Patents by Inventor VanEric Edward Stein
VanEric Edward Stein 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).
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Publication number: 20150336054Abstract: Process and apparatus for producing an oxygen product gas and a nitrogen product gas using ion transport membrane assemblies. The apparatus comprises at least two ion transport membrane assemblies and a turboexpander downstream of one of the ion transport membrane assemblies. In the process, an oxygen- and nitrogen-containing gas is introduced into a first of the ion transport membrane assemblies to produce oxygen-depleted gas and oxygen product gas. The oxygen-depleted gas is divided, with a first portion being expanded in the turboexpander and a second portion introduced into a second of the ion transport membrane assemblies. A nitrogen-rich product gas and additional oxygen product gas are withdrawn from the second ion transport membrane assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2014Publication date: November 26, 2015Inventors: William S. Rollins, VanEric Edward Stein
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Patent number: 8728202Abstract: Ion transport membrane oxidation system comprising (a) two or more membrane oxidation stages, each stage comprising a reactant zone, an oxidant zone, one or more ion transport membranes separating the reactant zone from the oxidant zone, a reactant gas inlet region, a reactant gas outlet region, an oxidant gas inlet region, and an oxidant gas outlet region; (b) an interstage reactant gas flow path disposed between each pair of membrane oxidation stages and adapted to place the reactant gas outlet region of a first stage of the pair in flow communication with the reactant gas inlet region of a second stage of the pair; and (c) one or more reactant interstage feed gas lines, each line being in flow communication with any interstage reactant gas flow path or with the reactant zone of any membrane oxidation stage receiving interstage reactant gas.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2012Date of Patent: May 20, 2014Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: John Michael Repasky, Michael Francis Carolan, VanEric Edward Stein, Christopher Ming-Poh Chen
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Patent number: 8419827Abstract: Ion transport membrane oxidation system comprising (a) two or more membrane oxidation stages, each stage comprising a reactant zone, an oxidant zone, one or more ion transport membranes separating the reactant zone from the oxidant zone, a reactant gas inlet region, a reactant gas outlet region, an oxidant gas inlet region, and an oxidant gas outlet region; (b) an interstage reactant gas flow path disposed between each pair of membrane oxidation stages and adapted to place the reactant gas outlet region of a first stage of the pair in flow communication with the reactant gas inlet region of a second stage of the pair; and (c) one or more reactant interstage feed gas lines, each line being in flow communication with any interstage reactant gas flow path or with the reactant zone of any membrane oxidation stage receiving interstage reactant gas.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2012Date of Patent: April 16, 2013Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: John Michael Repasky, Michael Francis Carolan, VanEric Edward Stein, Christopher Ming-Poh Chen
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Publication number: 20130062567Abstract: Ion transport membrane oxidation system comprising (a) two or more membrane oxidation stages, each stage comprising a reactant zone, an oxidant zone, one or more ion transport membranes separating the reactant zone from the oxidant zone, a reactant gas inlet region, a reactant gas outlet region, an oxidant gas inlet region, and an oxidant gas outlet region; (b) an interstage reactant gas flow path disposed between each pair of membrane oxidation stages and adapted to place the reactant gas outlet region of a first stage of the pair in flow communication with the reactant gas inlet region of a second stage of the pair; and (c) one or more reactant interstage feed gas lines, each line being in flow communication with any interstage reactant gas flow path or with the reactant zone of any membrane oxidation stage receiving interstage reactant gas.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2012Publication date: March 14, 2013Applicant: AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC.Inventors: John Michael Repasky, Michael Francis Carolan, VanEric Edward Stein, Christopher Ming-Poh Chen
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Publication number: 20130043432Abstract: Ion transport membrane oxidation system comprising (a) two or more membrane oxidation stages, each stage comprising a reactant zone, an oxidant zone, one or more ion transport membranes separating the reactant zone from the oxidant zone, a reactant gas inlet region, a reactant gas outlet region, an oxidant gas inlet region, and an oxidant gas outlet region; (b) an interstage reactant gas flow path disposed between each pair of membrane oxidation stages and adapted to place the reactant gas outlet region of a first stage of the pair in flow communication with the reactant gas inlet region of a second stage of the pair; and (c) one or more reactant interstage feed gas lines, each line being in flow communication with any interstage reactant gas flow path or with the reactant zone of any membrane oxidation stage receiving interstage reactant gas.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2012Publication date: February 21, 2013Applicant: AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC.Inventors: John Michael Repasky, Michael Francis Carolan, VanEric Edward Stein, Christopher Ming-Poh Chen
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Patent number: 8262755Abstract: Ion transport membrane oxidation system comprising (a) two or more membrane oxidation stages, each stage comprising a reactant zone, an oxidant zone, one or more ion transport membranes separating the reactant zone from the oxidant zone, a reactant gas inlet region, a reactant gas outlet region, an oxidant gas inlet region, and an oxidant gas outlet region; (b) an interstage reactant gas flow path disposed between each pair of membrane oxidation stages and adapted to place the reactant gas outlet region of a first stage of the pair in flow communication with the reactant gas inlet region of a second stage of the pair; and (c) one or more reactant interstage feed gas lines, each line being in flow communication with any interstage reactant gas flow path or with the reactant zone of any membrane oxidation stage receiving interstage reactant gas.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2007Date of Patent: September 11, 2012Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: John Michael Repasky, Michael Francis Carolan, VanEric Edward Stein, Christopher Ming-Poh Chen
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Patent number: 8114193Abstract: An ion transport membrane system comprising (a) a pressure vessel having an interior, an exterior, an inlet, and an outlet; (b) a plurality of planar ion transport membrane modules disposed in the interior of the pressure vessel and arranged in series, each membrane module comprising mixed metal oxide ceramic material and having an interior region and an exterior region, wherein any inlet and any outlet of the pressure vessel are in flow communication with exterior regions of the membrane modules; and (c) one or more gas manifolds in flow communication with interior regions of the membrane modules and with the exterior of the pressure vessel. The ion transport membrane system may be utilized in a gas separation device to recover oxygen from an oxygen-containing gas or as an oxidation reactor to oxidize compounds in a feed gas stream by oxygen permeated through the mixed metal oxide ceramic material of the membrane modules.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2008Date of Patent: February 14, 2012Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: VanEric Edward Stein, Michael Francis Carolan, Christopher M. Chen, Phillip Andrew Armstrong, Harold W. Wahle, Theodore R. Ohrn, Kurt E. Kneidel, Keith Gerard Rackers, James Erik Blake, Shankar Nataraj, Rene Hendrik Elias Van Doorn, Merrill Anderson Wilson
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Publication number: 20110233470Abstract: An ion transport membrane system comprising (a) a pressure vessel having an interior, an exterior, an inlet, and an outlet; (b) a plurality of planar ion transport membrane modules disposed in the interior of the pressure vessel and arranged in series, each membrane module comprising mixed metal oxide ceramic material and having an interior region and an exterior region, wherein any inlet and any outlet of the pressure vessel are in flow communication with exterior regions of the membrane modules; and (c) one or more gas manifolds in flow communication with interior regions of the membrane modules and with the exterior of the pressure vessel. The ion transport membrane system may be utilized in a gas separation device to recover oxygen from an oxygen-containing gas or as an oxidation reactor to oxidize compounds in a feed gas stream by oxygen permeated through the mixed metal oxide ceramic material of the membrane modules.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2008Publication date: September 29, 2011Applicant: AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC.Inventors: VanEric Edward Stein, Michael Francis Carolan, Christopher M. Chen, Phillip Andrew Armstrong, Harold W. Wahle, Theodore R. Ohrn, Kurt E. Kneidel, Keith Gerard Rackers, James Erik Blake, Shankar Nataraj, Rene Hendrik Elias van Doorn, Merrill Anderson Wilson
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Publication number: 20080302013Abstract: Ion transport membrane oxidation system comprising (a) two or more membrane oxidation stages, each stage comprising a reactant zone, an oxidant zone, one or more ion transport membranes separating the reactant zone from the oxidant zone, a reactant gas inlet region, a reactant gas outlet region, an oxidant gas inlet region, and an oxidant gas outlet region; (b) an interstage reactant gas flow path disposed between each pair of membrane oxidation stages and adapted to place the reactant gas outlet region of a first stage of the pair in flow communication with the reactant gas inlet region of a second stage of the pair; and (c) one or more reactant interstage feed gas lines, each line being in flow communication with any interstage reactant gas flow path or with the reactant zone of any membrane oxidation stage receiving interstage reactant gas.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2007Publication date: December 11, 2008Applicant: AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC.Inventors: John Michael Repasky, Michael Francis Carolan, VanEric Edward Stein, Christopher Ming-Poh Chen
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Patent number: 7335247Abstract: An ion transport membrane system comprising (a) a pressure vessel having an interior, an exterior, an inlet, and an outlet; (b) a plurality of planar ion transport membrane modules disposed in the interior of the pressure vessel and arranged in series, each membrane module comprising mixed metal oxide ceramic material and having an interior region and an exterior region, wherein any inlet and any outlet of the pressure vessel are in flow communication with exterior regions of the membrane modules; and (c) one or more gas manifolds in flow communication with interior regions of the membrane modules and with the exterior of the pressure vessel. The ion transport membrane system may be utilized in a gas separation device to recover oxygen from an oxygen-containing gas or as an oxidation reactor to oxidize compounds in a feed gas stream by oxygen permeated through the mixed metal oxide ceramic material of the membrane modules.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2007Date of Patent: February 26, 2008Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: VanEric Edward Stein, Michael Francis Carolan, Christopher M. Chen, Phillip Andrew Armstrong, Harold W. Wahle, Theodore R. Ohrn, Kurt E. Kneidel, Keith Gerard Rackers, James Erik Blake, Shankar Nataraj, Rene Hendrik Elias van Doorn, Merrill Anderson Wilson
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Patent number: 7179323Abstract: An ion transport membrane system comprising (a) a pressure vessel having an interior, an exterior, an inlet, and an outlet; (b) a plurality of planar ion transport membrane modules disposed in the interior of the pressure vessel and arranged in series, each membrane module comprising mixed metal oxide ceramic material and having an interior region and an exterior region, wherein any inlet and any outlet of the pressure vessel are in flow communication with exterior regions of the membrane modules; and (c) one or more gas manifolds in flow communication with interior regions of the membrane modules and with the exterior of the pressure vessel. The ion transport membrane system may be utilized in a gas separation device to recover oxygen from an oxygen-containing gas or as an oxidation reactor to oxidize compounds in a feed gas stream by oxygen permeated through the mixed metal oxide ceramic material of the membrane modules.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2003Date of Patent: February 20, 2007Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: VanEric Edward Stein, Michael Francis Carolan, Christopher M. Chen, Phillip Andrew Armstrong, Harold W. Wahle, Theodore R. Ohrn, Kurt E. Kneidel, Keith Gerard Rackers, James Erik Blake, Shankar Nataraj, Rene Hendrik Elias van Doorn, Merrill Anderson Wilson
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Publication number: 20050031531Abstract: An ion transport membrane system comprising (a) a pressure vessel having an interior, an exterior, an inlet, and an outlet; (b) a plurality of planar ion transport membrane modules disposed in the interior of the pressure vessel and arranged in series, each membrane module comprising mixed metal oxide ceramic material and having an interior region and an exterior region, wherein any inlet and any outlet of the pressure vessel are in flow communication with exterior regions of the membrane modules; and (c) one or more gas manifolds in flow communication with interior regions of the membrane modules and with the exterior of the pressure vessel. The ion transport membrane system may be utilized in a gas separation device to recover oxygen from an oxygen-containing gas or as an oxidation reactor to oxidize compounds in a feed gas stream by oxygen permeated through the mixed metal oxide ceramic material of the membrane modules.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 6, 2003Publication date: February 10, 2005Inventors: VanEric Edward Stein, Michael Carolan, Christopher Chen, Phillip Armstrong, Harold Wahle, Theodore Ohrn, Kurt Kneidel, Keith Rackers, James Blake, Shankar Nataraj, Rene Hendrik Elias van Doom, Merrill Wilson
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Patent number: 6602324Abstract: A method for controlling the sulfur dioxide partial pressure in a pressurized, heated, oxygen-containing gas mixture which is contacted with an ion-conducting metallic oxide membrane which permeates oxygen ions. The sulfur dioxide partial pressure in the oxygen-depleted non-permeate gas from the membrane module is maintained below a critical sulfur dioxide partial pressure, pSO2*, to protect the membrane material from reacting with sulfur dioxide and reducing the oxygen flux of the membrane. Each ion-conducting metallic oxide material has a characteristic critical sulfur dioxide partial pressure which is useful in determining the required level of sulfur removal from the feed gas and/or from the fuel gas used in a direct-fired feed gas heater.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2001Date of Patent: August 5, 2003Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: VanEric Edward Stein, Robin Edward Richards, David Douglas Brengel, Michael Francis Carolan
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Publication number: 20030089229Abstract: A method for controlling the sulfur dioxide partial pressure in a pressurized, heated, oxygen-containing gas mixture which is contacted with an ion-conducting metallic oxide membrane which permeates oxygen ions. The sulfur dioxide partial pressure in the oxygen-depleted non-permeate gas from the membrane module is maintained below a critical sulfur dioxide partial pressure, pSO2*, to protect the membrane material from reacting with sulfur dioxide and reducing the oxygen flux of the membrane. Each ion-conducting metallic oxide material has a characteristic critical sulfur dioxide partial pressure which is useful in determining the required level of sulfur removal from the feed gas and/or from the fuel gas used in a direct-fired feed gas heater.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2001Publication date: May 15, 2003Inventors: VanEric Edward Stein, Robin Edward Richards, David Douglas Brengel, Michael Francis Carolan