Christopher J Constantine

US Patent:

6500345, Dec 31, 2002

Filed:

Jun 20, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/885882

Inventors:

Christopher P. Constantine - Tenafly NJ
Richard E. Fredricks - Severna Park MD
Gerard J. Lynch - Bridgewater NJ

Assignee:

Maritime Solutions, Inc. - Tenafly NJ

International Classification:

C02F 132

US Classification:

210747, 210748, 210764, 210170, 210206, 210258, 2104161, 2105123

Abstract:

An apparatus and method for treating water to be supplied to a ballast tank uses a water pathway having a main inlet for connection to a body of navigable open raw water containing sediment and marine organisms, and a main outlet for connection to the vessels ballast tank(s). A centrifugal separator is provided in the pathway and has a separator inlet for receiving the raw water. The centrifugal separator separates sediment with some water from the raw water to produce initially processed water which contains at least some marine organisms. The separator has a first outlet for returning the sediment with some water to the body of raw water and a second outlet for supplying the initially processed water to the pathway. A UV or chemical biocidal mechanism is connected to the second outlet and is in the pathway downstream of the centrifugal separator from the main inlet for receiving the initially processed water and for killing and/or altering the DNA of the marine organisms in the initially processed water to produce treated ballast water. A ballast pump is connected in the pathway, in line with the biocidal mechanism for pumping water along the pathway between the main inlet and the main outlet, and through the centrifugal separator and the biocidal mechanism.

US Patent:

6599422, Jul 29, 2003

Filed:

Jun 20, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/885885

Inventors:

Christopher P. Constantine - Tenafly NJ
Richard E. Fredricks - Severna Park MD
Gerard J. Lynch - Bridgewater NJ

Assignee:

Maritime Solutions Technology, Inc. - Tenafly NJ

International Classification:

B01D 17038

US Classification:

2105123, 209725, 415204, 4152081

Abstract:

A centrifugal separator for purifying liquids containing impurities, has a main fluid conduit forming a passage with an inlet for receiving raw liquid to be purified, and first and second outlets. A discharge conduit is in the passage and is connected to the first outlet. A stator is positioned in the fluid passage for imparting an initial swirling axial movement to the raw liquid. A rotor positioned in the fluid passage upstream of the discharge conduit and downstream of the stator, imparts a further swirling axial movement to the raw water in the fluid passage for causing solids in the raw liquid to migrate outwardly. Clean liquid enters the discharge conduit to exit the separator via the first outlet, and solids laden liquid passes the discharge conduit and exits the separator via the second outlet.