Plural Separating Patents (Class 210/806)
  • Patent number: 8900459
    Abstract: Systems and methods for versatile water purification. The methods may include floating a raft on a source of water to be purified. The raft may provide inlet for the water. The methods may include pumping the water and selectively pre-treating the pumped water by chemical injection prior to filtration. The methods may include passing the pumped water, sequentially, through a multi media filter to produce filtered water, into a plurality of reverse osmosis columns to produce osmosis water, and into a buffer tank. The methods may include injecting ozone into water pumped from the tank, and selectively returning the ozone-injected water to the tank via a first valve. Via a second valve, the ozone-injected water may be passed to a bottle washing station for washing and sterilization of receptacles to receive purified waters pumped from the tank. Methods may include Ultra Violet and chemical treatment of water prior to dispensing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: PureSafe Water Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Gil Tenne
  • Publication number: 20140319082
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a fast-in and fast-out efficient filter press and rapid feeding method having rapid feeding and rapid discharging functions, comprising a filter press, wherein the upper ends of multiple cloth filter plates or diaphragm filter plates in a cloth filter plate group or diaphragm filter plate group in the filter press are provided with feeding ports, and the lower parts are provided with discharging ports; a vertical lifting feeding assembly is positioned above the feeding ports in the cloth filter plastic group or side of the feeding assembly are respectively and correspondingly matched with the feeding ports of the multiple cloth filter plates or diaphragm filter plates in a cloth filter plate group or diaphragm filter plate group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventor: Songyan Zhou
  • Publication number: 20140319081
    Abstract: Methods, systems and kits for production of autologous blood products are provided. Such methods, systems and kits comprise a blood collection set, a serum dilution set, and an aliquot set. The blood collection set includes a collection container and a serum container. The serum dilution set includes a serum measurement device, a serum dilution bag, and a mixing device enabling serum to be mixed with balanced saline solution in a defined dilution ratio. The aliquot set includes at least one filter and aliquot tubing having periodic segment length markings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2013
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: San Diego Blood Bank
    Inventor: William J. Davey
  • Publication number: 20140305886
    Abstract: An apparatus for filtering dry film solvent includes a hollow vessel having a side wall, an open top end and a second end that includes a main outlet that allows fluid to flow out of a hollow interior of the vessel. A removable cover closes off the open top end of the vessel. The apparatus also includes at least one fluid inlet port formed along the side wall of the vessel and defining an entrance into the hollow interior of the vessel and at least one fluid outlet port formed along the side wall of the vessel and defining an exit from the hollow interior of the vessel. A removable filter member is disposed within the hollow interior and is defined by a frame and filter media that extends across the frame such fluid flowing into the hollow interior through the main inlet must flow through the filter media to reach the main outlet. The filter media is disposed at an angle other than 90 degrees relative to the frame of the filter member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: Solid State Equipment LLC
    Inventors: John Taddei, Laura Mauer, John Clark, Lev Rapoport
  • 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: 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: 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
  • Publication number: 20140263103
    Abstract: An example nonlimiting embodiment of the present invention provides a flow divider that includes a slurry receiving compartment and a discharge arrangement having a plurality of discharge apertures. The slurry receiving compartment is arranged to relatively uniformly flow a portion of a slurry into each of the discharge apertures. The discharge apertures may be arranged linearly and/or horizontally such that the portions of the slurry exits each of the discharge apertures at a relatively even flow rate and feed feed boxes connected to vertically tiered screening surfaces of a screening machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Derrick Corporation
    Inventors: Mike Peresan, James Colgrove
  • Patent number: 8834723
    Abstract: The system and process of the present invention will consist of specific monitors in tandem with interface probes reading in multiple locations, divert valves which are operated by the readings of the interface probes and online ppm monitors. Such monitors would function in conjunction with these leading indicators through a software program and computerized logic controller used to manipulate the controls of this system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Enviro-Tech Systems, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Frank A. Richerand, Frank A. Richerand, II
  • Patent number: 8828242
    Abstract: A system for dewatering a stream of slurry has a first and a second separator. The first separator removes objects above a first size, to produce a stream of primary treated slurry. The second separator removes objects above a second size from the primary treated stream, the second size being smaller than the first size. Optionally, a third separator removes objects above a yet smaller third size from the stream of secondary treated slurry. The first separator has a plurality of sieve mat supports alternately connected to a main support frame section and a movable support frame section so that the flexible sieve mat can be agitated by the movable support frame section, a collector being provided for collecting the primary treated slurry passing through the flexible sieve mat. In an optional step, water contained in the separated solids is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Genesis Fluid Solutions, Ltd
    Inventors: Michael K. Hodges, Larry D. Campbell
  • Patent number: 8828240
    Abstract: A method to purify water includes the steps of providing a septic tank to hold unpurified water and having an outlet to provide a water stream for processing, and processing the water in an electrocoagulation and flocculation reactor that uses electrical energy to convert dissolved solid material in the water stream into suspended particulate form that can be subsequently filtered and separated out. The method continues with introducing air into the water stream to promote aerobic processing of contaminants and to assist in agglomeration and flocculation of suspended solid material, filtering the water stream to separate suspended solid material from the stream and to adsorb some of its dissolved contaminants, and processing the water stream with a reverse osmosis processor that provides a reject stream that provides water back to the septic tank and a recycle stream that provides unpurified water back to the water stream exiting the septic tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Inventors: Benjamin A. Schranze, Ronald Knepper
  • Publication number: 20140238944
    Abstract: A liquid filling device includes a supply tube, a filter capable of removing a foreign matter, a first on-off valve provided between the supply tube and the filter, a first connector provided between the first on-off valve and the filter, a second on-off valve provided downstream of the filter, a second connector connected to the second on-off valve. A first ink pack and a second ink pack are respectively connected to the first connector and the second connector. After the liquid is filled in the first ink pack, the liquid thus filled is transferred from the first ink pack to the second ink pack connected to the second connector through the filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Katsumi SHINKAI
  • Publication number: 20140238235
    Abstract: A membrane device and processes for fabrication and for using are disclosed. The membrane device may include a number of porous metal membranes that provide a high membrane surface area per unit volume. The membrane device provides various operation modes that enhance throughput and selectivity for mass exchange, mass transfer, separation, and/or filtration applications between feed flow streams and permeate flow streams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: BATTELLE MEMORIAL INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Wei Liu, Nathan L. Canfield
  • Patent number: 8815095
    Abstract: An artificial kidney that regenerates dialysate includes: a catheter having an inflow lumen and an outflow lumen for communication with a peritoneal cavity of a patient; a fluid circuit in fluid communication with the catheter for circulating dialysate into, through and out of the peritoneal cavity; a pump configured to circulate the dialysate; a cleaning cartridge coupled to the fluid circuit for removing solutes from the dialysate, including a therapeutically effective amount of urea from the dialysate as the dialysate circulates along the fluid circuit; and wherein the fluid circuit is configured to receive a volume of ultrafilterate removed from the patient, such that the pump can mix the ultrafiltrate volume with the dialysate to an increase an overall therapy fluid volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignees: Baxter International Inc., Baxter Healthcare S.A.
    Inventor: Brian R. Micheli
  • Publication number: 20140231367
    Abstract: Provided is an improved filtration module assembly comprising a vessel having a filtration cartridge disposed within it and a header coupled to an end of the vessel, the header including a housing having an open-ended upper end and a lower end, and an end cap including a portion that mates with a complimentary structure defined by the inner all of the open ended upper end of the housing to removable engage with the housing and the end cap may further define a passageway for fluid to flow out of the vessel. The filtration module assembly may enable an improved manifold arrangement used to communicate fluids to and from a filtration system comprising a plurality of such modules and the configurations of the present invention may facilitate improved operation of such filtration systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2012
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Inventors: Bruce Gregory Biltoft, Michael Collignon, Robert James McMahon
  • Publication number: 20140231366
    Abstract: A system and method for filtering fuel within a fuel tank is disclosed. A dual fuel filtration system may include a first fuel filter connected to a fuel tank opening of the fuel tank, the first fuel filter removing a first type of contaminant from fuel entering the fuel tank opening to obtain a fuel cleared to a first level. The dual fuel filtration system may also include a second fuel filter positioned below the first fuel filter and in fluid communication with a fuel outlet nozzle, the second fuel filter filtering a second type of contaminant from the fuel cleared to the first level to obtain a fuel cleared to a second level passing through the fuel outlet nozzle. The dual fuel filtration system may additionally include an interface portion connecting the first fuel filter and the second fuel filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Ries, Christopher L. Armstrong, John R. Jones
  • Publication number: 20140231256
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides for devices, systems and methods for fractionation and concentration of particles from a fluid sample. This includes a cartridge containing staged filters having porous surface in series of decreasing pore size for capture of particles from a fluid sample; and a permeate pressure source in fluid communication with the cartridge; wherein the particles are eluted from the porous surfaces and dispensed in a reduced fluid volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: INNOVAPREP LLC
    Inventors: Zachary Allen Packingham, Andrew Edward Page, David Scott Alburty, Steven Dale Graham, Alec Douglas Adolphson
  • Patent number: 8812236
    Abstract: A method for optimizing drilling fluids by creating a proper particle size analysis and distribution curve of particle sizing within drilling fluid. The particle size distribution curve is maintained with a maximum particle sizing of 6 microns so as to not allow for coarser drilled solids to degrade beyond the point of mechanical separation to prevent a build-up of low gravity solids that can no longer be removed from the drilling fluid during the drilling operation due to their size. An optimal drilling system requires that drilling fluids be modified through the following process to attain the appropriate particle sizing distribution to: make the most efficient use of the drilling operation, reduce the amount to drilling fluids utilized, and reduce formation damage. The method generates corrective actions to modify the drilling fluids or adjust solids control equipment parameters, to obtain a unique particle size distribution throughout the drilling process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Particle Size Engineering, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas W. Freeman, Paula S. DeWitte, Robert W. Troy
  • Patent number: 8808511
    Abstract: The invention disclosed and claimed herein relates to treatment of water contaminated with glycol to be recycled for further effective use of the cleaned water resulting therefrom, especially at airports. More specifically, this invention relates to improved techniques for efficiently and reliably generating continuous flows of cleaned water as well as a continuous flow of recyclable glycol water of controlled concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Inventor: Brad Michael Malatesta
  • Patent number: 8795531
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention includes: a recycle line that brings a part of salt-enriched membrane separation concentrated water 26 back to the rear flow side of a pretreatment apparatus 12; a water discharge line that discharges the remained concentrated water into a sea area; and a control apparatus 31 that controls to adjust the ratio between the discharging amount of the discharging membrane separation concentrated water to be discharged into a sea area and the supplying amount of supplying seawater. A pH is set to be equal to or less than 7.3 by adding acid 21. The salt 18 is obtained from the dryer 19, and produced water (fresh water) 29 is obtained by combining evaporated water 28 supplied from the evaporator 16 with the permeated water 24 supplied from the reverse osmosis membrane apparatus 25.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhisa Takeuchi, Yoshiaki Ito, Hidemasa Kakigami, Hideo Iwahashi, Katsunori Matsui, Kenji Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8795532
    Abstract: A process for operating a cooling tower (10), said process comprising: introducing a feed solution into a cooling tower, evaporating solvent from the feed solution to produce a concentrated solution, removing a portion of the concentrated solution as blow-down, passing at least a portion of the blow-down through a first membrane in a nanofiltration unit (14), such that at least some of the solute in the blow-down are retained as a concentrated blow-down solution on the retentate-side of the first membrane, contacting at least a portion of the concentrated blow-down solution (42) with one side of a second membrane (12) and contacting a solution having a lower solute concentration than the combined concentrated blow-down solution and the return from the cooling tower with the opposite side of the second membrane, such that solvent flows across the second membrane to dilute the concentrated blow down solution by direct osmosis, and re-introducing the diluted blow-down solution to the cooling tower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Surrey Aquatechnology Ltd.
    Inventor: Peter Nicoll
  • Patent number: 8795535
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for separating minerals in drilling fluid based primarily on density. The separator creates and maintains a slurry with a controllable density for separating minerals from drill cuttings. The density is controlled through the use of an electrode array. The separator comprises a housing have a fluid inlet for the fluid mixture, at least one rotating disk having an electrode array positioned inside the housing to suspend a first material of the fluid mixture, and a mechanism configured to rotate the disk. A second and third material is separated from the fluid via use of the suspended first material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: National Oilwell Varco, L.P.
    Inventor: Thomas R. Larson
  • Patent number: 8795218
    Abstract: A method of removing unwanted molecules from blood includes (i) directing a flow of blood from a patient through a first hemofilter, (ii) removing a volume of fluid from the blood using the first hemofilter, (iii) combining a volume of first substitution fluid with an outflow from the first hemofilter, the volume of first substitution fluid being substantially equal to the volume of fluid removed from the blood using the first hemofilter, (iv) directing the combined first hemofilter outflow and the first substitution fluid volume from the first hemofilter through a second hemofilter, (v) combining a second substitution fluid with outflow from the second hemofilter, and (vi) returning the combined second hemofilter outflow and the second substitution fluid volume from the second hemofilter to the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Nikkiso Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jean-Michael Lannoy
  • Patent number: 8790517
    Abstract: A mobile station and methods are disclosed for diagnosing and modeling site specific effluent treatment facility requirements to arrive at a treatment regimen and/or proposed commercial plant model idealized for the particular water/site requirements. The station includes a mobile platform having power intake, effluent intake and fluid outflow facilities and first and second suites of selectably actuatable effluent pre-treatment apparatus. An effluent polishing treatment array is housed at the station and includes at least one of nanofiltration, reverse osmosis and ion-exchange stages. A suite of selectively actuatable post-treatment apparatus is housed at the station. Controls are connected at the station for process control, monitoring and data accumulation. A plurality of improved water treatment technologies is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Rockwater Resource, LLC
    Inventors: Reginald A. Wiemers, Robert Kohlheb, Bardia B. Khalili, Gyorgy Lipovszki, Peter H. Zahn
  • Patent number: 8790519
    Abstract: A method of extracting or removing a liquid phase from a whole sample using a centrifugal force is disclosed. Centrifugal forces are used to apply pressure to a whole sample and drive a liquid phase through a passage region that can be perforated and/or porous and maintain a drier portion within a separate container. The whole sample can be drier, which includes a remaining sample where excess or a selected amount of liquid is removed. Direct access to the separate container or area can then be made to provide for an efficient withdrawal of the drier material from the separation container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Biomet Biologics, LLC
    Inventors: Michael D. Leach, Jason Chavarria
  • Publication number: 20140202966
    Abstract: A system for processing returned drilling fluid including a flow line configured to provide a return flow of drilling fluids and at least one vibratory separator having at least one screen, wherein the vibratory separator is fluidly connected to the flow low and is configured to receive at least a partial flow of fluids and separate the flow of fluids into a primarily fluid phase and a primarily solids phase. The system further includes a dual-trough configured to receive the primarily solid phase from the at least one vibratory separator and a slurry tank configured to receive the solids phase from the trough. Additionally, a method of processing a return drilling fluid including dividing the return drilling fluid into a primarily fluids phase and a primarily solids phase with a primary separatory operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: M-I L.L.C.
    Inventors: Joe Sherwood, Greg McEwen
  • Publication number: 20140199680
    Abstract: Systems and methods for the washing and processing of biological fluid/biological cells are disclosed. The systems and methods utilize a disposable fluid circuit including a spinning membrane separation device to wash the biological cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: FENWAL, INC.
    Inventors: Kyungyoon Min, Christopher Wegener
  • Patent number: 8778191
    Abstract: The invention concerns a centrifugal filtering device for filtering a fluid. The device comprises a rotatable inner casing forming an inner space and a rotatable outer casing forming an outer space. The device further comprises a fluid inlet, at least one filter and drive means. The drive means is configured to rotate the inner casing to create a centrifugal pressure. The pressure forces a part of the fluid contained in the inner space through the filter and to a radially outer position of the outer space. The filtered fluid forms a filtrate, the filtrate having a kinetic energy. The outer casing is configured to transport the filtrate from the radially outer position to a radially inner position of the outer space, permitting transfer of the kinetic energy from the filtrate to the outer casing, thereby permitting regaining of mechanical energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Aqua Mundus AB
    Inventor: Fredrick Marelius
  • Patent number: 8778192
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for dewatering a mixture of granulate and water are disclosed. In accordance with one example of the system described herein, the apparatus includes a casing as well as hollow sieve body with side walls formed as a sieve, the sieve body being arranged in the casing and suspended thereto. The sieve body tapers towards the bottom, and a clearance is formed between the casing and sieve body. For delivering the granulate-water mixture an inlet is arranged in the upper part of the sieve body. A corresponding outlet for the dewatered granulate is located at the bottom of the sieve body. The inlet is arranged in the sieve body and the sieve is formed such that the water laterally escapes through the sieve into the clearance due to centrifugal and gravitational forces when passing through the sieve body from top to bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: ECON GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Hehenberger, Werner Haan
  • Patent number: 8778181
    Abstract: An equipment assembly for preparing, harvesting and collecting particles is disclosed. The assembly comprises a tandem filter system with one or more high pressure filters, one or more low pressure filters and one or more collection vessel. Particles can be prepared, harvested and collected continuously, semi-continuously or in a batch-type operation. A tandem filter system and its method of use are also disclosed. Particles made with the assembly and according the instant methods are also disclosed. The assembly provides improved particle harvesting and collection over other systems and permits continuous particle formation, in particular by dispersion of a solute-containing process fluid within a supercritical anti-solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: CritiTech, Inc.
    Inventors: Greg S. Johnson, Bala Subramaniam, Fenghui Niu
  • Patent number: 8764992
    Abstract: A method of fractionating a dispersion of oxidic nanoparticles wherein at least one step of the method is a membrane crossflow filtration step, the flow of the dispersion over the membrane being brought about by means of driven rotating parts; and dispersions of oxidic nanoparticles that are obtainable by the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Evonik Degussa GmbH
    Inventors: Roland Wursche, Goetz Baumgarten, Wolfgang Lortz, Michael Kroell
  • Publication number: 20140175025
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for separating solids from liquid in a slurry. The process is characterized by using two filtration media. One filtration medium contains less than 10 mm in thickness of a filter cake containing the solids, and the other filtration medium contains at least 10 mm in thickness of a filter cake containing the solids. The second filtration medium has a higher separation efficiency that the first filtration medium. The process is particularly useful for separating terephthalic acid solids from an oxidation product slurry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: EASTMAN CHEMICAL COMPANY
    Inventor: KENNY R. PARKER
  • Patent number: 8758573
    Abstract: The present application concerns a process for the removal of hydrocarbons from an aqueous stream, which process may include conducting a phenol-containing water stream into a separation column, separating the phenol-containing water in the column using heat to form an overhead portion and a bottoms portion, and collecting the overhead portion as well as the bottoms portion. Further, the process may include adding an eluent to an aqueous stream, thereby forming an aqueous mixture, subsequently conducting the aqueous mixture into a separation vessel, wherein it is allowed to settle into two phases, which form a hydrocarbon stream and a phenol-containing water stream, subsequently collecting the hydrocarbon stream, and conducting the phenol-containing water stream to the separation column for further separation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Borealis Technology Oy
    Inventors: Henrik Andtsjo, Maarit Aarni-Sirvio
  • Patent number: 8758621
    Abstract: A method of purifying impure water contaminated with a filterable impurity and a dissolved impurity, such as seawater, comprising the steps of: providing impure water to a primary microfiltration or ultrafiltration unit to remove the filterable impurity and produce impure filtered water contaminated with a dissolved impurity; providing the impure filtered water contaminated with a dissolved impurity to a reverse osmosis unit to produce a potable water stream and a residual reverse osmosis stream; and treating the residual reverse osmosis stream prior to reuse. The treatment may be in the form of passing through a secondary filter (such as another microfiltration or ultrafiltration membrane or a cartridge filter, and the subsequently treated reverse osmosis reject may be used to backwash the microfiltration or ultrafiltration unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Evoqua Water Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Joseph Edward Zuback
  • Publication number: 20140166597
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a filter apparatus (10), a water filtration system, and a method for operating a water filtration system. The filter apparatus typically comprises a housing (12) defining an inlet port (12.4) connectable to an outlet of a drainage system to receive sullage or grey water therefrom, in use; and an outlet port (12.5) downstream from the inlet port; and a plurality of modular filter devices (20, 22, 24) operatively disposed in the housing (12) to filter the received sullage, in use. The system conveniently comprises a plurality of apparatuses in accordance with the invention provided with inlet ports in flow communication with outlets of drainage systems (17) to receive sullage or grey water therefrom, in use; and outlet ports operatively connected to storm water drainage systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Inventor: Naipaul Khamal
  • Patent number: 8747674
    Abstract: A process for the treatment of water/oil (W/O) emulsions is described which includes the addition of an ionic liquid, under heating, to a water/oil emulsion containing between 0.5% and 85% of water per volume as a dispersion phase, until the concentration of the ionic liquid in the emulsion remains within the range of 0.01 ?L/g to 100 ?L/g. The ionic liquid used is a salt of a general C+ A? formula in a liquid state at temperatures below 150° C., where A? is an anion and C+ is a cation, which has at least a hydrophobic alkyl chain connected to a cation group. The heating method includes conventional heating and heating via microwaves. In the heating via microwaves, the salts of the general C+ A? formula present synergic behavior in separation efficiency in relation to conventional heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.—Petrobras
    Inventors: Regina Celia Lourenco Guimarães, Bianca Machado da Silva Ferreira, Maria de Fatima Pereira dos Santos, Ricardo Andre Guarnieri, Montserrat Fortuny Heredia, Cláudio Dariva, Alexandre Ferreira Santos, Rita de Cássia Bomfim Lemos, Lisiane dos Santos Freitas
  • Patent number: 8745773
    Abstract: The present invention provides a toilet using a cyclone-type sewage purifier, which can discharge excrement using a small amount of water and can sanitarily treat the discharged excrement using waste water, thus increasing the efficiency with which the waste water is recycled. The toilet includes a toilet bowl having a depression; a refuse pipe passing through the toilet bowl and connected to the depression, thus guiding the discharge of excrement from the depression; a refuse bowl seated in the depression and temporarily holding the excrement, and discharging the excrement into the refuse pipe when it is rotated; a rotating device for rotating the refuse bowl; and a cyclone-type sewage purifier for executing purification treatment using a vortex generated by descent of the excrement and waste water discharged from the refuse pipe and a waste water pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Inventor: Sang-Hoon Moon
  • Patent number: 8747679
    Abstract: A separation system for separating a fluid mixture includes a uniaxial cyclonic separator (2) having a first inlet (16) for receiving a fluid mixture, a separation chamber (18) for separating the fluid mixture by cyclonic action into a dense first fluid and a less dense second fluid, a first outlet (22) for the first fluid and a second outlet (26) for the second fluid. The system further includes a reverse flow cyclonic separator (32) having a second inlet (30) for receiving the first fluid from the first outlet (22), a separation chamber for separating the first fluid by cyclonic action into a dense third fluid and a less dense fourth fluid, a third outlet (34) for the third fluid and a fourth outlet (36) for the fourth fluid. A method for the bulk separation of water from an oil/water mixture is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Caltec Limited
    Inventors: Mir Mahmood Sarshar, Mirza Najam Ali Beg, Carl Wordsworth
  • Patent number: 8741145
    Abstract: A method for producing biofuels is provided. A method of making biofuels includes dewatering substantially intact algal cells to make an algal biomass, extracting neutral lipids from the algal biomass, and esterifying the neutral lipids with a catalyst in the presence of an alcohol. The method also includes separating a water soluble fraction comprising glycerin from a water insoluble fraction comprising fuel esters and distilling the fuel esters under vacuum to obtain a C16 or shorter fuel esters fraction, a C16 or longer fuel ester fraction, and a residue comprising carotenoids and omega-3 fatty acids. The method further includes hydrogenating and deoxygenating at least one of (i) the C16 or shorter fuel esters to obtain a jet fuel blend stock and (ii) the C16 or longer fuel esters to obtain a diesel blend stock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Heliae Development, LLC
    Inventor: Aniket Kale
  • Patent number: 8734649
    Abstract: A method of dewatering algae and recycling water therefrom is presented. A method of dewatering a wet algal cell culture includes removing liquid from an algal cell culture to obtain a wet algal biomass having a lower liquid content than the algal cell culture. At least a portion of the liquid removed from the algal cell culture is recycled for use in a different algal cell culture. The method includes adding a water miscible solvent set to the wet algal biomass and waiting an amount of time to permit algal cells of the algal biomass to gather and isolating at least a portion of the gathered algal cells from at least a portion of the solvent set and liquid of the wet algal biomass so that a dewatered algal biomass is generated. The dewatered algal biomass can be used to generated algal products such as biofuels and nutraceuticals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Heliae Development, LLC
    Inventor: Aniket Kale
  • Patent number: 8734645
    Abstract: A system for producing high purity water, and particularly for the production of water that is suitable for injection, as well as method of using the same, are disclosed. The system includes a unique combination of known water purification methods that is particularly well-suited to the production USP purified water and USP water that is suitable for injection. The system minimizes potential for organism growth within the system by providing multiple means of organism destruction and removal and by not utilizing any standard water treatment media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Inventor: Christopher Heiss
  • Publication number: 20140138324
    Abstract: A machine or apparatus featuring a first processor and a second processor. The first processor is configured to receive a mixture of fluid, valuable material and unwanted material and a functionalized polymer coated member configured to attach to the valuable material in an attachment rich environment, and provide an enriched functionalized polymer coated member having the valuable material attached thereto. The second processor is configured to receive a fluid and the enriched functionalized polymer coated member in a release rich environment to release the valuable material, and provide the valuable material released from the enriched functionalized polymer coated member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: CIDRA CORPORATE SERVICES INC.
    Inventors: Paul J. Rothman, Mark R. Fernald, Francis K. Didden, Christian V. O'Keefe, Douglas H. Adamson
  • Patent number: 8728328
    Abstract: A method of removing suspended solids from a gasification process water stream includes, in an exemplary embodiment, providing a gasification process water stream containing process derived suspended solids, settling at least a portion of the suspended solids from the process water stream in a settling apparatus, providing a filter apparatus having a plurality of filter elements, and removing a portion of the settled solids from the settling apparatus. The method also includes precoating the filter elements with the settled solids removed from the settling apparatus, directing a portion of the process water stream from the settling apparatus to the filter apparatus, and filtering the portion of the process water stream directed from the settling apparatus through the precoated filter elements to remove suspended solids particles to form a filtrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Scott Kain, Priyadharshini Swaminathan, Dinh-Cuong Vuong
  • Patent number: 8720082
    Abstract: An improved desolventizer toaster and methods are provided wherein a solvent vapor recycle system may be employed to recycle solvent vapor throughout a portion of the desolventizer portion of the apparatus housing. In other embodiments of the invention, a water vapor recycle system may be employed to recycle water vapor throughout a portion of the toaster portion of the apparatus housing. The solvent vapor recycle system may comprise an appropriate meal dust separator, blower and superheater. The water vapor recycle system may comprise an appropriate ejector or blower and superheater. Water vapor recovered in the solvent extraction process may be used as a water vapor feed to the heated water vapor recycling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Desmet Ballestra North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy G. Kemper, Marc Kellens, Philippe Van Doosselaere
  • Patent number: 8721794
    Abstract: Lignocellulosic biomass hydrolysate fermentation broth may be processed to produce a high solids syrup having relatively low viscosity that has a high energy content and may be burned in a fermentation production process. The high solids syrup was achieved through liquid/solid separation of broth or depleted broth producing a thin stillage with low suspended solids allowing evaporation to high solids while maintaining low viscosity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: E I du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Susan Marie Hennessey, Rahul B. Kasat
  • Patent number: 8715506
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for separating minerals in drilling fluid based primarily on density. The separator creates and maintains a slurry with a controllable density for separating minerals from drill cuttings. The density is controlled through the use of an electrode array. The separator comprises a primary separation chamber containing the dense slurry, and a multiple number of secondary separation chambers used to separate cuttings from the drilling fluid. The invention also contains inlet hardware allowing the mixed mineral suspension to enter the first separation chamber, and hardware allowing the three outlet (separated) streams to exit the device. One of the three outlet streams carries the minerals that have a density greater than the user selectable density set point, while the second carries the minerals that have a density less than the density set point, and the third carries clean drilling fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: National Oilwell Varco, L.P.
    Inventor: Thomas R. Larson
  • Publication number: 20140116964
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for disposing of drill cuttings includes collecting drilling mud from a wellbore, the drilling mud comprising liquid and solids, separating the liquid from the solids in a first separation step, separating the liquid from the solids in a second separation step, and transferring the solids to a container with a vacuum pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: Clean Harbors Environmental Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Travis Griffin Bevan, Timothy Albert Rich, Justin Michael Roberts, Jonathan Michael Smith
  • Patent number: 8709262
    Abstract: Toxic organic materials contaminate water resources and one need to find an easy and energy efficient way to decontaminate water resources. The current invention discloses a photocatalyst Fe doped ZnO nano-particle photocatalyst that enables the decontamination process by degrading toxic organic material such as brilliant cresyl blue, indigo carmine and gentian blue by using solar light. In the current disclosure many examples of characterization of the photocatalyst, optimal working conditions and efficient use of solar light has been described. The process described to use the photocatalyst to degrade toxic organic material using the solar light to activate the photocatalyst is cost efficient and cheap to clean our water resources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: King Abdulaziz University
    Inventors: Abdullah Mohamed Asiri, Sher Bahadar Khan, Khalid Ahmad Alamry, Mohammed M Rahman, Mohamed Saeed Alamoodi
  • Patent number: 8709257
    Abstract: A method and system for purifying liquid using waste heat is provided. Initially, a liquid is mixed with an anti-sealant agent in a first filtering unit to form a liquid mixture. Thereafter, the liquid mixture is filtered in the first filtering unit to separate foreign objects from the liquid mixture. Subsequently, the liquid mixture is heated in a pipe arrangement connecting the first filtering unit and one or more second filtering units to generate steam. The steam obtained from the heated liquid mixture is then purified in the one or more second filtering units. Thereafter, the purified steam is condensed in the pipe arrangement to obtain the purified liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST)
    Inventors: Mazen Abdullah Ba-Abbad, Hany Abdulrahman Al-Ansary
  • Patent number: 8701896
    Abstract: A variety of improved hydroclone based fluid filtering systems are described. The hydroclones generally include a tank having an internal chamber and a filter (preferably a surface filter) that is positioned within the internal chamber. The filter defines a filtered fluid chamber within the internal chamber of the tank. The hydroclone may be operated such that a vortex of flowing fluid is formed between the chamber wall and the filter with the filter being located in the center of the vortex. With this arrangement, the filter acts as a cross-flow filter. In one aspect of the invention, a circulating cleaning assembly is provided in the hydroclone region. In yet another aspect of the invention, improved hydroclone intake structures are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: David J. Levitt, Frank Dutro