Patents by Inventor James Smolarek
James Smolarek 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).
-
Patent number: 6010555Abstract: A vacuum pressure swing adsorbent (VPSA) system and method for separating a component from a fluid mixture and including a fluid source for introducing the mixture into the system and a supply apparatus for collecting the separated component. A pair of adsorbent bed vessels is interposed between the fluid source and the supply apparatus to adsorb and desorb a predetermined component under respective adsorption and desorption pressures characterized by a low pressure ratio and relatively high desorption pressure values. Implementation of a single-stage vacuum device made possible by the use of the high desorption pressure, results in further reduction in both equipment and operating costs.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 1997Date of Patent: January 4, 2000Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.Inventors: James Smolarek, John Harry Fassbaugh, Michael Kenneth Rogan, Herbert Raymond Schaub
-
Patent number: 5964259Abstract: Particle loader assembly for loading particles into a vessel to form a particle bed comprising inner and outer radially disposed concentric layers of particles the inner layer containing at least one type of particle of different granulometry or composition or both granulometry and composition from a type of particle contained in the outer layer.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 1998Date of Patent: October 12, 1999Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.Inventors: Mark William Ackley, Jeffert John Nowobilski, James Smolarek, James Stanley Schneider
-
Patent number: 5912426Abstract: A VPSA apparatus includes a first adsorbent bed and a second adsorbent bed, a feed blower for providing a flow of a gas mixture at about atmospheric pressure to the beds, and a vacuum blower for removing a flow of gas therefrom and venting the gas to a space at atmospheric pressure. The VPSA process causes the first adsorbent bed to be poised for evacuation by the vacuum blower and concurrently, the second adsorbent bed is under vacuum conditions and is poised for pressurization by the feed blower. A single motor is coupled by a common shaft to both the feed blower and the vacuum blower and operates both. A conduit/valve arrangement is operative during at least a portion of a process time when the adsorbent beds are in pressurizing/evacuation states, respectively, to couple the feed blower to the second adsorbent bed when at vacuum and for concurrently coupling the vacuum blower to the first adsorbent bed which is to be evacuated.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 1997Date of Patent: June 15, 1999Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.Inventors: James Smolarek, Michael John Sinicropi, Herbert Raymond Schaub
-
Patent number: 5836362Abstract: The invention comprises particle loader assembly for loading particles into a vessel to form a particle bed comprising inner and outer radially disposed concentric layers of particles said inner layer containing at least one type of particle of different granulometry or composition or both granulometry and composition from a type of particle contained in said outer layer.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 1997Date of Patent: November 17, 1998Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.Inventors: Mark William Ackley, Jeffert John Nowobilski, James Smolarek, James Stanley Schneider
-
Patent number: 5759242Abstract: A vessel for use in a pressure swing adsorption gas separation process includes an enclosing wall which defines an enclosed space having a top region and a bottom region. An annular adsorbent bed is positioned within the enclosed space and has a porous outer wall, a porous inner wall and adsorbent material positioned between the walls. The porous outer wall is separated from the enclosing wall to create a gas feed channel therebetween, and the porous inner wall surrounds an inner tank whose wall surface is separated from the porous inner wall and creates a product flow channel therebetween. A gas feed/distribution baffle structure is positioned in the bottom region of the vessel and in fluid communication with the gas feed channel to provide a gas feed thereto. The gas feed enters the gas feed channel and the adsorbent bed via the porous outer wall and in a direction generally radially towards the inner porous wall and product flow channel.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 1996Date of Patent: June 2, 1998Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.Inventors: James Smolarek, Frederick Wells Leavitt, Jeffert John Nowobilski, Victor Emmanuel Bergsten, John Harry Fassbaugh
-
Patent number: 5702504Abstract: Vacuum pressure swing adsorption (VPSA) processing is carried out employing a processing sequence of ten steps that serves to enhance the productive capacity thereof for air separation and other desirable applications.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 1996Date of Patent: December 30, 1997Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.Inventors: Herbert Raymond Schaub, James Smolarek
-
Patent number: 5658371Abstract: A pressure swing adsorption process for the recovery of oxygen from air improves upon a prior art process by depressurizing the adsorbent bed within an adsorbent vessel to an intermediate pressure by releasing void space gas from the product end of the vessel to a low purity oxygen tank while concurrently evacuating the adsorbent vessel from the feed end. This action enables an increased speed of depressurization and a reduction of the cycle time. Further, the adsorbent bed is repressurized to an intermediate pressure from the product outlet end with gas from the low purity oxygen tank, while concurrently pressurizing the adsorbent vessel from the input feed end. This action increases the load time fraction for a feed/vacuum blower. Further, oxygen is introduced to the product end of the adsorbent bed vessel from a high purity oxygen tank (which provides product to downstream applications) while concurrently, air is introduced to the feed end of the adsorbent bed within the vessel.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 1995Date of Patent: August 19, 1997Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.Inventors: James Smolarek, Herbert Raymond Schaub, John Harry Fassbaugh, Timothy Mark Aaron
-
Patent number: 5656068Abstract: Large vacuum pressure swing adsorption-oxygen plants are employed with four adsorption vessels, two air compressors, two vacuum pumps and an oxygen surge tank, operated on a (two) two-bed processing system basis. One two-bed system is offset from the other by one half of one half processing cycle. Reduced power and capital cost savings are achieved.Type: GrantFiled: February 29, 1996Date of Patent: August 12, 1997Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.Inventors: James Smolarek, Herbert Raymond Schaub
-
Patent number: 5453112Abstract: Waste heat generated within a pressure swing adsorption system is effectively captured and utilized to preheat the feed gas passing to a feed gas blower for compression to the desired adsorption pressure level. The energy efficiency of the system, and overall system performance, are thereby enhanced.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 1994Date of Patent: September 26, 1995Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.Inventors: Michael J. Sinicropi, Timothy M. Aaron, Frederick W. Leavitt, Herbert R. Schaub, James Smolarek
-
Patent number: 5410885Abstract: A double column cryogenic rectification system wherein lower pressure column bottoms undergo additional rectification within a once-through downflow reflux condenser by countercurrent direct contact flow with vapor generated by condensing higher pressure column shelf vapor enabling the higher pressure column to operate at a reduced pressure thus reducing feed compression power requirements.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 1993Date of Patent: May 2, 1995Inventors: James Smolarek, Kevin J. Potempa
-
Patent number: 5407465Abstract: Vacuum and other pressure swing adsorption vessels are monitored, and corrective adjustments are made in the pressure equalization and/or repressurization steps in response to imbalances in the temperature profiles of the vessels in order to tune the system. The PSA process is also desirably purge tuned to avoid over purging or under purging of each vessel.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 1993Date of Patent: April 18, 1995Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.Inventors: Herbert R. Schaub, James Smolarek, Frederick W. Leavitt, Lee J. Toussaint, Kimberly A. LaSala
-
Patent number: 5318759Abstract: A deoxo unit is operated with excess oxygen to produce high purity nitrogen from a partially purified stream passing from a membrane or pressure swing adsorption unit. Essentially complete fuel utilization is achieved in applications in which essentially oxygen-free nitrogen product is not required.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 1992Date of Patent: June 7, 1994Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.Inventors: Michael J. Campbell, Ravi Prasad, James Smolarek
-
Patent number: 5163978Abstract: By capturing the portion found to contain a high concentration of either oxygen or nitrogen in the non-primary waste stream from a PSA-air separation operation, a high purity second product stream can be obtained.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 1991Date of Patent: November 17, 1992Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.Inventors: Frederick W. Leavitt, James Smolarek, Dale A. Lagree
-
Patent number: 5042994Abstract: A pressure swing adsorption process and system for air separation includes a variable volume nitrogen product storage vessel, which is monitored to determine variations in user product demand. The processing cycle and individual processing steps are adjusted during periods of reduced demand to maintain a desired product purity and pressure, with power reduction and energy savings being achieved under turndown conditions.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 1990Date of Patent: August 27, 1991Assignee: Union Carbide Industrial Gases Technology CorporationInventor: James Smolarek
-
Patent number: 5004482Abstract: Wet feed air to, or high purity nitrogen from, a pressure swing adsorption system is dried in a dryer membrane system preferably operated with a countercurrent flow path. Drying is enhanced by the use of a purge gas on the permeate side of the membrane, with waste gas from the pressure swing adsorption system or a portion of the dry, high purity nitrogen product gas being used as purge gas.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 1989Date of Patent: April 2, 1991Assignee: Union Carbide CorporationInventors: Oscar W. Haas, Ravi Prasad, James Smolarek
-
Patent number: 4867766Abstract: Enriched oxygen from a pressure swing adsorption system and air are blended to provide oxygen enriched air of desired purity, particularly for use at flow rates between those for which liquid oxygen and on-site cryogenic air separation plants are desirable.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 1988Date of Patent: September 19, 1989Assignee: Union Carbide CorporationInventors: Michael J. Campbell, James Smolarek, John J. Pietruszewski
-
Patent number: 4787919Abstract: A membrane system is positioned within an insulated enclosure heated to maintain superheat conditions for the feed gas to the system, wherein individual membrane modules are not insulated. The feed gas compression heat is desirably used to supply the superheat to the feed gas within the insulated enclosure.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 1987Date of Patent: November 29, 1988Assignee: Union Carbide CorporationInventors: Michael J. Campbell, James Smolarek, Timothy S. Van Lente
-
Patent number: 4436146Abstract: A shell and tube heat exchanger module which can be easily combined with other such modules to effect a close packed arrangement and which allows condensation of a vapor stream containing a non-condensible fraction without allowing a vapor buildup. The heat exchanger is particularly suitable as a main condenser in a cryogenic air separation process.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 1981Date of Patent: March 13, 1984Assignee: Union Carbide CorporationInventor: James Smolarek
-
Patent number: RE33678Abstract: A membrane system is positioned within an insulated enclosure heated to maintain superheat conditions for the feed gas to the system, wherein individual membrane modules are not insulated. The feed gas compression heat is desirably used to supply the superheat to the feed gas within the insulated enclosure.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 1989Date of Patent: September 3, 1991Assignee: Union Carbide Industrial Gases Technology CorporationInventors: Michael J. Campbell, James Smolarek, Timothy S. Van Lente
-
Patent number: RE34434Abstract: Enriched oxygen from a pressure swing adsorption system and air are blended to provide oxygen enriched air of desired purity, particularly for use at flow rates between those for which liquid oxygen and on-site cryogenic air separation plants are desirable.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 1991Date of Patent: November 9, 1993Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.Inventors: Michael J. Campbell, James Smolarek, John J. Pietruszewski