Filtering Immiscible Liquids Patents (Class 210/799)
  • Patent number: 11703806
    Abstract: A method and device for manufacturing a bevelled stone, particularly for a timepiece are disclosed. A precursor is produced from a mixture of at least one material in powder form with a binder. The method includes pressing the precursor so as to form a green body, using a top die and a bottom die comprising a protruding rib, sintering the green body so as to form a body of the future stone in at least one material, the body including a peripheral face and a bottom face provided with a groove, and machining the body including a substep of planning the peripheral face up to the groove, such that an inner wall of the groove forms at least a flared part of the peripheral face of the stone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Comadur SA
    Inventors: Bruno Besutti, Sebastien Retrouvey, Sebastien Midol
  • Patent number: 10012061
    Abstract: The invention provides formulations for facilitating the removal of oil from a surface using a chisel composition, wherein the chisel composition includes a polymer having one or more binding points with a high affinity for the surface, and one or more hydrophilic segments that form a hydrophilic coating on the surface, rendering the surface water-wet and thereby facilitating the removal of oil from the surface. The invention also provides for methods of use of such formulations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Soane Energy, LLC
    Inventors: David S. Soane, Rosa Casado Portilla, Robert P. Mahoney, Gangadhar Jogikalmath, Philip Wuthrich, Ian Slattery
  • Patent number: 9909070
    Abstract: A process for dewatering oil sand fine tailings is provided and comprises a dispersion and floc build-up stage comprising in-line addition of a flocculent solution comprising an effective amount of flocculation reagent into a flow of the oil sand fine tailings; a gel stage wherein flocculated oil sand fine tailings is transported in-line and subjected to shear conditioning; a floc breakdown and water release stage wherein the flocculated oil sand fine tailings releases water and decreases in yield shear stress, while avoiding an oversheared zone; depositing the flocculated oil sand fine tailings onto a deposition area to form a deposit and to enable the release water to flow away from the deposit, preferably done in a pipeline reactor and managing shear according to yield stress and CST information and achieves enhanced dewatering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: SUNCOR ENERGY INC.
    Inventors: Adrian Peter Revington, Oladipo Omotoso, Patrick Sean Wells, Thomas Charles Hann, Marvin Harvey Weiss, Trevor Bugg, Jamie Eastwood, Stephen Joseph Young, Hugues Robert O'Neill, Ana Cristina Sanchez
  • Patent number: 9132372
    Abstract: A filtering body, in particular for a rotary separator, which extends about an axis, has two opposite axial faces and is provided with a filtering net constituted by filaments defining a plurality of pores between them and with a frame, which is defined by non-porous solid elements, supports the filtering net and is made in one piece with the filtering net; at least some of the filaments of the filtering net extend from one of the axial faces along respective longitudinal axes, which are parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: GE AVIO S.R.L.
    Inventors: Stefano Zecchi, Federico Dellavalle, Daniele Coutandin
  • Publication number: 20150136712
    Abstract: Provided herein are copolymers and copolymer compositions that are both hydrophilic and oleophobic. The copolymers include structural units derived from a fluoroalkyl monomer and a zwitterionic monomer. It further relates to membranes formed by coating a porous substrate with the copolymeric compositions. The copolymeric coating imparts hydrophilicity and oleophobicity/oil-tolerance to the membranes. The uses of such membranes as microfiltration membrane or ultrafiltration membrane are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Louisa Ruth Carr, James Manio Silva, Paul Michael Smigelski, JR., Jason Nichols
  • Patent number: 9017553
    Abstract: An apparatus, method, and system for treatment of industrial waste water and/or marine vessel bilge water before discharge into waterways, said waste water having hydrocarbon, and synthetic oils, chemical or surfactant based hydrocarbon emulsions, and water soluble hydrocarbons, containing hydrocarbon coated organics and fine suspended particulate matter, said treatment utilizing a hydrocarbon sorbing pre-filter media together with filter structural elements to first remove hydrocarbon contaminated organics and particulate, coalesce then bifurcate and adsorb heavier hydrocarbon elements; the remaining liquid entering the second stage of filtration wherein a cryogenically pulverized recycled tire powder material removes the remaining hydrocarbons, synthetic oils, hydrocarbon emulsions, and water soluble hydrocarbons, providing a highly clarified and oil free effluent at high flow rates and with substantially reduced filter system maintenance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Inventor: Craig A. Mason
  • Patent number: 8985343
    Abstract: A separator plate is used for separating immiscible liquids and solids from a liquid mixture. The oil water separator plate is composed of bi-directional corrugations extending in both lateral and longitudinal directions, thereby forming a plurality of peaks and valleys. A ramp extends from each peak to the neighboring valleys. An elongated oil port is formed in the peak for passing immiscible liquids that disengage from the liquid mixture. The oil port includes a tip portion angled approximately vertically from horizontal. Solids disengaged from the liquid mixture translate through a solids aperture. Fences are included along the lower surface of the plate to guide rising immiscible liquid. The separator plate is configured for stacking by selectively engaging a pin with one of a number of sockets in another plate. The pin and sockets permit varied vertical spacing and alignment in both lateral directions and longitudinal directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Inventor: Kirby Smith Mohr
  • Patent number: 8968579
    Abstract: A separation process and system for extracting hydrocarbons from a mixture. In some embodiments, a process for separating a bitumen froth stream containing bitumen froth, water and fine solids into a bitumen enriched froth stream and a water and fine solids stream, comprises: (a) receiving the bitumen froth stream in a concentrator vessel, (b) distributing the bitumen froth stream in the concentrator vessel as a substantially uniform and generally horizontal flow of the bitumen froth stream at a first flow velocity, (c) slowing the bitumen froth stream to a second flow velocity, slower than the first flow velocity, in a separation region of the concentrator vessel to promote separation of the bitumen froth from the water and fine solids, and then (d) collecting a bitumen enriched froth stream and (e) collecting a separate water and fine solids stream. Related embodiments of systems and apparatus may also be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Suncor Energy Inc.
    Inventors: Bradford E. Bjornson, Craig Aaron Strand, William Nicholas Garner, John Khai-Quang Diep, Darwin Edward Kiel, Thomas Charles Hann
  • Patent number: 8945398
    Abstract: A water recovery process for a steam assisted gravity drainage system for a heavy oil recovery facility, the process comprising a flash drum and a flash drum heat exchanger/condenser, wherein the water recovery process receives hot water produced by a facility at a temperature above the water atmospheric boiling point and cools it to a temperature below the water atmospheric boiling point before transferring it to the remaining section of the water recovery process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: 1nSite Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenneth James
  • Publication number: 20140353263
    Abstract: A coalescence media for separation of water-hydrocarbon emulsions, the coalescence media comprising an emulsion-contacting sheet formed as a single dry layer from a wet-laid process using a homogenously distributed, wet-laid furnish of (a) a mixture of fibrous components of (a1) at least one type of a first group of cellulose and/or cellulose-based fibers, and (a2) at least one type of a second group of fibers selected from the group consisting of fibrillated fibers and glass microfibers, and (b) at least one non-fibrous component selected from the group consisting of (b1) a dry strength additive, and (b2) a wet strength additive. The fibrous components of the coalescence media constitute at least about 70% of the coalescence media, and includes a pore structure sufficient to coalesce water droplets having a droplet size of <3.5 ?m in biodiesel blends or in surfactant stabilized water-hydrocarbon emulsions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: AHLSTROM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christine STANFEL, Frank COUSART
  • Publication number: 20140339160
    Abstract: A method of separating an aqueous portion from a heterogeneous sample containing said aqueous portion and a non-aqueous (lipid) portion, teaches passing a sample through glass wool, thus trapping the aqueous layer in the glass wool and eluting the lipid layer from the glass wool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventors: Flaviu Ciobanu, Ameer Y. Taha, Adam Henry Metherel, Kenneth Douglas Stark
  • Publication number: 20140332477
    Abstract: A device, an improvement upon a funnel, to enable immiscible liquids to be dispensed from an inverted bottle to augment a new, in-situ method to extract chemicals from water directly within sampling containers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Inventor: John R. Troost
  • Patent number: 8871094
    Abstract: Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as BTEX methanol and other non-phase separable hydrocarbons may be removed from wastewater obtained from oil or gas exploration or production operations by way of a bioreactor. The bioreactor may employ anaerobic microorganisms that metabolize various VOCs. In some embodiments, such a bioreactor may be configured to treat process flow rates of thousands of barrels of wastewater per hour. Such a bioreactor may comprise a large vessel at a larger water treatment site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: R N Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Kerry J. Spiroff, Nathan Zaugg, Huiwei Yu
  • Patent number: 8851298
    Abstract: An immiscible lipophilic or hydrophilic liquid phase is separated respectively from a continuous hydrophilic or a lipophilic phase liquid. Fibers having hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties are formed into a filter. The separation mechanism involves coalescence of the small droplets into larger droplets as the immiscible liquid flows through the fiber filter, and release of the large immiscible droplets from the filter. With respect to separation of a hydrophilic immiscible fluid in a lipophilic continuous fluid, the hydrophobic fibers cause small water droplets to migrate towards the hydrophilic fibers whereby large droplets are formed on hydrophilic surface. The large droplets coalescence until they are so large that they are released and drained off of the filter. The filter media can be designed by mixing hydrophilic and hydrophobic fibers in various proportions to achieve an optimum wettability range for separation of the immiscible liquid from the continuous phase liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: The University of Akron
    Inventors: George Chase, Prashant Kulkarni
  • Patent number: 8833567
    Abstract: A coalescence media for separation of water-hydrocarbon emulsions comprises an emulsion-contacting sheet formed of: (a) at least one component of the group consisting of natural fibers, cellulose fibers, natural-based fibers, and cellulose-based fibers, at least one component of the group consisting of high-surface-area fibrillated fibers, surface-area-enhancing synthetic material, glass microfibers, and nanoceramic functionalized fibers; and (c) at least one component of the group consisting of a dry strength additive, and a wet strength additive, wherein the fibrous components of the media constitute at least about 70% of the media. In preferred embodiments, the coalescence media comprises kraft fibers, fibrillated lyocell fibers, glass microfibers or nanoceramic functionalized fibers, a wet strength additive, and a dry strength additive. Preferably, the coalescence media is formed as a single, self-supporting layer from a wet-laid process using a homogenously distributed, wet-laid furnish.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Ahlstrom Corporation
    Inventors: Christine Stanfel, Frank Cousart
  • Patent number: 8815100
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a cyclone type liquid/gas or liquid/liquid separator having separation properties that are stabilized, even when the flow rate and the proportions of the liquid phases for separation vary, by means of a platform situated in the low portion of a cylindrical separation chamber that is fed at its top end via a tangential feed orifice. The present invention also provides an installation and a method of separating the oil and water contained in crude oil, with the help of a cyclone of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Saipem S.A.
    Inventors: Paul Chantrel, Marc Bonnissel
  • Patent number: 8801921
    Abstract: A method of produced water treatment in an in-situ recovery method of producing bitumen from oil sand, the method has the steps of: separating bitumen from bitumen-mixed fluid so as to leave produced water, the bitumen-mixed fluid having been recovered from the oil sand wells; and filtering the produced water via a microfiltration membrane made of polytetrafluoroethylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignees: Toyo Engineering Corporation, Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Ikebe, Hiroshi Yokohata, Masaaki Sakurai, Toru Morita
  • Patent number: 8801928
    Abstract: A fuel supply device (1), particularly for an internal combustion engine (6), is equipped with a particulate filter and a water trap. In order to improve the separation effect, while simultaneously reducing the separation material that is required, it is proposed to configure the water trap (5, 8, 30) as a separate component connected downstream of the fuel filer (4) and to provide it with a first separation stage made of coalescent material and a second separation stage made of hydrophobic material, and to dispose the separation stages such that between them the fuel is diverted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Mann+Hummel GmbH
    Inventors: Steffi Kiedaisch, Martin Klein
  • Publication number: 20140166596
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating a vehicle including an engine and a fuel system. In one embodiment, a water drainage system for a fuel system comprises a fuel tank, a fuel-water separator in fluid communication with the fuel tank, and a purge tank in fluid communication with the fuel-water separator and the fuel tank, the purge tank separate from the fuel tank. The water drainage system further includes a fuel property sensor for detecting a presence of water and a purge line in fluid communication with the purge tank for removing fluid from the purge tank, a flow of the fluid from the purge tank controlled by a check valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Inventors: Larry Gene ANDERSON, Sivanaga Venu Varma Dantuluri, Dennis Shea, Morse N. Taxon
  • Publication number: 20140166595
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a grease trap system for wastewater systems, having an inlet pipe with a shut off valve, an outlet pipe with a shut off valve and a grease interceptor comprising a replaceable container body including means to trap fats, oils and grease within the body. The body has inlet and outlet slide couplers in opposed walls, and each coupler has an associated connecting means to sealingly fluidly connect the slide couplers to the inlet and outlet pipes. When the container body is disconnected from the pipes the slide couplers may also be sealed by a removable plug for transport. The slide couplers displace inwardly and outwardly relative to the container to give clearance between the pipes to remove the container. A method of replacing full containers with empty containers is also comprehended.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: Canplas Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Scott Baldwin, Jeffrey D. Bayley, Carl Robb, Andrew Bird
  • 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: 20140158644
    Abstract: One embodiment can be an apparatus for contacting a first liquid and a second liquid. The apparatus can include a vessel, which in turn, may include at least one wall, a first member, and a funnical frustum. The at least one wall can form a perimeter about an interior space. Also, the first member can be positioned within the interior space and form a plurality of passageways. Each passageway may be bordered by a first side and a second side from an outer region to an interior surface of the first member. Generally, the funnical frustum is positioned downstream of the first member to facilitate a swirling of at least one of the first and second liquids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicants: Boreskov Institute of Catolysis, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, UOP LLC
    Inventors: Andrey Kuzmin, Aziz Sattar, Lev Davydov
  • Patent number: 8721895
    Abstract: A process for separating an aqueous emulsion including an aqueous phase and an non-aqueous phase into separated aqueous and non-aqueous phases, to provide a recovered non-aqueous phase, and to provide a recovered aqueous phase containing an acceptable level of the non-aqueous phase. In the process, at least one body, and preferably two or more bodies, of polymeric material with a high surface area, typically a foam material or polymer chips, is used in a horizontal flow treatment system to break the emulsion and thus provide both the aqueous and non-aqueous phases as two separate flows. A wide range of polymers can be used in the system as the polymeric material including polyurethane, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyester, and polyethylene. If a very low level of non-aqueous phase in the effluent is required, for example to meet potable water standards, then a Kozlowski polyurethane, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,239,040, is preferred as the last Polymeric material body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Inventors: Amine Benachenou, Jean-Pierre Parent
  • Patent number: 8714722
    Abstract: A structure and method including a filter assembly, wherein the structure can be an ink jet printhead including the filter assembly. The filter assembly can include a first filter layer having a plurality of pores therein, wherein the pores have a first pitch, and a second filter layer having a plurality of pores therein, wherein the pores in the second filter layer have a second pitch which is different than the first pitch. The structure can include a fluid path through the filter assembly. An area of overlap of the pores in the first filter layer with the pores in the second filter layer, in a vertical direction perpendicular to a plane of the filter assembly, can include a periodicity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew W. Hays, Jun Ma, Peter J. Nystrom, Bradley J. Gerner
  • Patent number: 8679341
    Abstract: A method of concentrating nanoparticles, having the steps of: adding and mixing an extraction solvent with a nanoparticles-dispersion liquid that nanoparticles are dispersed in a dispersion solvent, thereby concentrating and extracting the nanoparticles into a phase of the extraction solvent, and removing the dispersion solvent by filter-filtrating a liquid of concentrated extract, in which the extraction solvent is substantially incompatible with the dispersion solvent, and the extract solvent can form an interface after the extraction solvent is mixed with the dispersion solvent and left the mixture still; further a method of deaggregating aggregated nanoparticles, having the steps of: applying two or more ultrasonic waves different in frequency to a liquid containing aggregated nanoparticles, and thereby fining and dispersing the aggregated nanoparticles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignees: FUJIFILM Corporation, Tohoku University
    Inventors: Yousuke Miyashita, Hachiro Nakanishi, Hitoshi Kasai, Akito Masuhara
  • Patent number: 8678202
    Abstract: Disclosed are modular filter-in-filter elements, namely an outer filter element and an inner filter element which may be assembled to form a filter cartridge for use in separation methods and systems. The outer filter element typically functions as a coalescing element and the inner element typically functions as a particulate filter element. The disclosed filter cartridges may be structured for separating water from a hydrocarbon-based liquid fuel as the fuel moves through the cartridge from outside to inside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Cummins Filtration IP Inc.
    Inventors: Mark T. Wieczorek, Terry Shults, William C. Haberkamp, Jonathan Sheumaker, Barry Mark Verdegan, Christopher E. Holm, Brian W. Schwandt
  • Publication number: 20140014593
    Abstract: In an improved fiber-film type contactor/separator an enhanced coalescing zone is provided by the presence of a disengagement device connected to a shroud that contains a bundle of high surface area vertical hanging fibers, where the enhanced coalescing zone diverts a portion of an admixture of immiscible liquids to flow radially in a path not parallel to the vertical axis of the hanging fibers whereby the diverted portion of liquids contacts a coalescing surface to cause at least one of the liquids to coalesce into droplets. The immiscible liquids are allowed to settle into separate phase layers and first and second outlets selectively remove the higher density liquid from the lower density liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: Merichem Company
    Inventors: James F. McGehee, Tiejun Zhang
  • Patent number: 8590712
    Abstract: Disclosed are modular filter-in-filter elements, namely an outer filter element and an inner filter element which may be assembled to form a filter cartridge for use in separation methods and systems. The outer filter element typically functions as a coalescing element and the inner element typically functions as a particulate filter element. The disclosed filter cartridges may be structured for separating water from a hydrocarbon-based liquid fuel as the fuel moves through the cartridge from outside to inside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Cummins Filtration IP Inc.
    Inventors: Mark T. Wieczorek, Terry Shults, William C. Haberkamp, Jonathan Sheumaker, Barry M. Verdegan, Christopher E. Holm, Brian W. Schwandt
  • Publication number: 20130240460
    Abstract: Disclosed are modular filter-in-filter elements, namely an outer filter element and an inner filter element which may be assembled to form a filter cartridge for use in separation methods and systems. The outer filter element typically functions as a coalescing element and the inner element typically functions as a particulate filter element. The disclosed filter cartridges may be structured for separating water from a hydrocarbon-based liquid fuel as the fuel moves through the cartridge from outside to inside.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: CUMMINS FILTRATION IP INC.
    Inventors: Mark T. Wieczorek, Terry Shults, William C. Haberkamp, Jonathan Sheumaker, Barry Mark Verdegan, Christopher E. Holm, Brian W. Schwandt
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20130212932
    Abstract: The present invention provides for methods and systems that effectively separate dispersed FOG from emulsions and/or free-floating FOG from a waste stream to provide dewatered emulsions and/or separated fats, oils and greases from emulsions thereby providing value added separated product while reducing disposal of solid or liquid waste matter into landfills or water treatment facilities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: SMARTFLOW TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: SMARTFLOW TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
  • Patent number: 8460555
    Abstract: This invention reveals to the public the centralized sump oil and acid oil treatment process and system. The process consist of (1) the filter; (2) entry to reaction kettle, the sodium carbonate solution added at the time of air floatation till PH value keeps about 6.0-8.0; and emulsion splitter and flocculating agent added for further reaction; (3) suspension of air floatation and static settlement; (4) the international crude oil is collected after the detergent oil at the upper level of the reaction kettle is dehydrated under normal and reduced pressure; the wastewater is drained after filtering by the natural oil removal tank and the oil-water filter; the sludge is solidified by the cement and the quick lime and aluminium oxide are used as the coagulant aid for solidifying the sludge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Inventor: Gang Yuan
  • Patent number: 8431028
    Abstract: A system for automated water drainage in a fuel system includes a fuel-water separator, a water sensor, first and second drain valves, a drain pressure sensor, and a control system, which is operably connected to the first and second drain valves, the water sensor, and the drain pressure sensor. The water sensor is disposed in the fuel-water separator for detecting the presence of water. The first drain valve is in fluid communication with the fuel-water separator, and the second drain valve is in fluid communication with the first drain valve; a fluid duct connects the first and second drain valves. The drain pressure sensor is positioned in the fluid duct, for detecting pressure levels in the fluid duct. The control system automatically operates the first and second drain valves, for removing purge liquid from the fuel-water separator, based on signal outputs of the water sensor and the drain pressure sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Larry Gene Anderson, Sandeep Banga, Sivanaga Venu Varma Dantuluri, Shawn Michael Gallagher, Jaslok Kaur
  • Publication number: 20130092639
    Abstract: A multilayer composite in which a nonwoven filter media layer is affixed to but separated from a hydrophobic microporous membrane such that the multilayer porous composite provides effective separation of water and particulate with substantial resistance to clogging in new fuels with low interfacial tensions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Inventors: Gary P. Harp, Marc Schroeter
  • Patent number: 8409448
    Abstract: An immiscible lipophilic or hydrophilic liquid phase separated respectively from a continuous hydrophilic phase or a lipophilic phase liquid. Fibers having hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties are mixed, layered, etc., and formed into a filter. The separation mechanism involves capture of small droplets of the immiscible phase, coalescence of the small droplets into larger droplets as the immiscible liquid flows through the fiber filter, and release of the large immiscible droplets from the filter. With respect to separation of a hydrophilic immiscible fluid such as water in a lipophilic continuous fluid such as oil, the hydrophobic fibers will cause small water droplets to migrate towards the hydrophilic fibers whereby large droplets are formed on hydrophilic surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: The University of Akron
    Inventors: George Chase, Prashant Kulkarni
  • Patent number: 8394256
    Abstract: The present invention is a process for removing waxy haze from and improving the filterability of base stocks including heavy mineral oil base stocks, gas-to-liquids (GTL) and hydrodewaxed or hydroisomerized waxy feed basestocks by filtering the waxy haze causing particles out of the base stock employing a filter characterized by a high surface area of pores accessible to the haze wax particles which have particles dimensions of no more than about 5 microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Exxonmobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: James W. Gleeson, Eric B. Sirota, Charles L. Baker, Dennis A. Gaal, David Mentzer, John E. Gallagher, Jr., Min Chang, Norman G. Cathcart, Stephen A. Geibel, Mark F. Hurwitz, Tore H. Lindstrom, Michael B. Whitlock
  • Patent number: 8376145
    Abstract: The invention relates to environment protection and can be used for cleaning industrial wastewater, liquidation of oil spills resulted from ecological disasters. The invention provides a reliable device for cleaning water from oil nano- and micro-particles and other impurities. Such device comprises a pump pumping a liquid flow of water with impurities particles. The pump is connected to a water dynamic purification unit (WDPU) with a channel including —a first type section with variable cross-section decreasing downstream, —a minimal passage cross-section, —a second type section with variable cross-section increasing downstream. The first type section includes a zone with a plurality of protrusions and deepenings. One protrusion has a maximal height greater than the heights of other protrusions. Preferable sizes and relations of channel elements are disclosed. The WDPU uses cavitation that allows decomposing oil particles, and reduction of the flow speed for commencement of cavitation and sedimentation time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Troy Group Holdings Ltd.
    Inventors: Vladimir Ilych Kormilitsyn, Vladimir Pavlovich Lobko, Oleg Olegovich Tikhonenko
  • Patent number: 8360251
    Abstract: Disclosed are coalescing media for coalescing a mixture of two phases, namely a continuous phase and a dispersed phase. The disclosed coalescing media has multiple layers with distinct porosities, where an interior layer of the coalescing media has a higher porosity than the layers immediately adjacent to the interior layer. The disclosed media may be utilized in coalescers, coalescing systems, or coalescing methods for removing the dispersed phase from the mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Cummins Filtration IP, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark T. Wieczorek, Barry M. Verdegan, Saru Dawar
  • Patent number: 8354028
    Abstract: A method for separating electrolyte-containing water from an organic phase by means of permeation on a hydrophobic separating means. The permeated organic solution is substantially depleted in water and the retained water is enriched with electrolytes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Bayer Material Science AG
    Inventors: Helmut Meyer, Guido Naberfeld, Johann Rechner, Rafael Warsitz, Michael Traving, Werner Bäcker, Thomas Elsner, Arno Nennemann, Stephan Bahnmuler, Gerhard Langstein, Julia Hitzbleck, Patrick Theato, Daniel Kessler, Daniel-Gordon Duff, Sascha Plug
  • Patent number: 8308957
    Abstract: A separation process for separating two or more immiscible liquids using contactors utilizing high surface area vertical hanging fibers is disclosed. This separation process is especially useful in the separation of disulfide oil formed during the oxidation of spent caustic solution that was used to remove sulfur contaminates from light hydrocarbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Merichem Company
    Inventors: Tiejun Zhang, V. Keith Turner
  • Patent number: 8303824
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for filtering contaminated water from an oil or gas well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Inventor: Robert L. Miller
  • Publication number: 20120261358
    Abstract: Separation media, separation modules and methods are provided for separating water from a water and hydrocarbon emulsion and include a fibrous nonwoven coalescence layer for receiving the water and hydrocarbon emulsion and coalescing the water present therein as a discontinuous phase to achieve coalesced water droplets having a size of 1 mm or greater, and a fibrous nonwoven drop retention layer downstream of the coalescence layer having a high BET surface area of at least 90 m2/g or greater sufficient to retain the size of the coalesced water droplets to allow separation thereof from the hydrocarbon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: AHLSTROM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christine M. Stanfel, Farina Diani Pangestu
  • Publication number: 20120223020
    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: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: SIEMENS INDUSTRY, INC.
    Inventors: Chad L. Felch, Matthew Patterson, Shane Wiercinski
  • Patent number: 8221634
    Abstract: A process and an apparatus for separating and recovering waste alkali from a cyclohexane oxidation solution are provided. A gradient combination of the gravity separation technique, the vortex separation technique and the coalescence separation technique is used to carry out fine separation of the waste alkali liquor from the cyclohexane oxidation solution. The purified cyclohexane oxidation solution is fed into a down-stream apparatus. Most of the waste alkali liquor thus separated is recycled, while the remaining is expelled. The expelled waste alkali liquor is incinerated in an incinerator, followed by recovering the molten species using a pneumatic pulverization process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: East China University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Zhishan Bai, Zhuoqun Qian, Ji Ma, Ping Zhou, Yanhong Zhang, Hualin Wang
  • Patent number: 8177984
    Abstract: Separation media, separation modules and methods are provided for separating water from a water and hydrocarbon emulsion and include a fibrous nonwoven coalescence layer for receiving the water and hydrocarbon emulsion and coalescing the water present therein as a discontinuous phase to achieve coalesced water droplets having a size of 1 mm or greater, and a fibrous nonwoven drop retention layer downstream of the coalescence layer having a high BET surface area of at least 90 m2/g or greater sufficient to retain the size of the coalesced water droplets to allow separation thereof from the hydrocarbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Ahlstrom Corporation
    Inventors: Christine M. Stanfel, Farina Diani Pangestu
  • Patent number: 8158010
    Abstract: A filter sleeve is fabricated from a variety of media selected to preferentially remove particulates and specific contaminants from water or other liquids. The layers of the filter sleeve may be configured to remove 1-micron particulates, while another layer or layers may be configured to remove a range of petroleum hydrocarbons, fats, oils, and greases, while yet another layer may be configured to remove metals, and yet another layer could be configured to remove bacteria, algae, mold, and fungus. Filter sleeves that are configured to remove different particulate sizes and contaminants can be used simultaneously by placing the filter sleeves inside one another to accrue the capabilities of several individual filter sleeves as one unit. The filter sleeve can be used to remove particulates and hydrocarbons from waste water accumulated in underground vaults, enabling such waste water to be discharged directly into the ambient environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Inventors: Herb Pearse, Mary Peacock
  • Patent number: 8088281
    Abstract: A method for the removal of entrained hydrocarbons, particularly aromatics, from water by extracting the hydrocarbons in the water with a hydrocarbon which is relatively less soluble in the water than the entrained hydrocarbon. The hydrocarbons are then separated from the water by a process of coalescence/separation. The extractant is suitably a paraffinic hydrocarbon which, while having an affinity for the entrained hydrocarbon, is relatively less soluble in water than hydrocarbons such as aromatics. The hydrocarbons removed from the water can be recirculated to the feed with the composition of the recirculating phase being controlled to achieve the desired level of hydrocarbon removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research & Engineering Company
    Inventors: Robert J. Falkiner, Bal K. Kaul
  • Patent number: 8080166
    Abstract: A multiphase separation system utilized to remove contaminants from fluids includes a pre-filtering module for filtering a contaminated fluid to provide a filtered contaminated fluid. A condenser module receives the filtered contaminated fluid and a contaminated gas phase for condensing the contaminated gas phase to a contaminated liquid. A phase reaction chamber converts the filtered contaminated fluid to a contaminated mist wherein the mist is subjected to a low energy, high vacuum environment for providing a first change of phase by separating into a contaminated gas phase and a liquid mist phase. The contaminated gas phase is carried out of the phase reaction chamber by a carrier air. A vacuum pump provides the low energy, high vacuum environment in the phase reaction chamber and delivers the contaminated gas phase to the condenser module for condensation providing a second change of phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Liquid Separation Technologies and Equipment, LLC
    Inventor: Wayne W. Spani
  • Publication number: 20110266208
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for filtering contaminated water from an oil or gas well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Inventor: Robert L. Miller
  • Publication number: 20110233152
    Abstract: Disclosed are coalescing media for coalescing a mixture of two phases, namely a continuous phase and a dispersed phase. The disclosed coalescing media has multiple layers with distinct porosities, where an interior layer of the coalescing media has a higher porosity than the layers immediately adjacent to the interior layer. The disclosed media may be utilized in coalescers, coalescing systems, or coalescing methods for removing the dispersed phase from the mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: CUMMINS FILTRATION IP, INC.
    Inventors: Mark T. Wieczorek, Barry M. Verdegan, Saru Dawar