Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present patent application claims the benefits of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/592,256, entitled “Gas &amp; Odor Filtering Device” and filed at the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Jan. 30, 2012, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention generally relates to device and method for filtering gases and odor. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    In most industries, several liquid waste and non-waste reservoirs require constant management. Several of these reservoirs generate odors due to gases emanating from such liquid wastes. Similarly, a liquid waste and non-waste often results in the emission of substantial amount of toxic gases which require constant capture, filtering and/or monitoring. 
         [0004]    Most of the reservoirs are now covered using diverse means. Known methods typically involve covering the liquid surface using solid materials such as geo-textile membranes, rigid aluminum panels or concrete. These methods are not only expensive; they also generally require extra equipments to treat the air trapped by these covers. In order to treat the air, activated carbon filters or chemical scrubbers may be used, along with powerful fans to draw the air through it. Others may sometimes use bio filters or UV degradation instead of the activated carbon filters or chemical scrubbers. However such methods require expensive fans and maintenance to insure proper functioning of the ventilation systems. 
         [0005]    Prior art currently employed alternatives to covering the liquids require spraying chemicals in the air over the liquid surface in an attempt to neutralize the odors emanating from such liquid. This type of chemical spraying generally implies a constant usage of mostly health hazards chemicals resulting in expenses for these chemicals along with maintenance of the dispersing system in addition to possible health hazard related to the uses of such chemicals. 
         [0006]    In view of the foregoing, there is a need for a gas and/or odor filtering device and related method that mitigate at least some of the shortcoming of prior art devices and methods. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention will provide a modular gas &amp; odor filtering device and method that mitigates at least some of the shortcomings of the prior art. The gas and odor filtering device and method are designed from a floating structure in combination with a filtering cartridge wherein the filtering cartridge enables capture and/or filtration of emissions. The present device for filtering gases and odor (also referred to as gaseous emission) emitted by liquid surfaces may be used as a single unit or may be combined with other similar unit as a modular assembly. 
         [0008]    The device comprises a frame structure and a filtering cartridge. The frame structure is substantially made from floating materials enabling the device to float on a liquid surface. The frame structure is typically configured to hold the filtering cartridge in its center and above the liquid surface. Such configuration allows the gaseous emissions to reach the filtering cartridge before being emitted into ambient air, thus reducing the perceived odor. 
         [0009]    The device in accordance with the principles of the present invention allows the covering of a plurality of liquid surfaces and the filtering of their gaseous emissions embedded in a single device or assembly. Such solution is generally not possible with existing prior art devices as one type of device shall be use with a single liquid surface. 
         [0010]    The present invention provides a modular solution for covering a liquid surface and filtering its emissions, thus reducing the construction cost typically involved with existing systems, such as geo-textile, aluminum or concrete offerings. In addition, it allows the treatment of air going through the device by using a passive filtration system. In other words, the device in accordance with the principles of the present invention does not require heavy ventilation system in order to force the air through the filters. The gases, in order to reach the ambient air must substantially go through the filtering means. Generally, the gases will have to go through filtering means such as activated carbon filtering cartridge, saving on expensive ventilation systems and maintenance and avoid using continuous supply of chemicals 
         [0011]    The filtering device may be used on numerous types of liquid surface areas such as aerated liquid basins, non-aerated liquid basins, lagoons, anaerobic lagoons, open-air tanks, activated sludge, tailing ponds, aeration ponds, and clarifiers. In some embodiments, the filtering device may be used in many different industries such as, but not limited to, the mining industry, oil sands industries, oil and gas industry, municipal and industrial waste water treatment, agro-food businesses, composting industries, and landfills. 
         [0012]    The filtering device may treat the gases emitted by the above mentioned surfaces and may treat and/or capture the odors from these gases. In some embodiments, the device may be unitary to comprise a single floating filtering unit. 
         [0013]    In other embodiments, a plurality of floating filtering devices, which may be attached to each other, can be deployed to spread and float across a larger surface. 
         [0014]    In typical yet non-limitative embodiments, the filter device is shaped such as to allow modular combination of several filtering devices to be used as a single system. In such embodiments, the filtering device may have a substantially regular hexagonal shape, thereby enabling the device to form a honeycomb-like structure with other devices. The devices may be self assembled on the liquid surface without any attachment means or may be attached as to remain in a desired or required structural form. 
         [0015]    According to one aspect of the present embodiment, the number of floating filtering devices to be used in a multi-device system may be function or relative to the amount and/or type of gases emitted by the liquid surface and/or to the filtering power required to filter the unwanted gases. As such, for mildly emitting liquid surfaces, a lower number of different medium in the filtering cartridge or smaller thickness may be used to filter the emitted gases whereas, whereas for higher emitting liquid surfaces, a significantly thicker filtering cartridge and/or different media may be required. 
         [0016]    One of the advantages of the filtering device in accordance with the principles of the present invention is the modularity, wherein several devices may be easily assembled into a multi-device system for covering larger liquid surface. The modularity allows the covering of any surface of any size. One skilled in the art will understand that the filtering device in accordance with the principles of the present invention eases the installation of such a device on a water surface of any liquid density. Similarly, the device may adapt to any level of fluid within a certain pool or container and variation of this liquid level through time. Accordingly, as a filtering cartridge may need to be replaced, a filtering device may be easily removed from a multi-device system and replaced by a new device without having to replace other devices, thus minimizing the maintenance costs and the effort required to replace a device. The installation of such a device may be achieved by a single person, and without specific skills. In addition, it is even possible to have a single person responsible for the maintenance of the filtering cartridges. 
         [0017]    The present device is typically configured to be assembled in a floating filtering device assembly wherein the assembly comprises a plurality of device. The device would generally naturally fit together on an enclosed fluid surface as to maximize the covering of the liquid surface. Understandably, the covering of the liquid surface will be maximized provided that enough filtering devices are present. The devices are typically attached together via fastening means, such as, but not limited to, screws, nut and bolt, interlocking systems, clamps, hooks or joints. Additionally, for more flexibility, the attached devices may be flexibly attached to one another as to allow movement of the underneath fluid. 
         [0018]    The filtering cartridge substantially reduces the concentration of gas and odorous emissions emanating from a fluid surface, especially when the covering of such surface is maximized. 
         [0019]    In some embodiments, the device may allow a plurality of filtering cartridges to be stacked on top of one another. In such embodiments, more layer of filtering may be added to increase the efficiency of the system. As an example, the first layer could be a specific filter for treating a first gas X and the second layer could be for treating a second gas Y which remains in a substantial concentration present even after having gone though the first filter layer. 
         [0020]    According to another aspect of the invention, for more emitting liquid surfaces, the present invention allows the stacking of multiple devices one on top of the others in order to multiply the layers of filters. Such cases may arise when the first layer is already using the maximum thickness of cartridge whereas there is still a further need for additional filtration. 
         [0021]    In some embodiments, the device may be configured such that several devices can be stacked one above the other. Stacked devices may be used for more emitting liquid surfaces in order to multiply the layers of filters. Such cases may arise when the first layer is already using the maximum thickness of cartridge whereas there is still a further need for additional filtration. 
         [0022]    Understandably, when deployed as a multi-device system, the plurality of devices may comprise different types of filter cartridge to allow the filtering of different gases and emissions over a single liquid surface. 
         [0023]    Other and further aspects and advantages of the present invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiments about to be described or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice. The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0024]    The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0025]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a single filtering device in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 2  is a side view of a single filtering device in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 3  is side view of the filtering cartridge in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a modular filtering device comprising a plurality of filtering units assembled on a liquid surface in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 5  is side view of the filtering cartridge in accordance with the present invention showing a plurality of stacked filtering units. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0030]    A novel modular gas and odor filtering device and related system and method will be described hereinafter. Although the invention is described in terms of specific illustrative embodiments, it is to be understood that the embodiments described herein are by way of example only and that the scope of the invention is not intended to be limited thereby. 
         [0031]    In the present embodiment, the floating filtering device is configured to reduce gaseous emissions of a water or fluid surface. While the foregoing written description of the invention enables a person of ordinary skills in the art to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention as claimed. 
         [0032]    Now referring to  FIG. 1 , a filtering device  10  in accordance with the principles of the present invention is shown. The filtering device  10  is typically floatable to allow the device to be installed on a liquid surface. The device is generally used to cover a liquid surface. The filtering device  10  comprises a frame  14  and a filtering cartridge  22 . 
         [0033]    The filtering cartridge  22  is typically attached to the floatable frame  14  of the filtering device  10 . The filtering cartridge  22  is typically centrally located on the filtering device  10 . The frame  14  is configured such that the filtering cartridge  22  is held above the liquid surface. However, in other embodiments, the frame may be made or constructed with floatable material allowing the floatation of the filtering device  10 . The filtering cartridge  22  may be supported by a ledge  16 . Such a ledge  16  is typically part of the floatable frame  14 . The floating filtering device is generally configured to be assembled with a plurality of other similar floating filtering device forming a filtering assembly. 
         [0034]    Still referring to  FIG. 1 , in the present embodiment, the floating frame  14  may be designed in two parts, the top portion  60  and the bottom portion  65 . The top  60  and bottom  65  portions interlock as to allow the filter cartridge  22  to be held in the middle  12  of the modular unit. In order to optimize the space utilized during shipping, the top portion  60  may be designed to allow stacking of one portion into the other. The same may apply to the bottom portion  65 ; it may stack one portion on top of the other. Accordingly, it is possible to ship each part separately as to use the smaller amount of space possible. 
         [0035]    In another embodiments, the floating frame  14  could be made unitary. 
         [0036]    Still referring to  FIG. 1 , the configuration and structural details of the device according to the present invention are presented. The frame  14  is a structural element of the filtering device  10  and may be made of polymeric material (e.g. plastic) or of any other sufficiently rigid and strong material that is sufficiently buoyancy positive. The material of the frame  14  shall also be resistant to the gases, vapors and/or emissions of the liquid surface and be resistant to the content of such a liquid. 
         [0037]    Now referring to  FIG. 2 , the frame  14  comprises a plurality of side walls  20 . Each wall of the plurality of side walls  20  is typically shaped to hold the filtering cartridge  22  above the water surface. The filtering cartridge  22  is generally held above the liquid surface as to prevent liquid from obstructing the filtering cartridge  22 . 
         [0038]    Now referring to  FIG. 3 , the filtering cartridge  22  is shown as a side view. The filtering cartridge  22  is generally made of a plurality of filtering elements  30  held in place by a plurality of cartridge walls  32 , typically two. Each cartridge wall  32  typically comprises one or more openings allowing a substantial volume of air and/or gases to go through. A cartridge wall  32  may hold various thickness of filtering elements  30 . The filtering elements  30  may also be composed of various types of materials or mixtures, such as activated carbon, photo-catalytic membrane, organic compound and/or other gas and odor filtering medium. Each filtering element  30  is generally configured to absorb and/or degrade one or more of the gases emitted by the liquid surface. 
         [0039]    Now referring to  FIG. 4 , in another embodiment, a multi-device assembly  40  comprising a plurality of modular filtering devices  10  is shown. Each modular filtering device  10  comprises one or more attachment means enabling the assembly of a plurality modular filtering device  10  with each other. The surface covered by such an assembly  40  is typically related to the volume of gases emitted by the liquid surface. Accordingly, the larger the surface the filtering assembly covers, the higher the volume of gases will be filtered. 
         [0040]    One of the advantages of the present device, without limitation, is its modularity. By being able to combine several devices  10  together into a multi-device assembly  40 , it is possible to cover a substantial portion of surface of any size. In fact, the covered surface is maximized as the shape of each filtering device  10  fits with adjacent deices  10  as best shown in  FIG. 4 . Furthermore, an assembly  40  of a plurality of filtering devices  10  eases the installation of a gas and emission filtering system over a liquid surface of any density and allows the replacement of the filtering cartridge when needed. The installation of such an assembly  40  or of a single filtering device  10  may be executed by a single person. Such an assembly  40  of filtering devices  10  will naturally fit together on an enclosed liquid surface to maximize the covering provided that there are enough devices  10 . The filtering cartridge will provide a reduction of gas and odorous emissions coming from the surface when the coverage is maximized. 
         [0041]    Now referring to  FIG. 5 , in the present embodiment, the device  10  is configured such that several devices  10  may be vertically stacked one above the other. The number of allowed stacked filtering device  10  is related to the floatation capability of filtering device floating on the liquid surface. To that effect, in an assembly  40  comprising a plurality of filtering devices  10  attached to each another, a larger surface will allow a higher number of devices  10  to be stacked as the floatation or buoyancy of the assembly  40  is increased. Such a stack of filtering devices  10 , either installed as an assembly  40  or as a single unit, can provide a plurality of filtering layers, thus increasing the filtering capability or allowing the filtering of different types of gases or emissions. In order to be stackable, a filtering device  10  may comprise an interlocking mechanism  25 ,  27  build or molded into the floatable frame  14  structures (see also  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). In other embodiments, other mechanisms to allow the stacking of multiple filtering devices  10  may be used. 
         [0042]    The vertical stacking of a plurality of filtering devices  10  typically comprises the placement of a device  10  on top of another device  10  and the alignment of the male interlocking members  25  into the female interlocking members  27  along a substantially vertical axis  50 ,  52 . 
         [0043]    The filtering device  10  in accordance with the principles of the present invention may generally be used on various types of surface areas, such as, but not limited to, aerated basins, non-aerated basins, lagoons, anaerobic lagoons, open-air tanks, activated sludge, tailing ponds, aeration ponds, and clarifiers. The filtering device  10  in accordance with the principles of the present invention will generally capture and/or treat at least some of the gases being emitted by theses surfaces thereby reducing the odors resulting from such gases. 
         [0044]    A method to install and use a filtering device  10  or an assembly  40  of filtering devices  10  is now presented. The method allows one or more filtering devices  10  to be installed on any water or liquid of an open reservoir. A plurality of devices  10  may be placed onto the liquid surface without being assembled. The devices  10  will substantially float on top of the fluid level. Such flotation is especially desired for reservoirs having substantial level variations. As such, the modular device  10  will be leveled with the fluid surface and will filter the gases emanating from such surface. Typically, gases will emanate from the fluid of the surface and reach the filter. The filter will then treat and/or degrade a significant amount of the emanated gases thereby removing the odor resulting from such gases. 
         [0045]    While illustrative and presently preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in detail hereinabove, it is to be understood that the inventive concepts may be otherwise variously embodied and employed and that the appended claims are intended to be construed to include such variations except insofar as limited by the prior art.

Technology Category: 7