IP Library Granted Patent US 10,195,546
Granted Patent B2
US 10,195,546 · App. 14/813,052 · Granted Feb 5, 2019

Ash management trench

Inventor: Norman E. Divers, III (Belmont, NC)
Assignee: CHARAH, LLC
B01D21/24B01D21/0003B03D3/00B09B1/00C02F1/56B09B2220/06C02F2001/007C02F2101/10C02F2101/20C02F2103/18C02F2103/34C04B18/06E02B7/22E02B8/06
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,195,546
App. No.
14/813,052
Granted
Feb 5, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

An ash management trench system is provided for harvesting byproducts from sluice water, such as a discharge from a power plant. The system comprises a first section comprising at least one flow control structure. The at least one flow structure is typically configured to capture a predetermined byproduct. The system further comprises a second section comprising a stilling basin. The second section is coupled to the first section by a connection structure.

Claims (34)

1. An ash management trench system for harvesting byproducts, the system comprising:

a first section comprising at least one flow control structure to capture a predetermined first byproduct; and

a second section comprising a stilling basin, the second section being coupled to the first section, wherein the stilling basin is structured for separation and settling of a predetermined second byproduct;

wherein the at least one flow control structure comprises at least one of a stop log system, having a plurality of apertures of a predetermined dimension so as to prevent the predetermined first byproducts with a dimension greater than the predetermined dimension from passing through the at least one flow control structure; and

a casting area, wherein the casting area is structured to store excavated predetermined first and second byproducts received from the first section or the second section.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprises a separator dam.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprises a geotextile layer.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first section is constructed out of a solid construction material, wherein the solid construction material is lined with at least one of a roughly-textured surface configured to capture byproducts and/or at least one smoothly-textured surface configured to allow uninhibited flow of sluice waters.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprises at least one of a drain, a pipe, or a pump, wherein the at least one stop log system comprises a plurality of stop logs in a stacked arrangement.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprises a flexible high density polyethylene membrane liner, wherein the flexible high density polyethylene membrane liner is installed along limits of at least one of the first section and the second section.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first section defines at least one of a length, a width, a surface area, a depth, or a volume, and wherein the predetermined first byproduct is the same as the predetermined second byproduct.

8. The system of claim 1 is constructed with concrete.

9. The system of claim 1 is at least one of sloped, elevated, tiered, or inclined.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first section comprises a receiving channel.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first section comprises a headwall.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the headwall comprises an opening for receiving sluice water.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first section comprises the addition of at least one flocculant discharger configured to release a flocculant into the first section.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the flocculant comprises anionic polyacrylamide.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined first byproduct defines a predetermined particle type and/or a predetermined particle density, and wherein the at least one flow control structure is configured to capture the predetermined first byproduct based on the predetermined particle type and/or the predetermined particle density.

16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the stilling basin defines at least one zone, the at least one zone comprising at least one designated area for ash settlement.

17. The system of claim 1 comprises the first section and the second section are coupled in series.

18. An ash management trench system for harvesting byproducts, the system comprising:

a first section comprising at least one flow control structure to capture a predetermined first byproduct, the at least one flow control structure comprising the addition of at least one flocculant;

a second section comprising a stilling basin, the second section being coupled to the first section in series, wherein the stilling basin is structured for separation and settling of a predetermined second byproduct;

a casting area, the casting area comprising a collection drain;

a protective geotextile layer adjacently coupled to the first section and the second section; and

wherein the at least one flow control structure comprises at least one stop log system, having a plurality of apertures of a predetermined dimension so as to prevent byproducts with a dimension greater than the predetermined dimension from passing through the at least one flow control structure.

19. An ash management trench method for harvesting byproducts, the method comprising:

providing a first section comprising at least one flow control structure to capture a predetermined first byproduct, wherein the at least one flow control structure comprises at least one stop log system, having a plurality of apertures of a predetermined dimension so as to prevent byproducts with a dimension greater than the predetermined dimension from passing through the at least one flow control structure;

providing a second section comprising a stilling basin, the second section being coupled to the first section in series, wherein the stilling basin is structured for separation and settling of a predetermined second byproduct;

receiving sluice water via a headwall in the first section, the sluice water comprising byproducts;

transporting the sluice water through the first section and into the second section via the at least one flow control structure, the second section enabling the settlement of the predetermined second byproduct; and

transporting the settled second byproduct to a casting area.

20. The system of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined first byproduct and the predetermined second byproduct are different.

Assignments (15)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 12, 2026
From: CHARAH, LLC; SCB INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, LLC; MERCURY CAPTURE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, LLC
To: WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 075626/0839 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 12, 2026
From: CHARAH, LLC; SCB INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, LLC; MERCURY CAPTURE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, LLC
To: WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 075626/0860 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 25, 2024
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: CHARAH, LLC; SCB INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, LLC; MERCURY CAPTURE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, LLC
Reel/Frame 067219/0039 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 25, 2024
From: CHARAH, LLC; SCB INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, LLC; MERCURY CAPTURE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, LLC
To: SIENA LENDING GROUP LLC
Reel/Frame 067218/0735 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 9, 2021
From: CHARAH, LLC; SCB INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, LLC; MERCURY CAPTURE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 058066/0164 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 27, 2021
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: CHARAH, LLC
Reel/Frame 057312/0950 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 24, 2018
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: CHARAH, LLC
Reel/Frame 046950/0194 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 24, 2018
From: REGIONS BANK
To: CHARAH, LLC
Reel/Frame 046949/0228 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 21, 2018
From: CHARAH, LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 046938/0888 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 25, 2017
From: CHARAH, LLC
To: REGIONS BANK
Reel/Frame 043950/0656 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 25, 2017
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: CHARAH, LLC (FORMERLY KNOWN AS CHARAH, INC.)
Reel/Frame 043951/0314 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 25, 2017
From: CHARAH, LLC
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 044292/0938 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 13, 2017
From: CHARAH, LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 040974/0543 →
CONVERSION OF ENTITY (INC. TO LLC) AND CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 11, 2017
From: CHARAH, INC.
To: CHARAH, LLC
Reel/Frame 041329/0460 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 26, 2015
From: DIVERS, NORMAN E., III
To: CHARAH, INC.
Reel/Frame 036422/0433 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62030433 · Jul 29, 2014
Related Publication 20160097173A1 · Apr 7, 2016