And Additional Diverse Separation Patents (Class 210/804)
  • Patent number: 11639883
    Abstract: A filtration apparatus and methods of installing, using, and retracting the same. A filtration apparatus includes a compression gland, a ball valve, and a filter pipe. A distal portion of the filter pipe has one or more filtration holes. The filtration apparatus may be installed in a process pipe and the distal portion of the filter pipe may be disposed within the process pipe. The filter pipe can be easily retracted from the process pipe without interruption of the industrial process. The filtration apparatus can be automatically cleaned by compressed air or water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: ECOLAB USA INC.
    Inventors: Darlington Mlambo, David R. Szymborski, David P. Workman, Michael J. Murcia
  • Patent number: 9415338
    Abstract: A method and system remove contaminants from a vapor. In one embodiment, the system includes a contaminant removal system having a vacuum box. The contaminant removal system includes a contaminated vapor from process equipment is introduced to the vacuum box. The contaminated vapor includes steam and hydrocarbons. The vacuum box includes a water removal device. The water removal device removes water from the contaminated vapor to provide water and a reduced water vapor. The contaminated vapor is introduced to the vacuum box below the water removal device. The water and the reduced water vapor are removed from the vacuum box. The water removal device is disposed in the vacuum box at an elevation below an elevation at which the reduced water vapor is removed from the vacuum box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Global Vapor Control, Inc.
    Inventors: Lisha Salathiel, Doug Scott, Alan Finley
  • Publication number: 20150144565
    Abstract: Methods to separate or recover brine that is present in an invert emulsion are described. The brine is present as an internal phase in the invert emulsion. The brine can be a valuable component, such as an alkali metal formate, and separation and recovering of the brine from the invert emulsion permits the brine to be reused.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: Lauren J. Kaminski, Siv K. Howard, Ravi Sharma, Lukasz Grzybek
  • Patent number: 8986551
    Abstract: A method that includes clarifying a thin stillage product in a mechanical processor to produce a fine suspended solids stream and a clarified thin stillage is provided. The method further includes providing the thin stillage product and the clarified thin stillage, separately or in a combined stream, to one or more evaporators to produce one or more reduced suspended solids streams, each stream having a reduced amount of suspended solids and a lower viscosity as compared to process streams having a comparable total solids content but containing a higher amount of suspended solids. The method can further included further processing of one or more of the reduced suspended solids streams to produce a bio-oil product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: ICM, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Kohl, Charles C. Gallop, Kurt A. Dieker
  • Patent number: 8968579
    Abstract: A separation process and system for extracting hydrocarbons from a mixture. In some embodiments, a process for separating a bitumen froth stream containing bitumen froth, water and fine solids into a bitumen enriched froth stream and a water and fine solids stream, comprises: (a) receiving the bitumen froth stream in a concentrator vessel, (b) distributing the bitumen froth stream in the concentrator vessel as a substantially uniform and generally horizontal flow of the bitumen froth stream at a first flow velocity, (c) slowing the bitumen froth stream to a second flow velocity, slower than the first flow velocity, in a separation region of the concentrator vessel to promote separation of the bitumen froth from the water and fine solids, and then (d) collecting a bitumen enriched froth stream and (e) collecting a separate water and fine solids stream. Related embodiments of systems and apparatus may also be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Suncor Energy Inc.
    Inventors: Bradford E. Bjornson, Craig Aaron Strand, William Nicholas Garner, John Khai-Quang Diep, Darwin Edward Kiel, Thomas Charles Hann
  • Patent number: 8968580
    Abstract: A pumpbox apparatus includes a reservoir volume having a first inlet for receiving a feedstock stream and a second inlet for receiving a water stream, the reservoir volume being in communication with a discharge outlet disposed to discharge accumulated liquid from the reservoir volume. The reservoir volume is operable to accumulate the feedstock stream and the water stream in the reservoir volume while withdrawing a discharge stream through the discharge outlet to cause a flow of liquid through the pumpbox. The first inlet defines a first flow velocity region between the first inlet and the second inlet and a second flow velocity region between the second inlet and the discharge outlet. The first flow velocity is lower than the second flow velocity to facilitate flotation of a low specific gravity portion of the feedstock through the first region toward an upper surface of the liquid accumulated in the reservoir volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Suncor Energy Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Charles Hann, William Nicholas Garner
  • Patent number: 8945402
    Abstract: One embodiment of the invention disclosed is an apparatus for separating a solid material from a mixture containing oil, water, clay, sand, soil and drill cuttings. The apparatus comprise a series of processing cells and wash tanks. Hydrocyclonic devices are also used to further purify the solid mixture for disposal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Inventor: Larry Saik
  • Publication number: 20150027964
    Abstract: A screening system comprises a tank (20) containing a sewage screen (30), wherein the tank is configured for attachment to a sewage channel, and to receive sewage flow from an upstream point of the channel, and then to direct the sewage flow through the sewage screen (30), and then to return the screened sewage flow back into the channel, at a downstream point, or directly to a downstream treatment, and wherein the tank (20) is configured to decrease the velocity of the sewage flow in the tank relative to the channel, such that grit can settle at the bottom of the tank, and wherein the sewage screen (30) comprises a working screening surface (31), a portion of which lies in a substantially horizontal plane, and is positioned below the invert level of the sewage channel at the upstream point, when in use. Screen and tank used within the before mentioned system as well as the method of screening sewage using the system are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventor: Frederick James Davis
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8940174
    Abstract: A method for treating spent abrasive slurry obtained from cutting a body of a substrate material into wafer-like slices, the slurry comprising a lubricant fluid, unspent abrasive particles and fines, is disclosed, method comprising separating the spent slurry in a first sedimentation step into a solids concentrate comprising unspent abrasive particles and a solids depleted slurry; and subsequently separating the solids depleted slurry by cross-flow filtration into a fines containing fraction and a solids and fines depleted regenerated lubricant fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Pall Corporation
    Inventors: Rolf Berndt, Jochen Ruth
  • Patent number: 8906236
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and processes for the recovery of nutrients from non-organic phases produced during recovery of oleaginous compounds from biomass. The nutrients recovered can then be utilized to grow additional biomass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Sapphire Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard J. Cranford, Alex M. Aravanis, Stilianos G. Roussis
  • Patent number: 8900460
    Abstract: A method for processing interface emulsion, water, and solids contained within a separator vessel that comprises the steps of continually extracting those components from the vessel and then passing them through a gas flotation cell. The cell, which is preferably a vertical induced gas flotation cell, separates the oil and water contained in the interface emulsion and discharges recovered oil from an upper portion of the cell and treated water from a bottom portion of the cell. The recovered oil and treated water may be further processed and recycled to the vessel or sent elsewhere. The treated water may also be recycled to the cell or sent to a process sewer. Fuel gas residing in an upper portion of the cell may be cooled and passed through a splitter. All the steps of the method comprise a closed system with no air emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventors: Gary W. Sams, Ronald D. Hypes
  • 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: 8851299
    Abstract: Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as BTEX methanol and other non-phase separable hydrocarbons may be removed from wastewater obtained from oil or gas exploration or production operations by way of a bioreactor. The bioreactor may employ anaerobic microorganisms that metabolize various VOCs. In some embodiments, such a bioreactor may be configured to treat process flow rates of thousands of barrels of wastewater per hour. Such a bioreactor may comprise a large vessel at a larger water treatment site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: R N Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Kerry J. Spiroff, Nathan Zaugg, Huiwei Yu
  • Patent number: 8852436
    Abstract: A process for recovering solvents from inorganic and organic solutions is disclosed. The process utilizes a polymer capable of selectively extracting the solvent from the inorganic or organic solution. Introduction of the polymer into the solvent solution creates formation of a polymer-rich phase and a solute-rich phase. The recovered solvent may be separated from the polymer-rich phase by heating the polymer-rich phase to at least the cloud point of the polymer. The polymer and/or solute may be recycled for further use in the solvent recovery process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of The University of Illinois
    Inventors: Nandakishore Rajagopalan, Vinodkumar Ambalal Patel
  • Patent number: 8852446
    Abstract: Systems and methods are used to concentrate and extract platelets from blood, where an aggregation arrangement is configured to aggregate red blood cells in the blood. The aggregated red blood cells are provided to a separation arrangement which is configured to separate the aggregated red blood cells from platelets in the blood plasma. Finally a concentration arrangement is configured to concentrate the platelets for extraction and further use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Meng H. Lean, Armin R. Volkel, Huangpin B. Hsieh
  • Patent number: 8845906
    Abstract: The current invention provides a novel process for the treatment and reclamation of drilling frac flowback and produced wastewater from the drilling industry. The wastewater is delivered to the EMC/F System from a frac tank or other reservoir. The wastewater is pumped into the system and is treated sequentially by passing through a mechanical hydrocavitation unit, an electromagnetic unit, an electrocoagulation unit and/or a hydrocyclone and a flocculation-sedimentation tank. Polishing of the final effluent is accomplished by passing the water through a mixed media tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Don E. Henley and Associates, LLC
    Inventor: Donald E. Henley
  • Patent number: 8834726
    Abstract: A method of treating a wastewater is provided and can be used, for example, to treat a gas well hydrofracture wastewater. The method can involve precipitating barium as barium sulfate, precipitating calcium and strontium as calcium carbonate and strontium carbonate, precipitating magnesium hydroxide, and filtering out the metal compounds to form a recycle water. The recycle water produced from the method is also provided, as is a method for using the recycle water as a gas well hydrofracture water. In some embodiments, discharge water from a coal mine, and/or water from an abandoned coal mine, is used as a source of sulfate ions to precipitate barium as barium sulfate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: ProChemTech International, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy Edward Keister
  • Patent number: 8753524
    Abstract: Systems and methods for treating a stream comprising a hydrocarbon liquid and an aqueous-based liquid are provided. The systems and methods may utilize a media composite comprising a mixture of a cellulose-based material and a polymer. In certain systems and methods, the media composite is capable of being backwashed. The stream comprising the hydrocarbon liquid and aqueous-based liquid may be separated by contacting the stream with the media composite. In certain system and methods, the stream comprising the hydrocarbon liquid and aqueous-based liquid may be coalesced by contacting the stream with the media composite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Chad L. Felch, Matthew Patterson, Shane Wiercinski
  • Publication number: 20140158643
    Abstract: A high throughput, positive pressure, gravity operated dewatering system for hydraulic fluids, lubricating fluids, and petroleum based fluids comprises a gravity operated dewatering chamber receiving the industrial fluid and a source of positive pressure drying air coupled to the dewatering chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: SCHROEDER INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Steven R. Evanovich, Martin Bauer, Andreas Schuck, John Kazimierz Duchowski
  • Publication number: 20140116967
    Abstract: A mobile flocculation and water treatment system includes at least one tank, preferably a series of adjoining tanks separated by weirs, and an adjacent pump house mounted on a mobile platform. At least one pump is mounted in the pump house. Fluid conduits run from the pumps to the tank. An overflow is mounted between the downstream tank and the pump house whereby fluid overflow from the tanks is directed into the pump house. The pump house provides a substantially water-tight reservoir zone to provide secondary containment. Water to be treated enters the upstream end of the tanks and is discharged from the downstream end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: Wild North Vac & Steam Ltd.
    Inventors: Chad Clark Smith, Douglas Moore
  • Patent number: 8585903
    Abstract: The invention provides an efficient method to purify an aqueous solution, typically mine drainage water, especially of anions and cations present in the aqueous solution as dissolved solids, the anions and cations are removed by treatment with a positively charged extractant having at least eight carbon atoms, whereby an unstable emulsion is formed; the unstable emulsion is allowed to break into an extract phase loaded with the anions and cations, and a water phase depleted in anions and cations; a floc inherently forms in the loaded extractant phase and then the loaded extractant phase and floc are separated from the purified water and treated to remove the anions and cations as concentrated useful products; the treated aqueous phase now reduced in anion and/or cation content is also separated from the emulsion as a purified aqueous solution. The extractant phase is preferably recycled. A continuous water purification process is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Winner Water Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce F. Monzyk, F. Michael Von Fahnestock, James Kevin Rose, H. Nick Conkle, Ming Wang, Satya P. Chauhan, Ruey K. Bruce, Tenisha Highsmith
  • Patent number: 8557124
    Abstract: A process for treating impure water includes adding magnesium hydroxide and/or ammonium hydroxide to the water. This neutralizes the impure water and reacts with dissolved metals in the water. The metals are precipitated as metal hydroxides/oxides, which are removed from the water. Thereafter barium hydroxide is added to the water. The barium hydroxide reacts with dissolved sulphates to produce barium sulphate and, when magnesium hydroxide is used, with dissolved magnesium, to produce magnesium hydroxide. Barium sulphate and, when present, magnesium hydroxide are removed from the water. When ammonium hydroxide is used, ammonia is stripped from the water. Carbon dioxide is then added to the water. The carbon dioxide reacts with dissolved calcium in the water. The calcium is precipitated as calcium carbonate, which is removed from the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Tshwane University of Technology
    Inventors: Johannes Philippus Maree, Wynand Jacobus Louw
  • Patent number: 8551336
    Abstract: A method for separating proteins from plant material, in particular, intact algal cells, using an amphipathic solvent set and a hydrophobic solvent set. Some embodiments include dewatering intact algal cells and then extracting proteins from the algal cells. The methods provide for single and multistep extraction processes which allow for efficient separation of algal proteins from a wet algal biomass. These proteins are high value products which can be used as renewable sources of food and food additives. Neutral lipids remaining in the algal biomass after extraction of proteins can be used to generate renewable fuels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Heliae Development, LLC
    Inventor: Aniket Kale
  • Publication number: 20130220891
    Abstract: A system for removing hydrocarbons and other contaminants from sand and/or drill cuttings includes screening large debris from a first loading inlet hopper (101) to a screen covered receiving hopper (102) that may contain a chopper and chemical additive nozzles (105). A first inclined auger (104) receives the material from hopper (102) at its lower inlet port and conveys the material upwards dropping it into a hopper (106) and thence to a unit (107) either of which may include a crasher (106). Unit (107) includes an eductor (109) which feeds the screened and treated sand slurry to desanding units (112) such as hydro cyclones. The underflow from the desanders is sent to an auger tank's (114) first compartment (113) while the overflow is sent to its second compartment (115) where a flow distributing conduit (117) that disperses it over the surface of both compartments (113), (115). The auger tank (114) employs horizontal augers (116) that are arterial both the first and second compartments (113) and (114).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: M-I DRILLING FLUIDS CANADA, INC.
    Inventors: Paul Newman, Mazen Markabi
  • Patent number: 8512576
    Abstract: A system for the production or handling of heavy oil comprises means (18) for introducing an immiscible viscosity-reducing fluid into the heavy oil at an upstream end of a flow line (10,22) to create a dispersion of oil and viscosity-reducing fluid, and means (24,30) for separating the viscosity-reducing fluid at least partially from the oil at a downstream end of the flow line. The separating means comprises a cyclonic fluid conditioning unit (24) connected receive the dispersion of oil and viscosity-reducing fluid from the downstream end of the flow line (22), said cyclonic fluid conditioning unit being constructed and arranged to subject the dispersion to a cyclonic conditioning process; and a gravity separator unit (30) connected to receive the conditioned dispersion from the cyclonic fluid conditioning unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Caltec Limited
    Inventors: Mahmood Mir Sarshar, Ali Najam Miraz Beg, Carl Wordsworth
  • Publication number: 20130200012
    Abstract: There is disclosed a method and apparatus for treating fluid in a fluid treatment system with self-cleaning filters. The liquid treatment system includes a tank defining an interior volume of at least 25 gallons. The tank includes a gravity settling portion proximate a lower end of the tank and generally configured in a frustoconical shape. A self-cleaning filter device is coupled to a top portion of the tank. The self-cleaning filter device is configured to filter out solids from fluid entering the tank and return filtered solids to the tank. Solids in the fluid, entering the tank, are removed from the fluid both by the filter device and by gravity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: Perry Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy L. Holmes, David J. Burns
  • Patent number: 8500995
    Abstract: A method is for the treatment of ballast water, in which the ballast water is carried into a ballast tank via a down pipe and in which an underpressure created at the upper portion of the down pipe induces the formation of gas bubbles in the ballast water. Before flowing into the down pipe, the ballast water is carried via a throttling device into a closed container at the upper portion of the down pipe, the closed container having a flow area larger than the flow area of the down pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Knutsen Ballastvann AS
    Inventor: Per Lothe
  • Patent number: 8501017
    Abstract: A coolant filtration system and method for use with one or more metal working machines. The system includes a housing, pump, conveyer assembly, drum assembly, and centrifugal separator. The housing includes a tank that receives and holds coolant coming out of the one or more metal working machines. The pump is used to drive the coolant through the coolant filtration system. A part of the conveyer assembly is disposed within the housing in order to carry-away workpiece chips from the coolant. The drum assembly is located near the conveyer assembly in order to filter the coolant. The centrifugal separator receives coolant processed by the conveyor and drum assemblies. The system can further include one or more fine filters for additional filtering of the coolant outputted by the centrifugal separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: JK Industries, LLC
    Inventor: Keith Urban
  • Publication number: 20130193084
    Abstract: Method of collecting used cooking oil includes extracting used cooking oil from at least one deep fryer to a container, storing and separating said used cooking oil within the container which is located within the cooking area. The oil from the deep fat fryer is periodically pumped to the container and allowed to settle. The unwanted sludge is then tapped off into a portable container and the wanted oil is pumped to an exterior transportation container. The container is triangular shaped with rear walls converging into a corner of the cooking area and a diagonal front face with side flanges and a bottom flap such that it is located in the corner of an interior wall of a building and contains the pipes and plumbing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Inventor: Stuart Vogt
  • Patent number: 8475660
    Abstract: A method for separating polar lipids from plant material, in particular, intact algal cells, using an amphipathic solvent set and a hydrophobic solvent set. Some embodiments include dewatering intact algal cells and then extracting polar lipids from the algal cells. The methods provide for single and multistep extraction processes which allow for efficient separation of algal polar lipids from a wet algal biomass while avoiding emulsification of extraction mixtures. These polar lipids are high value products which can be used as surfactants, detergents, and food additives. Neutral lipids remaining in the algal biomass after extraction of polar lipids can be used to generate renewable fuels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Heliae Development, LLC
    Inventor: Aniket Kale
  • Patent number: 8460555
    Abstract: This invention reveals to the public the centralized sump oil and acid oil treatment process and system. The process consist of (1) the filter; (2) entry to reaction kettle, the sodium carbonate solution added at the time of air floatation till PH value keeps about 6.0-8.0; and emulsion splitter and flocculating agent added for further reaction; (3) suspension of air floatation and static settlement; (4) the international crude oil is collected after the detergent oil at the upper level of the reaction kettle is dehydrated under normal and reduced pressure; the wastewater is drained after filtering by the natural oil removal tank and the oil-water filter; the sludge is solidified by the cement and the quick lime and aluminium oxide are used as the coagulant aid for solidifying the sludge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Inventor: Gang Yuan
  • Publication number: 20130082012
    Abstract: Systems and methods are used to concentrate and extract platelets from blood, where an aggregation arrangement is configured to aggregate red blood cells in the blood. The aggregated red blood cells are provided to a separation arrangement which is configured to separate the aggregated red blood cells from platelets in the blood plasma. Finally a concentration arrangement is configured to concentrate the platelets for extraction and further use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Meng H. Lean, Armin R. Volkel, Huangpin B. Hsieh
  • Patent number: 8398864
    Abstract: A driven decanter assembly for a wastewater primary treatment system, comprising a longitudinal decanter disposable in the wastewater and having a longitudinal trough and a horizontal entrance weir, a polygonal or arcuate screen attached to the decanter and having at least two screen surfaces disposable below the surface of the wastewater outside of the trough, and a floating baffle pivotably mounted to the decanter and disposable in the wastewater outside of the screen. The driven decanter assembly can directly replace a prior art driven decanter in any waste water primary treatment system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Trans Terra Corporation
    Inventor: Terry Wright
  • Patent number: 8377307
    Abstract: A method of separating a mixture of discrete structures dispersed in a fluid material includes identifying a target structure and a non-target structure; providing a custom-shaped particle having at least a portion of a surface that is substantially shape-complementary to a portion of a surface of the target structure; introducing the custom-shaped particle into the fluid material; exciting reconfigurations of the custom-shaped particle with respect to the target structure and the non-target structure; binding the custom-shaped particle to the target structure through an attractive interaction to form an aggregate; and isolating the aggregate containing the target structure and the custom-shaped particle from the non-target structure. The custom-shaped particle preferentially binds with the target structure without binding with the non-target structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventor: Thomas G. Mason
  • Patent number: 8353641
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems for removing particulate matter from a fluid, comprising a particle functionalized by attachment of at least one activating group or amine functional group, wherein the modified particle complexes with the particulate matter within the fluid to form a removable complex therein. The particulate matter has preferably been contacted, complexed or reacted with a tethering agent. The system is particularly advantageous to removing particulate matter from a tailing solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Soane Energy, LLC
    Inventors: Michael C. Berg, John H. Dise, Kevin T. Petersen, David Soane, Kristoffer K. Stokes, William Ware, Jr., Atul C. Thakrar
  • Patent number: 8349188
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems for removing particulate matter from a fluid, comprising a particle functionalized by attachment of at least one activating group or amine functional group, wherein the modified particle complexes with the particulate matter within the fluid to form a removable complex therein. The particulate matter has preferably been contacted, complexed or reacted with a tethering agent. The system is particularly advantageous to removing particulate matter from a fluid waste stream following mining or ore processing operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Soane Mining, LLC
    Inventors: David Soane, William Ware, Jr., Robert P. Mahoney, Nathan Ashcraft
  • Publication number: 20120325754
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for water filtration of a milk of lime solution that contains water, impurities, and grit particles, in which the milk of lime solution enters a vessel, and wherein turbulence is created in the vessel, by which larger grit particles settle out of the milk of lime solution, to form a bed of grit particles in the lower end of the vessel, such that grit particles and impurities are filtered from the lime-treated water that comprises a milk of lime solution, with water then being drawn off, that may be discharged out one or more dosing locations and/or recycled back for further filtration, as may be desired.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: RDP TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Richard W. Christy, Michael Quici
  • Patent number: 8333894
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for filtering fluid, preferably effluent fluid in a septic system, by providing a staged, filtering array in an effluent flow path, the stages positioned in an orientation designed to maximize filtering capability in conjunction with predetermined apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Inventor: Theophilus B. Terry
  • Patent number: 8318028
    Abstract: A method and system for wastewater treatment comprising a first treatment zone (11) fluidly connected to one or more further treatment zones (12, 13, 14), a membrane module (16) comprising a filter membrane positioned in or fluidly connected to the further treatment zone (14), a gravity settling device (15) fluidly connected to the first treatment zone (11) to receive overflow therefrom; and a flow control device (23) between the first treatment zone (11) and the gravity settling device (15) to control the flow of liquid therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventor: Dennis J. Barnes
  • Patent number: 8308957
    Abstract: A separation process for separating two or more immiscible liquids using contactors utilizing high surface area vertical hanging fibers is disclosed. This separation process is especially useful in the separation of disulfide oil formed during the oxidation of spent caustic solution that was used to remove sulfur contaminates from light hydrocarbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Merichem Company
    Inventors: Tiejun Zhang, V. Keith Turner
  • Patent number: 8287729
    Abstract: A lightweight water treatment system which can be easily distributed and employed by disaster survivors for treating locally available freshwater sources. The water treatment system includes an internal storage volume for maintaining a predetermined volume of water, a water fill port in communication with the internal storage volume provided at a first end of the elongated container for receiving the predetermined volume of water, a sealing member disposed at about the first end of the elongated container for maintaining the volume of water within the internal storage volume, a second end of the elongated container for receiving sediment settling out of the predetermined volume of water and a discharge port disposed superjacent to the second conically-shaped end for controllably releasing at least a portion of the water maintained within the internal storage volume of the elongated container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: California Polytechnic Corporation
    Inventors: Trygrve J Lundquist, Patricia M. Compas
  • Patent number: 8273248
    Abstract: A method for separating neutral lipids from plant material, in particular, intact algal cells, using an amphipathic solvent set and a hydrophobic solvent set. Some embodiments include dewatering intact algal cells and then extracting neutral lipids from the algal cells. The methods provide for single and multistep extraction processes which allow for efficient separation of algal neutral lipids from a wet algal biomass while avoiding emulsification of extraction mixtures. The neutral lipids are removed after first removing a polar lipid fraction and a protein fraction. These neutral lipids can be used to generate renewable fuels as well as food products and supplements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Heliae Development, LLC
    Inventor: Aniket Kale
  • Publication number: 20120234776
    Abstract: Examples are disclosed for treating water received from one or more sources or treating water that has been stored in a storage container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: EMPIRE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT LLC
    Inventor: Theodore Taylor Sand
  • Patent number: 8262912
    Abstract: Bioactive compounds extracted from a fermentation broth created by a unique microbial community during a fermentation process and fractionated into several fractions based on size. Four of the resulting fractions stimulate growth of plants that are planted in soil to which the fractions have been applied. The fractions can be applied to the soil individually or combined together prior to application. In another embodiment, the unique fractions can be freeze dried or spray dried.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Tenfold Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David P. Lanciault, Robert N. Ames
  • Patent number: 8226833
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for filtering fluid, preferably effluent fluid in a septic system, by providing a staged, filtering array in an effluent flow path, the stages positioned in an orientation designed to maximize filtering capability in conjunction with predetermined apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Inventor: Theophilus B. Terry
  • Patent number: 8221634
    Abstract: A process and an apparatus for separating and recovering waste alkali from a cyclohexane oxidation solution are provided. A gradient combination of the gravity separation technique, the vortex separation technique and the coalescence separation technique is used to carry out fine separation of the waste alkali liquor from the cyclohexane oxidation solution. The purified cyclohexane oxidation solution is fed into a down-stream apparatus. Most of the waste alkali liquor thus separated is recycled, while the remaining is expelled. The expelled waste alkali liquor is incinerated in an incinerator, followed by recovering the molten species using a pneumatic pulverization process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: East China University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Zhishan Bai, Zhuoqun Qian, Ji Ma, Ping Zhou, Yanhong Zhang, Hualin Wang
  • Patent number: 8211309
    Abstract: A method for separating proteins from plant material, in particular, intact algal cells, using an amphipathic solvent set and a hydrophobic solvent set. Some embodiments include dewatering intact algal cells and then extracting proteins from the algal cells. The methods provide for single and multistep extraction processes which allow for efficient separation of algal proteins from a wet algal biomass. These proteins are high value products which can be used as renewable sources of food and food additives. Neutral lipids remaining in the algal biomass after extraction of proteins can be used to generate renewable fuels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Heliae Development, LLC
    Inventor: Aniket Kale
  • Patent number: 8211308
    Abstract: A method for separating polar lipids from plant material, in particular, intact algal cells, using an amphipathic solvent set and a hydrophobic solvent set. Some embodiments include dewatering intact algal cells and then extracting polar lipids from the algal cells. The methods provide for single and multistep extraction processes which allow for efficient separation of algal polar lipids from a wet algal biomass while avoiding emulsification of extraction mixtures. These polar lipids are high value products which can be used as surfactants, detergents, and food additives. Neutral lipids remaining in the algal biomass after extraction of polar lipids can be used to generate renewable fuels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Heliae Development, LLC
    Inventor: Aniket Kale