U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20160046514 | PEPS - PORTABLE EVALUATION PILOT SKID - In the drinking water industry, pilot plants have played a big role in assisting water professionals, utilities, and engineering firms in generating information about the behavior of large full scale systems. Due to the identification of new contaminants, stringent regulations, and demand for improved water quality the demand for novel water treatment challenges across North America have significantly increased. A portable evaluation pilot skid (PEPS) accommodates all water qualities. A vent valve screen is mounted inside the contactor with holes large enough to prevent clogging. Air is introduced into the contactor prior to the screen. The screen is mounted such that it breaks the air into small bubbles creating the effect of a stone diffusor. Air flow is easily adjusted with a needle valve. | 02-18-2016 |
20150335025 | CHEMICAL INACTIVATION OF BACILLUS ANTHRACIS SPORES IN SOIL - A method for the inactivation of | 11-26-2015 |
20150090049 | FLOW IMAGING AND MONITORING FOR SYNCHRONIZED MANAGEMENT OF WIDE AREA DRAINAGE - A flow imaging and monitoring system for synchronized management of wide area drainage that includes an interposer for supporting monitoring and management equipment in a manhole, a module for illuminating water flowing in pipes at the base of the manhole, a module for monitoring responses to reflected light, a sealed and rechargeable battery pack, and a data analysis and management system to interpret data streams in real time. The interposer can be adjusted to fit the diameter of the manhole and can be adjusted to be placed under the manhole cover. The module for illuminating the flowing water can be adjusted to generate various frequencies. The support structures for the modules can be adjusted for varying pitch, roll and yaw with respect to the manhole. The data analysis and management system is supported by cloud computing. | 04-02-2015 |
20150020886 | DETAIN H2O - DETENTION POND RETROFIT DEVICE - Aspects of a detention pond retrofit device for detention basin outlet control provide structures designed to throttle stormwater flow and maintain the rate at which water is discharged from the system below Qcritical, the flow rate at which erosion and down cutting of the receiving stream would begin, based on channel morphology and bed material resistance. The primary goal of the device is to induce increased flow detention during low to moderate rain events, while providing similar hydraulic performance during large events to that of the detention basin performance prior to the installation of the retrofit unit. This is achieved through a âTâ or âYâ design with split flow paths, in which the lower path is hydraulically restricted through the installation of structures while the upper path is unrestricted. | 01-22-2015 |
20140338297 | ARTIFACT FREE INERT FILTER MEDIUM FOR COLLECTION OF ORGANIC PARTICLES - An artifact free inert filter medium for collection of organic particles is a fibrous material is developed that can be formed into filters used in ambient and indoor air sampling equipment for subsequent laboratory chemical analysis by one of several thermal optical or thermal analysis methods for the determination of organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), pyrolysis carbon (PC), and total carbon (TC, sum of OC+EC), carbon fractions determined by thermal or thermal-optical analysis methods (OC1, OC2, OC3, OC4, PC, EC1, EC2, EC3) as well can be analyzed in the laboratory for individual organic species by a range of thermal analysis and or extraction/analysis methods. | 11-20-2014 |
20140020349 | MULTI-FILTER CHEMICAL SPECIATION SAMPLER AND VIRTUAL IMPACTION PARTICLE SEPARATION INLET THEREFORE - A multi-filter chemical speciation sampler and a virtual impaction particle separation inlet therefore are provided. The inlet includes a housing having a bottom, a collection tube that extends through the bottom, and collection apertures formed in the bottom, arranged around the collection tube; a first plate disposed on top of the housing, having acceleration nozzles disposed at the perimeter thereof; a second plate disposed in the housing below the first plate, having a central aperture and separation apertures disposed around the central aperture. The sampler includes: an inlet; a virtual impaction separator to further fractionate the PM into a course fraction and a fine fraction; a first separation assembly to divide the course fraction into coarse aliquots, comprising first filters to collect the coarse aliquots; a second separation assembly to divide the fine fraction into fine aliquots, comprising second filters to collect the fine aliquots. | 01-23-2014 |
20130014499 | Methods for Safe Operation of Hydraulic Hybrid Vehicles with Over-Center Pump/Motors - Fail-safe methods for utilizing an over-center pump/motor in a hydraulic hybrid vehicle are disclosed. A high-pressure fluid shutoff valve and an optional electrically or manually operated valve are additionally provided as means to ensure disconnection of the high pressure source in the event of a failure. Displacement stroke position and pressure differentials across the pump/motor are continually monitored. On detection of various modes of failure or irregularity in control of displacement, actions are taken including any of: the high pressure and low pressure accumulators are shut off automatically or manually, a check valve between the high and low pressure ports of the pump/motor is activated, and a small amount of pressurized fluid is released from the high pressure circuit to depressurize the captive fluid. Safe startup and shutdown procedures are also specified. The system provides for safe operation of a hydraulic hybrid vehicle that includes an engine pump and drive motor, at least one of which operates over-center. The system optionally provides a displacement control valve that is controlled by feedback from an actuator or displacement position sensor and that on loss of electric power to the displacement control valve will cause the controlled pump/motor to stroke to a zero displacement position. | 01-17-2013 |
20120058904 | SPECIES-SPECIFIC PRIMER SETS AND IDENTIFICATION OF SPECIES-SPECIFIC DNA SEQUENCES USING GENOME FRAGMENT ENRICHMENT - Targeted sequencing of genetic regions that differ between two DNA preparations uses genomic fragment enrichment. This method can be used to study genetic variation among closely related species and microbial communities, particularly for identifying sources of fecal pollution. | 03-08-2012 |
20100089183 | MULTI-FILTER CHEMICAL SPECIATION SAMPLER AND VIRTUAL IMPACTION PARTICLE SEPARATION INLET THEREFORE - A multi-filter chemical speciation sampler and a virtual impaction particle separation inlet therefore are provided. The inlet includes a housing having a bottom, a collection tube that extends through the bottom, and collection apertures formed in the bottom, arranged around the collection tube; a first plate disposed on top of the housing, having acceleration nozzles disposed at the perimeter thereof; a second plate disposed in the housing below the first plate, having a central aperture and separation apertures disposed around the central aperture. The sampler includes: an inlet; a virtual impaction separator to further fractionate the PM into a course fraction and a fine fraction; a first separation assembly to divide the course fraction into coarse aliquots, comprising first filters to collect the coarse aliquots; a second separation assembly to divide the fine fraction into fine aliquots, comprising second filters to collect the fine aliquots. | 04-15-2010 |
20090320464 | On-demand power brake system and method - A hydraulic brake system includes a piston that separates a first pressure chamber from a second pressure chamber of a cylinder bore. A valve within a piston bore is movable between three positions. In the first position, the first and second pressure chambers are in fluid communication with a low-pressure fluid supply; in the second position, the second pressure chamber is isolated from the first pressure chamber and the low-pressure fluid supply; in the third position, a high-pressure fluid supply is in fluid communication with the second pressure chamber, allowing high-pressure fluid to flow into the second pressure chamber. High pressure in the second pressure chamber moves the boost piston, applying boosted braking pressure to a vehicle brake. Pressure in the second chamber against a surface of the valve biases the valve toward the first position. An accumulator stores pressurized fluid and provides the high-pressure fluid supply, enabling on-demand brake boosting force during engine-off operation of a hybrid vehicle. | 12-31-2009 |
20090203032 | SPECIES-SPECIFIC PRIMER SETS AND IDENTIFICATION OF SPECIES-SPECIFIC DNA SEQUENCES USING GENOME FRAGMENT ENRICHMENT - Targeted sequencing of genetic regions that differ between two DNA preparations uses genomic fragment enrichment. This method can be used to study genetic variation among closely related species and microbial communities, particularly for identifying sources of fecal pollution. | 08-13-2009 |
20090123959 | MICROORGANISM DISCRIMINATOR AND METHOD - A microorganism discriminator is disclosed, including a housing to incubate a sample in low-light conditions; a illuminator to irradiate the sample with a monochromatic blue light; an injector disposed in the housing, to deliver a viability discriminating dye to the sample; and a base connected to the housing and the illuminator, to transport the sample to the housing and to the illuminator. A method of discriminating viable microorganisms in a sample is disclosed, the method including: applying a sample to a filter; applying a viability discriminating dye to the filter, in a low-light environment; incubating the sample in the low-light environment; illuminating the filter with monochromatic blue light; and performing quantitative polymerase chain reaction (QPCR) on the sample. | 05-14-2009 |