Controlling Process In Response To Stream Condition Patents (Class 210/709)
  • Patent number: 7820055
    Abstract: The invention discloses a process to implement and maintain water bodies larger than 15,000 m3 for recreational use, such as lakes or artificial lagoons, with excellent color, transparency and cleanness properties at low cost, which comprises the following steps: a.—providing a structure able to contain a large water body larger than 15,000 m3; b.—feeding the structure of step (a) with inlet water having iron and manganese levels lower than 1.5 ppm and turbidity lower than 5 NTU; c.—measuring water pH, ideally it should be within a range lower than 7.8; d.—adding an oxidizing agent to the water contained in the structure of step (a), with which a 600 mV minimal ORP is controlled in water for a minimal period of 4 hours and in maximal cycles of 48 hours; e.—adding a flocculating agent in concentrations within 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Crystal Lagoons Corporation LLC
    Inventor: Fernando Benjamin Fischmann Torres
  • Patent number: 7811458
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the accelerated dehydration of sludges in sludge disposal areas, especially of sludges from rivers and harbors, by the exclusive use of anionic polymer flocculants and the use of materials obtained according to the inventive method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignees: Stockhausen GmbH & Co. KG, Detlef Hegeman GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Thorsten Buddenberg, Holger Herrmann, Hartmut Pawel, Otto Schroers, Wolfgang Hoeppner, Volker Hartmann
  • Publication number: 20100243575
    Abstract: A separation apparatus and system for separating a solid-liquid mixture is described herein. A polymer solution, formed from water and one or more polymers, is mixed, then combined with a solid-liquid mixture to flocculate the solid-liquid mixture, which is then flowed into the separation apparatus. A liquid-permeable filtration member is disposed over the floor, one or more exterior walls, and any interior dividing walls, if present, for retaining solid media within the apparatus while permitting liquid to pass. A controllable distribution system having a plurality of individually actuatable inlets oriented to provide the solid-liquid mixture to discrete areas of the apparatus is usable to selectively maximize the efficiency of the separation process. A support structure can be mounted on one or more of the walls to enable visual observation of the separation process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventor: Charles Jerold Nowling
  • Publication number: 20100223969
    Abstract: Sewage sludge is dewatered to a cake-like state. The viscosity of the sludge is lowered by admixing a quantity of urea, urea-ammonium-nitrate, or other nitrogen-containing material, in with the dewatered sludge. The treatment also removes pathogens, and renders the product suitable for use as a fertilizer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: LYSTEK INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Owen P. Ward, Ajay Singh
  • Publication number: 20100213137
    Abstract: [Solving Means] A differential rate rotary thickener; a power detector which is disposed in a sludge receiver tank for thickened sludge thickened in the differential rate rotary thickener; a discriminator which receives an electric signal for a thickened sludge concentration detected by the power detector and which calculates and discriminate the data; a first controller which receives an instruction signal being a discriminated result in the discriminator and which operates an outer cylinder driving machine and a screw driving machine; a ratio setter which receives a discriminated signal of the discriminator and which increases or decreases a chemical feed rate of flocculant stepwise; and a second controller which receives an instruction signal from the ratio setter and which operates a flocculant-feeding pump are provided. Thickening of sludge is performed by controlling the chemical feed rate, a rotational speed of a screw, and a rotational speed of an outer cylinder screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: ISHIGAKI COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Kenzou Sugaya, Hiroichi Kawasaki, Masayoshi Katayama, Manabu Yamashita, Masaharu Miyawaki
  • Patent number: 7767092
    Abstract: A method of decolorizing a colored effluent comprising (i) a colored substance; and (ii) a polyvalent carboxylic acid or a polyvalent aminocarboxylic acid, the method including the steps of: (a) controlling a hydrogen ion exponent (pH) of the colored effluent to be in a range in which two or more carboxylic acid groups in the polyvalent carboxylic acid or the polyvalent aminocarboxylic acid does not dissociate; (b) adding an inorganic metal salt to the colored effluent so as to allow the inorganic metal salt to react with the colored substance to form a precipitation in the colored effluent, and (c) eliminating the precipitation from the colored effluent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Eiichi Yoshida, Masahiko Nakamura, Kaori Soeda
  • Publication number: 20100133199
    Abstract: A coagulation sedimentation process for water to be treated in which an inorganic coagulant used in a purified water treatment system is limited, and remaining micro flocks and flocks are made greater in density and finer in particle size, thus obtaining clear water better in quality and reducing the amount of sludge production, including a micro flocculation step for micro-flocculating in advance fine suspended particles in water to be treated, a flocculation step for the micro flocks, and a sedimentation separation step for the flocks, in which as a final stage of the flocculation step, a flock-forming inclined plate whose pitch width is from 5 mm or more to 50 mm or less is provided, and an inorganic coagulant is limited so that the turbidity of the water to be treated after passage of the inclined plate at a ratio to that before passage is 4/5 or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Inventor: Hisaaki Ochiai
  • Publication number: 20100126937
    Abstract: A system and method for the treatment of process streams. A catalyst mediates a wet oxidation process at elevated temperatures and pressures for treating at least one undesirable constituent in an aqueous mixture. The aqueous mixture may be contacted with a catalyst and an oxidizing agent at an elevated temperature and a superatmospheric pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Inventor: Chad L. Felch
  • Publication number: 20100102005
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device, for dewatering dredged material with a dry substance rate below 15%, comprising a tank (2) which is arranged with at least one inlet (5) for dredged material, a first outlet (8) for cleaned water and a second outlet (9) for sludge; the tank further comprises a mixing chamber (3), to which the inlet (5) for dredged masses leads, and a sedimentation chamber (4) in which the first (8) and the second outlet (9) are arranged. The mixing chamber (3) and the sedimentation chamber (4) are in fluid communication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Inventor: Torbjörn Wold
  • Publication number: 20100096335
    Abstract: A method for treating wastewater using a ballasted flocculation technique includes continuously measuring the concentration of suspended solids, organic matter or other impurities in the water to be treated prior to directing the water to be treated to a flocculation tank. Based on this measurement, the amount of ballast necessary to obtain treated water of a predetermined quality is then calculated. In the flocculation tank, ballast and a flocculating reagent are added to the water to form a water-floc mixture. The water-floc mixture is directed to a settling tank where a sludge-ballast mixture is settled. The sludge-ballast mixture is directed to a mixing tank and then to a separator to separate the ballast from the sludge. The separated ballast is directed to the flocculation tank. The separated sludge is directed to the mixing tank when the level of sludge-ballast mixture in the mixing tank is lower than a predetermined level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2007
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Applicant: OTV SA
    Inventors: Philippe Sauvignet, Claus Dahl, Valey Ursel, Celine Levecq, Jean-Francois Beaudet
  • Patent number: 7699991
    Abstract: A conditioning process and equipment are provided for removing hardness from water circulated in a system. A sidestream from such system is routed to a reaction chamber and back to the system. A conditioner is added to the sidestream water and in some embodiments is routed through a sidestream inlet from the top of the reaction chamber to its lower portion in a swirling motion. A buffer is added to the sidestream exiting the reaction chamber, and in some embodiments is added upstream of a pH sensor. In some embodiments a polymer is added. A fluid bed develops in the reaction chamber consisting of conditioner, buffer, precipitated solids and sidestream water. An upper outlet on the reaction chamber regulates the height of the fluid bed, and a drain provides for periodic discharge of the lower fluid bed. In some embodiments, a corrosion inhibitor blend is pre-mixed with the buffer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Inventor: Samuel Rupert Owens
  • Patent number: 7695630
    Abstract: An ionic conditioning process and molecular arrangement for removing colloids from an aqueous solution, where the aqueous solution is transported to and/or through several conditioning zones for purification. The process utilizes vessels within which stages of conditioning are performed and are monitored. The conditioning processes perform ionic, chemical and physical conditioning to the colloids in the aqueous solution causing the colloids to be transformed into a state that reacts with a polymer flocculating agent and is thereby precipitated rapidly and efficiently for removal. The effluent as well as the precipitate can be further treated with conventional means to meet certain specifications for discharge and disposal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Inventor: Cesar Ladron de Guevara
  • Publication number: 20100038318
    Abstract: A method of cleaning drilling fluid including providing a flow of drilling fluid to a treatment loop, determining a flow rate of the drilling fluid, and injecting a polymer into the drilling fluid based on the determined flow rate of the drilling fluid. Additionally, the method includes injecting a coagulant into the drilling fluid based on the determined flow rate of the drilling fluid and adjusting the rate of polymer and coagulant injection based on a change in the flow rate of the drilling fluid. Also, a method of controlling a drilling fluid cleaning system, the method including inputting a polymer dosage rate and a coagulant dosage rate into a system controller and providing instructions to the system controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2009
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Applicants: M-I L.L.C., M-I DRILLING FLUIDS CANADA, INC.
    Inventors: Alan Gilmour, Nicolas Christopher Wade Thiessen
  • Patent number: 7658855
    Abstract: A conditioning process and equipment are provided for removing hardness from water circulated in a system, such as an evaporative cooling system. A sidestream from such system is routed to a reaction chamber and back to the system. A conditioner is added to the sidestream water and in some embodiments is routed through a sidestream inlet from the top of the reaction chamber to its lower portion. A buffer is added to the sidestream exiting the reaction chamber, and in some embodiments is added upstream of a pH sensor. A fluid bed develops in the reaction chamber consisting of conditioner, buffer, precipitated solids and sidestream water. An upper outlet on the reaction chamber regulates the height of the fluid bed, and a drain provides for periodic discharge of the lower fluid bed. In another embodiment, a corrosion inhibitor blend is pre-mixed with the buffer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Inventor: Samuel Rupert Owens
  • Publication number: 20090308815
    Abstract: A method for treating water in a ballasted flocculation system comprises directing water into a ballasted flocculation zone and adding ballast and a flocculation reagent to the water to form a water-floc mixture. The water-floc mixture is directed into a settling zone to form treated water and sludge containing ballast. The ballast is then directed to a recirculation line where the ballast is recirculated to the ballasted flocculation zone. The method further includes determining the ballast concentration and comparing the ballast concentration with a predetermined threshold value. The rate at which ballast is recirculated to the ballasted flocculation zone is adjusted based on the determined ballast concentration and the predetermined threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2007
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicant: OTV SA
    Inventors: Philippe Sauvignet, Jean-Francois Beaudet, Sonia Guillot, Valery Ursel
  • Publication number: 20090301966
    Abstract: Wastewater can be purified in a device, which includes a cup-shaped vessel, having a wastewater inlet tube for the water at a certain level and an outlet tube at a lower level than the inlet tube, and a horizontal distribution disc, which vertically divides the vessel, has at least one opening and is provided with a substantially vertical distribution tube for receiving the water from the inlet tube. Water above the distribution disc is pumped through a filter head with a filter. Filtered water is let out through the outlet tube, whereas unfiltered water is transferred back to the distribution tube. Flocculation agent is added to the unfiltered water before reaching the distribution tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: B G Consulting HB
    Inventor: Bert Gustafsson
  • Patent number: 7622047
    Abstract: A fluidized bed reactor (14) for removing phosphorus and nitrogen from wastewater has a column comprising a number of sections. (15A, 15B, 15C, 15D) The diameter of the column changes stepwise between the sections. A flow velocity in excess of 100 cm/min is maintained in a lowermost one of the sections and lower flow velocities are maintained in subsequent sections. A struvite supersaturation ratio is controlled in part by recycling wastewater from an outlet of the column. Struvite pellets are removed periodically from the bottom of the column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: The University of British Columbia
    Inventors: Fred A. Koch, Donald S. Mavinic, Noboru Yonemitsu, Ahren T. Britton
  • Publication number: 20090255876
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for dewatering of effluents through the use of automated optimization using feedback control. The method and apparatus for feedback control optimizes dewatering processes for any water cleansing process that uses retention and/or flocculation aids (e.g., polymers) to impact endpoint water clarity. Disclosed implementations include processing using dissolved air flotation (DAF) and sludge cake formation. The methodology includes real-time monitoring of turbidity and incremental control of polymer to manage changes to turbidity/suspended solids due to operating parameters such as temperature, chemical variations, and mechanical influences.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Inventor: James M. DUNBAR
  • Publication number: 20090255678
    Abstract: Systems and methods for treating aqueous fluids and their associated methods of use are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method comprises providing an untreated aqueous fluid with a first concentration of a contaminant. The method further comprises chemically treating the aqueous fluid to precipitate at least a portion of the contaminant. The method further comprises mechanically treating the aqueous fluid to remove at least some of the precipitated contaminant from the aqueous fluid, and to produce a treated water with a second concentration of the contaminant, wherein mechanically treating the aqueous fluid comprises flowing the aqueous fluid through a centrifuge. The method further comprises placing the treated water in a first well bore of the well treatment operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Inventors: Randy Rosine, Johanna Haggstrom, Michael McCabe
  • Publication number: 20090236562
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the accelerated dehydration of sludges in sludge disposal areas, especially of sludges from rivers and harbors, by the exclusive use of anionic polymer flocculants and the use of materials obtained according to the inventive method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Applicants: Stockhausen GmbH & Co., KG, Detlef Hegemann GmbH & Co Kg
    Inventors: Thorsten Buddenberg, Holger Herrmann, Hartmut Pawel, Otto Schroers, Wolfgang Hoeppner, Volker Hartmann
  • Patent number: 7575691
    Abstract: A composition and method for cleaning, sanitizing and maintaining contained bodies of water such as swimming pools, wading pools, fountains, ornamental ponds, etc. The composition includes pre-determined percentages of copper sulfate, zinc sulfate, and aluminum sulfate by weight. The composition and method reduce amounts of chlorine and an amount of labor associated with the cleaning, sanitization and maintenance of contained bodies of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Inventors: David J. Moore, William C. Betts
  • Patent number: 7553423
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the accelerated dehydration of sludges in sludge disposal areas, especially of sludges from rivers and harbors, by the exclusive use of anionic polymer flocculants and the use of materials obtained according to the inventive method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignees: Stockhausen GmbH & Co. KG, Detlef Hegemann GmbH & Co KG
    Inventors: Thorsten Buddenberg, Holger Herrmann, Hartmut Pawel, Otto Schroers, Wolfgang Hoeppner, Volker Hartmann
  • Publication number: 20090057235
    Abstract: A differential rate rotary thickener; a power detector which is disposed in a sludge receiver tank for thickened sludge thickened in the differential rate rotary thickener; a discriminator which receives an electric signal for a thickened sludge concentration (X) detected by the power detector and which calculates and discriminate the data; a first controller which receives an instruction signal being a discriminated result in the discriminator and which operates an outer cylinder driving machine and a screw driving machine; a ratio setter which receives a discriminated signal of the discriminator and which increases or decreases a chemical feed rate (?) of flocculant stepwise; and a second controller which receives an instruction signal from the ratio setter and which operates a flocculant-feeding pump are provided. Thickening of sludge is performed by controlling the chemical feed rate (?), a rotational speed (S) of a screw, and a rotational speed (C) of an outer cylinder screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2005
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: ISHIGAKI COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Kenzou Sugaya, Hiroichi Kawasaki, Masayoshi Katayama, Manabu Yamashita, Masaharu Miyawaki
  • Patent number: 7497955
    Abstract: A method dewatering thin stillage process streams generated in the processing of grain to ethanol comprising adding to the process streams an effective flocculating amount of an anionic copolymer comprising acrylic acid sodium salt, methacrylic acid sodium salt or 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid sodium salt to form a mixture of water and flocculated solids; and separating the water from the flocculated solids using a dewatering device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Nalco Company
    Inventors: David W. Scheimann, Angela S. Kowalski
  • Publication number: 20090050570
    Abstract: A method for treating water includes directing untreated water into a mixing zone in a water treatment system and mixing the untreated water with a flocculating agent and a ballast to form a ballast-floc mixture. Thereafter, the ballast-floc mixture is directed to a settling zone where the mixture settles to form sludge. Treated water is discharged from the settling zone and the sludge is directed to a separator. The method further includes separating at least a portion of the ballast from the sludge and directing the separated ballast from the separator to the mixing zone. Finally, the sludge is directed from the separator to a sludge treatment reactor where at least some of the remaining ballast settles from the sludge and substantially ballast-free sludge is discharged from the sludge treatment reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2007
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Applicant: OTV SA
    Inventor: Philippe Sauvignet
  • Publication number: 20090020480
    Abstract: A degasser having a flapper opening including a hinge. The hinge may permit purging of any liquids and solids without regular human intervention. There may be a fixed opening at the base of the degasser, such that there is a constant emptying from the bottom of the tank. The separation of gas from liquid may be involved in applications pertaining to pulping and oxygen delignification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Applicant: ANDRITZ INC.
    Inventors: Tyson Bradford Hunt, Jerry M. Floyd
  • Patent number: 7445717
    Abstract: A waste stream is treated in a pre-filter having media, preferably sand, connected below a zero-valent metal column reactor incorporating a metal with reducing potential, preferably elemental iron (Fe0); the combination preferably configured as a single unit. The waste stream is pumped through the pre-filter to trap solids and deoxygenate it, then enters the reactor and is subjected to a reducing process. Most of the Fe0 is transformed to the ferrous ion (Fe+2), mixed with the reduced product, and fed to a continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) in which Fenton oxidation occurs. The output is then sent to a sedimentation tank and pH-neutralized using a strong base such as sodium hydroxide (NaOH). The aqueous portion is drawn off and the sludge pumped from the sedimentation tank. The system is monitored and controlled to optimize required additives, while monitoring of pressure drop across the pre-filter and column reactor establishes replacement requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Daniel K. Cha, Seok-Young Oh, Pei C. Chiu, Byung J. Kim
  • Patent number: 7442311
    Abstract: An emulsion and affluent process which treats and breaks very tight emulsions and separates dissolved solids from associated fluids produced in industry, whereby solids and fluids are separated into clean interfacial phases thus providing an improved quality saleable product resulting in significant reductions in base sediments and water, and compliance with international saleable product and environmental effluent standards with a specific focus on biological oxygen demand and chemical oxygen demand levels for treated fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Hydrocarb (Trinadad) Limited
    Inventor: Dolly Nicholas
  • Publication number: 20080257826
    Abstract: A fluidized bed reactor (14) for removing phosphorus and nitrogen from wastewater has a column comprising a number of sections. (15A, 15B, 15C, 15D) The diameter of the column changes stepwise between the sections. A flow velocity in excess of 100 cm/min is maintained in a lowermost one of the sections and lower flow velocities are maintained in subsequent sections. A struvite supersaturation ratio is controlled in part by recycling wastewater from an outlet of the column. Struvite pellets are removed periodically from the bottom of the column.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2004
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
    Inventors: Fred A. Koch, Donald S. Mavinic, Noboru Yonemitsu, Ahren T. Britton
  • Publication number: 20080251463
    Abstract: Disclosed is a skimming system for removing a floating layer from a water surface. The skimming system comprises at least one guide element that is movable relative to the floating layer, which guide element is provided with at least one unit that catches the floating layer The at least one removal unit is provided with at least one collecting container that is detachably attached to the guide element. The collecting container is furthermore vertically adjustable, so that it is not only easy to detach and exchange the collecting container but that it is moreover possible to position the floating layer removal means at a desired depth in or below the floating layer. In this way an optimum removal of the floating layer can be realised. The inlet of the collecting container is present at a location where the extent to which water is mixed with the floating layer is minimal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2006
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Applicant: KOSEQ B.V.
    Inventor: Gerrit Kampers
  • Publication number: 20080245742
    Abstract: Even if arsenic-containing wastewater includes an oxidizing substance, the arsenic can be reliably removed as a precipitate. A wastewater treatment method includes a preparation step (S10) of preparing wastewater containing an oxidizing substance and arsenic, a feeding step (S30), a precipitation step (S50), and a post-treatment step (S60). In the feeding step (S30), as much FeCl2 as necessary to reduce the oxidizing substances, such as polishing agents, is introduced into the wastewater. In the precipitation step (S50), to precipitate out the arsenic as a precipitate from the wastewater as at least a part of the precipitating flocculant, FeCl3 transformed from the FeCl2 by its reducing the oxidizing substance is utilized. In the post-treatment step (S60), the precipitate is removed from the wastewater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2008
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Applicant: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Yasuhiko Senda
  • Patent number: 7429329
    Abstract: A hybrid chemical/mechanical dewatering sewage treatment plant and method employing rapid sludge chemical dewatering technology in conjunction with slower conventional mechanical dewatering solids agglomeration and disposal methods to meet operating constraints and environmental permitting restrictions and siting limitations for disposal of sewage and wastewater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: Earth Renaissance Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Marcus G. Theodore
  • Patent number: 7422692
    Abstract: Presently no chemicals are added in the pulp/paper mills wastewater treatment. There is a loop hole with the Biological Oxygen Demand test utilized. Regulators depend on the Biological Oxygen Demand test. All mills are discharging raw untreated wastes high in Chemical Oxygen Demand, (COD), Total Organic Carbon, (TOC) and COLOR. Liquid Alum solution is added to raw influent. All electrical energy aerated systems are eliminated. All flows from sewers join prior to the entrance to clarifier. The continuous in-line pH controller is proprietary as well as the continuous in-line COD analyzer. Because mills wastewater is amphoteric, it is mandatory that the raw influent pH be adjusted to range of 5.7 to 6.0 for optimum removal efficiencies. Aluminum chloride, ferric chloride and ferrous sulfate may be replaced for alum with higher operating costs. The precipitate is thickened, dewatered and incinerated, and approximately 75% of the chemicals regenerated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Inventor: Launeil Neil Sanders
  • Patent number: 7404898
    Abstract: A method of producing lime water comprising deionising dilution water by membrane filtration, distillation or an ion exchange resin and adding silicate ions to the deionised water. Thereafter, the deionised water treated with the silicate ions is mixed with milk of lime to form lime water. In one embodiment, the milk of lime and dilution water are mixed in a saturator where the silicate ions are introduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: OTV SA
    Inventors: Franck Clausse, Philippe Marteil, Germain LeBouc, Frederic LeFort
  • Patent number: 7374689
    Abstract: A system for separating particles from a contaminated liquid stream includes an apparatus for mixing the liquid with one or more separation enhancement additives and gases. A pressure reducing device having a flow restrictor element within an enlarged tube receives the mixed liquid and creates bubble laden floccs by reducing the pressure of the liquid stream. The pressure reducing device empties into a bloom chamber of a flotation tank, where the bubble laden floccs are directed upwardly to an upper portion of the flotation tank. The flotation tank is configured such that the bubble laden floccs circulate within the upper portion of the flotation tank until they float to the upper surface, while decontaminated liquid flows to a lower portion of the tank for removal. A skimmer removes the floated contaminated floccs from the upper surface of the flotation tank into a dewatering apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Clean Water Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Dwain E. Morse, Wade O. Morse, Thomas G. Matherly
  • Patent number: 7338604
    Abstract: A process for removing solids from a water-based flush solution, The process includes: providing dirty flush solution; directing the dirty flush solution to a treatment vessel; adding one or more chemicals to the treatment vessel to form a treated flush solution; separating aggregated paint compounds from the treated flush solution to form a filtered flush solution; and directing the filtered flush solution to spray application equipment. The flush system of the invention includes a treatment vessel, wherein the dirty flush solution is mixed with one or more chemicals to form a treated flush solution; a primary separation unit to remove particles including aggregated paint compounds from the treated flush solution to form a filtered flush solution; and transfer lines to direct the filtered flush solution to spray application equipment. The filtered flush solution contains: 1% to 5% by weight of a water soluble organic solvent; 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Henkel Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien
    Inventor: Neil R. Wilson
  • Publication number: 20080023407
    Abstract: A method of purifying water or wastewater that comprises the steps of adding a treatment agent to the water, passing the water through a mixing zone, and passing the water through a foam fractionation zone to provide purified water. The water or wastewater can be any type of water found in sewage pipes or any water discharged from domestic, commercial, industrial, agriculture or aquaculture (fresh or marine) processes, or groundwater, bore water and reservoir water. A system for purifying water, the system including a mixing zone comprising one or more mixing columns for mixing the water with a treatment agent and a foam fractionation zone for purifying the water, the foam fractionation zone in liquid communication with the mixing zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Inventors: Bengt Goran Eriksson, Stephen Ross Orpin, Timothy Kevin Graham
  • Patent number: 7303685
    Abstract: A feedback control for a polymer dispensing system, which otherwise continuously adjusts the polymer feedrate so as to keep the measured streaming current of filtrate from a sludge dewatering process at one predetermined setpoint. The feedback control includes a video camera focused on sludge as it trails behind plows on a dewatering belt, a video image processing system for converting the video signal into single numbers known as “camera readings”, and a computer programmed both to compare them with a “camera reading” setpoint and to determine whether the filtrate charge is more positive or more negative than it normally is whenever the “camera reading” deviates from its setpoint by a threshold amount. A controller, activated by the computer, incrementally resets the polymer feedrate in such a direction as to restore the normal cationic charge of the filtrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Inventor: John W. Clark
  • Patent number: 7279103
    Abstract: Acidic metal-bearing wastewaters are treated to produce a finished water of sufficient purity to meet discharge standards while recovering metals removed in forms which are commercially valuable. The metals are selectively precipitated, either in a batch or in a continuous system, for removal of individual metal products in a specific sequence of steps from the wastewater. In each step, the pH is adjusted to the specific pH range and sulfide ion is introduced to precipitate the metals, excepting the removal of ferric iron and aluminum which is achieved using hydroxide precipitation. Bioconversion process using unique equipment converts sulfate in the wastewater to the hydrogen sulfide gas required for the precipitation process. This bioconversion process reduces the sulfate in the wastewater so that the water can be directly discharged or used for agricultural applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: United States of America Enviromental Protection Agency
    Inventors: John Burckle, Rakesh Govind, Fred Kawahara, Richard Scharp, Henry Tabak
  • Patent number: 7273561
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of determining chemical dosage required to reduce sulfides in wastewater includes providing a headspace apart from the wastewater. The temperature of the wastewater and the concentration of sulfide gas in the headspace are measured. Dissolved hydrogen sulfide gas concentrations in the wastewater are calculated from the temperature of the wastewater and the concentration of sulfide gas in said headspace. When pH is monitored, dissolved sulfide concentrations can be calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Waitaki Research Corporation
    Inventor: David G Palmer
  • Patent number: 7264733
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating heavy-metal-containing wastewater using a sulfidizing agent. Sulfidizing treatment is carried out by adding a sulfidizing agent to heavy-metal-containing wastewater, while detecting hydrogen sulfide gas generated from the wastewater, such as to maintain a state in which hydrogen sulfide gas is just starting to be generated from the wastewater. When separately recovering each of a plurality of metals from wastewater in which are mixed ions of the plurality of metals, there is repeated for each of the metals a process in which the acidity of the wastewater is adjusted to within a range suitable for the metal to be separated out and recovered, a sulfidizing reaction is carried out on that metal, and the metal sulfide produced is precipitated and filtered off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Aquatech Corporation
    Inventors: Toyokazu Matsunami, Akifusa Ohnishi
  • Patent number: 7220360
    Abstract: This invention offers an integrated technology in sequential treatment of wastewater. Low biodegradable organics and heavy metal ions are both contained in wastewater from surface finishing processes. The aim of the invention is to find the solution for treatment of organics and heavy metal ions in complicated wastewater that contains organics and heavy metal ions sequentially. Low biodegradable organics are oxidized by a fenton process with pH ranging from 2 to 5 and temperature ranging from 20° C. to 100° C. Heavy metal ions are then treated by a ferrite process with pH ranging from 8 to 12 and temperature ranging from 20° C. to 100° C. The integrated technology of the fenton process and the ferrite process (2FP) is advantageous to treat the wastewater from surface finishing processes, decrease the production of iron sludge caused in the fenton process and increase the quality of ferrite products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: National Cheng Kung University
    Inventors: Hung-Ta Chen, Min-Shing Tsai, Juu-En Chang, Tsair-Fuh Lin, Ting-Che Hsiao, Jun-Yi Wu, You-Shen Chen
  • Patent number: 7220382
    Abstract: The use of an isomer of anthracene disulfonic acid as an inert fluorescent tracer is described and claimed. The utility of this type of inert fluorescent tracer in boiler systems to trace unwanted carryover of boiler water into a steam line is also described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Nalco Company
    Inventors: Martin R. Godfrey, John E. Hoots
  • Patent number: 7204930
    Abstract: An oxidation filtration system for cleaning groundwater, the system having an aeration tower and a filtration tank. Within the filtration tank is an upper chamber and a lower chamber. Contained within the lower chamber is a plurality of Styrofoam™ filter media. Separating the upper chamber from lower chamber is a filter media mash which keeps the filter media from entering into the upper chamber. The aerated water from the aeration tower enters into the base of the lower filter chamber and rises through the filter media into the upper filter chamber. As the water passes through the filter media, the dissolved solvents fallout of the groundwater and attach themselves to the Styrofoam™ media. An automated back flushing and clarifying process is also provided using a back flush port and a clarification port, a higher level water sensor in the aeration tower and a programmable logic controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Skagit Farmers Supply
    Inventor: William Nightingale
  • Patent number: 7189327
    Abstract: A method of enhancing the recovery of useful coal or potassium chloride from screenbowl centrifuge separation operations comprising adding to the screenbowl centrifuge, from about 0.005 lbs active polymer/ton dry solids in centrifuge to about 0.70 lbs active polymer/ton dry solids in centrifuge, of an anionic copolymer, wherein said anionic copolymer is selected from the group comprising copolymers of acrylamide and acrylic acid and the known salts thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Nalco Company
    Inventors: Peter A. Dimas, Kenneth M. McGough
  • Patent number: 7182873
    Abstract: First, a primary fluoric ion concentration detection process is performed, and a primary calcium salt addition process is performed to add calcium salt in a first reaction tank, wherein the dosage of the calcium salt in the primary calcium salt addition process is determined according to the detected fluoric ion concentration. Thereupon, a secondary calcium salt addition process is performed to add calcium salt into the second reaction tank. Following that, a solid-liquid separation process is performed to separate calcium fluoride from the wastewater, and a secondary fluoric ion concentration detection process is performed upon the wastewater after the calcium fluoride is separated. Finally, the dosage of the calcium salt in the secondary calcium salt addition process is determined in a feed back control manner according to the detected fluoric ion concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Powerchip Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventors: Chen-Hung Hsien, Wen-Ta Huang
  • Patent number: 7157008
    Abstract: A conditioning process and equipment are provided for removing hardness from water circulated in a system, such as an evaporative cooling system. A sidestream from such system is routed to a reaction chamber and back to the system. A conditioner is added to the sidestream before entering the reaction chamber and a buffer is added to the sidestream exiting the reaction chamber. Since some of the buffered sidestream is re-circulated, a fluid bed develops in the reaction chamber consisting of conditioner, buffer, precipitated solids and sidestream water. Continued sidestream water entry mixes with the fluid bed causing additional precipitation of solids. An upper outlet on the reaction chamber regulates the height of the fluid bed, and a drain provides for periodic discharge of the lower fluid bed. In another embodiment, a corrosion inhibitor blend is pre-mixed with the buffer, resulting in a softer, more readily drainable fluid bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Inventor: Samuel Rupert Owens
  • Patent number: 7153436
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a novel method and system for enhancing the efficiency of hydraulic centrifugal separators (cyclones) in the removal of fine size particles from a liquid carrying medium. More particularly, it is concerned with improvements in the removal efficiency of any number of cyclonic devices that rely on the use of centrifugal force to separate fine size particles of differing density from the liquid carrying medium by addition of polymeric additives, both before, and, as necessary, inside the cyclone body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Inventors: Patrick W Bair, Charlynn Bair
  • Patent number: 7090777
    Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide a compact aggregation precipitation method and an apparatus therefor which prevent the outflow of flocs and do not deteriorate the turbidity elimination performance even in start-up early stages. As the means to accomplish such an object, the present invention provides a method of adding an inorganic flocculant and, optionally, an organic polymer flocculent to the water to be treated and agitating the resulting mixture to effect aggregation precipitation treatment which comprises introducing the agitated solution into a first chamber of a separation tank where flocs are allowed to grow to effect solid-liquid separation and, simultaneously, the separated water is discharged out of the separation tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Sakae Kosanda, Hirotoshi Hinuma, Naohiro Tateishi, Kenji Hata, Ken Suzuki, Tomoichi Fujihashi
  • Patent number: 7087174
    Abstract: A method of enhancing the recovery of useful coal or potassium chloride or borax from screenbowl centrifuge separation operations comprising adding to the screenbowl centrifuge, from about 0.03 lbs active polymer/ton dry solids in centrifuge to about 0.70 lbs active polymer/ton dry solids in centrifuge, of a cationic terpolymer, wherein said cationic terpolymer is prepared by polymerizing from about 1 to about 99.1 mole percent of one or more cationic monomers, from about 0.1 to about 10 mole percent of one or more hydroxyalkyl(meth)acrylates and from one to about 98.1 mole percent of one or more nonionic monomers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Nalco Company
    Inventors: Peter A. Dimas, Kenneth M. McGough, Wesley L. Whipple