Patents by Inventor Mark J. Rood

Mark J. Rood 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: 8940077
    Abstract: A method for indirectly monitoring and controlling an electrically resistive adsorption system. Adsorption of a predetermined adsorbate is conducted while indirectly monitoring electrical resistance of a unified adsorbent element. Breakthrough is predicted based upon the indirectly monitored electrical resistance and a previously measured mass loading relationship between the resistance of the unified adsorbent element and the loading of the unified resistance element with the predetermined adsorbate. Adsorption, regeneration and cooling cycles are controlled by a controller without any direct measurement of temperature or resistance of the element and characterizations of mass loading and temperature. Systems of the invention can have no sensors that contact the element, are in an adsorption vessel, and/or are downstream adsorption vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
    Inventors: Mark J. Rood, David Johnsen
  • Patent number: 8636829
    Abstract: The invention provides gas purification systems for the recovery and liquefaction of low boiling point organic and inorganic gases, such as methane, propane, CO2, NH3, and chlorofluorocarbons. Many such gases are in the effluent gas of industrial processes and the invention can increase the sustainability and economics of such industrial processes. In a preferred system of the invention, low boiling point gases are adsorbed with a heated activated carbon fiber material maintained at an adsorption temperature during an adsorption cycle. During a low boiling point desorption cycle the activated carbon fiber is heated to a desorption temperature to create a desorption gas stream with concentrated low boiling point gases. The desorption gas stream is actively compressed and/or cooled to condense and liquefy the low boiling point gases, which can then be collected, stored, re-used, sold, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
    Inventors: Mark J. Rood, K. James Hay, David Johnsen, Kaitlin Mallouk
  • Patent number: 8500853
    Abstract: The invention provides gas purification methods and systems for the recovery and liquefaction of low boiling point organic and inorganic gases, such as methane, propane, CO2, NH3, and chlorofluorocarbons. Many such gases are in the effluent gas of industrial processes and the invention can increase the sustainability and economics of such industrial processes. In a preferred method of the invention, low boiling point gases are adsorbed with a heated activated carbon fiber material maintained at an adsorption temperature during an adsorption cycle. During a low boiling point desorption cycle the activated carbon fiber is heated to a desorption temperature to create a desorption gas stream with concentrated low boiling point gases. The desorption gas stream is actively compressed and/or cooled to condense and liquefy the low boiling point gases, which can then be collected, stored, re-used, sold, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
    Inventors: Mark J. Rood, K. James Hay, David Johnsen, Kaitlin Mallouk
  • Patent number: 8080095
    Abstract: A preferred embodiment steady state tracking desorption system achieves steady tracking of either a fixed sorbate output set point, or a set point that changes over time. The system includes an electrically heated thermal adsorption/desorption device A temperature sensor senses the temperature of an adsorbent material within the adsorption/desorption device. A sorbate sensor senses a sorbate level from an outlet of the adsorption/desorption device. A power sensor senses the power supplied by the desorption device. A controller interprets levels sensed by the temperature sensor, the sorbate sensor and the power sensor and provides a signal to achieve steady set point tracking of a sorbate level from the outlet of the adsorption/desorption device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
    Inventors: Mark J. Rood, K. James Hay, Byung J. Kim, Hamidreza Emamipour, Zaher M. Hashisho
  • Publication number: 20110132031
    Abstract: The invention provides gas purification methods and systems for the recovery and liquefaction of low boiling point organic and inorganic gases, such as methane, propane, CO2, NH3, and chlorofluorocarbons. Many such gases are in the effluent gas of industrial processes and the invention can increase the sustainability and economics of such industrial processes. In a preferred method of the invention, low boiling point gases are adsorbed with a heated activated carbon fiber material maintained at an adsorption temperature during an adsorption cycle. During a low boiling point desorption cycle the activated carbon fiber is heated to a desorption temperature to create a desorption gas stream with concentrated low boiling point gases. The desorption gas stream is actively compressed and/or cooled to condense and liquefy the low boiling point gases, which can then be collected, stored, re-used, sold, etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
    Inventors: Mark J. Rood, K. James Hay, David Johnsen, Kaitlin Mallouk
  • Publication number: 20090293725
    Abstract: A preferred embodiment steady state tracking desorption system achieves steady tracking of either a fixed sorbate output set point, or a set point that changes over time. The system includes an electrically heated thermal adsorption/desorption device. A temperature sensor senses the temperature of an adsorbent material within the adsorption/desorption device. A sorbate sensor senses a sorbate level from an outlet of the adsorption/desorption device. A power sensor senses the power supplied by the desorption device. A controller interprets levels sensed by the temperature sensor, the sorbate sensor and the power sensor and provides a signal to achieve steady set point tracking of a sorbate level from the outlet of the adsorption/desorption device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2007
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Inventors: Mark J. Rood, K. James Hay, Byung J. Kim, Hamidreza Emamipour, Zaher M. Hashisho
  • Patent number: 7495767
    Abstract: Photography is employed to objectively quantify opacity of fluids such as smoke plumes and dust via a method termed the Digital Optical Method (DOM™). The DOM™ quantifies the ratio of radiance values by means of a camera response curve obtained using objective measures. The radiance ratios are then used to calculate opacity of target fluids such as smoke plumes. The DOM™ quantifies opacity during both daytime and nighttime conditions with a much broader range of subject types, e.g., white, gray and black smoke plumes, and environmental conditions, e.g., non-blue-sky, building, and mountain backgrounds, than existing systems while not requiring human interpretation for any application. In one embodiment, the DOM™ quantifies opacity from digital photos using a pre-designed algorithm and an inexpensive digital camera. Very little training is needed to implement the DOM™ and it yields consistent objective quantitative results, while providing a permanent photographic record easily digitally archived.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Byung J. Kim, Mark J. Rood, Ke Du
  • Patent number: 6364936
    Abstract: An adsorption/desorption unit includes a hollow enclosure containing one or more elongate hollow elements of activated carbon fiber cloth (ACFC) of appropriate length to cross sectional area to provide suitable electrical resistance for heating. The elements conduct electrical current to heat to a temperature that permits selective adsorption of a gas stream constituent and subsequent desorption to recover sorbate. An enclosure houses the ACFC elements and is arranged to direct gas stream flow through the elements and into and out of the enclosure via gas ports. The ability to heat the elements to a desired temperature by electrical current flow allows for straightforward implementation of selective adsorption. After an adsorption step, altering the temperature of the element or elements enables desorption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
    Inventors: Mark J. Rood, Patrick Sullivan, K. James Hay