Jan C Allen

US Patent:

6383803, May 7, 2002

Filed:

Jun 29, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/896904

Inventors:

Jan Allen - Shoreline WA
Chuck Kemper - Wilsonville OR

Assignee:

CH2M Hill, Inc. - Denver CO

International Classification:

C12M 100

US Classification:

4352901, 4352902, 4352904, 4352971, 71 9

Abstract:

A portable and reconfigurable composting apparatus for controlling the airflow to and from a plurality of aerated static composting piles. The composting apparatus includes an air blower having an air intake and an air output. A suction manifold is attached in fluid communication with the air intake of the blower. A discharge manifold is attached in fluid communication with the air output of the blower. A plurality of pile manifolds are connected to the suction manifold and the discharge manifold by a manifold crossover. The manifold crossover includes a pair of dampers which allow the composting apparatus operator to independently select positive or negative air pressure for application to each pile manifold. Each pile manifold is operatively associated with an aerated static compost pile, by means of a series of flexible air lances attached in fluid communication with a pile manifold.

US Patent:

6534306, Mar 18, 2003

Filed:

Nov 9, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/709837

Inventors:

Jan Allen - Shoreline WA

Assignee:

CH2M Hill, Inc. - Englewood CO

International Classification:

B01D 5385

US Classification:

435266, 4352901, 4352991, 4353001

Abstract:

A biofilter apparatus includes at least one container having a height, length, and width containing a deep, low density, porous media within the container. An airflow apparatus is constructed and arranged to deliver a flow of air to be treated to the filter media. The airflow apparatus provides at least 37. 5 cfm/ft with the porous media creating a backpressure of not more than about 10 inches of water. The media preferably consists of about 30-40% shredded tree bark particles, about 30-40% shredded wood, and about 30-40% composted wood sized such that 95% of the media will pass through a three inch screen and be retained by a 0. 5 inch screen. A fluid mister may be provided in fluid communication with the flow of the air to be treated for introducing humidity to the air. The method for treating air via biofiltration utilizes the biofiltration apparatus discussed above and includes directing contaminated air into the container through the airflow apparatus and through the media at at least 37. 5 cfm/ft with the porous media creating a backpressure of not more than about 10 inches of water.

US Patent:

6893864, May 17, 2005

Filed:

Oct 23, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/279760

Inventors:

Jan Allen - Shoreline WA, US

Assignee:

CH2M Hill, Inc. - Englewood CO

International Classification:

C12M001/09

US Classification:

4352961, 405 36, 405 39, 405 52

Abstract:

An apparatus for forcing airflow through (i. e. , aerating) a particulate material consists of a planar bearing surface and a ventilation conduit underlying the planar bearing surface. A plurality of delivery conduits extend between the ventilation conduit and the planar bearing surface with a mouth of the delivery conduits being near the planar bearing surface. A grate, defining a plurality of openings, covers the mouth of each delivery conduit. Each grate has a top surface substantially parallel to the planar bearing surface and positioned at or no more than a select distance below the planar bearing surface. This select distance is close enough to the planar bearing surface to prevent the accumulation of particulate material over the grate as the particulate material is scraped from the planar bearing surface with an implement having a linear edge abutting the planar bearing surface.

US Patent:

8313921, Nov 20, 2012

Filed:

Dec 10, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/732162

Inventors:

Tom Kraemer - Duvall WA, US
Charles Kemper - Wilsonville OR, US
Jan Allen - Shoreline WA, US

Assignee:

CH2M Hill, Inc. - Englewood CO

International Classification:

C12M 1/00
C05F 11/08

US Classification:

435 29, 4352901, 4352904, 71 9, 71 10, 4051295, 40512957, 40512985, 40512995

Abstract:

A method of biodegrading municipal solid waste includes providing a quantity of municipal solid waste and promoting anaerobic digestion in the quantity of municipal solid waste by methanogenic organisms to produce methane. The methane production is monitored and when it is determined that production of methane from the quantity of municipal solid waste has subsided, aerobic digestion of the quantity of municipal solid waste is promoted. A gas collection system in operative association with the quantity of organic waste collects biogas and the biogas is monitored and the rate of gas collection is adjusted as necessary to maximize methane collection. A leachate collection system collects leachate from the quantity of municipal solid waste and circulates the leachate back to the quantity of organic waste during the anaerobic digestion and aerobic digestion steps. The leachate is preferably supplemented with liquid as necessary to maintain the moisture content of the quantity of municipal solid waste at at least the field capacity of the municipal solid waste. The leachate collection and distribution system may further be used for balancing pH or varying the nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, calcium, magnesium, chlorine, sulfur, iron, copper, manganese, zinc, molybdenum, nickel or vanadium content of the municipal solid waste during biodegradation.

US Patent:

20110289992, Dec 1, 2011

Filed:

Apr 12, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/085179

Inventors:

Jan Allen - Shoreline WA, US

Assignee:

HARVEST POWER, INC. - Waltham MA

International Classification:

C05F 11/00
C12M 1/12

US Classification:

71 23, 4352901

Abstract:

A method of unturned aerated static pile composting includes providing organic matter having oversized particles and forming a pile of the organic matter on a surface. The surface has a plurality of compost pipes. The method further includes covering at least a portion of the pile with an organic and particulate layer and then providing air flow through the compost pipes such that a negative air pressure is formed through the pile causing air and fluid to be withdrawn from the pile into the compost pipes. The method further includes inserting a spike in the pile at designated areas and times in order to form air shafts in the pile. The composting system includes a compost enclosure surrounding a plurality of compost pipes, each compost pipe having an air flow control valve, and at least one fan, each fan having an air intake and an air outlet. The air intake is in fluid communication with the plurality of compost pipes. The system also includes a biofilter system in fluid communication with the air outlet of the fan(s) and a spike configured for insertion into the compost pile in order to form air shafts in the compost pile.

US Patent:

20120064562, Mar 15, 2012

Filed:

Apr 6, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/081053

Inventors:

Jan Allen - Shoreline WA, US
Thomas Kraemer - Duvall WA, US

Assignee:

HARVEST POWER, INC. - Waltham MA

International Classification:

C12Q 1/02
C12P 1/00
B23P 11/00
C12M 1/00

US Classification:

435 29, 4352904, 435262, 435267, 29428

Abstract:

An alternating anaerobic and aerobic digestion system and method of forming same includes a subterranean enclosure configured to hold organic matter. The enclosure has a plurality of conduits in a bottom surface of the enclosure. The digestion system further includes an irrigation system configured to dispense a liquid from a top portion of the enclosure and to recover a percolated liquid from a bottom portion of the enclosure, a ventilation system configured to provide air flow to the bottom portion of the enclosure, and a gas-tight membrane cover configured to cover the enclosure.

US Patent:

60996137, Aug 8, 2000

Filed:

Mar 8, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/264603

Inventors:

Jan W. Allen - Shoreline WA
Hans C. Jumelet - Wageningen, NL

Assignee:

Cedar Grove Composting, Inc. - Seattle WA

International Classification:

C05F 1108
C12M 100
C12M 102

US Classification:

71 9

Abstract:

A composting method and apparatus is shown and described. A volume of organic material to be composted is stacked on a surface to form a pile. A plurality of pipes are provided below the surface on which the pile is formed, each of the pipes having a plurality of holes that are aligned with corresponding holes in the surface. The pipes are connected to a manifold which in turn is coupled to a fan assembly, the fan assembly selectively creating positive and negative air flow through the pile. Air and moisture drawn from the pile flows through a conduit to a biofilter, cool air and fluid being added to the conduit upstream of the biofilter. The conduit passes through a greenhouse, such that heat radiated from the conduit is collected and used by the greenhouse. Moisture collected from the system may be treated and reused, for example, to irrigate the piles.