Separatory Patents (Class 202/152)
  • Patent number: 11746072
    Abstract: A method for separating and refining 1-butene with a high purity and a high yield from a raffinate-2 stream. The method includes: feeding raffinate-2 to a first distillation column; obtaining heavy raffinate-3 from a lower part of the first distillation column; recovering an upper part fraction containing 1-butene from an upper part of the first distillation column; feeding the upper part fraction containing 1-butene to a second distillation column; recovering a first lower part fraction rich in 1-butene from a lower part of the second distillation column and light raffinate-3 from an upper part of the second distillation column. Heat of the upper part fraction recovered from the upper part of the first distillation column is fed to the lower part of the second distillation column through a first heat exchanger. Thus, 1-butene is obtained with high purity and high yield while maximizing an energy recovery amount by double-effect distillation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Sung Kyun Kim, Sung Kyu Lee, Yong Mann Beyun, Joon Ho Shin, Ji Hye Kim
  • Patent number: 11177061
    Abstract: A proportional solenoid (100) of the present invention includes a tubular member (101) in which a first magnetic region (12a) mainly including a ferrite structure, a first semimagnetic region (14a) present at a position spaced apart from an adsorptive surface (11b), the first semimagnetic region including a ferrite structure, a martensite structure, and an austenite structure, and a nonmagnetic region (13) present at a position spaced farther apart from the adsorptive surface than the semimagnetic region, the nonmagnetic region mainly including an austenite structure, are formed continuously and integrally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: HITACHI METALS, LTD.
    Inventor: Satoshi Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 11045762
    Abstract: Systems and methods for liquid removal to increase the accuracy of gas flow meters, such as venturi meters. Systems and methods include a liquid knockout drum, an impingement plate, a drum separator, and a check valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Abdulmohsen S. Al-Kuait, Muhammad Arsalan
  • Patent number: 10315972
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a separation method and a separation process system for easily recovering ethanol from an ethanol oligomerization reactant containing unreacted ethanol. A separation method according to the present invention may easily reflux ethylene while reducing or excluding the use of a reflux system which uses an expensive cooling medium, and the like, and thus may improve the economics while increasing separation efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Hoi In Jeong, Jong Ku Lee, Jeong Seok Lee, Mi Kyung Kim
  • Patent number: 9890044
    Abstract: An argon gas recovering and purifying method including: introducing waste argon gas containing nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon monoxide from silicon single crystal manufacturing apparatus into waste argon gas storage tank; removing solid matters in pretreatment facility which removes the solid matters in waste argon gas; converting oxygen into water and converting carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide by catalytic reaction; removing the water, the carbon dioxide, and the nitrogen to obtain recovered gas, in the argon gas recovering and purifying method and an argon gas recovering and purifying apparatus, the catalytic reaction is carried out with compression heat alone by arranging a catalyst in a two-stage compressor, and the water is removed by a dryer in advance and then the nitrogen and the carbon dioxide are adsorbed and removed in an ordinary-temperature adsorption tower at the step of obtaining the recovered gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: SHIN-ETSU HANDOTAI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideaki Matsushima, Ichiro Onozawa, Wataru Yajima
  • Patent number: 9399195
    Abstract: This disclosure provides water processing apparatuses, systems, and methods for recovering water from wastewater such as urine. The water processing apparatuses, systems, and methods can utilize membrane technology for extracting purified water in a single step. A containment unit can include an ionomer membrane, such as NafionĀ®, over a hydrophobic microporous membrane, such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). The containment unit can be filled with wastewater, and the hydrophobic microporous membrane can be impermeable to liquids and solids of the wastewater but permeable to gases and vapors of the wastewater, and the ionomer membrane can be permeable to water vapor but impermeable to one or more contaminants of the gases and vapors. The containment unit can be exposed to a dry purge gas to maintain a water vapor partial pressure differential to drive permeation of the water vapor, and the water vapor can be collected and processed into potable water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Paragon Space Development Corporation
    Inventors: Taber K. MacCallum, Laura Kelsey
  • Publication number: 20150060260
    Abstract: A desalination system, etc. of the present disclosure includes: a water tank; a water-repellent particle layer that is located below the water tank and contains a plurality of water-repellent particles; a liquefying layer that is located below the water-repellent particle layer and liquefies water vapor that has passed through the water-repellent particle layer, to obtain fresh water; an introduction channel of a liquid supply channel that supplies a liquid to the water tank; and a liquid speed reduction part that is located on the introduction channel of the supply channel, and includes a wall surface crossing a flow direction of the liquid in the supply channel, for reducing a flow speed of the liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Morio TOMIYAMA, Hisaaki GYOTEN, Norihisa MINO, Akira TAOMOTO, Atsushi ONO, Stephen William JOHN
  • Publication number: 20140332364
    Abstract: Modular ethanol distillation units housed within one or two shipping containers and ethanol distillation units that include an evaporative plate located inside a distillation tank to promote evaporation of the ethanol. Modular distillation units housed within shipping containers are easily transported and set up in remote locations where suitable feed stocks are available or can be cultivated to supply the unit and to distill ethanol for local use or export. Distillation units include feedstock storage tanks, a mixing chamber, fermentation tanks, and a distillation system/tank, which can all be located within one or two shipping containers. Evaporative plates can include holes therethrough, dimples, troughs, or a combination thereof, and holes can be located within dimples.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: JA Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: James Derrel Lusk, Gene Shane, Eric Hewlett
  • Publication number: 20140116870
    Abstract: A system for the distribution of resources. The system includes a housing, at least one power generation source connected to the housing, a power control and distribution system and at least one water distillation device, wherein power from at least one power generation source powers that at least a water distillation device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Dean Kamen, Matthew A. Norris
  • Patent number: 8093437
    Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and process for producing a diol by taking a cyclic carbonate and an aliphatic monohydric alcohol as starting materials, continuously feeding the starting materials into column A, carrying out reactive distillation in column A, continuously withdrawing a low boiling point reaction mixture containing a produced dialkyl carbonate and the aliphatic monohydric alcohol from an upper portion of column A, continuously withdrawing a high boiling point reaction mixture containing a produced diol from a lower portion of column A, continuously feeding the high boiling point reaction mixture into distillation column C, distilling off material having a lower boiling point than that of the diol contained in the high boiling point reaction mixture as a column top component and a side cut component so as to obtain a column bottom component, continuously feeding the column bottom component into column C, and obtaining the diol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corporation
    Inventors: Shinsuke Fukuoka, Hironori Miyaji, Hiroshi Hachiya, Kazuhiko Matsuzaki
  • Patent number: 8071819
    Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and process for producing high-purity diol by taking cyclic carbonate and aliphatic monohydric alcohol as starting materials, continuously feeding the starting materials into column A, carrying out reactive distillation in column A, continuously withdrawing a low boiling point reaction mixture containing a produced dialkyl carbonate and the aliphatic monohydric alcohol from an upper portion of column A, continuously withdrawing a high boiling point reaction mixture containing a produced diol from a lower portion of column A, continuously feeding the high boiling point reaction mixture into distillation column C, distilling off material having a lower boiling point than that of the diol contained in the high boiling point reaction mixture AB as a column top component and/or a side cut component so as to obtain a column bottom component, continuously feeding the column bottom component into distillation column E, and obtaining the diol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corporation
    Inventors: Shinsuke Fukuoka, Hironori Miyaji, Hiroshi Hachiya, Kazuhiko Matsuzaki
  • Publication number: 20110185629
    Abstract: Systems, methods and compositions are shown and described. In one embodiment, a method of generating a hybrid liquid hydrocarbon fuel (HLHF) comprises locating a vineyard having a supply of grape waste (GW); loading the GW into a delivery system; delivering the GW to a transformation facility having a GW trough; depositing the GW into the GW trough; distilling the GW into ethanol; and mixing the ethanol with gasoline or diesel, thereby generating the HLHF.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Inventors: Charles Randall Bettini, Deborah Bettini
  • Publication number: 20110129554
    Abstract: A method for preparing a Eucalyptus extract which decreases the Eucalyptus-specific odor and obtains the effective ingredient in high purity and high yield as a physiologically-active ingredient. An essential oil constituent is removed from the Eucalyptus plant and the residue is extracted with water or an organic solvent aqueous solution. Next, the obtained extraction residue is further extracted with an organic solvent aqueous solution or an organic solvent, whereby Macrocarpal A, Macrocarpal B, and Macrocarpal C contained in the Eucalyptus as a physiological active substance are prepared in higher content than using conventional methods. Further, the extract has improved good taste, appearance, and other desirable properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Applicant: LOTTE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuuichi Maeda, Atsushi Narise, Sanae Kikuchi, Kenji Osawa
  • Publication number: 20100314239
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for purifying methacrylic acid, wherein the reaction mixture obtained by a reaction of methacrylamide with water is cooled by mixing with an aqueous medium and then passed into a phase separator. The present invention further describes a system for performing the process according to the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2009
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Applicant: EVONIK ROEHM GMBH
    Inventors: Udo Gropp, Stefanie Sohnemann, Guido Protzmann, Thomas Mertz
  • Publication number: 20100158786
    Abstract: Desalination methods that include carbonate compound precipitation are provided. In certain embodiments, feed water is subjected to carbonate compound precipitation conditions prior to desalination. In certain embodiments, desalination waste brine is subjected to carbonate compound precipitation conditions. In yet other embodiments, both feed water and waste brine are subjected to carbonate compound precipitation conditions. Aspects of embodiments of the invention include carbone dioxide sequestration. Embodiments of the invention further employ a precipitate product of the carbonate compound precipitation conditions as a building material, e.g., a cement. Also provided are systems configured for use in methods of the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventors: Brent R. Constantz, Kasra Farsad, Miguel Fernandez
  • Publication number: 20100154679
    Abstract: Desalination methods that include carbonate compound precipitation are provided. In certain embodiments, feed water is subjected to carbonate compound precipitation conditions prior to desalination. In certain embodiments, desalination waste brine is subjected to carbonate compound precipitation conditions. In yet other embodiments, both feed water and waste brine are subjected to carbonate compound precipitation conditions. Aspects of embodiments of the invention include carbon dioxide sequestration. Embodiments of the invention further employ a precipitate product of the carbonate compound precipitation conditions as a building material, e.g., a cement. Also provided are systems configured for use in methods of the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventors: Brent R. Constantz, Kasra Farsad, Miguel Fernandez
  • Publication number: 20090159102
    Abstract: A parts cleaner for use in a process whereby solvent is preferred to always be available and is preferred to be as clean or pure as possible for use, comprising two containers respectively for clean solvent and for capture of used solvent or a single container having separate zones for clean and used solvent, said clean container having an outlet for supplying clean solvent for cleaning. The clean container may have an outlet for supplying clean solvent for cleaning and an inlet for clean recycled solvent, the used solvent container having an inlet for used solvent, an outlet for supplying used solvent for cleaning and an outlet for supplying used solvent for recycling. The used solvent container may have an outlet for supplying used solvent for cleaning and means for automatically switching between the outlets supplying said clean solvent and said used solvent for cleaning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicant: ChemChamp LLC
    Inventors: Dennis Mount, Mathieu Fredette
  • Patent number: 7540936
    Abstract: An evaporator for receiving waste fluid stream and producing separate streams of an evaporated fluid and a condensate liquid for use in industrial waste treatment has a curved pathway bounded by a casing having an inlet port through which the waste fluid enters the casing. The casing defines a pathway having a flow direction therein through which the waste fluid stream flows, and within which casing the evaporated fluid is produced. The casing has a drain beneath the pathway through which the condensate passes, and an outlet through which the evaporated fluid is drawn. A series of fins of elongate aerofoil cross-section are located in and extend across the pathway in the flow direction of the waste fluid stream flowing along the pathway. The casing is curved and the fins are arranged parallel to a tangent of the curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Industrial Waste Treatment Limited
    Inventor: Richard Lilleystone
  • Patent number: 7528290
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for recovering 1-butene from a feed steam comprising n-butane, isobutane and butene isomers using a single, divided wall distillation column. The disclosed process includes introducing the feed steam into an inlet of a first side of a distillation column, wherein the distillation column comprises a top, a bottom and a center dividing wall extending between the bottom and the top of the column and dividing the column into the first side and a second side. The process includes taking off an isobutane stream from the top of the second side of column, taking off a 1-butene stream as a bottoms stream from the second side of the column, and taking off a combination 2-butene and n-butane stream as a bottom stream from the first side of column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Joseph E. Zimmermann, Dennis E. O'Brien
  • Publication number: 20090078000
    Abstract: Method and apparatus of separating a nitrogen from a compressed and purified feed stream in a cryogenic rectification plant that employs a distillation column to produce a nitrogen-rich vapor as a column overhead and an oxygen-rich liquid column bottoms. Reflux is generated for the column by condensing part of the nitrogen-rich vapor within a down-flow heat exchanger. A stream of the oxygen-rich liquid column bottoms is introduced into an ejector which draws a stream of an oxygen-rich liquid phase produced from the outlet of a down-flow heat exchanger. The combined oxygen-rich liquid exiting the ejector is fed to the down-flow heat exchanger to condense the nitrogen-rich vapor. In such manner, part of the oxygen-rich liquid phase is recirculated to prevent dry-out of the down-flow heat exchanger outlet and to maintain effective condensation of the nitrogen-rich vapor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Inventors: Henry Edward Howard, Martin L. Timm
  • Patent number: 7476775
    Abstract: A method of separating an oligomerization reactor effluent, comprising: flashing the oligomerization reactor effluent into a liquid portion and a vapor portion, distilling the liquid and the vapor portions of the oligomerization reactor effluent and recovering an oligomerization product stream. A system for separating an oligomerization reactor effluent comprising liquid and vapor portions: a vapor/liquid separator to flash the oligomerization reactor effluent into a vapor portion and a liquid portion, and a distillation column in fluid communication with the vapor/liquid separator, wherein the distillation column has a side draw for withdrawing an oligomerization product stream and receives as separate feeds the vapor portion and the liquid portion from the vapor/liquid separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
    Inventor: Bruce E. Kreischer
  • Publication number: 20080275277
    Abstract: Processes for separating butanediols from glycols are disclosed, as well as products and compositions resulting therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventor: Peter Kalagias
  • Publication number: 20080169181
    Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid cleaning device that is intended for purifying liquid from pollutants, which liquid cleaning device comprises a vessel, having a lower chamber and an upper chamber, which lower chamber is connected to a heating member arranged to heat the liquid in said lower chamber, as well as further comprising a riser and liquid-distributor member, which riser is arranged to transport heated liquid from said lower chamber up to the upper part of said upper chamber, where the liquid-distributor member is arranged to impart the heated liquid an increased area of exposure to surrounding air, the liquid then, by means of the gravity, running back downward outside the riser and being collected in the lower part of the upper chamber of the vessel, said upper chamber and lower chamber being in at least conditioned communication with each other in order to allow transfer of the liquid from the upper chamber to the lower chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2005
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Applicant: PURITY AB
    Inventor: Peter Holmberg
  • Publication number: 20080164137
    Abstract: Naphthenic acid corrosivity of hydrocarbon feedstocks is correlated with the chemical composition of naphthenic acids, and especially with a ratio between an alpha fraction and a beta fraction of naphthenic acids. Contemplated plants, configurations, and methods are directed to reducing naphthenic acid corrosivity of hydrocarbon feedstocks by increasing the beta fraction over the alpha fraction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: FLUOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Barry Messer, Bart Tarleton, Michael Beaton
  • Patent number: 7101463
    Abstract: A system and process for the recovery of oil from the pyrolysis of material containing hydrocarbons such as shredded vehicle tires. The system utilizes a pair of sequentially positioned packed towers to recover at least 95% of the oil contained in the pyrolysis gases. The first packed tower operates above the dew point of the water vapor in the pyrolysis gases to insure that no water is condensed and obtain a primary oil fraction having oil with a high flash point of about 60Ā° C. or greater and a primary vapor fraction containing additional oils, fuel gases and water vapor. The primary vapor fraction is fed to the second packed tower which operates below the dew point of the water vapor to condense the water and oil having a low flash point of 34Ā° C. or below, and provide a secondary vapor fraction containing valuable fuel gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Metso Minerals Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael H. Weinecke, Robert J. Unterweger
  • Patent number: 7087140
    Abstract: A carbonizing waste processing apparatus is operable to rotate and heat a radiant tube for carbonizing waste therein so as to generate granular char and vapors from the waste, transfer waste into an upstream end of the tube, temporarily impede movement of the waste through the tube at upstream and downstream locations therein so as to ensure that residence time of the waste in the tube is sufficient at the upstream location to carry out evaporation of moisture from the waste and at the downstream location to elevate the temperature of any solids in the waste for completion of carbonization of the waste, discharge the granular char and vapors from the tube, and flow the generated and discharged vapors through a succession of finned heat exchanger tubes so as to condense and separate the vapors into oil, water and methanol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Inventor: Harry H. Menian
  • Patent number: 6610177
    Abstract: A high yield process for the production of methyl methacrylate or methacrylic acid and an apparatus for increasing the yield in a process for the production of methyl methacrylate or methacrylic acid are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: Rohm and Haas Company
    Inventors: Chorng-Shyuan Tsay, Michael Stanley DeCourcy, I-Hwa Midey Chang-Mateu, Heather Granzin Thompson, Diana Elaine Chase
  • Publication number: 20030121830
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for treating gasoline vapor by bringing gasoline vapor within a fuel tank into contact with a fluid gasoline and making the fluid gasoline absorb the gasoline vapor, in order to improve absorptivity of the gasoline vapor and to reduce the amount of the gasoline vapor introduced into a canister, thereby attaining a canister downsizing. The method and apparatus comprise a separation device of introducing the liquid gasoline within the fuel tank and separating it into a low boiling point component and a high boiling point component, and a gas-liquid contact device of bringing the gasoline vapor within the fuel tank into contact with an extractive gasoline composed of the high boiling point component separated by the separation device, whereby when contacting the gasoline vapor with the extractive gasoline, a part of the gasoline vapor is absorbed to the extractive gasoline, and a residual of the gasoline vapor not absorbed to the extractive gasoline is introduced into a canister.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Inventors: Kojiro Kuroyanagi, Takashi Nagai
  • Publication number: 20020195329
    Abstract: An apparatus (10′) for extracting biomass includes an extractor (11), evaporator (12), compressor (13) and condenser (14) connected in series by pipework (17) to define a closed loop extraction circuit. A transfer line (18) selectively supplies hot solvent vapor from the outlet side of the compressor (13) to the interior of the extractor (11), where the solvent vapor heats the biomass. This causes stripping of solvent from the biomass. The transfer line (18) includes control elements (19,20) for controlling the flow of solvent vapor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2002
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Inventors: Stuart Corr, Paul A. Dowdle, Robert E. Low, Frederick Thomas Murphy, James David Morrison
  • Publication number: 20020198430
    Abstract: Process for the high-yield recovery of ethylene and heavier hydrocarbons from the gas produced by pyrolysis of hydrocarbons (1) in which the liquid products (12-15, 23) resulting from the fractionated condensation of the cracking gas (1) for the recovery of almost all the ethylene, are supplied to a distillation column (C1), called the de-ethanizer, at different intermediate levels, at the top of which the vapor (31) of the column distillate is treated directly in an acetylene hydrogenation reactor (R1), the effluent containing virtually no acetylene being separated by a distillation column (C2) called the de-methanizer, into an ethylene- and ethane-enriched tail product (43), while the head product (44) is recycled by compression or treated for subsequent recovery of ethylene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2001
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Applicant: Technip-Coflexip
    Inventors: Victor Kaiser, Jean-Paul Laugier, Yvon Simon
  • Patent number: 6172271
    Abstract: This invention provides a method for reclaiming oil from waste plastic in such a way that thermosetting resins and solid foreign matter in the plastic will not pose a problem. This method greatly reduces the burden of presorting the garbage or industrial waste. To achieve this objective when oil is to be reclaimed from a waste plastic containing chlorine compounds, such as vinyl chloride, the plastic must first be stripped of chlorine. Prior to pyrolysis, while being conveyed forward in a continuous stream, the plastic is mixed with heated sand and/or an additive agent to raise its temperature to 250-350° C. This creates a product which is comprised of a mixture of sand and substantially dechlorinated plastic. The product is mixed with heated sand to heat it directly to a temperature of 350-500° C. It is maintained at this temperature until pyrolysis occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirotoshi Horizoe, Takeshi Amari, Hiroshi Nagai, Shizuo Yasuda, Yuji Kaihara, Yoshimasa Kawami, Yasumasa Matsukawa
  • Patent number: 6123909
    Abstract: A process for purifying argon to obtain a high-purity argon from argon gas containing at least nitrogen, carbon monoxide, oxygen, and methane, including a first step of adding air or oxygen to the argon gas in an amount sufficient to oxidize the contained carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide in the presence of a catalyst while maintaining a temperature sufficient to oxidize the contained carbon monoxide without substantially oxidizing the methane, a second step of adding hydrogen into the argon gas obtained in the first step and reacting the contained oxygen with the hydrogen into water in the presence of a catalyst, a third step of removing the carbon dioxide and the water from the argon gas obtained in the second step by use of an adsorbent, and a fourth step of cooling the argon gas obtained in the third step, introducing the argon thus cooled into a distillation column and performing distillation by use of a reflux containing argon as a main component to remove nitrogen, hydrogen, and methane, thereby reco
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: Air Liquide Japan, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Yamamoto, Naohiko Yamashita
  • Patent number: 6103107
    Abstract: Ferrofluid coated particles resulting from a ferrofluid materials separation process are washed with a solvent which is the same material as the liquid carrier employed in the ferrofluid. The result is a "dirty" solvent which is a very weak ferrofluid. The dirty solvent is then filtered or centrifuged to remove dust particles and other impurities and then the solvent is recovered by distillation in a distillation unit. The solvent can then be reused in the materials reclamation process. The residue in the distillation unit is surfactant-coated particles of ferrofluid. This residue is mixed with either clean or unprocessed solvent in the right proportion and the slurry is passed through an attritor to convert it to a high grade ferrofluid. The ferrofluid can also be reused in the materials separation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Ferrofluidics Corporation
    Inventor: Kuldip Raj
  • Patent number: 6024842
    Abstract: A device for distilling a liquid feed which includes a core pipe and a first fluid in a series of helically wound tubes or vanes employing the core pipe as a mandrel. The liquid to be distilled passes over a series of interstices which are created by the helically wound tubes or vanes and a distillate recovered as a consequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Komax Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Leonard Tony King
  • Patent number: 6011187
    Abstract: This invention provides a method for reclaiming oil from waste plastic in such a way that thermosetting resins and solid foreign matter in the plastic will not pose a problem. This method greatly reduces the burden of presorting the garbage or industrial waste. To achieve this objective when oil is to be reclaimed from a waste plastic containing chlorine compounds, such as vinyl chloride, the plastic must first be stripped of chlorine. Prior to pyrolysis, while being conveyed forward in a continuous stream, the plastic is mixed with heated sand and/or an additive agent to raise its temperature to 250-350.degree. C. This creates a product which is comprised of a mixture of sand and substantially dechlorinated plastic. The product is mixed with heated sand to heat it directly to a temperature of 350-500.degree. C. It is maintained at this temperature until pyrolysis occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirotoshi Horizoe, Takeshi Amari, Hiroshi Nagai, Shizuo Yasuda, Yuji Kaihara, Yoshimasa Kawami, Yasumasa Matsukawa
  • Patent number: 5980694
    Abstract: An installation for cleaning oil-polluted water, in particular at oil and gas production plants, is provided with a distillation column having a polluted water feed and at least one contact packing above which the outlet of the polluted water feed is located, a vapor discharge, a clean water outlet and a measuring device for the analysis of the water from the clean water outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: EMSYS Separation Technology B.V.
    Inventors: Adrianus P. Apeldoorn, Jachebus W. Bos, Johannes J. Dozy, Johannes J. Elling, Leonardus C. Gordijn, Pieter Ottens, Wayne S. Penny, Cornelis Spel, Aatje J. Spel-van der Linde, Tom M. Vader, Theodorus J. De Wit
  • Patent number: 5900125
    Abstract: In a process and an apparatus for the continuous preparation of alkyl esters of (meth)acrylic acid by reacting (meth)acrylic acid and monohydric alkanols of 1 to 8 carbon atoms in the homogeneous, liquid, solvent-free phase at elevated temperatures and in the presence of an acidic esterification catalyst, by feeding the (meth)acrylic acid, the alkanol and the acid catalyst continuously to a reaction zone, the reaction zone consists of a cascade of at least two reaction regions connected in series, and the discharge stream of one reaction region forms a feed stream of a downstream reaction region. The cascade may have from two to four reaction regions is spatially separated from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Herbert Exner, Karl Baur, Toni Dockner, Christiane Potthoff, Albrecht Dams
  • Patent number: 5736003
    Abstract: Process for vacuum-concentrating urea solutions in which the final step of evaporation of the urea solution under vacuum is carried out within the injection of overheated water vapor in the overhead portion of the concentrator, in order to counteract the formation and deposition of high-melting, fouling compounds derived from urea.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Snamprogetti S.p.A.
    Inventor: Franco Granelli
  • Patent number: 5714640
    Abstract: A condensation reaction process and reactor for converting a plurality of reactants to at least one reaction product having a vapor pressure less than the vapor pressure of the reactants. The process includes heating a liquid phase of the reactants to at least partial vaporization thus forming a vapor phase of the reactants. The vapor phase reactants are passed in a vapor and or condensed state through at least one catalyst bed spaced from the liquid state to form reaction product(s). The reaction product(s) is returned to the liquid phase without additional contact with catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Weldon K. Bell, Stephen H. Brown, Frederick E. Daugherty, Mohsen N. Harandi, Jeffrey C. Trewella
  • Patent number: 5632867
    Abstract: In a solvent recovery plant including a recovery or distillation tower from which solvent product is recovered overhead, an isothermal separator, preferably a cyclone, is used to separate liquid phase contaminant (i.e. oil in a lubricating oil extraction process) in overhead product and to feed the separated liquid to the recovery tower as reflux. In addition, a portion of the feed to the tower can be branched off and mixed with the overhead product to bring its temperature down to close to the dew point of the solvent vapor. In this way, flooding of the uppermost tower trays and distillation of oil overhead can be overcome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Michael B. Davis, John J. Dugan, James D. Eagan, Adrianus Welmers
  • Patent number: 5507953
    Abstract: The method of cleaning soil contaminated with contaminants includes comminuting contaminated soil to form a comminuted contaminated soil; filling the comminuted contaminated soil into a countercurrent extractor from above under an inert gas atmosphere so that the comminuted contaminated soil moves as a travelling bed downward through the countercurrent extractor; feeding a solvent, advantageously acetone, into a lower portion of the countercurrent extractor so that the solvent flows upward through the travelling bed to form a decontaminated soil at the bottom of the extractor and a contaminant-charged solvent portion taken from a middle portion; supplying a conveying liquid to the lower portion of the countercurrent extractor so as to transfer the decontaminated soil from the countercurrent extractor to a filter device having a belt filter; and separating the decontaminated soil in the filter device into a cleaned soil and a reusable conveying liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1996
    Assignees: Peter Flakus, Horst Muehr, Erwin Wessling
    Inventors: Rainer Machlitt, Frank Meyer
  • Patent number: 5398806
    Abstract: A mini-distillation and reflux system, kit and method in which a heating and glassware arrangement includes a heat source in contact with a heater block having apertures in its top surface for housing boiling tubes upright during a distillation or reflux operation. The boiling tubes contain sample and are for attachment of various configurations of glassware assemblies made up of individual, interchangeably connectable glassware pieces so assembled to perform different types of distillations and refluxes. The glassware pieces are of a scaled down size so that numerous distillations and refluxes can be performed simultaneously at a single heat source within a compact space to consume less laboratory space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1995
    Assignee: EA Engineering, Science & Technology
    Inventor: Lisa C. Quinn
  • Patent number: 5064623
    Abstract: An improved reactor system reacts crude aqueous methanol feedstock with iso-olefinic hydrocarbons to produce C.sub.5.sup.+ methyl t-alkyl ethers. The system includes an extractor for contacting the aqueous methanol feedstock with a liquid hydrocarbon extraction solvent rich in C.sub.4.sup.+ isoalkene. Both an organic extract phase and an aqueous methanol raffinate phase recovered from the extractor and fed to a primary reactor. This primary reactors reacts the methanol and C.sub.4.sup.+ isoalkene from the organic extract phase under catalytic conditions to produce an ether product. The ether product is fed to an etherification effluent fractionator to separate the ether product from unreacted methanol and C.sub.4.sup.+ isoalkene. A secondary reactor then converts methanol from the aqueous methanol raffinate phase with the unreacted methanol and C.sub.4.sup.+ isolakene to produce hydrocarbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1991
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Mohsen N. Harandi, Hartley Owen