranged flow stages, such that the number of membrane modules operating in parallel in a given flow stage is greater than their number in the consecutive flow stage, passing a feed stream through a flow stage to generate a permeate and a concentrate, directing said concentrate to the consecutive flow stage and passing said concentrate therethrough, while periodically replacing one or more of the membrane modules belonging to said consecutive flow stage with one or more membrane modules belonging to the previous flow stage, wherein the periodicity of said replacement is such that the surface of membranes disposed in said consecutive flow stage is exposed to super-saturation conditions associated with the passage of said concentrate for a period of time that is shorter than the time required for said concentrate to precipita
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Ben-Gurion University of the Negev Research and Development Authority
    Inventor: Jack L. Gilron
  • Patent number: 8632681
    Abstract: The invention relates to a forward osmosis (FO) device (10) with a semipermeable membrane (5, 5a) capable of performing forward osmosis between a first (F1) and a second fluid (F2). In a first fluid confinement (4a), a first swirl generator (7a) is positioned and in a second fluid confinement (4b) positioned on the other second side of the membrane, a second swirl generator (7b) is positioned. The swirl generators are arranged to create a circular flow pattern (S2, S3) for the first and the second fluid, respectively, wherein the first (7a) and second (7b) swirl generator, upon engagement, are arranged to create a circular flow pattern for the first and the second fluid, respectively, by rotating motion (RA1, RA2). The invention is advantageous by obtaining FO device that is capable of reducing the concentration polarization (CP) near the membrane by creating a cross flow velocity over the membrane and facilitate control of the cross flow velocity independent of the through flow of the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Grundfos Management A/S
    Inventor: Christian Rasmussen
  • Publication number: 20140014584
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a system and method for wastewater purification. The system may include a sludge filtration unit, a screen filtration unit, a multi-media filtration unit, and a soluble hydrocarbon filtration unit. The sludge filtration unit may remove impurities from wastewater. Impurities include hydrocarbons, suspended solids, and/or dissolved solids. The screen filtration unit may remove impurities from the wastewater. The multi-media filtration unit may remove impurities from the wastewater. The soluble hydrocarbon filtration unit may remove impurities from the wastewater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Inventors: Steven Wayne Cone, Robert Wayne Hayes
  • Publication number: 20140008299
    Abstract: A reverse osmosis system includes a plurality of feed pumps each having a feed pump input and a feed pump output, an input manifold in fluid communication with the feed pump inputs and a membrane feed manifold in fluid communication with the feed pump output. The system also includes a plurality of membrane chambers each in fluid communication with the membrane feed manifold and generating a permeate output and a brine output, each brine output in fluid communication with a brine manifold. The system further includes a plurality of booster devices each having a turbine portion with a turbine input in fluid communication with the brine manifold and a pump portion having a booster device pump input and a booster device pump output, each booster device pump output in fluid communication with the membrane feed manifold. The system includes a pump input manifold in fluid communication with the booster device pump input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: Fluid Equipment Development Company, LLC
    Inventor: Eli Oklejas, JR.
  • Patent number: 8623214
    Abstract: Various embodiments described herein provide methods and apparatus for producing purified water from sea water or some other salty or brackish water source by using brackish concentrate mixed with salty water. The various embodiments also provide methods and apparatus for the treatment of toxicity of brackish concentrate, which brackish concentrate exhibits on aquatic life inhabiting the area of discharge of the brackish concentrate, as well as a method for environmentally safe disposal of brackish concentrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Poseidon Resources IP LLC
    Inventor: Nikolay Voutchkov
  • Patent number: 8617397
    Abstract: The present invention relates to reverse osmosis filtration devices, and more particularly, to membrane filtration devices (10, 11, 12) that have flow meters and fluid conductivity meters powered by RFID tags. Embodiments of the present invention comprise reverse osmosis filters and filtration systems comprising measuring devices, including flow and conductivity meters. The meters of the present invention are preferably located on or within permeate core tubes (16) of filtration devices and systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignees: Hydranautics, Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventors: Norio Ikeyama, Mark Wilf
  • Patent number: 8617398
    Abstract: A process for treatment of water. Hardness and non-hydroxide alkalinity are removed from feedwaters to an extent sufficient to avoid scaling when concentrated. Sparingly ionizable components in the feedwater are urged toward increased ionization by increasing the pH of the feedwater. In this manner, species such as silica become highly ionized, and (a) their rejection by membranes used in the process is significantly increased, and (b) their solubility in the reject stream from the membrane process is significantly increased. Sparingly ionized species such as boron, silica, and TOC are highly rejected. Recovery ratios of ninety percent (90%) or higher are achievable with many feedwaters, while simultaneously achieving a substantial reduction in cleaning frequency of membranes used in the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Inventor: Debasish Mukhopadhyay
  • Patent number: 8617395
    Abstract: The present invention is a technique to fabricate thin-film composite perm-selective membranes by a transfer method. The composite membranes are useful in separating liquid, vapor or gaseous mixtures by selective permeation and reduce mass transfer resistance of the support layer. Selectivity and flux are improved by reduction of the mass transfer resistance of the support layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Richard D Offeman, Charles N Ludvik
  • Patent number: 8617401
    Abstract: An apparatus for optimizing water purification profile, has a front processing unit, a booster pump having a water inlet, a rear processing unit, a waterflow control unit, an emission control unit, a control circuit, and a temperature sensing probe. The front processing unit is connected to the water inlet via a pipe. The control circuit corresponds to the emission control unit. The temperature sensing probe senses water temperature. The control circuit is connected to the temperature sensing probe whereby automatically adjusting time of producing purified water in a periodic cycle. The apparatus implements a constant water utilization rate as water temperature changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Shenzhen Inike Electrical Appliances Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dingshan Jiang, Kai Zhao
  • Publication number: 20130341276
    Abstract: In a method for treating a liquid medium by reverse osmosis in a cyclic process, the pressure to the upstream side of the reverse osmosis membrane is generated by transferring the power of a basically free-falling weight to a hydraulic cylinder which generates the high pressure needed to overcome the osmotic pressure of the liquid medium. The system performing the method uses a weight medium capable of travelling vertically between an initial and terminal position. The power thereby generated is transmitted to a hydraulic cylinder containing the liquid medium which is subjected to a high pressure and delivered to the upstream side of a reverse osmosis unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: Mitrol Holding AS
    Inventor: Julia Navarsete
  • Patent number: 8614260
    Abstract: The cross-linked polyphosphonate composition for the removal of metal ions from wastewater is a cross-linked anionic polyelectrolyte polymer having the formula: The cross-linked anionic polyelectrolyte is made by cyclocopolymerizing diallylaminomethylphosphonic acid and 1,1,4,4-tetraallylpiperazinium dichloride (a cross-linker) to form a cross-linked polyzwitterionic acid (CPZA). The CPZA is then treated with a base, such as sodium hydroxide, to form a cross-linked anionic polyelectrolyte polymer having the above formula. The composition may be used to remove heavy metal ions, such as Cu2+ and Pb2+, from wastewater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
    Inventors: Othman Charles Sadeq Othman Al Hamouz, Shaikh Asrof Ali
  • Publication number: 20130327714
    Abstract: A thin film composite membrane includes an active layer on a support membrane, wherein the active layer includes at least two chemically distinct first and second crosslinked polyamide film sub-layers. The first film sub-layer includes a polyamide unit; and the second film sub-layer includes a copolyamide with two chemically distinct polyamide units. The first film sub-layer is closer to the support than is the second film sub-layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicants: King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Radwan A. Alrasheed, Blake W. Davis, Jacquana T. Diep, Geraud J. Dubois, Young-Hye Na, Majed S. Nassar, Ankit Vora
  • Publication number: 20130327715
    Abstract: Certain disclosed embodiments concern systems and methods of preparing dialysate for use in a home dialysis system that is compact and light-weight relative to existing systems and consumes relatively low amounts of energy. The method includes coupling a household water stream to a dialysis system; filtering the water stream; heating the water stream to at least about 138 degrees Celsius in a non-batch process to produce a heated water stream; maintaining the heated water stream at or above at least about 138 degrees Celsius for at least about two seconds; cooling the heated water stream to produce a cooled water stream; ultrafiltering the cooled water stream; and mixing dialysate components into the cooled water stream in a non-batch process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: State of Oregon acting by and through the State Board of Higher Education of Oregon State
    Inventors: Richard B. Peterson, James R. Curtis
  • Patent number: 8603340
    Abstract: A process for preparing a reverse osmosis membrane that includes (A) providing a polyamine, a polyfunctional acid halide, and mono-hydrolyzed trimesoyl chloride; (B) combining the polyamine, polyfunctional acid halide, and mono-hydrolyzed trimesoyl chloride on the surface of a porous support membrane; and (C) interfacially polymerizing the polyamine and the polyfunctional acyl halide on the surface of the porous support membrane to form a reverse osmosis membrane comprising (i) the porous support membrane and (ii) a discrimination layer comprising a polyamide. The reverse osmosis membrane is characterized by a flux that is greater than the flux of the same membrane prepared in the absence of the mono-hydrolyzed trimesoyl chloride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: NanoH2O, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher James Kurth, Jeffrey Alan Koehler, Meijuan Zhou, Brett Anderson Holmberg, Robert Leon Burk
  • Patent number: 8602222
    Abstract: There is provided a composite semipermeable membrane that shows a high salt removal ratio and high performance in rejecting boron that is not dissociated in the neutral region. The composite semipermeable membrane is produced by a process that includes forming a separating functional polyamide layer on a porous substrate film, while using an organic solvent solution containing a specific cyclic aliphatic compound or a specific aromatic compound such that a polyamide molecule that forms the separating functional polyamide layer has a partial structure composed of “a cyclic aliphatic group or an aromatic group having at least two specific substituents, at least one of which contains a heteroatom bond and a carbonyl group at the ? or ? position”.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Koji Nakatsuji, Hiroki Tomioka
  • Publication number: 20130313196
    Abstract: In a process for the desalination of water, an impure, salt-containing water feed is passed through one or more filter media to remove from the feed impurities having a particle size greater than 50 ?m and produce a first filtered water stream. The first filtered water stream is then passed through at least one further filter having an average pore size of 1 ?m to 60 ?m produced from sintered polyethylene particles having a molecular weight of at least 4×105 g/mol as determined by ASTM-D 4020 to remove at least a portion of the impurities having a particle size less than or equal to 50 ?m from the first filtered water stream and produce a second filtered water stream. The second filtered water stream is passed directly to a reverse osmosis membrane to produce a purified water stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: TICONA LLC
    Inventors: Julia HUFEN, Suresh SUBRAMONIAN, Janine BAUER, Kerstin LUEDTKE, Jason SMITH, Dian CHEN
  • Publication number: 20130313195
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide for systems for removing contaminants from a leachate, methods of removing contaminants from a leachate, and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Inventors: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc., Alachua County Public Works
  • Patent number: 8591741
    Abstract: Processes for manufacturing a thin film composite membrane comprising multi-walled carbon nanotubes include contacting under interfacial polymerization conditions an organic solution comprising a polyacid halide with an aqueous solution comprising a polyamine to form a thin film composite membrane on a surface of a porous base membrane; at least one of the organic solution and the aqueous solution further including multi-walled carbon nanotubes having an outside diameter of less than about 30 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Hua Wang, Gary William Yeager, Joseph Anthony Suriano, Steven Thomas Rice
  • Publication number: 20130306562
    Abstract: A cartridge filter assembly includes a depth filter element and a downstream second filter element. The depth filter element has a mass of melt-blown polymer filaments. The depth filter removes 0.5 to 10 micron sized contaminants at an efficiency of 90% or more. The depth filter preferably comprises multiple zones occupying different depths, with one or more melt-blown polymer filaments traversing two or more of the zones. The second filter element comprises nano-fibers having a diameter of 1 micron or less, and removes a material percentage of contaminants that are less than 1 micron in size, preferably less than 0.5 microns in size. The depth filter element may be in the form of a tube and the second filter element may be in the form of a pleated sheet located inside of the depth filter. The cartridge filter assembly may be used to pre-treat a feed water upstream of an RO membrane. The SDI of the feed water may be reduced to 3 or less or 2 or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Travis Gerald Stifter, Thomas Martin Aune, Joseph T. Szczepanski, William B. Laidlaw, Upen Jayant Bharwada
  • Publication number: 20130306561
    Abstract: A water treatment system having modular-filter based residential reverse osmosis (RO) system that passes a stream of purified water through an ultraviolet light (UV) filter twice to ensure the water is sterile, while using only one UV filter, thereby forcing the water through a UV filter twice in a modular-filter based RO system. The water treatment system also includes a system whereby water passes through the UV filter at both points using only one UV filter by employing a system whereby a purified water stream is passed through a single remineralization module twice. The present invention also includes the method for treating water through such double forced sterilization system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Inventor: JON-ANDREW VINCENT SIGONA
  • Patent number: 8585806
    Abstract: A method of forming a gas separation membrane including: depositing a first hydrophilic polymer solution; depositing on top of the first hydrophilic polymer solution a second, different hydrophilic polymer solution, thereby forming a two-layer polymer solution; forming the two-layer polymer solution into one of a forward osmosis membrane and a pressure retarded osmosis membrane by bringing the second, different hydrophilic polymer solution into contact with water to form the dense layer; coating one of the forward osmosis membrane and the pressure retarded osmosis membrane with a thin layer of a third, different, hydrophilic polymer more pH tolerant than the first and second hydrophilic polymer solutions to form a dense rejection layer thereon; and exposing one of the coated forward osmosis membrane and the coated pressure retarded osmosis membrane to a high pH solution. A gas separation membrane formed from the foregoing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Hydration Systems, LLC
    Inventor: John R. Herron
  • Publication number: 20130292334
    Abstract: A water desalination mechanism, including: a running pipe, for fresh water; a venturi arrangement, having a first venturi nozzle, a second venturi nozzle and a branch between; the first and second nozzles; a container divided by a reverse osmosis membrane into a first side and a second side and having: a first side inlet, for contaminated water; a first side outlet, for remaining salts and/or minerals; and a second side outlet, for desalinated water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventor: Uri Rapoport
  • Patent number: 8571296
    Abstract: Methods for testing the integrity of spiral wound modules including the introduction of pressurized gas within a sealed permeate collection tube and the detection of gas exiting at least one of the scroll faces of the module. The location(s) of gas exiting the scroll face can be correlated to defects in the module. In preferred embodiments, the subject test methods are non-destructive and can be applied to modules in either a dry or wet condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Steven D. Jons
  • Patent number: 8567612
    Abstract: RO membranes using chlorinated water as a feed stream maybe protected from damage by the chlorine with a protective layer including reactive nitrogen which forms chloromines on the surface of the membrane that reduce chlorine penetration. This protective layer also provides substantial anti-fouling capabilities, whether used with a chlorinated or unchlorinated feed stream because the chloramines are anti-bacterial. Although chlorine is lost in use, the anti-fouling layer or coating can be recharged with additional chlorine without damaging the discrimination layer. The anti-fouling layer or coating may be advantageously used with Thin film composite, TFC, membranes for use in forward and reverse osmosis may include nanoparticles, monohydrolyzed and/or di-hydrolyzed TMC, and/or alkaline earth alkaline metal complexes or other additives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: NanoH2O, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher James Kurth, Jeffrey Alan Koehler, Meijuan Zhou, Brett Anderson Holmberg, Robert Leon Burk
  • Publication number: 20130277310
    Abstract: A reverse osmosis system according to the present disclosure includes a first membrane array, a second membrane array, a hydraulic pressure booster, and a motor-generator. The first membrane array is configured to generate a first permeate stream and a first brine stream from a feed stream. The second membrane array is configured to generate a second permeate stream and a second brine stream from the first brine stream. The booster is configured to use energy from the second brine stream to increase pressure of at least one of the feed stream and the first brine stream. The motor-generator is coupled to the hydraulic pressure booster and is operable to use energy from a power supply to drive the hydraulic pressure booster. The motor-generator is also operable to use energy from the second brine stream to provide power to the power supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventor: Eli Okeljas, JR.
  • Patent number: 8562833
    Abstract: A subsurface wave action harnessing system includes a seabed mounting plate adapted for securing to a seabed, a wing having generally opposed first and second wing surfaces extending between a first and second wing ends, the second wing end being pivotably mounted to the seabed mounting plate such that pivoting motion about a pivot axis generally parallel to the mounting plate is imparted to the wing by subsurface wave action acting on the first and second wing surfaces, and a drive arm pivotably connected to the wing to convert the pivoting motion into reciprocal motion. An electrical generator, water purifier or other wave action load can be driven by the drive arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Clean and Green Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Elbert Lee Marcum
  • Publication number: 20130270186
    Abstract: Equipment, systems, processes and techniques for conducting reverse osmosis processing of solutions are described. The techniques can be applied to provide diluted solution (i.e. purified solvent), concentrate solution or each. A variety of specific equipment, example systems and processes are depicted and described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Inventor: CALVIN WOHLERT
  • Publication number: 20130270189
    Abstract: Systems and methods for treating contaminated impound water are disclosed which include a pretreatment stage wherein contaminated water is oxidized, pH adjusted, treated with a coagulant, and treated with a polymer to form a flocculent comprising bulk solids and fine particles. The oxidizing step may include two or more stages, one of which is a treatment with ferrous iron generated from iron filings or steel wool. Bulk solids are removed, and the liquid portion containing fine particles is applied to a low pressure microfiltration unit to remove the fine particles resulting in a microfilter effluent. The microfilter effluent may be directly fed to a reverse osmosis (R/O) unit. The R/O reject may be recycled to another R/O unit (second pass). The R/O permeate may be blended as needed with the microfiltration effluent to provide the final discharge effluent with reduced contaminant levels and maximized throughput.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: WATER SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Stephen D. Allen
  • Patent number: 8557119
    Abstract: A novel method for improving water recovery from desalination systems by the removal of cations and/or anions using ion exchange (IX) technology. The system described herein is particularly useful for water recovery in brackish ecosystems and is unique in that important features include recycling, regeneration, and recovery of key components, thereby reducing costs and waste products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: STC.UNM
    Inventors: Kerry Howe, Joshua Goldman, Bruce Thomson
  • Publication number: 20130264285
    Abstract: Process and facility for treating an aqueous solution containing substantial concentrations of a variety of contaminants, including solids, semi-solids, colloids, complexes, oligomers, polyvalents, organics and monovalents, and which tend to form gels and scale precipitates when their concentration levels are increased during treatment of the aqueous solution, the process comprising the steps of: a) feeding the aqueous solution to an ultrafiltration (UF) plant and recovering therefrom an UF permeate reduced in such suspended solids, semi-solids and colloids; b) feeding the UF permeate obtained from step (a) to a nanofiltration (NF) plant and recovering therefrom an NF permeate reduced in such complexes, oligomers, polyvalents and organics; and feeding the NF permeate obtained from step (b) to a first reverse osmosis (RO) plant and recovering therefrom an RO permeate reduced in such monovalents. The process and facility may be used for treating process water from wet process phosphate acid production.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: HATCH LTD.
    Inventors: Peter Douglas Macintosh, Luke Andrew Reeves, Mark Alistair Peacock, Neil Wende, Paul Robert Kucera, Colin George Weyrauch
  • Patent number: 8551221
    Abstract: Carbon Dioxide capture processes utilizing ammonia, or ammonia in water as the capture fluid for carbon dioxide generate concentrated solutions of ammonium carbonate species in water, which are subsequently decomposed to capture the carbon dioxide and recycle the ammonia. Forward osmosis processes utilize ammonium carbonate species as draw solutions to pull water from saline solutions such as seawater in the ammonium carbonate solution. The ammonium carbonate solution is then heated to decompose the ammonium carbonate to ammonia and CO2 which are both reused, while a portion of the aqueous stream is recovered as pure water. Combination of carbon capture process with an integrated forward osmosis process provide great economies over standalone operations. Furthermore, the very high concentrations of ammonium carbonate provide a further opportunity to include osmotic power recovery cycles with the integrated forward osmosis and carbon capture process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Inventor: Thomas D. Wolfe
  • Patent number: 8545701
    Abstract: A method comprising providing a power train comprising a plurality of cells, each cell forming a hydraulic loop; producing a power train cycle comprising a controlled concentration-pressure loop wherein the concentration field: (a) osmotically induces a continuous and constant flow rate of substantially salt-free permeate flux throughout the power train; (b) maintains a salt concentration difference across the semipermeable membrane shared by the adjacent cells in the plurality of cells; (c) defines a salt concentration ratio within each cell that ensures a net positive power generation; and, (d) discharges the concentrated brine at the opposing end cell; and operating the power train under conditions effective to generate net positive power at an efficiency of 35% or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Inventor: Maher Isaac Kelada
  • Patent number: 8545681
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for improving the efficiency of a combined-cycle power generation plant and desalination unit. The process includes supplying exhaust gases from a gas turbine set used to generate electrical power to a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) and then directing the steam from the HRSG to a steam turbine set. Salinous water is supplied into an effect of the desalination unit. Steam exhausted from the steam turbine set is utilized in the effect of the desalination unit to produce a distillate vapor and brine from the effect by heat exchange. Additionally, steam is introduced steam from at least one additional heat source from the combined-cycle power generation plant to the effect to increase the mass flow rate of steam into the effect. In one embodiment, the additional heat source is an intercooler heat exchanger. Heated water from the intercooler heat exchanger is provided to a reduced atmosphere flash tank, and the steam flashed in the flash tank is provided to the effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Andrew Philip Shapiro, Nishith Vora, Ching-Jen Tang, AliciA Jillian Jackson Hardy, Douglas Westerkamp
  • Patent number: 8540882
    Abstract: One embodiment of a method to system for enhancing TOC removal while maintaining membrane filter performance is the implementation of a dual pH control system. This embodiment will enhance the ability to maximize TOC removal while maintaining optimum membrane filter performance. By adjusting pH, dosing a chemical coagulant and incorporating liquid-solids separation, a considerably higher degree of TOC removal is possible. By adjusting pH again after liquid-solids separation this embodiment can drastically increase the efficiency of the membrane microfiltration/ultrafiltration system. Thus pH control for soluble organic removal is critical. This pH level however may not be the ideal set point for minimizing membrane fouling which is the basis for this embodiment. An example: the pH set point for optimum soluble organic removal is designated to be 5.5. However, the optimum pH set point for optimum membrane performance is 7.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregg A. McLeod
  • Patent number: 8538593
    Abstract: A method is provided for merging different load forecasts for power grid centers. Area load forecasts are accepted from load forecast engines. A relational database saves load forecast engine data. A comprehensive operating plan integrates individual load forecasts into a composite load forecast to present a comprehensive, synchronized and harmonized load forecast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Alstom Grid Inc.
    Inventors: David Sun, Kwok Cheung, Kenneth Chung, Tory McKeag
  • Patent number: 8529761
    Abstract: A reverse osmosis system includes a plurality of feed pumps each having a feed pump input and a feed pump output, an input manifold in fluid communication with the feed pump inputs and a membrane feed manifold in fluid communication with the feed pump output. The system also includes a plurality of membrane chambers each in fluid communication with the membrane feed manifold and generating a permeate output and a brine output, each brine output in fluid communication with a brine manifold. The system further includes a plurality of booster devices each having a turbine portion with a turbine input in fluid communication with the brine manifold and a pump portion having a booster device pump input and a booster device pump output, each booster device pump output in fluid communication with the membrane feed manifold. The system includes a pump input manifold in fluid communication with the booster device pump input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Fluid Equipment Development Company, LLC
    Inventor: Eli Oklejas, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8529765
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for the hydrolyzation of ensiled biomass is disclosed. Ensiled biomass is processed in multiple phases, resulting in a liquid precursor hydrozate and a solid precursor hydrozate. The liquid precursor having significant economic value, and being suitable for uses such as, for example, lower cost and improved efficiency ethanol production. A method for lower cost, improved efficiency alcohol production that uses the resulting liquid precursor hydrozate being produced at distributed sources is further disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Sweetwater Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Jerry Wayne Horton
  • Patent number: 8524086
    Abstract: Certain disclosed embodiments concern systems and methods of preparing dialysate for use in a home dialysis system that is compact and light-weight relative to existing systems and consumes relatively low amounts of energy. The method includes coupling a household water stream to a dialysis system; filtering the water stream; heating the water stream to at least about 138 degrees Celsius in a non-batch process to produce a heated water stream; maintaining the heated water stream at or above at least about 138 degrees Celsius for at least about two seconds; cooling the heated water stream to produce a cooled water stream; ultrafiltering the cooled water stream; and mixing dialysate components into the cooled water stream in a non-batch process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignees: State of Oregon acting by and through the State Board of Higher Education on behalf of Oregon State University, Home Dialysis Plus, Ltd.
    Inventors: Richard B. Peterson, James R. Curtis
  • Publication number: 20130220927
    Abstract: A forward osmosis method for desalination includes recyclable driving solutes which are easy to remove and recycle, have a high rejection by forward osmosis membranes, have low toxicity and are cost efficient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Inventors: Charles D. Moody, Robert L. Riley, John C. Franklin
  • Patent number: 8518262
    Abstract: A method of integrating individual water treatment assemblies into a seamless water treatment control system. A Reverse Osmosis assembly contains a controller wherein all other pretreatment and post-treatment assemblies are electrical coupled thereto. The controller is preprogrammed for use in recognizing the coupling of the pretreatment and/or post treatment assemblies wherein and for receiving all control commands for operation thereof. The controller employs cells that allows and installer to interconnect assemblies by coupling low voltage control signal wiring having predefined inputs, set up as PnP, or by use of a personal wireless network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Nalco Company
    Inventors: Scott Watkins, Raymond Perdue
  • Publication number: 20130213893
    Abstract: A system adapted to condition an initial water feed stream into a treated water stream and to discharge the treated water stream. The initial water feed stream includes at least one of: a plurality of particles; an oil; a volatile organic compound; a hydrogen sulfide; a non-volatile compound; a heavy metal; and, a dissolved ion. The system includes a particle and oil removal subsystem adapted to treat the initial water feed stream to remove the plurality of particles and the oil to form a first partial treated water stream, a chemical oxygen demand reduction subsystem adapted to treat the first partial treated water stream to remove the volatile organic compound, the hydrogen sulfide and/or the non-volatile organic compound to form a second partial treated water stream, and a heavy metal and dissolved ion removal subsystem adapted to treat the second partial treated water stream to remove the heavy metal and the dissolved ion to form a treated water stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Inventor: Richard Paul Posa