# US 12,179,144 B1 · Wastewater treatment apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,179,144 B1 - Document ID: US12179144B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 17/682,887 - Filed: 2022-02-28 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2021-02-26 - Assignees: Black Swan, LLC - Applicants: Brian Kolodji - Inventors: Brian Kolodji - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12179144B1 ## CPC - B01D 53/225: {Multiple stage diffusion} - C02F 1/727: {using pure oxygen or oxygen rich gas} - B01D 2256/12: Oxygen - B01D 2258/05: Biogas - C02F 2201/009: Apparatus with independent power supply, e.g. solar cells, windpower or fuel cells - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes) ## Abstract A system provides oxygen enriched air to a wastewater treatment aeration system by utilizing a membrane unit coupled with a vacuum-generating device which applies a vacuum to the membrane unit thereby pulling out a flow of permeate having an enriched oxygen component. An aeration blower receives the flow of permeate and pressurizes it for delivery to the wastewater treatment aeration system. The membrane units may be in a variety of configurations, including a shell-less membrane. The membrane unit may also provide a stream of oxygen enriched air to a biogas fired power plant or other flue gas generator. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for providing oxygen enriched air to a wastewater treatment aeration system comprising: a membrane unit comprising a membrane having a first surface and a second surface, the membrane configured such that as it receives atmospheric air comprising a first concentration of oxygen, the first concentration of oxygen is drawn into the first surface and passes through the membrane resulting in a permeate stream exiting the second surface wherein the permeate stream comprises a second concentration of oxygen greater than the first concentration of oxygen wherein the membrane unit comprises a plurality of membrane hollow fiber tubes set within a perforated shell; a vacuum-generating device configured to apply a vacuum to the membrane unit thereby pulling a flow of permeate from the membrane unit and discharge the flow of permeate at a pressure of atmospheric conditions or above; and an aeration blower which receives a first portion of the flow of permeate and pressurizes it for delivery to the wastewater treatment aeration system. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein a second portion of the flow of permeate is provided as an oxygen enriched air to a biogas fired power plant or any other flue gas generator. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2 wherein an exhaust gas stream from the biogas fired power plant or any other flue gas generator is transmitted to a heat recovery steam generator. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein membrane hollow fiber tubes have a first open end and a second open end and the membrane unit is configured for permeate flow from both the first open end and the second open end. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the membrane hollow fiber tubes have a first open end and a second open end and the membrane unit is configured for permeate flow from both the first open end and the second open end. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the membrane hollow fiber tubes have a first open end and a second closed end and the membrane unit is configured for permeate flow to the first open end. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a plurality of membrane units are configured into a membrane bank. ### Claim 8 A process for providing oxygen enriched air to a wastewater treatment aeration system comprising the steps of: directing a flow of air to a membrane unit comprising a membrane having a first surface and a second surface, the membrane configured such that as it receives atmospheric air comprising a first concentration of oxygen, the first concentration of oxygen is drawn into the first surface and passes through the membrane resulting in a permeate stream exiting the second surface wherein the permeate stream comprises a second concentration of oxygen greater than the first concentration of oxygen, wherein the membrane unit comprises membrane hollow fiber tubes set within a perforated shell; applying a vacuum to the membrane unit to pull a flow of permeate from the membrane unit; and directing a first portion of the flow of permeate to an aeration blower which pressurizes the first portion of permeate for delivery to the wastewater treatment aeration system. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The process of claim 8 including the steps of: obtaining a second portion of the flow of permeate; and providing the second portion of the flow of permeate as an oxygen enriched air to a biogas fired power plant or any other flue gas generator. ### Claim 10 A system for providing oxygen enriched air to a wastewater treatment aeration system comprising: a membrane unit comprising a plurality of membrane hollow fiber tubes set within a perforated shell, each membrane hollow fiber tube having an outer surface and an inner surface, each membrane hollow fiber tube configured such that as the membrane hollow fiber tube is exposed to atmospheric air comprising a first concentration of oxygen, the first concentration of oxygen is drawn into the outer surface and passes into an interior of the membrane hollow fiber tube resulting in a permeate stream which exits through an end of the membrane hollow fiber tube, wherein the permeate stream comprises a second concentration of oxygen greater than the first concentration of oxygen, a vacuum-generating device configured to apply a vacuum to the membrane unit thereby pulling a flow of permeate from the membrane unit and discharge the flow of permeate at a pressure of atmospheric conditions or above; and an aeration blower which receives a first portion of the flow of permeate and pressurizes it for delivery to the wastewater treatment aeration system. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 wherein a second portion of the flow of permeate is provided as an oxygen enriched air to a biogas fired power plant or any other flue gas generator. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11 wherein an exhaust gas stream from the biogas fired power plant or any other flue gas generator is transmitted to a heat recovery steam generator. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 wherein the membrane hollow fiber tubes have a first open end and a second open end and the membrane unit is configured for permeate flow from both the first open end and the second open end. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 wherein each of the membrane hollow fiber tubes have a first open end and a second open end and the membrane unit is configured for permeate flow from both the first open end and the second open end. ### Claim 15 A system for providing oxygen enriched air to a wastewater treatment aeration system comprising: a membrane unit comprising a plurality of membrane hollow fiber tubes, each of the membrane hollow fiber tubes having a first surface and a second surface and each of the membrane hollow fiber tubes comprising a first open end and a second closed end, the membrane unit configured such that as it receives atmospheric air comprising a first concentration of oxygen, the first concentration of oxygen is drawn into the first surface of each of the membrane hollow fiber tubes and passes through the membrane hollow fiber tube resulting in a permeate stream exiting the second surface wherein the permeate stream comprises a second concentration of oxygen greater than the first concentration of oxygen, wherein the permeate stream is configured to flow to the first open end of each of the membrane hollow fiber tubes; a vacuum-generating device configured to apply a vacuum to the membrane unit thereby pulling a flow of permeate from the membrane unit and discharge the flow of permeate at a pressure of atmospheric conditions or above; and an aeration blower which receives a first portion of the flow of permeate and pressurizes it for delivery to the wastewater treatment aeration system. ### Claim 16 A system for providing oxygen enriched air to a wastewater treatment aeration system comprising: a membrane comprising a sheet element comprising edges attached to a ribbed sheet, wherein a membrane envelope is defined between the sheet element and the ribbed sheet, the membrane having a first surface and a second surface, the membrane configured such that as it receives atmospheric air comprising a first concentration of oxygen, the first concentration of oxygen is drawn into the first surface and passes through the membrane resulting in a permeate stream exiting the second surface wherein the permeate stream comprises a second concentration of oxygen greater than the first concentration of oxygen; a vacuum-generating device configured to apply a vacuum to the membrane thereby pulling a flow of permeate from the membrane and discharge the flow of permeate at a pressure of atmospheric conditions or above; and an aeration blower which receives a first portion of the flow of permeate and pressurizes it for delivery to the wastewater treatment aeration system.