RICHARD A NOVAK
Engineers in Naperville, IL

2013000, Jan 3, 2013

Jun 12, 2012

13/494528

Richard A. Novak - Naperville IL, US
Monica de Gracia - San Sebastian (Gipuzkoa), ES
Andoni Urruticoechea - Pasaia (Gipuzkoa), ES
Asun Larrea - Tolosa (Gipuzkoa), ES
John F. Billingham - Getzville NY, US

C02F 3/00, B01D 65/02, B01D 61/00

210 962

An advanced control system for a membrane bioreactor based wastewater treatment plant is disclosed. The disclosed control system comprises a membrane bioreactor (MBR) system and a microprocessor based controller that receives signals corresponding to selected measured MBR parameters and calculates or estimates one or more MBR calculated parameters including Membrane Conductivity (Fxc); and/or Oxygen Uptake Rate (OUR). The microprocessor based controller compares one or more calculated or estimated MBR parameters to prescribed setpoints or desired ranges and governs one or more pumps and valves in the MBR system to adjust the cleaning cycle the MBR system, the MBR flows in the MBR system, or the influent flow to the biological basin in response thereto.

7699986, Apr 20, 2010

May 9, 2008

12/117791

Richard A. Novak - Naperville IL, US
Malcolm Fabiyi - LaGrange Park IL, US
Amitabh Gupta - Naperville IL, US

Praxair Technology, Inc. - Danbury CT

C02F 3/00

210620, 210621, 210623, 210624, 210626, 210628

An activated sludge wastewater treatment method is provided. The disclosed method includes: receiving a stream of wastewater into a mixed liquor in an uncovered activated sludge basin; introducing high purity oxygen to the mixed liquor in the activated sludge basin to produce euoxic conditions (i. e. a dissolved oxygen level in the range of between about 5 mg to 15 mg) in the activated sludge basin; passing a portion of the mixed liquor in the activated sludge basin through a clarifier to separate activated sludge and produce an effluent stream and an activated sludge stream; and recycling a portion of the activated sludge stream to the activated sludge basin to produce a mixed liquor having a solids loading of between about 3000 mg and about 10000 mg of suspended solids per liter of mixed liquor and a solids retention time of between about 7 days and 40 days.

2013014, Jun 6, 2013

Nov 30, 2012

13/690956

Malcolm E. Fabiyi - Chicago IL, US
Richard A. Novak - Naperville IL, US
Randall B. Marx - Glen Ellyn IL, US

C02F 1/78

210604, 210739, 210 961

A system and method for ozone vent gas reuse is provided. The disclosed system and method involve controlling or conditioning the ozone vent gas stream or degassing unit vent gas stream and directing the stream to a mechanically agitating contactor in an aerobic section of the wastewater treatment system. The oxygen content of the vent gas stream is controlled so as to ensure sufficient oxygenation to the aerobic section of the wastewater treatment system. Control may be effected by adjusting the oxygen content of the vent gas stream in response to sensor or measurement inputs characterizing the gas contents of the vent gas stream or the dissolved oxygen levels. The volumetric flow of the vent gas stream to the aerobic section may also be controlled by adjusting the rotational speed of the mechanically agitating contactor in an aerobic section of the wastewater treatment system.

7309432, Dec 18, 2007

Sep 29, 2006

11/541100

Malcolm Ezekiel Fabiyi - Lagrange Park IL, US
Richard A. Novak - Naperville IL, US

Praxair Technology, Inc. - Danbury CT

C02F 3/00

210604, 210760, 210220, 210150, 210194, 210197, 210614, 210620, 210 97

A system and method for the treatment and reduction of sludge via ozonation in a wastewater treatment process is disclosed. The sludge treatment system comprises: a sludge ozonation reactor coupled to an activated sludge treatment basin and adapted to receive a liquid stream of sludge containing biosolids from the activated sludge treatment basin. The sludge treatment system also includes an ozone-enriched gas injection system operatively coupled to the reactor and adapted to inject ozone-enriched gas into the liquid stream at or upstream of the sludge ozonation reactor. The sludge ozonation reactor is configured to allow effective gas-liquid contacting between the ozone-enriched gas and the liquid stream so as to oxidize the biosolids in the liquid stream and initiate bacterial cell lysis thereby reducing the biosolids. Upon reduction of the biosolids, the liquid stream is returned via a return line to the activated sludge basin or other discharge point.

2008014, Jun 26, 2008

Feb 14, 2008

11/959825

Karen Anne Connery - Westmont IL, US
Richard A. Novak - Naperville IL, US
Simon Ho - Naperville IL, US
Amitabh Gupta - Naperville IL, US
Robert Marcel De Wilde - St. Niklaas, BE

C23C 8/20

148206

A method of oxygen-free heat treatment of a steel part in an atmospheric pressure furnace is disclosed. The present batch treatment process employs an oxygen-free controlled gas atmosphere including hydrogen gas in concentrations between about 1.0 percent to 10.0 percent, a hydrocarbon gas, such as propylene, in concentrations of between about 0.1 percent and 10.0 percent that varies as a function of time, with the balance of the gas atmosphere being nitrogen. The present continuous furnace treatment process employs a plurality of zones with each zone including an oxygen-free controlled gas atmosphere including hydrogen gas in concentrations between about 1.0 percent to 10.0 percent that varies across the different zones, a hydrocarbon gas, such as propylene, in concentrations of between about 0.1 percent and 10.0 percent that varies across the different zones, with the balance of the gas atmosphere within each zone being nitrogen. The presently disclosed oxygen-free heat treatment processes, preferably carburization processes, use a precisely controlled atmosphere to minimize inter-granular oxidation, eliminate the formation of soot and cementite or other metallic carbides, and avoid hydrogen embrittlement.

7699980, Apr 20, 2010

May 9, 2008

12/117785

Richard A. Novak - Naperville IL, US
Malcolm Fabiyi - LaGrange Park IL, US
Amitabh Gupta - Naperville IL, US

Praxair Technology, Inc. - Danbury CT

C02F 3/00

210150, 210151, 210197, 210220, 210760

An activated sludge wastewater treatment system is provided. The disclosed system includes: an uncovered activated sludge basin; a high purity oxygen aeration system; a secondary clarifier; a return activated sludge line and a waste activated sludge line; wherein the system operates at a solids loading of between about 3000 mg and about 10000 mg of suspended solids per liter of mixed liquor; a dissolved oxygen level in the aeration basin in the range of between about 5 mg to 15 mg; and a solids retention time of between about 7 days and 40 days.

2013014, Jun 6, 2013

Nov 26, 2012

13/685330

Richard A. Novak - Naperville IL, US
Malcom E. Fabiyi - Chicago IL, US

C02F 3/30

210603, 210630, 210614, 210150, 210 961, 210620

Method and system for treating wastewater includes treating sludge with ozone in a plug-flow type reactor to cause lysis of biosolids in the sludge. The ozonated sludge may be provided to an anaerobic or anoxic section of the wastewater treatment system to aid the denitrification processes occurring in the anaerobic or anoxic section of the wastewater treatment system or to other sections of the wastewater treatment system such as a fermenter, an aerobic digester, or an anaerobic digester.

2008007, Apr 3, 2008

Nov 2, 2006

11/591894

Malcolm Ezekiel Fabiyi - Lagrange Park IL, US
Richard Novak - Naperville IL, US

C02F 3/02

210626, 210631

A system and method for the treatment of wastewater is disclosed. The disclosed wastewater treatment system includes a high selectivity reactor coupled to a wastewater treatment reactor, such as an activated sludge treatment basin, membrane bioreactor or sequencing batch reactor. The high selectivity reactor is adapted to receive a liquid stream containing biosolids diverted directly or indirectly from the wastewater treatment reactor. The wastewater treatment system also includes a chemical injection subsystem operatively coupled to the high selectivity reactor and adapted to inject a chemical, such as ozone-enriched gas, into the diverted liquid stream to effect highly selective treatment of the diverted stream. The treated liquid stream is subsequently sent via a return line to the continuously stirred tank reactor or other discharge point.

2013020, Aug 15, 2013

Aug 16, 2012

13/587128

Malcolm E. FABIYI - Chicago IL, US
Karen CONNERY - Downers Grove IL, US
Mark Witawat WATTANAPANOM - Chicago IL, US
Richard A. NOVAK - Naperville IL, US

B01F 3/04

366102, 261 31

A method and apparatus for injecting a gas into a liquid in which a rotating helical impeller within a draft tube submerged in the liquid creates a liquid flow within the draft tube. Gas bubbles are injected into the draft tube either above or below or alongside the helical impeller or in all three locations. The liquid is drawn into the draft tube with a superficial velocity greater than a substantially uniform terminal ascent velocity of the gas bubbles to allow entrainment of undissolved gas bubbles in the bulk liquid into the liquid being drawn into the draft tube. The gas bubbles are injected with a uniform diameter of between about 10.0 microns and about 1.0 millimeters. The small bubble size enhances the dissolution of the gas into the liquid and also allow the entrainment of the gas into the liquid being drawn into the draft tube.

7455776, Nov 25, 2008

Nov 21, 2006

11/602519

Malcolm Ezekiel Fabiyi - Lagrange Park IL, US
Richard A Novak - Naperville IL, US

Praxair Technology, Inc. - Danbury CT

C02F 3/00

210620, 210629

A system and method for mixing high viscous liquids with gas is provided. The disclosed embodiments include a reactor or mixing vessel having a draft tube disposed therein, a gas injection subsystem adapted to inject gas into the reactor or mixing vessel proximate the entrance of the draft tube. The embodiments also include an agitator disposed within the draft tube which makes the draft tube the primary site for the gas-liquid mixing. In particular, the agitator is adapted to create gas bubbles having an average diameter between about 0. 3 mm and 3. 0 mm which are then ejected into the reactor or mixing vessel. The mass transfer efficiency associated with the present system and method is enhanced from the combined effect of gas dissolution into the high viscous liquid within the draft tube and greater bubble residence time within the high viscous liquid.