Utilizing Gravitational Force Patents (Class 210/800)
  • Patent number: 8273255
    Abstract: An economical fat, oil and grease removal assembly and method includes a container having a bottom, a top, a sidewall, an inlet and an outlet. The outlet is spaced above the bottom and below the top to define a static water level for liquid in the container. The container includes at least one baffle extending downwardly to a level below the static water level. The container further includes a port at an elevation such that F.O.G. floating on water in the container can flow from the container out through the port when the liquid level in the container is raised above the static water level. The assembly further includes an inlet bridge, an outlet bridge and a storage tank arranged to accept F.O.G. that is flowed out of the container. A hub on the storage tank interfaces the container with the storage tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Thermaco, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Batten, Bruce W. Kyles, Randolph H. Batten
  • Patent number: 8258461
    Abstract: An apparatus of generating an optical tweezers with momentum and method thereof and an optical tweezers photo-image for guiding particles are provided. The apparatus generates at least one optical tweezers on an examined object that carries at least one particle. The apparatus includes a laser source, a diffractive optical element and a convergent lens. The laser beam from the laser source passes through the diffractive optical element to produce a diffractive pattern. The laser beam is then received by the convergent lens and then to be focused on a plane of the examined object. The optic axis of the convergent lens is substantially not perpendicular to the plane of the examined object, so that the laser beam is projected onto the plane of the examined object in a skewed manner for providing a lateral momentum to move the particle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Raydium Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Long Hsu, Cheng-Hsien Liu, Sheng-Yang Tseng, William Wang, Chung-Cheng Chou, Fung-Hsu Wu, Chen Peng, Ta-Yuan Lee
  • Publication number: 20120216875
    Abstract: Methods and systems for producing, trading, transporting, and storing commodities are disclosed. More specifically, methods and systems for producing, trading, transporting, and storing large quantities of water having specific characteristics are provided. Methods for transferring title and trading commodities in the form of water are disclosed. Various transport systems are disclosed, including devices and methods for utilizing preexisting vessels to carry different liquid cargoes which should not contact one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Inventors: Allen Szydlowski, Ian Szydlowski, Mickey Fouts
  • Publication number: 20120211436
    Abstract: An apparatus, process and system for treating a hydrocarbon feedstock having a specific gravity differential between components of the feedstock is disclosed and includes a treatment vessel having an inlet for receiving the feedstock. A primary separation container may be located in the treatment vessel to accumulate feedstock to cause a low specific gravity portion of the feedstock to separate and rise to an upper surface of the accumulated feedstock. A secondary separation container may be located in the treatment vessel to receive the collected low specific gravity portion from the primary separation container, to accumulate the collected low specific gravity portion to cause hydrocarbon products to separate and rise to an upper surface of the accumulated low specific gravity portion of the feedstock, producing a hydrocarbon product stream at a product outlet. The operating pressure of the treatment vessel may be regulated to remain within a desired range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: SUNCOR ENERGY INC.
    Inventor: Thomas Charles Hann
  • Publication number: 20120211421
    Abstract: Systems and methods for lowering levels of carbon dioxide and other atmospheric pollutants are provided. Economically viable systems and processes capable of removing vast quantities of carbon dioxide and other atmospheric pollutants from gaseous waste streams and sequestering them in storage-stable forms are also discussed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Inventors: KYLE SELF, Kasra Farsad, Robert W. Elliott, Brian Curtis, Srikanth Bellur, Miguel Fernandez, Philip Brian Tuet
  • Patent number: 8236185
    Abstract: Toxic substances such as heavy metals are extracted from a medium using a sorbent composition. The sorbent composition is derived by sulfidation of red mud, which contains hydrated ferric oxides derived from the Bayer processing of bauxite ores. Exemplary sulfidizing compounds are H2S, Na2S, K2S, (NH4)2S, and CaSx. The sulfur content typically is from about 0.2 to about 10% above the residual sulfur in the red mud. Sulfidized red mud is an improved sorbent compared to red mud for most of the heavy metals tested (Hg, Cr, Pb, Cu, Zn, Cd, Se, Th, and U). Unlike red mud, sulfidized red mud does not leach naturally contained metals. Sulfidized red mud also prevents leaching of metals when mixed with red mud. Mixtures of sulfidized red mud and red mud are more effective for sorbing other ions, such as As, Co, Mn, and Sr, than sulfidized red mud alone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: J.I. Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph Iannicelli
  • Patent number: 8225944
    Abstract: An extraction system and process for extracting bitumen from a slurry containing bitumen, solids and water. The system comprises a cyclone separation facility for separating the slurry into a solids component stream and a bitumen froth stream with the bitumen froth stream including water and fine solids. The bitumen froth stream is then delivered to a froth concentration facility for separating the bitumen froth stream into a final bitumen enriched froth stream, and a water and fine solids stream. The final bitumen enriched froth stream is suitable for further processing. The system of the present invention is preferably mobile so that the cyclone extraction facility and the froth concentration facility can move with the mine face at an oil sands mining site, however, it is also contemplated that the system can be retrofitted to existing fixed treatment facilities to improve the operational efficiency of such fixed facilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Suncor Energy Inc.
    Inventors: Bradford E. Bjornson, Craig Aaron Strand, William Nicholas Garner, John Khai-Quang Diep, Darwin Edward Kiel, Thomas Charles Hann
  • Publication number: 20120183947
    Abstract: The invention provides a method, apparatus and system for separating cellular components, and can be combined with holographic optical trapping manipulation or other forms of optical tweezing. One exemplary method includes providing a first flow having a plurality of components; providing a second flow; contacting the first flow with the second flow to provide a first separation region; and differentially sedimenting a first cellular component of the plurality of components into the second flow while concurrently maintaining a second cellular component of the plurality of components in the first flow. The second flow having the first cellular component is then differentially removed from the first flow having the second cellular component. Holographic optical traps may also be utilized in conjunction with the various flows to move selected components from one flow to another, as part of or in addition to a separation stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: ARRYX, INC.
    Inventors: Daniel MUETH, Joseph PLEWA, Jessica SHIREMAN, Amy ANDERSON, Lewis GRUBER, Neil Harris ROSENBAUM
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20120168389
    Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for substantially reducing the momentum, velocity, or both of a first liquid that is flowing into a second liquid. The device allows one to substantially reduce or even eliminate large-scale turbulent eddies that could otherwise be produced by liquid flowing into or within a vessel, for example in a clarifier. Suitably-sized and positioned plates and baffles induce changes of flow direction in a limited volume. By the time the fluid leaves this volume, the fluid velocity is low, and turbulence is nearly or entirely eliminated. Several of the devices may be placed at different inputs within a single clarifier, and thus increase efficiency further.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Inventors: Vadim Kochergin, Cy Gaudet
  • Patent number: 8211316
    Abstract: A deeply sewage treating method and apparatus without sludge discharging is disclosed by means of the physical, chemical and biological methods. Proper sewage treating agent with powerful adsorbing capacity, organic matter decomposing and oxidizing capacity and settling capacity is selected based on the quantity of sewage and pollutant characteristic of the sewage to be treated. Sewage is treated through an integrative function tank that comprises a grille primary tank (1), a settling tank (2), high concentration aeration tank (3), aerobic biological tank (4), anaerobic sludge returning tank (5), a sludge and cleaning water separating tank (6), separating tank (7), and pouring tank (8). Sewage is subjected to physical filtering, chemical regulation of pH value, aerating, biological treatment, settling and filtering, so that organic pollutant is converted into microbe that is oxidized and decomposed into CO2, H2O, NH3 and small amount of excess sludge for inside circulating treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Inventor: Ming-hui Chiang
  • Publication number: 20120145653
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for separating a feed such as bitumen froth feed are provided. The apparatus comprises a vessel having a top, side walls, and a base. An inlet delivers feed to the vessel interior whereby settling of the feed establishes a heavier phase zone in the vicinity of the base and a lighter phase zone above an interface with the heavier phase zone. The height/diameter ratio of the vessel, the dimensions and position of the inlet and the fluid properties of the feed are selected to allow a feed velocity of the feed discharging from the inlet into the interior to dissipate in the lighter phase zone as the discharged feed entrains lighter phases above the interface and spreads across the vessel interior such that the lighter phases of the feed separate up to an overflow outlet and the heavier phases separate down to an underflow outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: FORT HILLS ENERGY L.P.
    Inventors: SHAWN VAN DER MERWE, JOHN KHAI-QUANG DIEP, MOHAMMED REZA SHARIATI, GARY FOULDS
  • Patent number: 8197700
    Abstract: A method and software for sizing three-phase separators utilizing an iterative approach is provided. The proposed computational method for sizing three-phase separators uses an iterative technique that calculates the optimum vessel dimensions for each service over a range of length to diameter ratios. The method starts with the smallest vessel dimension depending on the service and the selected vessel type and then tries to satisfy all the requirements for vapor/liquid and liquid/liquid separation. The vessel dimensions, i.e., length and diameter, are incrementally changed until all the requirements are met. The method and software are not restricted to any fixed value for the length to diameter ratio. The method and software select the smallest sized three-phase separator required for each service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Mehryar Beyk
  • Patent number: 8197697
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for thickening liquids carrying suspended particles, such as slurry containing minerals, by using a thickening apparatus (1) comprising a tank (2) whereby pulp of higher relative density tends to settle towards the bottom of the tank, forming a bed of thickened pulp (3), and dilute liquid (9) of lower relative density is thereby displaced towards the top of the tank, a feedwell (4), which includes a chamber having means for receiving fed material (5), such as slurry and at least one outlet in fluid communication with the tank and means for distributing the material in the tank, at least one feedpipe (8) for feeding the material (5), at least slurry, into the feedwell, when the feedpipe cross-sectional area for the fed material (5) is constantly varying when the flowrate inside the feedpipe (8) varies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventor: Richard Triglavcanin
  • Publication number: 20120125868
    Abstract: Method of separating two dispersed-phase immiscible liquids. The two liquids are fed into a gravity separator where both liquids are separated by decantation. A first phase consisting of a first liquid is obtained at the bottom of the separator, a second phase consisting of the second liquid is obtained at the tap of the separator, a third phase containing the two dispersed-phase immiscible liquids and a fourth phase containing the two immiscible liquids in a dense bed are obtained. Physico-chemical properties of the liquids and of the dispersed phase are measured, and a physical separation model is defined. This model is defined considering that the separator works under stationary conditions, using a matter conservation balance for the first fluid within the dense bed, while taking account of a first phenomenon of coalescence between water drops within the third phase, and of a second phenomenon of coalescence between water drops of the fourth phase and the first phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Inventors: Stefano Falappi, Thierry Palermo, Christine Noik, Benjamin Brocart, Alain Ricordeau
  • Patent number: 8182700
    Abstract: A method and exhaust arrangement in the removal of surface scum. An exhaust arrangement is used existing in connection with a liquid basin. The exhaust arrangement includes a first surface chute arrangement for removal of surface scum utilizing an overflow arrangement, belonging to the first chute arrangement and being based on a continuous flow for overflowing the surface scum in at least two successive phases, from the fluid basin into a primary space in the fluid basin and from the primary space into a secondary space in the fluid basin, from where overflow is finally exhausted from the liquid basin utilizing an exhaust assembly for the surface scum. A second surface chute arrangement removes liquid processed in the liquid basin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Finnketju Invest Oy
    Inventor: Pekka Tuomikoski
  • Publication number: 20120111806
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pulsed sludge bed settling method for treating all types of liquid, in particular water, and which uses at least one powder or grain reactant, according to which: the liquid and the reactant(s) for the treatment are contained in a tank (1) comprising, at the base thereof, a means (2) for uniformly feeding liquid to be treated over the entire surface thereof; the treated liquid is discharged into the top portion of the tank, at the top level (S) of the liquid; the liquid to be treated is supplied into the tank by pulsations, inducing alternating vertical movements of the sludge bed (M); and part of the sludge is spilled into a concentrator (12) when the top level of the sludge bed exceeds a spilling level (Ld).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: Degremont
    Inventors: Chrystelle Langlais, Jean Lois Vital
  • Patent number: 8158927
    Abstract: The invention provides a method, apparatus and system for separating blood and other types of cellular components, and can be combined with holographic optical trapping manipulation or other forms of optical tweezing. One of the exemplary methods includes providing a first flow having a plurality of blood components; providing a second flow; contacting the first flow with the second flow to provide a first separation region; and differentially sedimenting a first blood cellular component of the plurality of blood components into the second flow while concurrently maintaining a second blood cellular component of the plurality of blood components in the first flow. The second flow having the first blood cellular component is then differentially removed from the first flow having the second blood cellular component. Holographic optical traps may also be utilized in conjunction with the various flows to move selected components from one flow to another, as part of or in addition to a separation stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Arryx, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Mueth, Joseph Plewa, Jessica Shireman, Amy Anderson, Lewis Gruber, Neil Harris Rosenbaum
  • Patent number: 8142667
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing settleable solids and unsettleable solids from a partially closed flush system in a dairy milking operation whereby a first processing tank bottom removes settleable solids contained therein where the net current flow vertically in the process tank is less than the settling rate of the settleable solids contained therein. The process tank batch feeds a plurality of thickening tanks that are each allowed to settle for a period of time before transferring fluid is to a second separator. The method and apparatus uses the solids for feeding a digester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Daritech, Inc.
    Inventor: David C. DeWaard
  • Patent number: 8133401
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for conveying lime slurry, removing and controlling the amount of grit, and feeding lime slurry, wherein the lime slurry moves through a recirculation loop, and wherein gravity removal of grit from the lime slurry takes place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: RDP Company
    Inventors: Paul G. Christy, Michael Quici
  • Patent number: 8123955
    Abstract: A feed system is used in a sedimentation vessel. The feed system includes an inlet for receiving a quantity of feed slurry and an outlet for delivering the feed slurry to a separation zone within the sedimentation vessel. The feed slurry includes a mixture of solids and liquids that are to be separated in a separation zone within the sedimentation vessel. An airlift pump is used to cycle at least a portion of either the separated solids or the separated liquids from the separation zone and return it to the feed system. This returned portion mixes with the feed slurry and may operate to dilute the feed slurry to a concentration for optimal separation. Additionally, feed conditioning chemicals may be mixed into the feed slurry prior to or after the mixing of the feed slurry with the returned portion of the separated products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignees: WesTech Engineering Inc., Paste Thick Ventures LLC
    Inventors: Philip Lake, Mark Crozier, Jeffery H. Easton
  • Patent number: 8119010
    Abstract: This invention relates to an improved cake-filtration solid-liquid separation process wherein the improvement comprises simultaneously subjecting the solid-liquid mixture to a homogeneous magnetic field, a magnetic field gradient or both and cake-filtration to accomplish separation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Karsten Keller, Christopher M. Rey, Benjamin Fuchs, Christian Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 8119014
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods and means for separating slurry liquid from catalyst in a three-phase slurry process. The embodiments of the invention are characterized by conducting the three-phase process under conditions to provide an upper region in the slurry that contains a catalyst concentration of about 20 wt % or less and a lower region with a catalyst concentration higher than about 20 wt %. A portion of the slurry in this upper region is degassed and passed to liquid-solid separation devices for recovery of liquid product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Jorge L. Soto, Costas A. Coulaloglou
  • Patent number: 8114915
    Abstract: A method and system for collecting a plurality of slurries containing solid particles of varying particle size distribution and amount and performing a classification and separation on the slurries is provided whereby a fines-rich stream and a stream containing substantially coarse particles is obtained. The method and system includes separating the fines from the slurry liquid and thickening the separated coarse particles in a settling zone for subsequent use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: David G. Hammond, Jorge L. Soto
  • Patent number: 8096425
    Abstract: An extraction system and process for extracting bitumen from a slurry containing bitumen, solids and water. The system comprises a cyclone separation facility for separating the slurry into a solids component stream and a bitumen froth stream with the bitumen froth stream including water and fine solids. The bitumen froth stream is then delivered to a froth concentration facility for separating the bitumen froth stream into a final bitumen enriched froth stream, and a water and fine solids stream. The final bitumen enriched froth stream is suitable for further processing. The system of the present invention is preferably mobile so that the cyclone extraction facility and the froth concentration facility can move with the mine face at an oil sands mining site, however, it is also contemplated that the system can be retrofitted to existing fixed treatment facilities to improve the operational efficiency of such fixed facilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    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: 8097171
    Abstract: A novel composite of glass fiber paper and reinforcing material that is useful for high speed manufacturing of devices comprising it is disclosed. The composite is formed by pressing into a glass fiber paper, having multimodal (at least bi-modal) composition, a hydrophilic reinforcing material. The composite has anisotropic separation properties that are particularly useful for preparing a fluid fraction from whole blood. The preferred glass fiber paper comprises glass fibers such that there are a plurality of short fibers (6) having large diameters and long fibers (2) with smaller diameters. The preferred glass fiber paper also exhibits partial ordering. There are many more of the long fibers (2) with smaller diameters than of the short fibers (6) having large diameters. Also disclosed are several blood separator device designs for efficiently separating the fluid fraction of blood from whole blood using the composite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Akers Biosciences, Inc.
    Inventors: David Milunic, Donald Russell
  • Patent number: 8088286
    Abstract: A gravity separator includes a vessel within which a mixture containing water, oil, and gas can separate under gravity to form vertically discrete oil and water layers and a gas phase. An inlet duct communicates with a vessel entrance for the mixture containing water, oil, and gas. The inlet duct of the gravity separator includes a gas injector that injects a gaseous medium in a volume in the range of from 0.01-1.9 Sm3 of the gaseous medium per 1 m3 of the mixture into the mixture containing water, oil, and gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Schlumberger Norge AS
    Inventor: Jorn Folkvang
  • Patent number: 8088283
    Abstract: A fluid treatment device, system, and process are described that provide a filtered, metal-depleted (treated) fluid. The system includes two pairs of tanks that are piped and valved to allow one pair to fill/react while the other pair decants/discharges, which provides a continuous flow of metal-depleted (treated) fluid. Power requirements are minimal since fluid is pumped at a low head pressure. The design has applications in the potable water, industrial, mining, chemical and environmental sectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventor: Henry O. Pate
  • Publication number: 20110309040
    Abstract: A wash separator (1) comprises a vessel (2) containing a first fluid (3) and a second fluid (4) whereby the second fluid (4) has a differentdensity from the first fluid (3). The first fluid (3) is immiscible with the second fluid (4) and the first and second fluids are separated from each other by an interface (5), wherein a feed stream (15, 24, 31, 61) is provided, the feed stream (15, 24, 31, 61) comprising a dispersion of the first and second fluid (3,4), such that the second fluid (4) is forming a dispersephase in the form of droplets which is distributed within the first fluid (3) forming a continuous phase. A distribution element (6) is provided in the vessel (2) to distribute the feed stream (15, 24, 31, 61) into the second fluid (4), wherein the feed stream (15, 24, 31, 61) after having discharged from said distribution element (6) has a retention time of at most 15 minutes in the feed second fluid in the vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Inventors: Van-Khoi Vu, Ansor Gäbler
  • Publication number: 20110297626
    Abstract: An economical fat, oil and grease removal assembly and method includes a container having a bottom, a top, a sidewall, an inlet and an outlet. The outlet is spaced above the bottom and below the top to define a static water level for liquid in the container. The container includes at least one baffle extending downwardly to a level below the static water level. The container further includes a port at an elevation such that F.O.G. floating on water in the container can flow from the container out through the port when the liquid level in the container is raised above the static water level. The assembly further includes an inlet bridge, an outlet bridge and a storage tank arranged to accept F.O.G. that is flowed out of the container. A hub on the storage tank interfaces the container with the storage tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Inventors: William C. Batten, Bruce W. Kyles, Randolph H. Batten
  • Patent number: 8070954
    Abstract: An object is to provide a fresh water generating method that is capable of efficiently producing purified water, such as fresh water, from unpurified water, such as sea water. Provided is a fresh water generating method for generating fresh water by way of reverse osmosis membrane filtration, which includes mixing sea water with low salt concentration water having a salt concentration lower than sea water to produce mixed water, and subjecting the mixed water prepared by the mixing to reverse osmosis membrane filtration, thereby generating fresh water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Kobelco Eco-Solutions Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yutaka Ito, Masanobu Noshita, Kazutaka Takata, Mitsushige Shimada, Noboru Miyaoka, Kenji Takesaka
  • Patent number: 8070963
    Abstract: A method for purifying fluids and a sedimentation tank, the sedimentation tank includes: a perforated plate spaced from an upper and of the sedimentation tank dividing the sedimentation tank into an upper chamber and a lower chamber; an inlet adapted to inlet fluid into the tank; a first outlet, positioned above the perforated plate for outletting a clarified fraction of the fluid; a second outlet positioned at a bottom of the tank, for outletting a concentrated sludge fraction of the fluid; a pump; and a washing mechanism, positioned at least partially above the perforated plate; wherein the pump is adapted to provide a washing fluid to the washing mechanism when a level of fluid in the sedimentation tank is below a predefined level; and wherein the washing mechanism washes an upper surface of the perforated plate by the washing fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Odis Irrigation Equipment Ltd.
    Inventor: Vladimir Bomze
  • Publication number: 20110284482
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for separating off solid particles, in particular coke particles, from a water phase by means of gravity in a plant for generating hydrocarbons by cracking a hydrocarbonaceous feed, and also to a device for carrying out the process. In contrast to the prior art, the water phase is taken off predominantly from a point above the column bottom B via the outlet A. The first gravity separator 2 which is constructed as a multistage settling tank 2 is situated not beneath, but next to, the scrubbing water column 1. The bottom phase of the scrubbing water column 1 already acts as a part of the first gravity separator 2. Thus, via the outlet 5 in the column bottom B, a heavy water phase which is loaded with coke particles is already taken off and passed into the second gravity separator 3. This heavy water phase is further treated, together with the heavy water phase which is loaded with coke particles from the recesses 6 of the multistage settling tank 2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2010
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: Linda AG
    Inventors: Michael Baus, Gerhard Alzner
  • Patent number: 8062534
    Abstract: An apparatus that allows for separating and collecting a fraction of a sample. The apparatus, when used with a centrifuge, allows for the creation of at various fractions in the apparatus. A buoy system that may include a first buoy portion and a second buoy member operably interconnected may be used to form at least three fractions from a sample during a substantially single centrifugation process. Therefore, the separation of various fractions may be substantially quick and efficient. Also selected fractions from the sample can be applied to a patient, either alone or as part of a mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Biomet Biologics, LLC
    Inventors: Joel C. Higgins, Matthew Swift, Nathan Gordon, Barry F. Hecker
  • Patent number: 8062527
    Abstract: An object is to provide a fresh water generating method that is capable of efficiently producing purified water, such as fresh water, from unpurified water, such as sea water. Provided is a fresh water generating method for generating fresh water by way of reverse osmosis membrane filtration, which includes mixing sea water with low salt concentration water having a salt concentration lower than sea water to produce mixed water, and subjecting the mixed water prepared by the mixing to reverse osmosis membrane filtration, thereby generating fresh water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Kobelco Eco-Solutions Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yutaka Ito, Katsuhide Motojima, Kazuya Uematsu, Masanobu Noshita, Kazutaka Takata, Mitsushige Shimada, Megumi Manabe, Noboru Miyaoka, Kenji Takesaka
  • Patent number: 8062531
    Abstract: An underground stormwater management system includes a receiving tank connected to a source of non-first flush runoff and a storage chamber that accumulates stormwater runoff for discharge to a storm drain. The storage chamber includes a first inlet connected to a source of first flush runoff, a second inlet connected to receive overflow from the receiving tank, a first discharge and a second discharge above the first discharge. First flush is discharged from the first discharge and is filtered before reaching the storm drain. The receiving tank assists in delaying the receipt of non-first flush runoff into the storage chamber during a major rain event. During major rain events runoff is also discharged from the storage chamber directly to the surrounding media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Lane Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Edward H. LoBello
  • Publication number: 20110278239
    Abstract: A filter or clarification system for removing impurities from a liquid to be treated, i.e., influent. The system preferably includes a chamber for receiving a liquid to be treated. The chamber has a settling plate assembly including a plurality of inclined liquid passageways through which the liquid to be treated is directed to remove impurities from the liquid to be treated. An efficiency enhancement unit is operably associated with the settling assembly to improve the filtration efficiency of the settling assembly. Preferably, the efficiency enhancement unit includes a vibrator for imparting a vibration force to at least a portion of the settling assembly to improve the filtration efficiency of the settling assembly. Preferably, the vibrator acts to prevent impurities from collecting on one or more settling members in the settling assembly. The settling members can be settling plates or settling tubes. In the preferred form, the vibrator is operated during substantially the entire filtration cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Inventor: R. Lee Roberts
  • Publication number: 20110266228
    Abstract: A convenient, cost effective and efficient solid separation apparatus and method of removing solid material from production fluid is disclosed. The solids separation apparatus includes a fluid inlet pipe; a fluid outlet pipe; a vessel that is a fluid velocity driven solid settlement inducement structure and/or a fluid vector driven solid settlement inducement structure; at least one solid discharge opening within the vessel longitudinally spaced between the fluid inlet pipe and the fluid outlet pipe; and, a tank disposed below the vessel with at least one solid entry opening communicated with the at least one solid discharge opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2010
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: Petroleos de Venezuela S.A.
    Inventors: Juan Brown, Alvaro Quezada
  • Publication number: 20110259836
    Abstract: A material separator removes material such as sand from a fluid utilizing an inclined housing having a fluid flow inlet in a lower portion of the housing. Higher density material descends by gravity to a lower wall of the inclined housing and continues to travel down the lower wall portion to a lower section of the housing where it is removed. The remaining fluid which may contain a liquid and a gas is removed from the housing via an outlet at the upper portion of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: EXPRESS ENERGY SERVICES OPERATING LP
    Inventor: Jerry W. Noles, JR.
  • Publication number: 20110253635
    Abstract: A fluid clarification system and method is described in which fluid is passed through one or more settling compartments, each having a solids outlet at the base of the compartment. The base of each compartment includes inclined surfaces for guiding settled solids to the outlet. Also described is a polymer reaction trough including baffles to promote gentle mixing of inflow fluid with flocculant. The system is designed to reduce costs of transportation, flocculant, and solids handling. The system is preferably arranged to facilitate transport on a skid or trailer, while maximizing fluid handling capabilities and minimizing costs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Inventor: Scott Blair Godlien
  • Publication number: 20110253640
    Abstract: An in-line flow separator comprises an uphill section of pipeline which, in use, carries a gravitationally stratified flow of a first liquid and a second denser liquid. The second liquid forms a sump extending uphill from the foot of the uphill section, and an interface between the first and second liquids on the uphill section is inclined from the horizontal. An extraction port in the pipeline extracts the second liquid from the sump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Michel Berard, Kamal Babour, Ibrahim Babelli
  • Publication number: 20110247987
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for thickening liquids carrying suspended particles, such as slurry containing minerals, by using a thickening apparatus (1) comprising a tank (2) whereby pulp of higher relative density tends to settle towards the bottom of the tank, forming a bed of thickened pulp (3), and dilute liquid (9) of lower relative density is thereby displaced towards the top of the tank, a feedwell (4), which includes a chamber having means for receiving fed material (5), such as slurry and at least one outlet in fluid communication with the tank and means for distributing the material in the tank, at least one feedpipe (8) for feeding the material (5), at least slurry, into the feedwell, when the feedpipe cross-sectional area for the fed material (5) is constantly varying when the flowrate inside the feedpipe (8) varies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: OUTOTEC OYJ
    Inventor: Richard Triglavcanin
  • Publication number: 20110220582
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a coalescer device and separation method employing the coalescer device for coalescing material comprising a dispersed liquid phase from an emulsion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Inventors: Kishore K. Kar, Madan Somasi, Richard F. Cope, Katherine E. Nies
  • Publication number: 20110204002
    Abstract: Method of separation of loose mixture in fluid medium consists in the gravity feed of particles, aerodynamic monotonically increasing effect on them at acute angle to the vertical line by the cascade of slot jets and the outlet of separated fractions into separate collectors. Before aerodynamic effect on loose mixture particles each jet is transferred to developed turbulence mode by their vertical expansion jets until jets are merged with each other with faulty or close to it form of jet formation and the appearance of at least two circulation zones different in size in each inter-jet space of all contiguous jets. The device for separation contains the bunker with vibrating chute mounted underneath the jet generator, the flat nozzles located one under another at acute angle to the vertical line, the height of cross sections of which, step and angle of installation increase top-down. The generator is connected with the source of air supply under pressure, and is covered by the side walls, and grade collectors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2008
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: AIROMACHUS, CO.
    Inventor: Suxin Vladimir
  • Publication number: 20110204003
    Abstract: A device and method for cleaning a water environment of sludge, comprising a chamber connected to a supply channel and a driving module. A supply channel (3) has a connector pipe outlet (32) in the upper zone (13) of the chamber (1), and the outlet (301) is located in this upper zone (13), and a sludge container (11) is in the lower part of the chamber (1) with impervious walls (12). A supply channel (3) and/or its outlet (32) is located inside the chamber (1) and/or tangentially to the chamber (1) wall (12). The device along with the chamber (1) and the supply channel (3) constitutes an integral part of aquarium or a replaceable module put into an aquarium. The chamber (1) is divided into compartments (120) set by vertical partitions (121).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2009
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Inventor: Marek Kaczor
  • Publication number: 20110198303
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method (20) of separating pulp from a feed material within a tank (1), the method comprising the steps of (23) introducing the feed material (22) into the tank (1); (24) allowing the feed material (22) to settle in the tank (1); (25) allowing the pulp (21) to form into aggregates (13); (26) allowing the pulp aggregates (13) to settle towards the bottom of the tank (1) and form a networked layer (2) of pulp; and (27) causing a disturbance substantially uniformly across a disturbance zone (16) in an upper region of the networked layer (2), so as to disrupt the networked pulp in the disturbance zone within a predetermined period of time; thereby releasing entrained liquid from the networked pulp in the disturbance zone (16) and increasing the relative density of the pulp below the disturbance zone. The invention also provides a separation device (40) for separating pulp (21) from a feed material (22).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2009
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: OUTOTEC OYJ
    Inventors: Ian Arbuthnot, Richard Triglavcanin, Loc Thanh Le
  • Patent number: 7993531
    Abstract: Biological fluid filtration methods are provided for the treatment of gas within a biological fluid filtration system. A quantity of biological fluid is flowed under the force of gravity through a leukocyte removal filter and into a post-filter container. The post-filter container has a maximum vented volume that is approximately the same as the quantity of biological fluid flowed through the filter and into the post-filter container. At least a substantial portion of the gas in the post-filter container is vented therefrom without separately restricting expansion of the post-filter container and without manually manipulating the post-filter container to expel gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Fenwal, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Oleszkiewicz, Bryan Blickhan, Mark B. Jones
  • Publication number: 20110186527
    Abstract: When, according to the invention, an oil separator (1) is configured with a core of lengths of pipe (4) extending in parallel, and an oil-containing agent (5) is conveyed through these channels (3) in the pipes (4), the oil molecules will settle as an oil coating (6) on the channel walls. At some point, the pressure of the medium will increase, when the flow is reduced, whereby the oil will be pressed out of the pipes (4). Then, upon settling, the oil separation will be resumed, and the separated oil (6) may be collected, while the agent (12) cleaned of oil may be reused and, following reuse, be fed to the cleaning system and its oil separator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Inventor: Michael NIELSEN
  • Publication number: 20110186528
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a grit chamber, wherein the chamber body of the grit chamber is in the shape of a hollow cylinder with a cone-shaped bottom; a grit channel is installed below the center of the cone-shaped bottom; a grit removing device is installed in the grit channel; a wall mixer, a plurality of vertical mixers and a spiral grit remover are installed in the chamber body; the wall mixer is installed on the wall of the hollow cylinder; the spiral grit remover is installed in the center of the cylinder, and is provided with a grit-removing blade for removing the grit on the cone-shaped bottom; and the vertical mixers are installed at the position close to the cone-shaped bottom and are vertical to the wall. The invention also provides a grit removing system containing a grit chamber and a grit removing method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: BEIJING HELEE BIO-ENERGY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
    Inventor: Wenzhi PAN
  • Patent number: 7988865
    Abstract: A feedwell dilution system for diluting an influent feed stream, which include at least one eductor assembly, and a feedwell assembly. The at least one eductor assembly includes a feed pipe which converges to a narrow throat portion or nozzle; a mix tube positioned downstream from the narrow throat portion that is sized and configured to provide mixing of the influent feed stream and a clarified liquid drawn from a settling tank; and an enclosure, which is installed around the narrow throat portion and an inlet portion of the mix tube and includes an open-ended portion on a bottom thereof, which is sized and configured to allow a clarified liquid to be pulled into the mix tube from below the inlet portion of the mix tube. The feedwell assembly is sized and configured to receive the mixture of the influent feed stream and the clarified liquid from the mix tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: FLSmidth A/S
    Inventors: Timothy J. Laros, Frank Andrew Baczek