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US5635394A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Arrangement for air purification

Assignee: BIOREM TECHNOLOGIES Inc
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Filing: 1995-03-31
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Granted: 1997-06-03
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Expires: 2015-03-31
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Abstract

Abstract An arrangement for conducting air filtration by biofilter operation is provided. The arrangement generally includes at least one bioreactor bed, through which air to be purified is passed. Preferably the arrangement is configured so that air flow through each tank is from the top downwardly. In general, the biofiltration operation is conducted under pressures of less than ambient, to advantage.

Inventors

  • 👤 Robert J. Horn

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-30 15:27
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D53/00; B01D53/34; B01D53/74; B01D53/84; B01D53/85; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A50/00; Y02A50/20

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim 88 words
A biofilter arrangement for air treatment; said arrangement comprising: (a) a first bioreactor treatment tank having a closed top, a closed bottom and a sidewall and (b) an air draw apparatus constructed and arranged to draw air through said first bioreactor treatment tank, from an upper portion thereof to a bottom portion thereof, while maintaining a pressure within said first tank of less than ambient; (i) said biofilter arrangement being constructed and arranged to support operation with an air flow therethrough of up to at least 7500 ACFM.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 88 words
A biofilter arrangement for air treatment; said arrangement comprising: (a) a first bioreactor treatment tank having a closed top, a closed bottom and a sidewall and (b) an air draw apparatus constructed and arranged to draw air through said first bioreactor treatment tank, from an upper portion thereof to a bottom portion thereof, while maintaining a pressure within said first tank of less than ambient; (i) said biofilter arrangement being constructed and arranged to support operation with an air flow therethrough of up to at least 7500 ACFM.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 22 words
An arrangement according to claim 1 wherein: (a) said first bioreactor treatment tank is configured for downward air flow therethrough, during treatment.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 25 words
An arrangement according to claim 2 wherein: (a) said first bioreactor treatment tank includes a bioreactor bed therein which is at least one foot thick.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 77 words
A biofilter arrangement according to claim 1 including: (a) a second bioreactor treatment tank; said air draw apparatus being constructed and arranged: (i) to draw air downwardly through said second bioreactor treatment tank while maintaining pressure within said second tank at less than ambient; and, (ii) to first draw air through said first bioreactor treatment tank and then to direct air which has been drawn through said first bioreactor treatment tank through said second bioreactor treatment tank.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 25 words
An arrangement according to claim 4 wherein: (a) each of said first and second bioreactor treatment tanks is configured for downward airflow therethrough, during treatment.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 32 words
An arrangement according to claim 1 wherein: (a) said biofilter arrangement is constructed and arranged for continuous operation with a maximum pressure differential thereacross of at least about 15 inches of water.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 17 words
An arrangement according to claim 6 wherein: (a) said first bioreactor treatment tank comprises a plastic tank.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 19 words
An arrangement according to claim 7 wherein: (a) said first bioreactor treatment tank comprises a 9000 gallon PVC tank.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 33 words
An arrangement according to claim 1 wherein: (a) said first treatment tank comprises at least one drum having a first porous grate therein, and a reactor bed positioned on said first porous grate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 56 words
An arrangement according to claim 1 wherein: (a) said first treatment tank includes first and second porous grates therein; said second grate being positioned above said first grate; and (b) said first treatment tank includes: (i) a first reactor bed positioned on said first grate; and, (ii) a second reactor bed positioned on said second grate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 25 words
An arrangement according to claim 1 wherein: (a) said first bioreactor tank includes a water inlet in a top thereof, for selected introduction of nutrients.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 22 words
An arrangement according to claim 11 wherein: (a) said first bioreactor treatment tank is configured for downward air flow therethrough, during treatment.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 61 words
An arrangement according to claim 1 wherein: (a) said first bioreactor treatment tank is configured for downward air flow therethrough, during treatment; and (b) said first bioreactor treatment tank includes a first biofilter bed therein comprising at least a layer of rock and a layer of active bacteria-loaded mix; said layer of rock being positioned beneath said layer of bacteria-loaded mix.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 29 words
An arrangement according to claim 13 wherein: (a) said first biofilter bed includes a layer of bark chips between said layer of rock and said layer of bacteria-loaded mix.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 17 words
An arrangement according to claim 13 wherein: (a) said layer of bacteria-loaded mix includes peat and topsoil.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 136 words
A biofilter arrangement for air treatment; said arrangement comprising: (a) a first bioreactor treatment tank having a closed top, a closed bottom and a sidewall; (i) said first tank having a first dimension thereacross; (ii) said first tank having an air flow inlet in said closed top; said air flow inlet having a smaller dimension thereacross than said first dimension; (iii) said first tank including a bioreactor bed therein which is at least one foot thick and which has an upper surface spaced from said closed top of said first tank, by an open head space; (b) an air draw apparatus constructed and arranged to draw air downwardly through said first tank while maintaining a pressure of less than ambient within said tank, including in said head space between said bioreactor bed and said closed top.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 136 words
A biofilter arrangement for air treatment; said arrangement comprising: (a) a first bioreactor treatment tank having a closed top, a closed bottom and a sidewall; (i) said first tank having a first dimension thereacross; (ii) said first tank having an air flow inlet in said closed top; said air flow inlet having a smaller dimension thereacross than said first dimension; (iii) said first tank including a bioreactor bed therein which is at least one foot thick and which has an upper surface spaced from said closed top of said first tank, by an open head space; (b) an air draw apparatus constructed and arranged to draw air downwardly through said first tank while maintaining a pressure of less than ambient within said tank, including in said head space between said bioreactor bed and said closed top.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 77 words
A biofilter arrangement according to claim 16 including: (a) a second bioreactor treatment tank; said air draw apparatus being constructed and arranged: (i) to draw air downwardly through said second bioreactor treatment tank while maintaining pressure within said second tank at less than ambient; and, (ii) to first draw air through said first bioreactor treatment tank and then to direct air which has been drawn through said first bioreactor treatment tank through said second bioreactor treatment tank.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 25 words
An arrangement according to claim 17 wherein: (a) each of said first and second bioreactor treatment tanks is configured for downward airflow therethrough, during treatment.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 29 words
An arrangement according to claim 16 wherein: (a) said biofilter arrangement is constructed and arranged for operation with an air flow therethrough of up to at least 7500 ACFM.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 31 words
An arrangement according to claim 19 wherein: (a) said biofilter arrangement is constructed and arranged for operation with a maximum pressure differential thereacross of at least about 15 inches of water.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 17 words
An arrangement according to claim 20 wherein: (a) said first bioreactor treatment tank comprises a plastic tank.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 19 words
An arrangement according to claim 21 wherein: (a) said first bioreactor treatment tank comprises a 9000 gallon PVC tank.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 33 words
An arrangement according to claim 16 wherein: (a) said first treatment tank comprises at least one drum having a first porous grate therein, and a reactor bed positioned on said first porous grate.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 56 words
An arrangement according to claim 16 wherein: (a) said first treatment tank includes first and second porous grates therein; said second grate being positioned above said first grate; and (b) said first treatment tank includes: (i) a first reactor bed positioned on said first grate; and, (ii) a second reactor bed positioned on said second grate.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 25 words
An arrangement according to claim 16 wherein: (a) said first bioreactor tank includes a water inlet in a top thereof, for selected introduction of nutrients.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 45 words
An arrangement according to claim 16 wherein: (a) said first bioreactor treatment tank includes a first biofilter bed therein comprising at least a layer of rock and a layer of active bacteria-loaded mix; said layer of rock being positioned beneath said layer of bacteria-loaded mix.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 29 words
An arrangement according to claim 28 wherein: (a) said first biofilter bed includes a layer of bark chips between said layer of rock and said layer of bacteria-loaded mix.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 17 words
An arrangement according to claim 28 wherein: (a) said layer of bacteria-loaded mix includes peat and topsoil.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2000-06-02 2000-12-02 2001-06-03 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2004-06-02 2004-12-02 2005-06-03 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2008-06-02 2008-12-02 2009-06-03 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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