Including Change Of Mainstream Flow Direction Patents (Class 210/801)
  • Patent number: 11918162
    Abstract: Retrofit box systems to maximize operational capacity of inaccessible floors are described. The retrofit box system includes a gate complex that provides fluid communication between an inaccessible floor and a box, and a box to deliver a cleaner to the inaccessible floor and adapted for equalizing pressure when the inaccessible floor is under water while minimizing waste seepage from the retrofit box system. The retrofit box system further includes a power system and a control system to deliver the cleaner to the inaccessible floor and remove waste from the inaccessible floor and the box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Bristola, LLC
    Inventor: Jared Burma
  • Patent number: 11911716
    Abstract: A sand separation system includes a separator configured to separate a multi-phase process fluid into a solids and a fluid. The system also includes a blowdown vessel coupled to the separator. The blowdown vessel is configured to receive the solids and a portion of the fluid from the separator. The system also includes a fluid removal assembly coupled to the blowdown vessel. The fluid removal assembly is configured to drain at least some of the fluid in the blowdown vessel therefrom, substantially without removing the solids from the blowdown vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: ENERCORP ENGINEERED SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Rory Nagge, Nikolay Spiridonov, Ryan Thomas Bowley, Jeffrey Gar Sing Chan
  • Patent number: 11890570
    Abstract: A filter device separating impurities from a gas, including a filter housing having a lid and a pot; the lid having an inlet and an outlet; a filter element in the pot with a top cap and a bottom cap with a filter cartridge therebetween; the top cap has an inlet duct connected to the lid inlet so that the gas to be purified is passed through the inlet duct to the filter cartridge; a space is between the lid and the top cap which is connected to the outlet of the lid; a switching element to be installed rotatably in the lid and rotatable between an off-position in which the inlet port or the outlet port connects to respectively the inlet or outlet of the lid, and a twisted position, in which the entrance of the inlet duct of the top cap can connect to the lid inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: ATLAS COPCO AIRPOWER N.V.
    Inventors: Stefaan Boel, Marc Steijnen, Sylwester Manski, Peter Waeterschoot
  • Patent number: 11673074
    Abstract: A cyclonic inlet diverter for initiating the separation of a multi-phase inlet fluid flow comprises an enclosed tubular body mounted crosswise within a larger separator vessel. The inlet diverter includes a splitter plate positioned within a center portion of the tubular body and configured to split the inlet flow into a first stream and a second stream, and a swirl plate positioned on each side of the splitter plate with angled surfaces configured to increase the cyclonic motion of the first and second streams within the tubular body. The inlet diverter further includes elongate apertures formed through bottom sidewall portions of the tubular body on each side of the splitter plate, an axial aperture formed through opposing end caps of the tubular body, and at least one radial aperture formed through lateral sidewall portions of the tubular body proximate each opposing end cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: ENXL LLC
    Inventor: Bruce D. Johnson
  • Patent number: 11629488
    Abstract: An apparatus and methods for the separation of macroscopic solid body particles (SBPs) from a fluid stream contained in a conduit, such as a hose or pipe. The method involves utilizing a particle separator having a fluid inlet port connected to a fluid inlet conduit and a fluid outlet port connected to a fluid outlet conduit to change the direction (and optionally the velocity) of the fluid stream within a lumen of an enclosed vessel component of the particle separator sufficiently to permit SBPs to fall by gravity (and/or to descend due to inertia) into a removable receptacle within a bottom portion of the vessel component while directing the flow of cleansed fluid to the fluid outlet port of the particle separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Inventor: George Hylkema
  • Patent number: 11612836
    Abstract: A feedwell comprising a plurality of holes disposed in a bottom thereof, at least some of the holes having a tube disposed thereabout which extends downward or otherwise away from an interior of the feedwell. Optionally, a large center hole can be provided and it can have a tube disposed around it. By providing a plurality of holes spread across a large portion of the bottom of the feedwell, lower velocity flow rates from the feedwell to a sedimentation chamber can be provided, thus reducing induced turbulence in the fluid within the sedimentation chamber, while still providing sufficient separation of the feedwell from the sedimentation chamber so that the contents of the feedwell can be properly and adequately mixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Paterson & Cooke Ideas, Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael A. Cook, Christian Kujawa
  • Patent number: 11559808
    Abstract: A microfluidic device includes a lower casing and an upper casing covering the lower casing. The lower casing includes a lower base wall having a top surface and a plurality of spaced-apart columns that protrude upwards from the top surface. The upper casing includes an upper base wall. A first gap between the upper base wall and a column top surface of each of the columns is large enough to permit passage of large biological particles of a liquid sample, and a second gap between any two adjacent ones of the columns is not large enough to permit passage of the large biological particles and is large enough to permit passage of small biological particles of the liquid sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Inventors: Chung-Er Huang, Hsin-Cheng Ho, Sheng-Wen Chen, Ming Chen
  • Patent number: 11534045
    Abstract: Retrofit box systems to maximize operational capacity of inaccessible floors are described. The retrofit box system includes a gate complex that provides fluid communication between an inaccessible floor and a box, and a box to deliver a cleaner to the inaccessible floor and adapted for equalizing pressure when the inaccessible floor is under water while minimizing waste seepage from the retrofit box system. The retrofit box system further includes a power system and a control system to deliver the cleaner to the inaccessible floor and remove waste from the inaccessible floor and the box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Bristola, LLC
    Inventor: Jared Burma
  • Patent number: 11313188
    Abstract: A method for treating drilling mud includes directing a first flow portion of a flow of drilling mud to a decanter centrifuge, directing a second flow portion of the flow of drilling mud to a solids particle recovery hopper, and separating an underflow from the first flow portion with the decanter centrifuge, wherein the underflow includes first solids particles having a first density. The underflow is directed to the solids particle recovery hopper, the underflow is mixed with the second flow portion in the solids particle recovery hopper, and a flow of the mixed underflow and second flow portion is directed from the solids particle recovery hopper to an active mud tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: NOV CANADA ULC
    Inventors: Rennie K. Zazula, Dean M. Bird, Donald T. Crosswhite
  • Patent number: 11266989
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided. The apparatus may comprise a layer of a microfluidic chip. The layer may comprise a nanoscale deterministic lateral displacement (nanoDLD) array. The nanoDLD array may comprise a plurality of pillars arranged in a plurality of columns. Further, the nanoDLD array may separate particles from a purified fluidic sample associated with a bodily materials of an organism. A method for purifying at least one target particle from a sample by utilizing a sized-based separation is provided. The method may include detecting the at least one target particle associated with the sample, by utilizing at least one detector molecule in a nanoDLD array. The method may then include separating the detected at least one target particle and the at least one detector molecule from a bump fraction in the sample based on a size of the detected at least one target particle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Stacey Gifford, Sung-Cheol Kim, Joshua T. Smith, Benjamin Hardy Wunsch
  • Patent number: 11083983
    Abstract: A flow-diverger feed inlet distributor and/or a vertical, partially perforated baffle for separating vapor and liquid in a horizontal vessel. The flow-diverger feed inlet distributor comprises multiple pairs of straight-vertical vanes positioned in the horizontal vessel adjacent a feed inlet opening at one head/end of the vessel. The partially perforated baffle is positioned in the vessel adjacent the feed inlet opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: BECHTEL OIL, GAS AND CHEMICALS, INC
    Inventors: Charles Joseph Kruse, Qui Truong Poorman, Reni Raju
  • Patent number: 11065562
    Abstract: A feedwell comprising a plurality of holes disposed in a bottom thereof, at least some of the holes having a tube disposed thereabout which extends downward or otherwise away from an interior of the feedwell. Optionally, a large center hole can be provided and it can have a tube disposed around it. By providing a plurality of holes spread across a large portion of the bottom of the feedwell, lower velocity flow rates from the feedwell to a sedimentation chamber can be provided, thus reducing induced turbulence in the fluid within the sedimentation chamber, while still providing sufficient separation of the feedwell from the sedimentation chamber so that the contents of the feedwell can be properly and adequately mixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Paterson & Cooke Ideas, Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael A. Cook, Christian Kujawa
  • Patent number: 11065559
    Abstract: A cyclonic inlet diverter for initiating the separation of a multi-phase inlet fluid flow comprises an enclosed tubular body mounted crosswise within a larger separator vessel. The inlet diverter includes a splitter plate positioned within a center portion of the tubular body and configured to split the inlet flow into a first stream and a second stream, and a swirl plate positioned on each side of the splitter plate with angled surfaces configured to increase the cyclonic motion of the first and second streams within the tubular body. The inlet diverter further includes elongate apertures formed through bottom sidewall portions of the tubular body on each side of the splitter plate, an axial aperture formed through opposing end caps of the tubular body, and at least one radial aperture formed through lateral sidewall portions of the tubular body proximate each opposing end cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: EnXL LLC
    Inventor: Bruce D. Johnson
  • Patent number: 10967301
    Abstract: A settling or sedimentation tank including inlet structures arranged, through whose inlet opening the suspension to be separated flows to the tanks, the height of which can be variably adjusted. In addition to the height variability of the inlet opening, the volumetric flow flowing out of the inlet structure can, depending on the actual load, be directed by forming a horizontally flow-through inlet opening or a vertically flow-through inlet opening and can optionally be divided into horizontal and vertical partial flows QI and QII. As a result of the horizontal inflow, the capacity of the sedimentation tank increases at high loads, and as a result of the vertical inflow, the volume flow through the sedimentation chamber and the turbulent energy in the sedimentation chamber decrease at low loads, so that the retention of fine suspension in the sedimentation tank is increased and thus the effluent quality is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Inventor: Martin Armbruster
  • Patent number: 10940404
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a coalescing separator apparatus includes a containment well configured to include a coalescing media an inlet on a first end wall and an outlet on a second end wall; a surface-skimming drain disposed in the containment well; and a modular weir comprising a weir front wall, a weir middle wall, and a weir back wall, each of which are coupled to two opposing weir side walls, a through-hole being disposed in the weir back wall, through which the outlet is disposed. A modular weir and method for quickly replacing, maintaining, or repairing a weir in a coalescing separator apparatus is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: OSI Environmental LLC
    Inventors: Michael A. Gaudiani, Jeff Mann
  • Patent number: 10596491
    Abstract: A feedwell comprising a plurality of holes disposed in a bottom thereof, at least some of the holes having a tube disposed thereabout which extends downward or otherwise away from an interior of the feedwell. Optionally, a large center hole can be provided and it can have a tube disposed around it. By providing a plurality of holes spread across a large portion of the bottom of the feedwell, lower velocity flow rates from the feedwell to a sedimentation chamber can be provided, thus reducing induced turbulence in the fluid within the sedimentation chamber, while still providing sufficient separation of the feedwell from the sedimentation chamber so that the contents of the feedwell can be properly and adequately mixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Paterson & Cooke Ideas, Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael A. Cook, Christian Kujawa
  • Patent number: 10526777
    Abstract: A pump-storage device includes a tank, a treatment container, and a vacuum pump. The treatment container includes a first chamber in communication with an inlet. The first chamber includes a bottom wall having a first valve intercommunicated with a second chamber. The second chamber includes a bottom wall having a second valve. The treatment container includes a first control valve having a first duct in communication with the first chamber, a second duct in communication with the second chamber, and a third duct in communication with the tank. The treatment container includes an actuation cylinder for actuating an actuation rod to extend or retract. A first valve plate and a second valve plate are mounted on the actuation rod for controlling opening and closing of the first valve and the second valve. The treatment container includes a second control valve in communication with the first chamber and the vacuum pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Inventor: Shih-Yuan Ke
  • Patent number: 9089792
    Abstract: A multi-phase flow separation apparatus has a vessel having a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and an enclosure separating the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. The enclosure has an open bottom that extends below the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. The open bottom of the enclosure has a plurality of distributed points of egress that are below the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. The fluid inlet induces an inlet flow vector on an inflow of fluid. Each point of egress defines a flow path, that, when defined as the path of least resistance from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet while traversing the respective point of egress, includes a reversal of the inlet flow vector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Rheaume Engineering Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald William Zylla
  • Patent number: 9023216
    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: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechchanical College
    Inventors: Vadim Kochergin, Cy Gaudet
  • Patent number: 9005455
    Abstract: A device for extracting a liquid phase from a suspension, the device being characterized in that it comprises: a main duct for conveying a flow of said suspension, the duct being of a length that is sufficient to enable a layer of said suspension to develop that is depleted in solid phase; flow disturbance means for disturbing the flow of said suspension, said means being provided in the main duct and being adapted to cause at least one recirculation vortex to form so as to increase locally the thickness of said depleted layer; and liquid extraction means disposed in a region of the device where said suspension is enriched in liquid phase as a result of said recirculation vortex. A method of extracting a liquid phase from a suspension, the method comprising injecting said suspension into such a device at a flow rate suitable for causing at least one recirculation vortex to be formed, and extracting a fraction of said suspension that is enriched in liquid as a result of said vortex.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignees: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Achard, Elodie Sollier, Yves Fouillet, Hervé Rostaing
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20150034570
    Abstract: The present invention refers to a triphasic separator for the separation of oil-water-gas mixtures used in the field of oil extraction from land or sea wells, suitable in particular, but not exclusively, for installation on the seabed in subsea wells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventor: Paolo Andreussi
  • Patent number: 8945395
    Abstract: A vessel for use in settling particulate matter from a fluid stream is provided. Fluid is introduced to the vessel through an angled inlet, with flow into the vessel both disrupted and deflected by an inlet baffle, to redirect the fluid stream parallel to a horizontal axis of the vessel. The velocity of the fluid stream is reduced within the vessel, allowing the particulate matter to settle along the bottom of the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Bonavista Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Travis Bjarne Tweit, Robert John Garnier
  • Publication number: 20150027963
    Abstract: There is provided a material treatment apparatus. The material treatment apparatus includes a first compartment. The first compartment includes an inlet for receiving supply of slurry material, and a first material conduction space for conducting flow of the supplied slurry material in a downwardly direction. A second compartment is also provided including a second material conduction space for receiving a first intermediate material of the supplied slurry material and conducting the first intermediate material in an upwardly direction. A baffle is provided for interfering with conducting of the supplied slurry material from the first material conduction space to the second material conduction space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Lorne Dean Onstad, Cordell Simoneau
  • Patent number: 8940176
    Abstract: A method of extracting a liquid phase from a suspension, the method comprising: injecting said suspension into a duct presenting a first section that is straight and a second section that is curved; and at the outlet from said curved section of the duct, extracting a liquid-enriched fraction of said suspension that is spatially separated from a particle-enriched fraction of the suspension; the method being characterized in that the injection flow rate of the suspension and the geometry of the duct are selected in such a manner that: in the straight section, lift forces cause particles to be superconcentrated in a ring around the longitudinal axis of the duct; and in the curved section, Dean secondary flows deform said ring and give rise to spatial separation between said liquid-enriched fraction and said particle-enriched fraction. A device for implementing such a method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
    Inventors: Jean Luc Achard, Elodie Sollier, Hervé Rostaing
  • Publication number: 20140374364
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for the sedimentation of sediment particles in a method for extracting diesel oil from a liquid substance mixture moving in a circuit and comprising oil, hydrocarbon-containing residues and catalyst particles, by means of catalytic, pressureless depolymerisation (CPD). Sediment particles are removed from the substance mixture by guiding said mixture via a spiral-shaped guide arrangement. Hydrocarbon-containing residues are admitted into a lattice arrangement downstream of the spiral-shaped guide arrangement, wherein the substance mixture flows around or flows through said lattice arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Applicant: ECOTOECFUEL, LLC
    Inventor: Wolfgang Spiess
  • Publication number: 20140345459
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a removal device for removing gas bubbles and/or dirt particles from a liquid in a liquid conduit system or for removing a second liquid from a first liquid in the conduit system. The removal device includes a main channel for a main flow, the main channel having an entry and an exit which are configured to be connected to the conduit system, a housing which defines an inner space, at least one supply channel extending from the main channel to the inner space, at least one return channel extending from the inner space back to the main channel, directly or indirectly via a return chamber, at least one quiet zone in the inner space in which in use the liquid has a substantially smaller velocity than in the main channel. The quiet zone is configured to allow dirt particles or a relatively heavy liquid to settle at a lower end of the housing and/or gas bubbles or a relatively light liquid to rise to an upper end of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventor: Jan Henk Cnossen
  • Patent number: 8889012
    Abstract: A feedwell assembly for a thickener/clarifier includes a feedwell body, at least one infeed conduit connected at a downstream end to the body, and at least one spin or rotation inducement element disposed as part of the infeed conduit for imparting rotation or spin to a slurry stream fed to the feedwell body via the infeed conduit. The spin or rotation inducement element may be a fixed and rigid structural member such as a vane or baffle, or include actively operated elements. Multiple such spin or rotation inducement elements may be provided in various locations in or adjacent the infeed conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: FLSmidth A/S
    Inventor: Simon Turner
  • Patent number: 8889388
    Abstract: The invention provides a settling device comprising an acoustic wave generator and an inclined settling chamber. The angle ? between the acoustic wave direction and the inclined settling chamber is greater than 0 and less than 90°. The invention also provides a concentration method and a separation method using the device. The invention can be used to concentrate or separate particles such as inorganic particles, organic particles, and biological particles, for example, mammalian cells, bacteria, yeast, algae, and plant cells. The invention exhibits technical merits such as higher efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and large-scale production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Inventors: Zhaowei Wang, Donald Feke, Joanne Belovich
  • Publication number: 20140326684
    Abstract: A system for separating a heavy fraction from a liquid includes an upper section, an inlet in fluid connection with the upper section to introduce the liquid into the upper section, an impeller within the upper section to induce rotational flow and fluid pressure to the liquid within an upper section, an a flow restrictor positioned below the impeller. The flow restrictor has a diameter less than the inner diameter of a housing of a lower section so that a gap is formed between the flow restrictor and the housing of the lower section. The system further includes a conduit including an inlet positioned radially inward from an interior wall of the housing of the lower section and axially below the flow restrictor. The conduit further includes an outlet outside of the lower section via which the liquid with a reduced concentration of the heavy fraction exits the lower section (and the system).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2013
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventor: Gregory S. Antoun
  • Patent number: 8871101
    Abstract: First and second liquids are separated from mixtures thereof in a holding tank that holds quantities of the two liquids after they have been separated and a quantity of the mixture that has not been separated. A first transfer conduit receives a pressurized mixture of the first and second liquids which is discharged into the holding tank. A venturi passageway is located in the first transfer conduit. A liquid conductor has an entry opening positioned so that at least a portion of the entry opening is located within the quantity of the mixture that is held in the holding tank and an exit opening that is in fluid communication with the venturi passageway. The increase in the velocity of the pressurized mixture flowing through the venturi passageway and the accompanying reduced pressure causes the mixture held in the holding tank to flow through the liquid conductor into the venturi passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Zebra Skimmers Corp.
    Inventor: Steven Davidian
  • Patent number: 8871096
    Abstract: A system for separating particulate from a fluid stream having an inlet solids content, the system comprising: a magnetic dynamic settling vessel comprising at least one magnetic field inside the vessel and/or one magnetized component; at least one inlet for introduction of the fluid stream having a starting solids content; at least one exit for a stream comprising a solids content not greater than the inlet solids content; at least one exit for a fluid stream comprising a solids content not less than the inlet solids content; and a vertical feed conduit extending at least 70% of the distance from the at least one fluid inlet to the at least one exit for a fluid stream comprising a solids content not less than the inlet solids content. A method for separating particulate from a fluid stream having an inlet solids content is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Res USA, LLC
    Inventor: Sergio Mohedas
  • Patent number: 8865006
    Abstract: The invention pertains generally to waste management and debris removal, and more particularly to systems and methods for separating and recovering the water and solids from a volume of concrete washout following the washing out of concrete mixer trucks and other concrete mixing and delivery equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Inventor: Jeff Ford
  • Patent number: 8858799
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and arrangement for separating two solutions mixed in dispersion into two solution phases in a liquid-liquid extraction separation cell. The arrangement includes a first guide wall extending along the whole width of the cell with respect to the vertical direction at an inclined angle. The first guide wall includes a bottom edge, which is located at a distance from the cell bottom, so that a clearance gap is formed between the bottom edge and the cell bottom. The arrangement also includes a second guide wall essentially parallel with the first guide wall and placed at a distance therefrom. Between the first guide wall and the second guide wall an uptake shaft is formed extending diagonally upwards at the inclined angle. The second guide wall is pressed tightly against the cell bottom, and includes a number of vertical slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Bror Nyman, Eero Ekman, Pertti Pekkala, Hannu Laitala, Rami Saario
  • Patent number: 8852529
    Abstract: A particle processing device includes a substrate and at least one fluidic path. The substrate is rotatable with respect to the middle region thereof. The fluidic path is provided in the substrate to extend from the middle region to a peripheral region. The fluidic path transfers a fluid having a particle from an input portion to an output portion of the fluidic pather by using a centrifugal force of the rotation of the substrate. A capturing region is formed between the input portion and the output portion of the fluidic path to have a changeable sectional shape for capturing the particle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Nexvivo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Young-Ho Cho
  • Patent number: 8815101
    Abstract: This invention relates generally to the field of separation of heterogeneous mixtures and, more particularly to a solid-liquid separating tank and system. A settlement tank including: a tank wall defining a tank inner space; an internal wall structure in the inner space and defining a fluid flow path from a center of the inner space to a fluid outlet at the tank wall; and a plurality of drainage pipes having an open internal end and an outer end connected to a drainage manifold, wherein the open internal end is positioned at a bottom of the inner space to remove gravity decanted sediment and hydrostatically decanted water from the inner space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Intevep, S.A.
    Inventors: Juan Brown, Johanna Guerrero, Alvaro Quezada, Lenin Garcia
  • Patent number: 8801940
    Abstract: The invention provides several improvements in feedwells, one of which being a feedwell comprising a mixing zone for dissipating the kinetic energy of a fluid comprising pulp, a settling zone for promoting flocculation of the pulp and at least one inclined deflecting element for at least partially separating the mixing zone from the settling zone. Other improvements include a shelf at least partially defining an inclined path for removing material from the shelf into a feedwell chamber; at least two outlets arranged in a substantially concentric relationship with respect to each other; a portion of a second conduit varies in its cross-sectional size and/or shape so as to connect a feed inlet to a first conduit; and a partition for partially separating an outer mixing zone and an inner settling zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Richard Triglavcanin, Jian Dong Wang, Michael Andrew Brown
  • Patent number: 8784670
    Abstract: A multi-phase flow separation apparatus has a tank with at least one inlet and at least one outlet, and an enclosure within the tank. The at least one inlet communicates an input flow into the enclosure. The enclosure has a sidewall defining an open bottom and at least one flow opening below the height of the inlet of the tank. The at least one outlet of the tank is outside the enclosure and above the at least one flow opening of the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Rheaume Engineering Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald William Zylla
  • Publication number: 20140190909
    Abstract: A fresh water generation method by which product water satisfying target water quality can be stably and efficiently obtained even when raw water quality fluctuates, is provided by branching at least a part of a water flow line through which raw water 1 flows into a plurality of branch lines including a branch line A1 and a branch line A2 and differentiating retention times from branching to joining together between the branch line A1 and the branch line A2, in a fresh water generation method for obtaining product water by treating raw water 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC
    Inventors: Masahide Taniguchi, Tomohiro Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 8753451
    Abstract: Liquid hydrocarbon storage tanks are cleaned by transferring the most contaminated lower fuel layer to an external vessel on a treatment truck where separation into a contaminants portion and a fuel portion occurs. The remnant fuel in the storage tank is cleaned by multiple passes through an external circuit on the truck. The fuel from the vessel is sometimes returned to the remnant fuel to be cleaned. The contaminants are discarded. The initial separation shortens the cleaning cycle. A flexible dip tube stiffened by a guide rod allows probing of the storage tank floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Leighton O'Brien Pty. Ltd.
    Inventors: Stephen Gerard O'Brien, Peter Francis Wagner, Robert James Moore
  • Publication number: 20140138327
    Abstract: A re-entrainment prevention apparatus (18) for use in a settler area (12) of a mixer-settler, the re-entrainment prevention apparatus (18) comprising: at least one panel (28, 30) of generally vertical linearly-spaced barrier elements (31), an upper barrier element (24) and a lower barrier element (26), wherein the upper and lower barrier elements (24, 26) are arranged relative to the generally vertical barrier elements (31) so as to constrain a fluid flow (32) that impinges thereon such that it is directed through fluid flow channels defined between the generally vertical linearly-spaced barrier elements (31).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: HATCH ASSOCIATES PTY LTD
    Inventors: Scott Brian Poulter, Ross Jeffrey Haywood, Wesley Adam Taylor, Christos Panaou
  • Patent number: 8715507
    Abstract: Some examples includes a flow-through stormwater sump having a bottom and defining an inlet opening, an outlet opening and a top access opening, an inlet conduit coupled to the flow-through stormwater sump at the inlet opening, an outlet conduit coupled to the flow-through stormwater sump at the outlet opening and a flow-path baffle disposed in the stormwater sump, the flow-path baffle being substantially planar and defining a plurality of openings, the flow-path baffle oriented such that a centerline of the inlet conduit intersects a major plane of the baffle at a point and a centerline of the outlet conduit intersects the major plane at a further point, the flow-path baffle disposed in the stormwater sump in a direct impingement inlet flow-path of the inlet conduit and a direct impingement outlet back-flow-path of the outlet conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Regents of the University of Minnesota
    Inventors: John Gulliver, Adam Howard, Omid Mohseni
  • Patent number: 8715511
    Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for separating grit from liquid sewage while retaining organic solids in suspension. A sustained rotational liquid sewage first fluid flow, an induced upward liquid sewage second fluid flow, and a sustained rotational liquid sewage third fluid flow are employed in an apparatus having a cylindrical grit settling main chamber, a grit storage secondary chamber including a central grit settling access top mouth opening, a vertical shaft, a means for causing rotation of the vertical shaft, and a partition extending transversely through the main chamber and forming upper and lower subchambers. A fluid flow speed gradient is established between the liquid sewage third fluid flow and the liquid sewage first fluid flow. In this manner, grit is separated from liquid sewage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies Support
    Inventors: Marc Beliveau, Michel Bruneau, Martin Couture, Karim Essemiani
  • Patent number: 8702996
    Abstract: A feedwell for a thickener/clarifier includes a feedwell body (40), a feedwell inlet (41), a sidewall (42), and a discharge opening (48). At least one infeed conduit (21) is connected at an upstream end of the feedwell inlet (41). The sidewall (42) has a non-cylindrical curved peripheral surface defining a radially-outermost fluid boundary surface for an influent stream (60). The non-cylindrical curved peripheral surface may include portions of a volute surface, coil surface, helical surface, compound curve surface, spline curve surface, or spiral surface. Feedwells according to the invention provide a uniform settling tank feeding flux around exiting portions of the feedwell, control velocity gradients and shear rates, protect flocculated aggregates, normalize sedimentation conditions in the settling tank, and prevent large local accelerations and flow non-uniformities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: FLSMIDTH A/S
    Inventor: Luis Echeverri
  • Publication number: 20140091049
    Abstract: Certain examples relate to a new feedwell design for use in a clarifier that may better dissipate the entrance energy of the slurry-liquid combination exiting the feedwell and entering the clarifier. Plates of various shapes may be provided proximate to the bottom of the feedwell. The plates may cause a change in the flow direction of the feed, from mostly horizontal to mostly vertical, to slow the slurry. The provision of plates at the bottom of a feedwell in a clarifier may advantageously reduce the velocity of the materials entering the clarifier, or may increase the uniformity of the flow rate of the materials; while reducing or maintaining the amount of shear force, turbulence, or other forces that may have a detrimental effect on clarification. This may, in turn, permit solids to better “settle out” of the slurry-liquid combination, and thus improve the clarity of the removed liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: Andritz Inc.
    Inventor: Lindsay BRANDINO
  • Publication number: 20140083956
    Abstract: A distribution array (10) for use in a settler area (12) of a mixer-settler, the distribution array (10) characterised by: at least one panel (26, 28) of linearly-spaced barrier elements (30), wherein the depth of the barrier elements (30), relative to a length of the settler area (12) in which it is to be positioned, is greater than the spacing between the barrier elements (30), thereby defining a fluid flow channel between adjacent barrier elements (30) that is longer than it is wide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: HATCH ASSOCIATES PTY LTD
    Inventors: Scott Brian Poulter, Ross Jeffrey Haywood, Wesley Adam Taylor
  • Publication number: 20140083955
    Abstract: An apparatus for treating waste water including a tank having at least one waste water inlet for passing waste water into an inlet region of the tank, at least one waste water outlet for draining waste water from an outlet region of the tank, at least one first baffle between said inlet region and a settlement region of the tank, wherein contaminants having a specific gravity less than one are able to settle out from the waste water for subsequent removal, at least one second baffle between the settlement region and the outlet region of the tank. A recirculation system is adapted to recirculate waste water from the outlet region to the inlet region of the tank. The recirculation system includes a water inlet arranged in the outlet region of the tank, at least one water outlet arranged in the inlet region of the tank, and a pump for pumping water from said water inlet to the water outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Inventor: James O'Neill
  • Patent number: 8657896
    Abstract: A separator is disclosed. The separator includes a gas/liquid separator vessel, an enclosure, a coalescer and a demister. The gas/liquid separator vessel has a first end, a second end, a first inlet, a first outlet, and a first separation chamber. The first inlet can be adjacent to the first end. The enclosure is positioned within the first separation chamber of the liquid separator vessel. The enclosure has a second inlet, a second outlet, a drain positioned therebetween, and a second separation chamber. The second inlet can be directed towards the first end of the gas/liquid separator vessel. The second separation chamber defines a flow path for a gas stream in which the flow path passes sequentially through the second inlet, second separation chamber and the second outlet. The coalescer is positioned in the second separation chamber to intercept the flow path of the gas stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Laurence Gouy, Francis Allouche
  • Publication number: 20140048495
    Abstract: A removal device for removing gas bubbles and/or dirt particles from a liquid in a liquid conduit system or for removing an undesired liquid from the liquid in the liquid conduit system includes: a housing having: an entry, at least one exit, an inner space defined by the housing, at least one tube placed within the housing, where the at least one tube extends substantially between the entry and the exit and defines a main flow channel, at least one branch flow passage located near the entry for allowing fluid communication between the main flow channel and an area outside the tube and within the inner space defined by the housing, at least one return flow passage located near the exit for allowing fluid communication between the area outside the tube and the main flow channel, at least one quiet zone formed within the inner space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: FLAMCO B.V.
    Inventors: Jan Henk Cnossen, Terence Arthur Devlin
  • Publication number: 20140021148
    Abstract: A system to separate solids from liquids is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, the system includes a series of alternating baffles disposed along a length of a tank, where the series of alternating baffles define a vertical tortuous flow path of the fluid from a first end of the tank to a second end of the tank to cause solids to settle out of the fluid. The alternating baffles each have a sloped planar surface disposed between a lower horizontal planar surface and an upper horizontal planar surface to cause at least one eddy in a vertical plane as the fluid flows through the tank. The system may also include a series of tanks in fluid communication with the at least one tank and secured side by side, where the solids progressively settle out from the fluid in stages as the fluid passes from one tank to another in series.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2012
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Inventor: Don M. Buckner