IP Library Granted Patent US 11,123,660
Granted Patent B2
US 11,123,660 · App. 16/266,539 · Granted Sep 21, 2021

Ash management trench

Inventor: Norman E. Divers, III (Belmont, NC)
Assignee: Charah, LLC
B01D21/24B01D21/0003B01D21/0012B01D21/01B03D3/00B09B1/00C02F1/56B09B2220/06C02F2001/007C02F2101/10C02F2101/20C02F2103/18C02F2103/34C04B18/06E02B7/22E02B8/06
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,123,660
App. No.
16/266,539
Granted
Sep 21, 2021
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 (37)

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 a mesh screen, having a plurality of apertures of a predetermined dimension so as to prevent the predetermined first byproduct with a dimension greater than the predetermined dimension from passing through the at least one flow control structure;

wherein the first section comprises at least one flocculant discharger configured to release one or more flocculants into the first section at a predetermined application rate of flow and at predetermined time intervals, wherein the at least one flocculant discharger is positioned at least partially below ground and wherein the at least one flocculant discharger comprises a supplemental heating apparatus to impede freezing of the one or more flocculants, wherein the at least one the flocculant discharger comprises a metered pump, and wherein the at least one flocculant discharger discharges flocculant at multiple locations along the length of the first section; 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 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.

6. 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.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprises at least one of a drain or a pipe, wherein the predetermined first byproduct and the predetermined second byproduct are different.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined first byproduct comprises different particle sizes and/or particle densities, and/or the predetermined second byproduct comprises different particle sizes and/or particle densities.

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

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

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

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

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the headwall comprises an opening for receiving sluice water.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more flocculants comprise a flocculant mixture comprising a catalytic compound, an aluminum-based coagulant, a polymer flocculant, a metal chelate, an oxidizer, or an 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 at least one flocculant discharger configured to release one or more flocculants into the first section at a predetermined application rate of flow and at predetermined time intervals, wherein the at least one flocculant discharger is positioned at least partially below ground and wherein the at least one flocculant discharger comprises a supplemental heating apparatus to impede freezing of the one or more flocculants, wherein the at least one the flocculant discharger comprises a metered pump, and wherein the at least one flocculant discharger discharges flocculant at multiple locations along the length of the first section;

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 a mesh screen, 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 a mesh screen having a plurality of apertures of a predetermined dimension so as to prevent the predetermined first byproduct 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, wherein the stilling basin is structured for separation and settling of a predetermined second byproduct; and

transporting the settled predetermined first byproducts received from the first section and the predetermined second byproduct received from the second section to a casting area; and

wherein the first section comprises at least one flocculant discharger configured to release one or more flocculants into the first section at a predetermined application rate of flow and at predetermined time intervals, wherein the at least one flocculant discharger is positioned at least partially below ground and wherein the at least one flocculant discharger comprises a supplemental heating apparatus to impede freezing of the one or more flocculants, wherein the at least one the flocculant discharger comprises a metered pump, and wherein the at least one flocculant discharger discharges flocculant at multiple locations along the length of the first section.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising:

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

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.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein providing the second section further comprises providing the second section comprising the stilling basin, the second section being coupled to the first section in series.

Assignments (7)
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 →
CONVERSION OF ENTITY (INC. TO LLC) Recorded Feb 6, 2019
From: CHARAH, INC.
To: CHARAH, LLC
Reel/Frame 048273/0431 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 5, 2019
From: DIVERS, NORMAN E., III
To: CHARAH, INC.
Reel/Frame 048235/0833 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 14813052 · Jul 29, 2015
Provisional Application 62030433 · Jul 29, 2014
Related Publication 20190168136A1 · Jun 6, 2019