Patents by Inventor Bruce K. Dawson

Bruce K. Dawson 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).

  • Cryogenic air separation process producing elevated pressure nitrogen by pumped liquid nitrogen
    Patent number: 5355682
    Abstract: The process of the present invention is a cryogenic air separation process with three important features: (1) at least a portion of a nitrogen-rich liquid from the column system is boosted in pressure before being vaporized and delivered as a product; (2) at least a portion of the feed air is at least partially condensed in indirect heat exchange with the boosted pressure, nitrogen-rich stream; and (3) a portion of the liquid nitrogen condensed from the vapor nitrogen from the top of the higher pressure column is returned to the higher pressure column as reflux with the remaining portion being removed from the column system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1994
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Rakesh Agrawal, Bruce K. Dawson, Jeffrey A. Hopkins, Jianguo Xu
  • Air separation process using packed columns for oxygen and argon recovery
    Patent number: 4871382
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an improvement to a cryogenic air separation process having an argon sidearm column. The improvement to the process for maximizing argon recovery comprises effectuating the intimate contact of the liquid phase stream and the vapor phase stream in the low pressure column and the argon sidearm column of an integrated multi-column, e.g. three column, cryogenic distillation system by utilizing a structured or ordered packing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1989
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Thorogood, Douglas L. Bennett, Rodney J. Allam, Alan L. Prentice, Bruce K. Dawson
  • Process for producing ultra high purity oxygen
    Patent number: 4615716
    Abstract: A method of oxygen recycle on the bottom section of the low-pressure column of a dual-pressure column, with an increase in the bottom section reboil vapor rate, allows an appreciable increase in the production rate of ultra high purity oxygen and a substantial decrease in power required as compared to conventional processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1986
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Cormier, Bruce K. Dawson, Keith B. Wilson, Thomas C. Young