# US 2014/0197113 A1 · Systems and apparatus for removal of harmful algae blooms (hab) and transparent exopolymer particles (tep) > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0197113 A1 - Document ID: US20140197113A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/740,752 - Filed: 2013-01-14 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-14 - Assignees: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated - Applicants: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated - Inventors: Armin R. Volkel; Meng H. Lean; Norine E. Chang; Huangpin B. Hsieh - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140197113A1 ## CPC - C02F 1/38: by centrifugal separation - B01D 21/265: {by using a vortex inducer or vortex guide, e.g. coil (B01D21/0054 takes precedence)} - B63B 35/00: Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for - E02B 15/04: Devices for cleaning or keeping clear the surface of open water from oil or like floating materials by separating or removing these materials ({stopping water-borne material in artificial water canals E02B5/085; stopping water-borne material at barrages or weirs E02B8/023}; other treatment of water, waste water or sewage C02F; materials for treating liquid pollutants, e.g. oil, gasoline, fat, C09K3/32 {; separation of oil in sewage conduits E03F5/16}) - B01D 2221/06: Separation devices for industrial food processing or agriculture - B63C 9/28: Adaptations of vessel parts or furnishings to life-saving purposes - C02F 1/52: by flocculation or precipitation of suspended impurities {(C02F1/463 takes precedence)} - C02F 2103/08: Seawater, e.g. for desalination - C02F 2201/008: Mobile apparatus and plants, e.g. mounted on a vehicle - C02F 2201/009: Apparatus with independent power supply, e.g. solar cells, windpower or fuel cells - C02F 2303/24: Separation of coarse particles, e.g. by using sieves or screens - Y02A 20/212: Solar-powered wastewater sewage treatment, e.g. spray evaporation - Y02W 10/37: using solar energy - Y10S 210/923: using mechanical means, e.g. skimmers, pump - 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) - 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) - B63B: SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING (arrangements of vessel ventilation, heating, cooling, or air-conditioning B63J2/00; floating substructures as supports of dredgers or soil-shifting machines E02F9/06) - E02B: HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING (ship-lifting E02C; dredging E02F) - B63C: LAUNCHING, HAULING-OUT, OR DRY-DOCKING OF VESSELS; LIFE-SAVING IN WATER; EQUIPMENT FOR DWELLING OR WORKING UNDER WATER; MEANS FOR SALVAGING OR SEARCHING FOR UNDERWATER OBJECTS (floating nets, floating slipways, or the like for recovering aircraft from the water B63B35/52) - Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE - Y02W: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS ## Abstract A mobile HEB and TEP mitigation device includes a mobile body capable of movement within or upon a body of water. Located within the mobile body is a hydrodynamic separation system which includes a water inlet, a hydrodynamic separation unit and a collection tank. The hydrodynamic separation unit includes two outputs, one for a clean stream output line containing clean water and arranged to re-circulate the clean water, and another for a concentrate stream output line, the concentrate stream output line configured to place concentrated water containing potentially harmful bio-organic materials into the collection tank. Also included on the mobile body is a power source and an engine/steering unit, wherein the steering portion of the engine/steering unit provides a capacity to move the mobile body in an intended direction. The mitigation device may also be used as an embedded part of an on-shore arrangement. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A harmful algae bloom (HAB) and/or transparent exopolymer particle (TEP) mitigation device comprising: a mobile body capable of movement within or upon a body of water; a hydrodynamic separation system located on the mobile body, wherein the hydrodynamic separation system includes a water inlet for inputting water from the body of water within or upon which the mobile body is located, a hydrodynamic separation unit arranged to receive the water from the water inlet, and a collection tank, wherein the hydrodynamic separation unit includes two (bi-furcated) outputs, a first output being a clean stream output line containing clean water and arranged to re-circulate the clean water back into the body of water, and a second output being a concentrate stream output line, the concentrate stream output line configured to place concentrate water containing harmful bio-organics found in at least one of HAB and TEP infested waters into the collection tank; a power source located on the mobile body; and an engine/steering unit, the engine/steering unit in operative connection to the power source to receive power to motivate movement of the mobile body, and wherein the steering portion of the engine/steering unit provides a capacity to move the mobile body in an intended direction. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The mobile device of claim 1 further including a navigation unit to control movement of the mobile device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The mobile device of claim 1 further including a sensor configured to detect the presence or absence of bio-organics found in HAB and/or TEP infested waters. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The mobile device of claim 1 wherein the sensor is an optical sensor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The mobile device of claim 1 further including; a sensor configured to detect the presence or absence of HAB and/or TEP infested waters; an inlet door or cover configured and positioned to cover and uncover the inlet; and an inlet door/cover controller configured to receive a signal from the sensor, wherein the inlet door/cover controller acts to close the inlet door/cover over the inlet opening when the sensor senses the absence of HAB and/or TEP infested waters and the inlet door/cover controller acts to open the inlet door/cover when the sensor senses the presence of HAB and/or TEP infested waters. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The mobile device of claim 1 wherein the power source includes at least one of a fuel, a battery, a solar based power supply, a wind turbine. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The mobile device of claim 1 wherein the hydrodynamic separation system includes a plurality of hydrodynamic separation units. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The mobile device of claim 1 further including a second collection tank in operative connection with the collection tank, wherein the bio-organics are concentrated in the collection tank and then the concentrated bio-organics are provided to the second collection tank. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The mobile device of claim 1 wherein the mobile device operates below the surface of the water. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The mobile device of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the mobile device is above the surface of the water. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The mobile device of claim 1 further including a flocculent dosing system which is implemented between the inlet and the hydrodynamic separation unit. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The mobile device of claim 1 further including a filter arrangement located between the inlet and the hydrodynamic separation unit. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The mobile device of claim 1 wherein the inlet is configured to produce an average shear rate in the range of 100/s to 5000/s. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The mobile device of claim 1 wherein the removal of the bio-organic material maintains the bio-organic material in a non-ruptured state. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The mobile device of claim 1 wherein the hydrodynamic separation unit includes at least one curved portion that spans between 180 degrees and 360 degrees of angular distance along a diameter thereof. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The mobile device of claim 1 wherein the hydrodynamic separator system includes a plurality of curved hydrodynamic separation units in a stacked configuration where the separation units are in series to one another such that a concentrate exit of an upstream separation unit is connected to an inlet of a downstream separation unit and the inlet of a first separation unit is operatively connected to the source water inlet. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The mobile device of claim 1, further including a disinfection module to disinfect the bio-organic material. ### Claim 18 A system for the removal of bio-organic material from a source of raw seawater and freshwater, the system comprising: at least one inlet for receiving at least one of raw seawater and freshwater; and a membrane-less hydrodynamic separator unit arrangement including at least one separator unit for removing bio-organic material from the at least one of raw seawater and freshwater, the hydrodynamic separator unit having a curved configuration leading to a bifurcated outlet operative for passing treated seawater and/or freshwater via one outlet and for containment of concentrate fluid via another outlet; wherein the system is a stationary system configured as part of a water treatment plant, that treats one of seawater and freshwater. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system as set forth in claim 18 wherein the bio-organic material comprises phytoplankton, algae, diatoms, seawater organisms, and TEP. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The system as set forth in claim 18 wherein the treated clean stream can be returned to the source of the raw seawater. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The system as set forth in claim 18 wherein the separator unit comprises at least one curved portion that spans between 180 degrees and 360 degrees of angular distance along a diameter thereof. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The system as set forth in claim 21 wherein the raw seawater and/or freshwater is prescreened to remove large particulate matter. ### Claim 23 (depends on 18) The system as set forth in claim 18 wherein the hydrodynamic separator unit arrangement includes a plurality of curved particle separation units stacked such that the units are parallel to one another and all of the units are operatively connected to the inlet. ### Claim 24 A method of removing a harmful algae bloom (HAB) and/or transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) comprising: moving a mobile body within or upon a body of water; operating a hydrodynamic separation system located on the mobile body, wherein operation of the hydrodynamic separation system includes inputting water into a water inlet from the body of water within or upon which the mobile body is located, receiving into a hydrodynamic separation unit, and a collection tank, wherein the hydrodynamic separation unit includes two (bi-furcated) outputs, a first output being a clean stream output line containing clean water and arranged to re-circulate the clean water back into the body of water, and a second output being a concentrate stream output line, the concentrate stream output line configured to place concentrate water containing harmful bio-organics found in at least one of HAB and TEP infested waters into a collection tank of the hydrodynamic separation system; powering the mobile body via a power source located on the mobile body; and moving and steering the mobile body via an engine/steering unit, the engine/steering unit in operative connection to the power source to receive power to motivate movement of the mobile body.