Including Controlling Process In Response To A Sensed Condition Patents (Class 210/739)
  • Patent number: 8758628
    Abstract: A sensor assembly for a water softening system and includes a first treatment tank having a first valve assembly, a first flow meter and a sensor probe, a second treatment tank having a second valve assembly and a second flow meter and a brine tank independently connected to each of the first treatment tank and the second treatment tank. A controller is configured for communicating with the sensor probe and the first flow meter in the first treatment tank, and the second flow meter in the second treatment tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Culligan International Company
    Inventor: Kerry Quinn
  • Publication number: 20140166498
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems and methods for purifying fluids, such as water. In some embodiments, the water is first filtered by known filtering methods, such as by reverse osmosis or distillation. Once a flow is sensed in the fluid, electrolyte is added to the filtered fluid. Oxygen and hydrogen gas is then formed in the electrolytic filtered fluid via electrolysis to provide a treated fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Inventors: John J. Orolin, Barbara A. Orolin
  • Patent number: 8753512
    Abstract: An anoxic packed-bed biological and chemical system for removing nitrates/perchlorate from water includes a vessel having a distribution plate that partitions the vessel into a lower influent-receiving chamber and an upper biological and chemical denitrification chamber. A granular media is supported by the distribution plate to provide a packed bed that has sites for biological growth. A recycle system recycles partially treated water into the closed lower end of the vessel for upflow through the distribution plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Inventor: George Slajchert
  • Patent number: 8753515
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for performing hemodialysis that include fluid handling systems that provide accurate control over the type and level of hemodialysis being performed. The system includes a first pump for pumping dialysate into a dialyzer and a second pump for pumping dialysate out of the dialyzer. The system also includes a third pump that provides improved control of a level of ultrafiltration, hemodiafiltration, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Home Dialysis Plus, Ltd.
    Inventors: James R. Curtis, Ladislaus F. Nonn, Julie Wrazel
  • Patent number: 8753524
    Abstract: Systems and methods for treating a stream comprising a hydrocarbon liquid and an aqueous-based liquid are provided. The systems and methods may utilize a media composite comprising a mixture of a cellulose-based material and a polymer. In certain systems and methods, the media composite is capable of being backwashed. The stream comprising the hydrocarbon liquid and aqueous-based liquid may be separated by contacting the stream with the media composite. In certain system and methods, the stream comprising the hydrocarbon liquid and aqueous-based liquid may be coalesced by contacting the stream with the media composite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Chad L. Felch, Matthew Patterson, Shane Wiercinski
  • Publication number: 20140158163
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and systems for detecting and removing a clogging condition of a filter in a dishwasher. According to one embodiment, the method includes determining a normal water level or a normal rate of water level change for a wash cycle of the dishwasher and monitoring a water level or a rate of water level change during execution of the wash cycle. The method further includes detecting the clogging condition of the filter by detecting a deviation thereof. A current position of the wash cycle being executed may then be determined. The method further includes executing a remedial operation to facilitate removal of the clogging condition and determining if the clogging condition has been removed. Finally, the method includes resuming operation of the dishwasher at a wash cycle position based on the current position if the clogging condition has been removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: ELECTROLUX HOME PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Mark D. Montgomery, Dennis A. Poyner, Virgil J. Francisco, James L. Burrows
  • Publication number: 20140158628
    Abstract: A clinical analyser wastewater treatment apparatus is disclosed including a carbonator section. Preferably there is also an anodic oxidation section and a UV oxidation section, as well as a heavy metal removal section. The anodic oxidation section may include a conductive diamond anode. The apparatus may include a measurement device downstream of the carbonator section and a control system to control the operation of the carbonator. The measurement device is preferably a pH sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Inventors: Lee Underwood, Paul Whitehead, Alan Denton Mortimer, Jean-Pierre Spanu, James Keary
  • Publication number: 20140151308
    Abstract: A microprocessor preprogrammable autonomous device with biofouling control and method for monitoring aquatic environment by disposing environmental sensors in a sensor chamber which programmably opens for allowing direct communication between the sensors and the fluid of interest for sampling and which is closed after the sampling sequence is completed to create an anti-fouling environment in the sensor chamber by dissolving a biocide salt in the chamber and exposing the sensors to the anti-fouling environment for a predetermined period of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Inventors: Vincent M. Kelly, Stephen M. Luce, Louis Anthony Codispoti
  • Publication number: 20140151129
    Abstract: A method of controlling separation of solid particles from a fluid is described, wherein the separation is carried out by means of a sieve apparatus (10) which includes an endless sieve cloth (1) structured in a manner allowing it to rotate around at least two spaced-apart turning rollers (14), wherein the method comprises: arranging at least two sieve cloth sheets (1?) in series in the direction of movement of the sieve cloth (1), wherein at least two of the at least two sieve cloth sheets (1?) have dissimilar filtering characteristics; controlling the endless sieve cloth (1) by rotating the turning rollers (14) in such a manner that a desirable amount of solid particles and fluid is supplied to at least one of, or is distributed between two or more of, the at least two sieve cloth sheets having desirable filtering characteristics. A sieve cloth for use in the method is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: Cubility AS
    Inventors: Jan Kristian Vasshus, Arne Malmin
  • Patent number: 8741155
    Abstract: A method and system of providing ultrapure water for semiconductor fabrication operations is provided. The water is treated by utilizing a free radical scavenging system and a free radical removal system. The free radical scavenging system can utilize actinic radiation with a free radical precursor compound, such as ammonium persulfate. The free radical removal system can comprise use of a reducing agent. The ultrapure water may be further treated by utilizing ion exchange media and degasification apparatus. A control system can be utilized to regulate addition of the precursor compound, the intensity of the actinic radiation, and addition of the reducing agent to the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Evoqua Water Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Bruce Lee Coulter
  • Patent number: 8741154
    Abstract: The described implementations relate to water denitrification. One method obtains nitrate levels in influent and effluent of a moving bed media filter and determines carbon levels in the effluent. The method also doses carbon feedstock into the influent based on both the nitrate levels and the carbon levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Inventors: Remembrance Newcombe, Mark S. Lopp
  • Publication number: 20140144836
    Abstract: A method and a system for selecting and retaining solids with superior settling characteristics, the method comprising feeding wastewater to an input of a processor that carries out a treatment process on the wastewater, outputting processed wastewater at an output of the processor, feeding the processed wastewater to an input of a gravimetric selector that selects solids with superior settling characteristics, and outputting a recycle stream at a first output of the gravimetric selector back to the processor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicants: D.C. Water & Sewer Authority, Hampton Roads Sanitation District
    Inventors: Geert Nyhuis, Maureen O'Shaughnessy, Bernhard Wett, Charles Bott, Sudhir Murthy
  • Publication number: 20140144848
    Abstract: An aeration system (10) which feeds air to multiple water basins (12) and method. A plurality of local processor based control modules (208) is provided. Each module controls the operation of a compressor unit (11) to effect functions including changes in compressor power level, thermal control and blow-off during compressor start-up. The compressor units (11) are assembled in systems and each system is allocated to a different basin so that no two compressors (22) provide air to the same basin (12). A plurality of control operations are performed with a central processor (300) wherein the central processor directly controls aeration valves 324 in each basin 12 based on monitored oxygen levels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2011
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Inventors: George E. Irons, Paul R. Vinsand, Dwayne S. Matthews, John T. Dobyns, Frans Ploeger, Donald E. Munsell, Alex deVries
  • Publication number: 20140144847
    Abstract: A system for at least partially removing a contaminant in a contaminated fluid includes a reaction vessel with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The contaminated fluid is conductable in a fluid flow direction which has at least a component oriented antiparallel to the force of gravity. A fluid supply unit supplies a contaminated fluid through the fluid inlet inside the reaction vessel. The reaction vessel is filled with reactive particles. The fluid supply unit controls a flow velocity of the contaminated fluid between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet so that the flow of contaminated fluid through the reactive particles generates a fluidized bed of the reactive particles, thereby removing, at least partially, the contaminant in the contaminated fluid by a reaction of the contaminant and the reactive particles. At least 80% of the reactive particles have a size of more than 2 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: MONTANUNIVERSITAET LEOBEN
    Inventors: Peter Mueller, Robert Mischitz, Christian Weiss
  • Patent number: 8734653
    Abstract: A mercury remediation method and apparatus for reducing mercury levels in water to a nanogram per liter level that uses four treatment steps: (1) chelation; (2) oxidation; (3) reduction; and (4) air stripping, vapor/liquid separation. There is a fifth step in the process, which does not involve the wastewater. It is to scrub the stripper air of the volatile mercury in an off-gas adsorption unit or to condense volatile mercury in a cryogenic mercury trap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Inventor: Terrence W. Aylesworth
  • Patent number: 8734645
    Abstract: A system for producing high purity water, and particularly for the production of water that is suitable for injection, as well as method of using the same, are disclosed. The system includes a unique combination of known water purification methods that is particularly well-suited to the production USP purified water and USP water that is suitable for injection. The system minimizes potential for organism growth within the system by providing multiple means of organism destruction and removal and by not utilizing any standard water treatment media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Inventor: Christopher Heiss
  • Patent number: 8734731
    Abstract: Provided is a device and a method for fractionating particle-containing liquids. The device comprises at least one separation apparatus and at least one collection apparatus. The collection apparatus has at least two containers and the outlet of the at least one separation apparatus opens into a distribution system that has a repositionable outlet that can be oriented selectively toward the input opening of the containers. The distribution system adds the liquid to the at least two containers of the collection device in a controlled manner as a function of event or time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Rapid Samplins Technologies, AG
    Inventor: Michael Dauner
  • Publication number: 20140138323
    Abstract: A system and method include a shaker configured to separate solids from a drilling fluid, the shaker having a screen assembly, and an actuated arm operatively coupled to the shaker, the actuated arm configured to interact with the screen assembly of the shaker. The actuated arm is configured to interact with the screen assembly of the shaker, with the actuated arm configured to remove, to inspect, to clean, to repair, or to replace the screen assembly of the shaker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Inventors: Bradley N. Jones, Thomas Geehan
  • Patent number: 8727744
    Abstract: The disclosure describes systems and methods relating generally to filtration. Even more particularly, embodiments described herein relate to optimizing operating routines of a pump based on filter information and process fluid information. The filter information can be stored on an electronically readable tag on the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Entegris, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul J. Magoon, Raul A. Ramirez, Jennifer M. Braggin
  • Publication number: 20140131285
    Abstract: A method for a water treatment may include adding a chlorine species to water to be treated to dissolve the chlorine species in said water to be treated, measuring a demand of said chlorine species dissolved in said water to be treated while said chlorine species partly reacts with organic water constituents within said water to be treated, and applying an advanced oxidation process (AOP) (e.g., traditional chemical AOPs, chlorine species AOPs, UV AOPs, or UV/chlorine species AOPs) to said water to be treated while controlling said AOP based on said measured demand of said chlorine species dissolved in said water to be treated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Inventor: Cosima Sichel
  • Patent number: 8715510
    Abstract: An apparatus and methods for measuring the concentration of an additive are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a treatment stream (1) and a dosing stream (2). An additive is added to the dosing stream using a metering device (3). In some embodiments, the dosing stream is mixed after adding the additive using a first mixing device (4). Downstream from the metering device and the mixing device, the concentration of the additive in the dosing stream is measured using a monitor flow cell (5). In some embodiments, the dosing stream and treatment stream are combined (6) and mixed using a second mixing device (7). The concentration of the additive in the treatment stream can be calculated as a function of the volumetric flow rate ratio of the dosing stream to the treatment stream and the measured concentration of the additive in the dosing stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Ferrate Treatment Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Luke J. Daly, Craig S. Alig
  • Patent number: 8716025
    Abstract: A control device for a sample separation apparatus, the sample separation apparatus including a first separation unit and a second separation unit downstream of the first separation unit and supplied with the fluidic sample after treatment by the first separation unit. A control device is configured for controlling the first separation unit to execute a primary separation sequence within a time interval for separating the fluidic sample into fractions, and for controlling the second separation unit to execute secondary separation sequences within the time interval for further separating the separated fractions into sub-fractions, wherein the secondary separation sequences form part of a common sample separation method defined by a common specification of the sample separation involving a set of parameters, and adjusting, over a progress of the primary separation sequence, at least one parameter according to which at least one of the plurality of secondary separation sequences is executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Klaus Witt
  • Patent number: 8709260
    Abstract: An automatic filtering system for filtering a cooking medium in a fryer, includes a frypot; a filter manifold having removable filter; a pump, that supplies cooking medium from the filter manifold to the frypot; a pressure sensor that senses a pressure of the cooking medium supplied by the pump; and a controlling mechanism that controls an operation of the pump in response to the sensed pressure data. The control mechanism halts the operation of the pump after sensing a drop in the pressure of the cooking medium pressure that is greater than or equal to a predetermined pressure drop threshold. The systems and methods of the invention provide automatic filtering that may reduce or eliminate an incorrect refilling operation after the filtering of cooking medium, so that the filtering process may be performed correctly each time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Henny Penny Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas A. Burkett, Thomas Lee Gort, Gary L. Mercer
  • Patent number: 8709262
    Abstract: Toxic organic materials contaminate water resources and one need to find an easy and energy efficient way to decontaminate water resources. The current invention discloses a photocatalyst Fe doped ZnO nano-particle photocatalyst that enables the decontamination process by degrading toxic organic material such as brilliant cresyl blue, indigo carmine and gentian blue by using solar light. In the current disclosure many examples of characterization of the photocatalyst, optimal working conditions and efficient use of solar light has been described. The process described to use the photocatalyst to degrade toxic organic material using the solar light to activate the photocatalyst is cost efficient and cheap to clean our water resources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: King Abdulaziz University
    Inventors: Abdullah Mohamed Asiri, Sher Bahadar Khan, Khalid Ahmad Alamry, Mohammed M Rahman, Mohamed Saeed Alamoodi
  • Patent number: 8709261
    Abstract: Some demonstrative embodiments of the invention include a system and a method for disinfection of a liquid including monitoring the disinfection process. The system may include a conduit to carry flowing liquid to be disinfected, wherein the conduit comprises an inlet to receive the liquid, an outlet to discharge the liquid and walls transparent to ultraviolet radiations; an illumination source located within a transparent sleeve, wherein the transparent sleeve is immersed in the flowing liquid and the illumination source is to disinfect the liquid when passing through the conduit, a first light detector located externally to the conduit to detect light emitted by the illumination source and a second light detector located externally to the conduit to detect light emitted by the illumination source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Atlantium Technologies Ltd.
    Inventor: Uri Levy
  • Patent number: 8709258
    Abstract: Described herein are systems, methods, and apparatuses for aggregating microorganism in an aqueous suspension. In particular, are systems, methods, and apparatuses that apply an electrical field to an aqueous suspension comprising microorganisms as the aqueous suspension follows a flow path to cause aggregation of the microorganisms. The electrical field may comprise different types of pulses. In some embodiments, the flow path for the aqueous suspension may vary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Heliae Development, LLC
    Inventors: Justin S. Kniep, Aniket Kale
  • Publication number: 20140110347
    Abstract: The invention provides for treatment strategies that prevent or control the growth of organisms that degrade oxidant stabilizers in oxidant stabilized biocides. This allows stabilized halogen programs to perform at their intended level and prevents the need for increased halogen usage in an attempt to maintain control of these microbial populations and reduce the halogen-demand created by their enzyme byproducts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Inventors: Laura E. Rice, Elisa Luth
  • Patent number: 8696913
    Abstract: A method of assessing biofilm thickness in a membrane supported biofilm reactor (MSBR) of the type comprising a lumen containing a gas phase, a liquid phase, and a gas permeable membrane providing an interface between the gas and liquid phases, the method comprising the steps of charging the lumen with an inert gas, closing the lumen to establish an initial elevated pressure in the lumen, measuring the rate of change of pressure within the lumen, and correlating the rate of change of pressure (dP/dt) with biofilm thickness. The step of correlating dP/dt with biofilm thickness involves correlating dP/dt with the rate of diffusion of the inert gas (dn/dt), correlating dn/dt with an overall mass transfer coefficient (K), correlating K with the mass transfer coefficient of the biofilm (ICB), and correlating k? with the biofilm thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: University College Dublin, National University of Ireland, Dublin
    Inventors: Eoin Casey, Eoin Syron, Barry Heffernan
  • Publication number: 20140097143
    Abstract: A filtration unit contains a plurality of filter housings, each filter housing having a cylindrical shell with a lower port, an upper port, and a filter element. The lower and upper ports direct fluid through the filter housing in a first direction during a filtering cycle and direct fluid through the filter housing in a second direction during a backwashing cycle. The unit also includes a diverter and a servomechanism that rotates the diverter to selectively connect the filter housing to a drain port for the backwashing cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Roland Clements, John Henry Burczyk, Craig James Annable
  • Publication number: 20140091044
    Abstract: A method of controlling the operation of a plurality of ultraviolet lamp fixtures in an ultraviolet fluid disinfection system is presented here. The method begins by detecting an operating state, condition, or characteristic of the system. In response to the detecting, the method determines an appropriate lamp regulation scheme to be applied to the plurality of ultraviolet lamp fixtures in the system. The system can then apply the determined lamp regulation scheme to individually regulate operation of the plurality of ultraviolet lamp fixtures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: ENAQUA
    Inventors: Manoj Kumar Jhawar, Gregory Lance Herzog
  • Patent number: 8684705
    Abstract: The disclosure describes systems and methods relating generally to filtration. Even more particularly, this disclosure relates to controlling the operation of a pump using filter information. A removable filter can include an electronically readable tag storing filter information. The filter information can be read by a tag reader and rules applied to the filter information to determine whether or how to operate a pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Entegris, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul J. Magoon, Raul A. Ramirez, Traci L. Batchelder
  • Patent number: 8685249
    Abstract: A high-pressure pump P1 that increases the pressure of raw water, a high-pressure reverse osmosis device including a high-pressure reverse osmosis membrane for concentrating a salt content in high-pressure feed water, a first drain valve mounted on a permeated water line for supplying the permeated water downstream and temporarily draining permeated water of an initial start-up from a discharge line, a low-pressure pump that is mounted on a permeated water line provided downstream of the first drain valve and reduces the pressure of the permeated water, a low-pressure reverse osmosis device including a low-pressure reverse osmosis membrane for concentrating a salt content in low-pressure feed water, and a second drain valve mounted on a discharge line at the concentrated water side of the low-pressure reverse osmosis device that temporarily discharges the low-pressure feed water of the initial start-up supplied to the low-pressure reverse osmosis device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhisa Takeuchi, Yoshiaki Ito, Kenji Tanaka, Hideo Iwahashi, Katsunori Matsui, Takayoshi Hori
  • Publication number: 20140083291
    Abstract: A non-fouling, bypass filter is disclosed. The filter is formed of a tapered structure having particulate material filtering properties. The tapered structure has an open base and a closed top, with its exterior surface being exposed to a gas/fluid stream to be filtered. A gas/fluid stream generating device generates a gas/fluid stream that is drawn into the tapered structure's interior and that is filtered due to the particulate material filtering properties of the tapered structure. The external profile of the conically shaped structure is adapted to cause a plurality of gas/fluid streams from the ambient gas/fluid to flow against the exterior surface of the tapered structure to prevent the building up of particulate material on the exterior surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: GAME CHANGERS, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew D. Zonenberg, Jason D. Sanchez, Piotr A. Garbuz
  • Publication number: 20140083950
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating on skimmed oil/water picked up from a body of water to separate the oil from the water and discharge the oil-free water back into the body of water, first feeds the skimmed oil/water into a gravity settling tank wherein the oil tends to settle above the water, removing relatively oil-free water from the bottom of the tank and measuring its oil content with an oil concentration sensor, and either returning the oil/water flow to the settling tank for further processing if the measured concentration of oil exceeds predetermined limits or discharging the water back into the body of water if the oil concentration is measured to be less than the predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Inventor: David Usher
  • Publication number: 20140076825
    Abstract: A monitoring system for distributed utilities. A generation device is provided for converting an available resource to a desired utility; the resource may be water, in which case the generator is a purifier for providing potable water, or, alternatively, the generator may convert a fuel to electrical power. In either case, an input sensor is provided for measuring input to the generation device, while an output sensor is provided for measuring consumption of output from the generation device. The monitoring system has a controller for concatenating measured input and consumption of output on the basis of the input and output sensors. Measured parameters are telemetered to a remote site where utility generation and use are monitored and may also be controlled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Dean Kamen, Jason A. Demers, Kingston Owens
  • Publication number: 20140076824
    Abstract: An arrangement for generating and treating water is provided. The arrangement includes a fuel cell with a water-generating system, a salination unit for the salination of water, a state measuring device for acquiring an operating state of the salination unit, a water-receiving reservoir for receiving water, a water-quality measuring device for measuring the water quality of the water whose salt content has been increased, and a control unit. The salination unit is designed to add a basic salt to water so that apart from the salt content, an excessively acidic pH-value of the dispensed water is increased and stabilized. To this effect the control unit is connected to the water-quality measuring device and to the state measuring device and is designed, for setting a predetermined water quality, to control the salination unit depending on the operating state of the salination unit and on the measured water quality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Inventors: Thorsten Otto, Elisabeth Wobst, Boris Barylo
  • Patent number: 8673137
    Abstract: A process, system, and component configuration are described that discourages customer acceptance/use of will-fit, reconditioned, and counterfeit product components, by determining whether or not a serviceable product component is genuine. If a component is determined to not be genuine, then appropriate action may be taken to warn operators and document such findings. For example, one or more markers are disposed or otherwise put on the subject serviceable product component and serves as a targeted feature, and/or a particular characteristic of the filter itself is identified as the targeted feature. A sensor is used to detect the targeted feature and obtain information unique to the serviceable product component. The targeted feature(s) identifies the particular serviceable component as genuine and forms the basis for determining whether a genuine component has been installed. In some circumstances, a fluid filter product is the component that is the subject detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Cummins Filtration IP, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry M. Verdegan, John T. Carroll, III, Matthew L. Schneider, Michael T. Zuroski, Nathan A. Whitaker, James L. Walls
  • Patent number: 8658031
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for treating a liquid containing impurities may include a filtering chamber configured to permit granular media to interact with liquid containing impurities, thereby removing impurities from the liquid to produce filtrate; a filtrate section for receiving the filtrate; a gas supplying system for delivering gas to the granular media in the filtering chamber for transport of a portion of the granular media to a granular media washer; a reject section in fluid communication with the granular media washer for receiving a reject mixture comprising liquid and impurities from the granular media washer; and a control unit that is configured to determine whether the portion of the granular media is being transported properly based on an amount of reject mixture in the reject section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Parkson Corporation
    Inventors: Adrian Streng, Brett H. Boyd
  • Patent number: 8658044
    Abstract: A stormwater filter cartridge includes a housing with internal filter medium disposed along a flow path between a water inlet and a filtered water outlet. A solid wall float tube in a drainage space has an open lower end and open upper end and is movable between a lowered position and a raised position. As the housing fills, water level in the housing rises to cause the solid wall float tube to move to the raised position and a negative pressure draws fluid through the filter medium. As water level outside the filter cartridge drops, air enters the housing and causes the solid wall float tube to drop to the lowered position, and filtered water in a fluid reservoir backflows through the filter medium while air enters the housing by passing upward through the solid wall float tube so as to enhance rate of backflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Contech Engineered Solutions LLC
    Inventor: Daniel P. Cobb
  • Patent number: 8658043
    Abstract: A water treatment system provides treated water to a point of use by removing at least a portion of any hardness-causing species contained in water from a water source, such as municipal water, well water, brackish water and water containing foulants. The water treatment system typically receives water from the water source or a point of entry and purifies the water containing at least some undesirable species before delivering the treated water to a point of use. The water treatment system has a pressurized reservoir system in line with an electrochemical device such as an electrodeionization device. The water treatment system can have a controller for adjusting or regulating at least one operating parameter of the treatment system or a component of the water treatment system. The electrochemical device can be operated at a low current and low flow rate to minimize water splitting or polarization, which minimizes scale formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Water Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Frederick Wilkins, Evgeniya Freydina, Aytac Sezgi, Reshma Madhusudan, Anil D. Jha
  • Publication number: 20140048491
    Abstract: A method of filtering a fluid, including flowing a fluid from a first side of a filter member to a second side of the filter member, the fluid containing dissolved impurities. In addition, the method includes inducing fluid cavitation within the fluid to precipitate out at least a portion of the dissolved impurities. Further, the method includes controlling a pressure differential across the filter member. Still further, the method includes, maintaining or further inducing the fluid cavitation within the fluid in response to controlling the pressure differential. Related systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: GREEN AGE TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Arthur Johnson, Brandon Johnson, Martin Margulies
  • Patent number: 8652336
    Abstract: In a system for decomposing organic compounds in water for use in semiconductor manufacturing, a chemical reactor vessel having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, a persulfate anion addition system upstream of the reactor vessel, and a light emitting device contained within the reactor vessel. The light emitting device provides light capable of decomposing persulfate anions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Water Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Steve Donald Sitkiewitz, Gary Michael Carmignani, Lee William Fredrick
  • Patent number: 8641908
    Abstract: A method of recovering polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) from municipal waste sludge includes: (a) measuring a solid content in the municipal waste sludge in terms of a volatile suspended solid in the municipal waste sludge; (b) removing supernatant from the municipal waste sludge; (c) freezing the municipal waste sludge; (d) conducting a pretreatment of the municipal waste sludge that has been frozen; (e) adding a surfactant into the pretreated sludge to obtain a slurry; (f) adding a controlled amount of sodium hypochlorite solution to the municipal waste sludge obtained in step (e), a ratio of a volume of the sodium hypochlorite solution to the solid content of the municipal waste sludge ranging from 0.67 mg/ml to 1.25 mg/ml and being defined as a liquid-solid ratio; and (g) separating PHAs from non-PHAs substances in the municipal waste sludge obtained in the step (f).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: National Chi Nan University
    Inventors: Yung-Pin Tsai, Meng-Shan Lu, Chih-Chi Yang, Shou-Te Chen
  • Patent number: 8641907
    Abstract: A method of recovering polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) from municipal waste sludge includes: (a) removing coarse particles in the municipal waste sludge and measuring a solid content in the municipal waste sludge in terms of a volatile suspended solid in the municipal waste sludge; (b) removing a supernatant from the municipal waste sludge; (c) freezing the municipal waste sludge; (d) adding a controlled amount of sodium hypochlorite solution to the municipal waste sludge that has been frozen, a ratio of the solid content of the municipal waste sludge to a volume of the sodium hypochlorite solution added in step (d) ranging from 0.67 mg/ml to 4 mg/ml and being defined as a liquid-solid ratio; and (e) separating PHAs from non-PHAs substances in the municipal waste sludge obtained in the step (d).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: National Chi Nan University
    Inventors: Yung-Pin Tsai, Meng-Shan Lu, Chih-Chi Yang, Shou-Te Chen
  • Patent number: 8641655
    Abstract: A continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) device is provided that weighs between 2 and 10 pounds. The CRRT device can be portable, mobile or completely worn on the person of the patient. Blood and dialysate are each pumped in a pulsed or pulsatile manner through a dialyzer such that a significant portion of the peak pulse of the blood flow coincides with a significant portion of a low pulse portion of the dialysate flow. An differential pressure between a dialysate inlet of the dialyzer and the blood inlet of the dialyzer periodically changes from a high differential pressure of between 70 and 120 mmHg for a first time period and a low differential pressure of between ?10 and 10 mmHg for a first time period and a low differential pressure of between ?10 and 10 mmHg for a second time period. The frequency of the high and low differential pressure cycle is between about 0.5 and 4 Hz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Edmond Rambod, Victor Gura
  • Publication number: 20140027385
    Abstract: A separation system for separating a fluid mixture includes a uniaxial cyclonic separator (2) having a first inlet (16) for receiving a fluid mixture, a separation chamber (18) for separating the fluid mixture by cyclonic action into a dense first fluid and a less dense second fluid, a first outlet (22) for the first fluid and a second outlet (26) for the second fluid. The system further includes a reverse flow cyclonic separator (32) having a second inlet (30) for receiving the first fluid from the first outlet (22), a separation chamber for separating the first fluid by cyclonic action into a dense third fluid and a less dense fourth fluid, a third outlet (34) for the third fluid and a fourth outlet (36) for the fourth fluid. A method for the bulk separation of water from an oil/water mixture is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: CALTEC LIMITED
    Inventors: Mir Mahmood Sarshar, Mirza Najam Ali Beg, Carl Wordsworth
  • Publication number: 20140021140
    Abstract: A method for controlling dehydration or water removal in a drum washing machine, which repetitively measures an unbalance value at different speeds during balance spin-drying for spreading laundry items before main spin-drying is performed in a drum washing machine, and senses an unbalance for forward and backward directions of a drum as well as an unbalance for the rotational direction of the drum so that the laundry items are redistributed in a relatively normal manner. Thus, since vibrations of the tub may be reduced during the spin-drying process, the spin-drying efficiency may be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: Dongbu Daewoo Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Ui Kun Hwang
  • Patent number: 8632485
    Abstract: The invention provides apparatus and methods for home or other remote delivery of health care that gather subjective and objective measures of patient health and treatment, analyzing them (e.g., correlating them with one another and/or with norms) and reporting them to aid in on-going patient diagnosis and treatment (both on acute and chronic bases), as well as to aid physicians, nurses and other caregivers in decision support, monitoring treatment compliance, facilitating regulatory compliance, billing, and so forth. Thus, for example, in some aspects a health care delivery device comprising a medical treatment apparatus, such as a home hemodialysis or home peritoneal dialysis unit, that is coupled to a processor. The processor generates patient queries in connection with treatments rendered by the dialysis equipment (or other treatment apparatus).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Christian Schlaeper, Martin Crnkovich, Jeffrey J. Sands
  • Patent number: 8632686
    Abstract: An apparatus and method to remove water content in organic solvents characterized in that it comprises treatment tank 10 to which organic solvent is introduced, solvent inlet section 1 that introduces the organic solvent, solvent outlet section 2 from which the treated organic solvent is discharged, inert gas inlet section 3 from which inert gas is introduced, treatment gas outlet section 4 from which gas is discharged, cooling treatment tank 20 in which the treatment gas is cooled and the gas and liquid are separated, treatment gas inlet section 5 from which the treatment gas is introduced, recovered liquid outlet section 6 from which the separated liquid organic solvent is discharged, and waste gas outlet section 7 from which the separated gas is discharged, and that the water content in the organic solvent is removed by having the inert gas flow over the entire liquid surface of the organic solvent inside treatment tank 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Société Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procédés Georges Claude
    Inventors: Terumasa Koura, Takashi Kameoka
  • Patent number: 8628670
    Abstract: A method of treating water in order to minimize scaling and biomass buildup in water conduits or containers in which the treated water is used includes processing ambient air in a chamber including at least one ultraviolet light source to generate an output flow mixture of air and reactive oxygen species (ROS) gasses, controlling the at least one ultraviolet light source, a flow rate of the output flow mixture and an ROS gas ratio in the output flow mixture, mixing a water flow with the output flow mixture to realize a flow of water/ROS gas mixture and outputting the flow of water/ROS gas mixture as the treated water. Preferably, the processing includes generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) gasses in the output flow mixture including at least one of Super Oxide (O2?) Peroxide (—O2—), Hydroperoxide (HO2?), Hydroxyl Radicals (OH.), Ozone (O3?) and Molecular Oxygen (O2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Cascade Water Services
    Inventors: Eugene Klochkoff, Clive Ling, Steven Lerman