Patents by Inventor Bao Ha

Bao Ha has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20030010061
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates the recovery of energy from a glass facility, such as a glass manufacturing facility and/or a float glass facility. Various embodiments of the present invention incorporate an air separation unit with a glass facility whereby energy may be recovered, generated, and/or conserved. In various embodiments, energy is recovered, generated, and/or conserved through hot expansion, mass flow increase, more efficient fuel consumption and/or the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2001
    Publication date: January 16, 2003
    Inventors: Bao Ha, Thierry Legiret
  • Publication number: 20030000342
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to processes and apparatuses for the integration of a blast furnace and an air separation plant to increase blast furnace production. The present invention recovers energy from the air separation through the expansion of a product stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventors: Bao Ha, Jean-Renaud Brugerolle
  • Publication number: 20020095951
    Abstract: Processes and apparatuses are disclosed for the production of a synthetic air product with a variable oxygen content and a varying level of impurities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2001
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Inventor: Bao Ha
  • Patent number: 6347534
    Abstract: Air is separated in a triple column comprising a high pressure column, an intermediate pressure column and a low pressure column, the intermediate pressure column being fed by oxygen enriched liquid from the high pressure column. The low pressure column feeds an argon column with argon enriched liquid and operates at a higher pressure than the argon column. Heat is supplied to the bottom of the argon column by sending gas to a bottom reboiler. This gas is preferably rich in nitrogen and may come from the top of the low pressure column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignees: Air Liquide Process and Construction, L'Air Liquid, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes George Claude
    Inventor: Bao Ha
  • Patent number: 6318120
    Abstract: In a process for production of oxygen enriched fluid and argon enriched fluid by cryogenic distillation of air, a feed stream (1) containing nitrogen, oxygen and argon is sent to a main column system wherein it is separated by cryogenic distillation, an argon containing gaseous stream (33) is removed from a column (103) of the main column system, said column operating at a pressure of at least 2 bar abs., and the argon containing gaseous stream is at least partially condensed, at least part of the at least partially condensed argon containing gaseous stream is sent to an intermediate point of an argon column (104) and an argon enriched product stream (80) is removed from the top of the argon column and a first oxygen enriched product stream (36) is removed from the bottom of the argon columnn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Bao Ha
  • Patent number: 6282901
    Abstract: An integrated air separation process produces an O2-enriched gas stream and an N2-enriched gas stream in an air separation unit. The N2-enriched gas stream is heated in a first heat exchanger associated with a first boiler and then power is generated from the heated gas stream. The O2-enriched gas stream is introduced with fuel to a combustor associated with the first boiler, producing flue gas. At least a portion of the flue gas exiting the first boiler is used to generate power. In a preferred embodiment, another portion of the flue gas exiting the first boiler is recycled to the first boiler, as a temperature controlling fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Ovidiu Marin, Olivier Charon, Bao Ha
  • Patent number: 6276170
    Abstract: Air is separated in a triple column system comprising a high pressure column, an intermediate pressure column and a low pressure column. An argon enriched liquid from the low pressure column feeds an argon column. Oxygen enriched fluids containing at least 95% oxygen are removed from the argon column and optionally from the low pressure column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Air Liquide Process and Construction
    Inventor: Bao Ha
  • Patent number: 6202441
    Abstract: Air is separated by cryogenic distillation comprising the steps of feeding compressed, cooled and purified air to a high pressure column where it is separated into a first nitrogen enriched stream at the top and a first oxygen enriched stream at the bottom. At least a portion of the first oxygen enriched stream is fed to an intermediate pressure column to yield a second nitrogen enriched stream at the top and a second oxygen enriched stream at the bottom. At least a portion of the second nitrogen enriched stream is sent to a low pressure column or to a top condenser of an argon column, and at least a portion of the second oxygen enriched stream is sent to the low pressure column. A third oxygen enriched stream is separated at the bottom and a third nitrogen enriched stream is separated at the top of the low pressure column. A heating gas is sent to a bottom reboiler of the low pressure column, and at least a portion of the third oxygen enriched stream is removed at a removal point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignees: Air Liquide Process and Construction, Inc., L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et, l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Bao Ha
  • Patent number: 6196024
    Abstract: Process for separating air by cryogenic distillation and apparatus including a high pressure column, an intermediate pressure column, a low pressure column having a bottom reboiler and an argon column having a top condenser, a conduit for sending air to the high pressure column, a conduit for sending at least part of a first oxygen enriched liquid from the high pressure column to the intermediate pressure column, a conduit for sending a second oxygen enriched fluid from the bottom of the intermediate pressure column to the low pressure column, a conduit for sending a second nitrogen enriched fluid from the top of the intermediate pressure column to the low pressure column or to a top condenser of the argon column, a conduit for sending a heating gas to the bottom reboiler of the low pressure column, a conduit for removing a third oxygen enriched fluid from the low pressure column, a conduit for sending a nitrogen enriched liquid from the high pressure column to the low pressure column, a conduit for sending a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Bao Ha
  • Patent number: 6116052
    Abstract: The present invention relates to processes and installations for the production of oxygen and nitrogen by cryogenic distillation. The cost of oxygen and nitrogen production is reduced by providing an improved high pressure process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignees: Air Liquide Process and Construction, L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Bao Ha, Jean-Renaud Brugerolle
  • Patent number: 5899093
    Abstract: A single or double dephlegmator is used to transfer heat between condensing nitrogen and rich liquid in a single column nitrogen generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: Air Liquide Process and Construction, Inc.
    Inventor: Bao Ha
  • Patent number: 5779863
    Abstract: Provided is a novel method and system for separating and purifying perfluorocompounds (PFCs). The method comprises the steps of: (a) introducing a perfluorocompound-containing gas stream into a first distillation column; (b) removing a light product from the first column, and removing a heavy product from the first column; (c) introducing the first column light product into a second distillation column; (d) removing a light product from the second column, and removing a heavy product from the second column; (e) introducing the second column light product into a third distillation column; and (f) removing a light product from the third column, and removing a heavy product from the third column. The method and system can be advantageously used in the treatment of exhaust gases from semiconductor processing tools, and results in highly purified PFCs which can be recycled, thereby avoiding the release of PFCs into the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignees: Air Liquide America Corporation, Air Liquide Process and Construction
    Inventors: Bao Ha, Timothy Arcuri
  • Patent number: 5711167
    Abstract: A process and apparatus is disclosed for highly efficient generation of nitrogen product in a single column arrangement. Oxygen-enriched liquid from a distillation column is partially vaporized to form a liquid and a vapor phase. The liquid is vaporized in a second reboiler/condenser and thereafter the vapor expanded to provide process refrigeration. The vapor portion having higher nitrogen content is compressed and returned to the distillation column for higher overall nitrogen recovery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: Air Liquide Process & Construction
    Inventors: Bao Ha, Michael A. Turney
  • Patent number: 5582032
    Abstract: A process for producing an ultra-high purity fluid product comprising the steps of collecting in the lower portion of a cryogenic fractionation zone an ultra-high purity fluid product; providing reboil to said fractionation zone by condensing a portion of a lesser purity composition of the same fluid product by indirect heat exchange in a first reboiler; and vaporizing said portion of said lesser purity composition by indirect heat exchange with a warmer stream of an impure fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: Liquid Air Engineering Corporation
    Inventors: James T. Shelton, deceased, Bao Ha
  • Patent number: 5511380
    Abstract: Ultra-pure nitrogen is produced in a process comprising separating air in an integrated plurality of columns. A nitrogen-enriched stream is elevated in pressure and thereafter contaminants and impurities are removed in an auxiliary column system which allows for the main column to efficiently operate below the required nitrogen product pressure, while including an ability to optionally obtain a normal purity nitrogen and a liquid nitrogen product. The process and installation remains efficient and economical in a relatively small scale installation to produce extremely pure nitrogen product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1996
    Assignee: Liquid Air Engineering Corporation
    Inventor: Bao Ha
  • Patent number: 5505048
    Abstract: C.sub.4 hydrocarbons are separated from a gaseous mixture containing the same and lower hydrocarbons and hydrogen, by cooling such a gaseous mixture (45) to a temperature between -60.degree. F. and +32.degree. F. until a portion of the C.sub.4 hydrocarbons is condensed. The mixture of gas and liquid C.sub.4 hydrocarbons thus produced is phase separated in a first phase separation (53), and the liquid from this first phase separation is withdrawn as C.sub.4 hydrocarbons product (69). Gas from the first phase separation (53) is further cooled (47) until substantially all of the remaining C.sub.4 hydrocarbons are condensed but not the hydrogen. The latter material is subjected to a second phase separation (75), and liquid from the second phase separation (77) is withdrawn as liquid C.sub.4 hydrocarbons product (69).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1996
    Inventors: Bao Ha, Gerard Dupuis, Paul Kong
  • Patent number: 5475980
    Abstract: Auxiliary gas is withdrawn from the heat exchanger during cooling or reheating at an intermediate temperature which is close to the vaporizing temperature of the oxygen or nitrogen high pressure product stream, then compressed by a cold compressor and reintroduced in the heat exchanger. The invention is particularly applicable to the production of gaseous oxygen at a pressure greater than about 15 bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1995
    Assignees: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude, Liquid Air Engineering Corporation
    Inventors: Maurice Grenier, Bao Ha
  • Patent number: 5414188
    Abstract: C.sub.4 hydrocarbons are separated from a gaseous mixture containing the same and lower hydrocarbons and hydrogen, by cooling such a gaseous mixture (45) to a temperature between -60.degree. F. and +32.degree. F. until a portion of the C.sub.4 hydrocarbons is condensed. The mixture of gas and liquid C.sub.4 hydrocarbons thus produced is phase separated in a first phase separation (53), and the liquid from this first phase separation is withdrawn as C.sub.4 hydrocarbons product (69). Gas from the first phase separation (53) is further cooled(47) until substantially all of the remaining C.sub.4 hydrocarbons are condensed but not the hydrogen. The latter material is subjected to a second phase separation (75), and liquid from the second phase separation (77) is withdrawn as liquid C.sub.4 hydrocarbons product (69).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1995
    Inventors: Bao Ha, Gerard Dupuis, Paul Kong
  • Patent number: 5396773
    Abstract: A process for simultaneously providing both high and low purity oxygen from a double column, double reboiler apparatus, the double columns being high and low pressure columns, the low pressure column having a lower and upper reboiler with an intermediate outlet in between, which process entails extracting a low purity oxygen stream at the intermediate outlet and a high purity liquid oxygen stream from a bottom portion of the low pressure column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1995
    Assignee: Liquid Air Engineering Corporation
    Inventors: Bao Ha, Catherine Garnier
  • Patent number: 5373699
    Abstract: An air separation process wherein a nitrogen enriched fraction is withdrawn from the distillation column, a portion of which is compressed and recycled through the lowest positioned reboiler in the column and directed to an upper portion of the column as reflux.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1994
    Assignees: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude et L'Exploitation des Procedes George Claude, Liquid Air Engineering Corporation, Teisan, K.K.
    Inventors: Sophie Gastinne, Francois Venet, Bao Ha, Naohiko Yamashita