Plural Patents (Class 202/172)
  • Patent number: 11181041
    Abstract: A system includes a turbine system that contains a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) having a flow path that receives an exhaust gas, and having a fluid path that receives a fluid. The fluid path is adjacent to the flow path such that the fluid is heated by the exhaust gas. The HRSG includes an electrical heater that provides heat to the fluid path during a start-up mode of the HRSG, during a shutdown mode of the HRSG, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gordon Raymond Smith, Allen Michael Pfeffer, Robert John Gdaniec
  • Patent number: 10688436
    Abstract: The device is designed for production of light, highly pure water with a high content of light molecules 1H2 16O. The technical results are productivity increasIIITII of the device and a reduction in energy costs per unit of the finished product. The device is equipped with a heat pump, the distillation column consists of two coaxial tubes of diameter D1 and D2 with a layer of random packing located in the gap between them, where (D1?D2)/2<300 mm, and the liquid distributor at the top of the column has at least 800 irrigation points per square meter of the cross-sectional area of the packing part of the column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: OBSCHESTVO S OGRANICHENNOJ OTVETSTVENNOSTYU “MTK AJSBERG”
    Inventors: Igor Lvovich Selivanenko, Aleksandr Alekseevich Timakov
  • Patent number: 10507428
    Abstract: A heat-pipe membrane module belongs to a heat recycle device. The heat-pipe membrane module is composed of a membrane module and heat pipes. The whole heat pipe is placed in the membrane module where there is heat can be recycled; or one end of heat pipe is placed in the membrane module where there is heat can be recycled and the other end of heat pipe is outside the membrane module. Here, the heat pipe comprises a metal tube, wick and the working fluid, wherein, both ends of the metal tube have covers; the wick is evenly distributed in the inner surface of metal tube, which has a capillary effect; the working fluid fills the wick. The heat-pipe membrane module mentioned above is simple, cheap, and heat efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: BEIJING UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Yuelian Peng, Yue Li
  • Patent number: 10421036
    Abstract: This invention relates to a system for continuously dehumidifying humid gas. More particularly, this invention relates to a system that continuously dehumidifies gas using a liquid desiccant dehumidifying module, a regeneration modules utilizing a membrane distillation module to regenerate diluted liquid desiccant and means for connecting the two modules together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: NGEE ANN POLYTECHNIC
    Inventors: James Selvaraj Antony Prince, Gurdev Singh, Kwok Ho Lam, Ayyanar Neelamegam, Belinda Owen
  • Patent number: 9908790
    Abstract: The invention discloses the design of an improved household solar still with enhanced output and high recovery. The output and recovery are enhanced by (i) aligning the top glass and basin so as to maximize the input solar radiation, (ii) using North-South reflectors in V trough configuration to further raise the incident radiation, (iii) employing metallic condensers on sides to maximize condensation efficiency, (iv) using suitably heated and cooled saline water by taking advantage of ambient temperature differential during a day and using such water as feed water and condenser water respectively. Use of detachable top glass assembly and teflon cork at the bottom allows for easy cleaning of the interior of the still and discharge of concentrate, respectively. The still is also demonstrated to be useful for other applications where, besides producing distilled water, the concentrate is a more value added product than the feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: COUNCIL OF SCIENTIFIC & INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH
    Inventors: Subarna Maiti, Pankaj Arvindbhai Patel, Chitrangi BankimBhai Bhatt, Jitendra Narsinhbhai Bharadia, Mahesh Ramjibhai Gajjar, Pratap Sashikant Bapat, Pushpito Kumar Ghosh
  • Patent number: 9278868
    Abstract: A system for distributed utilities including electrical power and water. A generation device is provided for converting an available resource to a desired utility; the resource may be water, in which case the generator is a purifier for purifying untreated water, or, alternatively, the generator may convert a fuel to electrical power. In either case, an input sensor is provided for measuring input to the generation device, while an output sensor is provided for measuring consumption of output from the generation device. The monitoring system has a controller for concatenating measured input and consumption of output on the basis of the input and output sensors. Measured parameters are telemetered to a remote site where utility generation and use are monitored and may also be controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Dean Kamen, Jason A. Demers, Kingston Owens
  • Patent number: 8992737
    Abstract: A trihalosilane refining device and a trihalosilane refining method are provided. The trihalosilane refining device can be useful in obtaining high-purity trihalosilane from a feed containing a trihalosilane while consuming a small amount of energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung Kyu Lee, Joon Ho Shin, Jong Ku Lee, Sung Kyun Kim
  • Patent number: 8968521
    Abstract: A trihalosilane refining device and a trihalosilane refining method are provided. The trihalosilane refining device can be useful in obtaining high-purity trihalosilane from a feed containing a trihalosilane while consuming a small amount of energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung Kyu Lee, Joon Ho Shin, Jong Ku Lee, Sung Kyun Kim
  • Patent number: 8951392
    Abstract: A modular portable evaporator system for use in a Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) systems having an evaporator, with a sump including an oil skimming weir, a short tube vertical falling film heat exchanger including an outer shell containing short tubes provided for lower water circulation rate. The system further having external to the evaporator, a compressor for compressing evaporated steam from the tube side of the heat exchanger and routing to the shell side of the same exchanger, a distillate tank to collect hot distilled water, a recirculation pump to introduce liquids from the sump into the heat exchanger and an external suction drum protecting the compressor from liquid impurities. The evaporator system receives produced water from the SAGD process into the sump and provides cleaned hot water to a boiler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: 1nSite Technologies Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenneth James
  • Publication number: 20150014144
    Abstract: A cooling device for cooling a fluid comprises a vertical cooling tower, into an upper area of which the fluid to be cooled is fed and from a lower area of which the cooled fluid is discharged. The fluid in the cooling tower is cooled by a cooling gas flowing from the bottom to the top. At least one installation in which the fluid is conducted is provided in the gas space of the cooling tower through which cooling gas flows. Each installation comprises at least one fluid channel that is separated at least in part from the gas space of the cooling tower by a fluid-tight membrane wall that is permeable to vapour on both sides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventor: Wolfgang Heinzl
  • Publication number: 20140367244
    Abstract: A reactor comprising a vessel; a fluid dispensing system having a plurality of ports arranged lengthwise along the inner surface of the vessel to distribute the fluid thereon in a controlled manner to maintain substantially uniform thin film flow along the length of the inner surface; and an outlet for removing vapor. A system comprising a fluid source; a first vessel; a heat exchanger for preheating the fluid; a first pathway for directing a preheating fluid from the first vessel to the heat exchanger; and a second pathway for directing preheated fluid toward the first vessel for processing. A method comprising introducing a fluid; distributing the fluid in a controlled manner to form a substantially uniform thin film flow an inner surface of a vessel; evaporating fluid; and removing vapor. A method comprising introducing a fluid; processing the fluid; directing processed fluid into another vessel; and further processing the fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventor: Roshan J.J. Jachuck
  • Patent number: 8894820
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a fractionation zone for an alkylation apparatus. The fractionation zone can be a column adapted to receive a feed including at least one alcohol, water, and at least one ketone. The column may provide an overhead stream including the at least one ketone and a side-stream including the at least one alcohol and water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Charles P. Luebke, David N. Myers
  • Patent number: 8877016
    Abstract: Systems and methods for solar steam generation are described. The systems and methods include moving at least one frame mounted optical focusing lens to track the sun in two axes and disposing a water boiler at a focus of each optical focusing lens. Raw water is pumped through an inlet at a bottom of each boiler and solar energy is concentrated, using each optical focusing lens, on each boiler, heating the raw water in each boiler and evaporating steam from the raw water. The steam exits each boiler, via a steam outlet pipe. Remaining salts and solids in each boiler are ground by rotation of salt grinding-cleaning gears. These ground salts and solids are drained and/or pumped out of each boiler from an exit in the bottom of each boiler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: King Saud University
    Inventors: Mazen A. Ba-abbad, Hany A. Al-Ansary, Essam A. Al-Ammar
  • Publication number: 20140305789
    Abstract: A thermal distillation apparatus including evaporation surfaces that are wetted with a solution, and from which at least some of the volatile solvent contained in the solution evaporates, condensers having an external surface in close proximity to, but not touching, a corresponding one of the one or more evaporation surfaces, and on which vapors of the solvent condense, releasing thermal energy that heats a flow of the solution moving upward within the condensers, spacers that prevent contact between the evaporating surfaces and the condensers, wherein spaces between the evaporating surfaces and the condensers are filled with a gaseous mixture composed of solvent vapor and one or more non-condensable gases, and except for diffusion of the solvent vapor relative to the non-condensable gases, the gaseous mixture is stationary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: AIL RESEARCH INC.
    Inventor: Andrew Lowenstein
  • Patent number: 8840762
    Abstract: An aromatics complex producing one or more xylene isomers offers a large number of opportunities to conserve energy by heat exchange within the complex. One previously unrecognized opportunity is through providing two parallel distillation columns operating at different pressures to separate C8 aromatics from C9+ aromatics. The parallel columns offer additional opportunities to conserve energy within the complex.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Gregory R. Werba, Jason T. Corradi, David W. Ablin
  • Patent number: 8753487
    Abstract: An evaporation device has an inner tube and an outer tube. The inner tube is made of a hydrophilic membrane, such as DutyionT. The outer tube is preferably made of a material that readily absorbs solar radiation and is a good heat conductor. There is a gap between the inner tube and the outer tube for the flow of air. The inner tube contains a flow of impure water. The hydrophilic membrane allows water to pass to the outside of the inner tube as vapor, but prevents impurities from passing through. Air flowing in the gap takes up the water vapor and humidified air exits the evaporation device. This humidified air is subsequently cooled to collect the vapor and provide purified water, e.g. at a condenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Design Technology and Innovation Ltd
    Inventor: Mark Christopher Tonkin
  • Patent number: 8696870
    Abstract: Device for desalinating sea water comprising a unit (10) for spraying sea water in the form of droplets, a unit (20) for vaporizing the droplets into steam, a unit (30) for separating steam from salt particles, and a unit (40) for condensing steam into fresh water. The spraying unit comprises a sea water entry (12), an ambient-temperature dry air entry (14), and a device for generating acoustic waves at a frequency greater than 1 MHz focused by means of nozzles (17) receiving the sea water coming from the sea water entry so as to obtain microdroplets having a diameter comprised between about 2.5 microns and about 5 microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Inventors: Charles Pallanca, Henri Renggli, Gil Ching
  • Publication number: 20140034479
    Abstract: A process and system for producing a H2-containing product gas and purified water from an integrated catalytic steam-hydrocarbon reforming and thermal water purification process. Raw water, such as salt water, is heated by indirect heat transfer with reformate from the catalytic steam reforming process for purifying raw water in one of a multiple effect distillation process and a multi-stage flash process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS INC.
    Inventors: Xiang-Dong Peng, Bryan Clair Hoke, JR.
  • Patent number: 8617359
    Abstract: A method for distilling a starting material that includes a liquid Fd to be distilled, uses a gas-tight container system that is resistant to excess and/or negative pressure. The container system includes a condenser for condensing the liquid Fd, which has turned to vapor and whose temperature can be adjusted, to give the condensation product, and a vapor chamber connecting the evaporator and the condenser. The pressure and temperature in the vapor chamber are monitored and controlled so that distillation is always carried out in a range close to the saturation vapor pressure of the liquid Fd to be distilled. If the pressure is too high, it is reduced so that especially foreign gas is removed. An installation includes a container for distillation according to method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Inventors: Markus Lehmann, Markus Braendli
  • Publication number: 20130168224
    Abstract: Systems for efficient generation of clean water from non-potable water leverage heat provided by concentrated solar power or waste heat is co-located at a source of non-potable water for efficient, low-cost operation based on steam provided by the source of heat. A process of using such systems operated by the steam provided and the non-potable water, is disclosed, to generate clean water and concentrate water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: Altela. Inc.
    Inventor: Ned Godshall
  • Publication number: 20130153398
    Abstract: There is provided an apparatus 2 for desalinating non-potable water. The apparatus comprises a first vapour producing module 5 configured to receive a heated working fluid for producing vapour from a volume of non-potable water for driving at least one first distillation module 10 for producing condensate 12. The apparatus further comprises a second vapour producing module 14 configured to receive working fluid from the first vapour producing module 5 for producing additional vapour from a further volume of non-potable water 8?.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Inventors: Hui Tong Chua, Xiaolin Wang, Klaus Regenauer-Lieb
  • Patent number: 8440056
    Abstract: Provided is a heat integrated distillation apparatus includes: rectifying column including a trayed section or a packed bed section; stripping column including a trayed section or a packed bed section located higher than rectifying column; first pipe for connecting top part of the stripping column with bottom part of the rectifying column; and compressor that compresses vapor from top part of the stripping column to feed the compressed vapor to bottom part of the rectifying column. The heat integrated distillation apparatus further includes: heat exchanger located either at the trayed section or a packed bed section of rectifying column or at the trayed section or a packed bed section of stripping column; second pipe; and third pipe for circulating fluids through the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignees: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Toyo Engineering Company
    Inventors: Masaru Nakaiwa, Toshihiro Wakabayashi, Akihiko Tamakoshi
  • Patent number: 8337672
    Abstract: The invention relates to the oil processing industry and can be used for producing vacuum in a vacuum petroleum distillation column. The inventive method involves pumping out a vapor-gas medium from the column by of a gas-gas ejector in such a way that a vapor-gas mixture is formed at the entry thereof and supplying said mixture to a condenser for producing a gas mixture and a vapor phase condensate. The gas mixture is supplied from the condenser to a liquid-gas jet apparatus and the condensate is delivered to an additional separator. A hydrocarbon-containing condensate is removed from the additional separator for the intended use thereof and a water-containing condensate is fed to a steam generator for producing steam by supplying heat of a hot distillate evacuated from the vacuum column. The thus obtained steam is used in the gas-gas ejector as a high-pressure gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Inventor: Valery Grigorievich Tsegelsky
  • Patent number: 8308913
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for recovering an acrylic acid from a mixture containing acrylic acid, acrylic acid dimer and impurities with high boiling point, including: an acrylic acid recovering device that comprises an acrylic acid distillation unit being present within an acrylic acid dimer pyrolysis tank, and is operated under reduced pressure; a separation column for removing impurities with high boiling point from the mixture which is introduced into the acrylic acid recovering device; and a line for introducing the mixture into the acrylic acid recovering device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Seong Pil Kang, Seok Kwan Choi, Kyoung Su Ha, Jun Seok Ko, Boo Gon Woo, Young Bae Kim
  • Patent number: 8282791
    Abstract: This invention describes a low temperature, self-sustainable desalination process operated under natural vacuum conditions created and maintained by barometric pressure head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Arrowhead Center, Inc.
    Inventors: Nagamany Nirmalakhandan, Veera Gnaneswar Gude
  • Patent number: 8273219
    Abstract: A distillation column is disclosed. The column includes a plurality of rectification zones and corresponding stripping zones. Each rectification zone is linked to a heat pump or a stage of a heat pump. Overhead material from the top rectification zone is compressed and used to heat bottoms liquid from the bottom stripping zone. Similarly, overhead material from a lower rectification zone is compressed and used to heat liquid taken from the uppermost or top stripping zone. Optionally, overhead material from a middle rectification zone is compressed and used to heat liquid from a middle stripping zone. A single multiple stage heat pump compressor may be utilized as opposed to a plurality of heat pumps. Because the heat exchanger from each rectification-stripping zone pair has a lower duty, economical stab-in heat exchangers may be utilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Paul A. Sechrist
  • Publication number: 20120228114
    Abstract: A distillation unit for producing potable water using solar radiation is disclosed. The distillation unit includes a heating chamber defining an interior chamber adapted to contain a non-potable liquid for distillation, and a dome-shaped condensing portion having an inner surface and an outer surface, with the condensing portion disposed over the heating chamber such that the heating chamber and the inner surface of the condensing portion are provided in fluid-transfer communication. The distillation unit also includes a pre-heat jacket having a first surface and a second surface and an interior defined therebetween adapted to receive non-potable liquid for distillation therein. The first surface is disposed adjacent the outer surface of the condensing portion, and the pre-heat jacket defines an access entry for introducing non-potable liquid for distillation into the interior of the heating chamber. The distillation unit also includes a trough adjacent for receiving a potable liquid therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: EPIPHANY SOLAR WATER SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Thomas A. Joseph, III, Charles Christopher Newton, Henry Maurice Wandrie, III, Matthew Carter
  • Patent number: 8246791
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating draw solution solutes and product solvent from a draw solution using a plurality of distillation columns is disclosed. In one embodiment, the draw solution is used in a Forward Osmosis (FO) water desalination process. In this embodiment, the draw solution is directed to the plurality of distillation columns in parallel while the energy stream (heat) is directed to the plurality of distillation columns in series such that the efficiency of heat use is improved and in turn the cost of the heat is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Yale University
    Inventors: Robert L. McGinnis, Menachem Elimelech
  • Publication number: 20110306807
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus to recover and purify methanol from gases produced in the digester during the kraft pulping process. The gas is typically recovered as a foul gas (called stripper off gas or SOG) comprising methanol, water and various other contaminants. The gas is then treated with successive decanting and distillation steps to remove impurities, thereby producing highly purified methanol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Applicant: A.H. Lundberg Systems Limited
    Inventors: Bruce Der, Allan Stewart Jensen
  • Patent number: 8075741
    Abstract: In the water purification process, apparatus, and method, contaminated water vapor is exposed to liquid solvent, which causes a transfer of contaminants from the contaminated water vapor to the liquid solvent. In an advantageous embodiment, this latter step is followed by a second purification step where the decontaminated water in liquid phase is exposed to water vapor which causes a transfer of solvent remaining in the decontaminated water to the water vapor. The energy freed during the condensation of the vapor can advantageously be used for evaporation of the liquids, optionally by compressing the vapors prior to condensation thereof within heat exchangers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Inventor: Daniel Blanchette
  • Patent number: 8002952
    Abstract: A distillation column is disclosed with a folded design. The column includes a plurality of rectification zones and corresponding stripping zones Each rectification zone is linked to a heat pump or a stage of a heat pump. Overhead vapor from the top rectification zone is compressed and used to heat bottoms liquid from the bottom stripping zone. Similarly, overhead vapor from the middle rectification zone is compressed and used to heat liquid from a middle stripping zone and overhead from a lower rectification zone is compressed and used to heat liquid taken from the uppermost or top stripping zone. A single multiple stage heat pump compressor may be utilized as opposed to a plurality of heat pumps Because the heat exchanger from each rectification-stripping zone pair has a lower duty, economical stab-in heat exchangers may be utilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Paul A. Sechrist
  • Patent number: 7931782
    Abstract: A method of recovering a liquid medium from a mixture containing the liquid medium, the method including: (a) blowing a first gas into the mixture containing the liquid medium to vaporize the liquid medium, in a first vaporizing means, thereby to form a second gas containing which is a mixture of the first gas and vaporized liquid medium; (b) continuously dropwise feeding the mixture containing the liquid medium into a second vaporizing means and counter-flowingly contacting the mixture containing the liquid medium, with the second gas to vaporize additional liquid medium to form a third gas which is a mixture of the second gas and additional vaporized liquid medium; and (c) feeding the third gas into a condensing means to condense the vaporized liquid medium into a liquid and separate the first gas, which is then blown into the first vaporizing means in step (a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: The Institute of Creative Chemistry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sigeru Torii, Kouichi Miki
  • Patent number: 7922873
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for desalinating water combined with power generation, wherein a desalination system is used for desalinating coastal seawater and is operationally related to a power generation system, wherein such dual purpose cogeneration facility captures the heat vapor exhausted or a steam turbine generator's condenser is replaced by the desalination plant's heat exchanger enabling such captured heat energy to reduce the energy requirements of the desalination plant, and wherein brine solution being utilized by the desalination plant is circulated from and to the substrata sea water table via supply and return wells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Inventors: Girard Charles St. Germain, Richard N. Barnett
  • Patent number: 7922875
    Abstract: A method of enriching a heavy oxygen isotope by distillation of the present invention includes: a first distillation step of feeding oxygen and ozone generated by an ozonizer 12 into a distillation column 13 filled with a diluent gas, and separating the oxygen, and the ozone and the diluent gas; a photodecomposition step of introducing a mixed gas of the ozone and the diluent gas from a bottom of the distillation column into a photoreaction cell 14, and irradiating the mixed gas with a laser light to selectively decompose the ozone containing the heavy oxygen isotope; and a second distillation step of returning non-decomposed ozone and oxygen containing the heavy oxygen isotope to the distillation column, and separating the oxygen, and the ozone and the diluent gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Kambe, Hitoshi Kihara, Norihisa Nara, Hiroshi Kawakami
  • Patent number: 7879197
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for the purification of an aqueous solution of an organic acid having a boiling point at atmospheric pressure of less than 450° C., which further has approximately 275 g carboxylate ions/l or less, preferably 250 g carboxylate ions/l or less, and preferably less than 1% by weight ionic impurities, calculated on the basis of the total solution. In particular, the invention relates to a method and a device for the continuous purification and concentration, on an industrial scale, of an aqueous solution of an organic acid having a boiling point at atmospheric pressure of less than 450° C. According to the method, this solution is subjected to two or more distillation steps, the first distillation step being carried out at a temperature of from 80° to 150° C. and a pressure of from 50 to 250 mbar, and the second distillation step being carried out at a temperature of from 80° to 200° C. and a pressure of from 0.01 to 50 mbar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Purac Biochem B.V.
    Inventors: Hendrik Martinus Winkelaar, Jan Van Breugel, Margarita Camprubi Vila, Jose Maria Vidal Lancis
  • Patent number: 7857944
    Abstract: The method and apparatus for improving the esterification procedure, in particular for improving the esterification procedure to obtain an ester of low carbon number such as the ethyl acetate and the isopropyl acetate, are provided. By applying the provided method and apparatus, the conversion ratio of the esterification procedure is significantly increased and hence an ester product of a relatively high purity, up to the industrial specification, is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: National Taiwan University
    Inventors: Huang Hsiao-Ping, Yu Cheng-Ching, Lee Ming-Jer, Hung Shih-Bo, Lai I-Kuan
  • 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
  • Patent number: 7846303
    Abstract: The present invention provides a multi-structured internal heat exchange-type distillation column including at least an outermost heat exchange section, an intermediate section, and an innermost heat exchange section, in which the innermost heat exchange section is isolated from the intermediate section, the outermost heat exchange section is also isolated from the intermediate section, the outermost heat exchange section and the innermost heat exchange section are in communication with one another through at least two vapor tunnel connecting ports, a channel is formed inside the outermost heat exchange section in such a manner that, in a case where at least one of the vapor tunnel connecting ports serves as an inlet for vapor from the innermost heat exchange section into the outermost heat exchange section, and the other vapor tunnel connecting port serves as an outlet for vapor from the outermost heat exchange section back to the innermost heat exchange section, the vapor can smoothly flow in one-way traffi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Kansai Chemical Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo Noda, Hiroshi Yamaji, Nobuyuki Kuratani, Kunio Kataoka
  • Patent number: 7828939
    Abstract: A method for concentrating effectively the heavy nitrogen isotope 15N to 50 atom % or more in which 14N15N and/or 15N2, which are molecules containing a heavy nitrogen isotope of 15N, are concentrated by distilling successively nitrogen N2 using plural distillation columns T1 to T4 each of which includes at least one condenser C1 to C4 and at least one reboiler R1 to R4 and is arranged in series, and a part of nitrogen in the distillation is drawn out to be subjected to isotope scrambling in an isotope scrambler S1, and nitrogen after the isotope scrambling is returned to the distillation to produce nitrogen N2 with a 15N concentration of 50 atom % or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation
    Inventors: Hitoshi Kihara, Takashi Kambe, Shigeru Hayashida
  • Patent number: 7790001
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for reducing the corrosion rate of iron-containing vessels within an ethylene glycol distillation system. The inventive process includes the addition of an additive component of sodium nitrite and sodium hypophosphite into such iron-containing vessels, to thereby react with iron of the inside walls and form a protective coating thereon. This process reduces the corrosion rate in iron-containing vessels of the apparatus, and reduces the catalytic effects of iron corrosion products within the system. Thus, not only is the on-stream time of the vessels extended, but also product quality is improved by reducing the aldehyde content of the final ethylene glycol product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: SD Lizenzverwertungsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Barry Billig, James Mann
  • Patent number: 7699961
    Abstract: A water-soluble organic material condensation apparatus equipped with a distillation column for distilling an aqueous solution of a water-soluble organic material, wherein a vapor generated at the top of the distillation column or a condensed liquid from the vapor is introduced to a device other than the distillation column which has the function to separate water from the water-soluble organic material to thereby condense the water-soluble organic material through separating water and then the condensed water-soluble organic material is recycled to the distillation column. The device other than the distillation column is desirably a separating film such as a zeolite film. The apparatus is improved in the operation of the upper portion of the condensation section of the distillation column and allows energy savings during distillation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Shiro Ikeda, Takashi Nakane
  • Publication number: 20100078306
    Abstract: The once-through multi-stage flash (MSF) desalination plant with feed cooler is a desalination system utilizing a feed water cooler. Particularly, the plant includes a conventional MSF system, with a separate water cooler for cooling the seawater or brine that is input into the system, prior to the passage of the brine into the condensation conduits and brine heater. In use, the cooled brine is pumped, under pressure, through at least one conduit that passes through a plurality of flash chambers. The brine is then heated and injected into the plurality of flash chambers, where it is flashed into steam. The steam condenses on an external surface of the at least one conduit, and the condensed water is then extracted from the plant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Inventor: Majed Moalla Alhazmy
  • Patent number: 7678227
    Abstract: The present invention provides tube bundle configurations for multi stage flash cross tube type evaporators using concepts with parallel and counter current coolant flow. Those tube bundle configurations allow to build the evaporators more compact and provide the possibilities to lower the thermal and electrical energy consumption for a multi stage flash desalination plant by maintaining or reducing the distilled water generation cost as achievable with cross tube evaporators utilizing single pass tube bundles in serial flow communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Inventor: Friedrich Alt
  • Patent number: 7608171
    Abstract: A distillation system for distilling contaminated water includes an evaporation chamber for receiving the contaminated water. The evaporation chamber includes (i) a vessel for absorbing the contaminated water; (ii) a plurality of heat conductive pipes extending through the vessel for delivering the contaminated water to the vessel; and (iii) a heat source for heating the plurality of heat conductive pipes for evaporating the contaminated water absorbed by the vessel and causing the at least one contaminant to be retained by the vessel. A condensation chamber is connected to the evaporation chamber for receiving the evaporated water for condensing and producing purified water in liquid form. A storage device is connected to the condensation chamber for storing the purified liquid water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Inventor: Samuel Okwaja Otukol
  • Publication number: 20080237025
    Abstract: A distiller that employs a rotary heat exchanger uses a centrifugal compressor to impose a pressure difference between the distiller's evaporation and condensation chambers. The compressor's diffuser is provided on the rotary heat exchanger to rotate with it, and the force applied to the diffuser by the vapor that the diffuser slows helps drive the rotary heat exchanger's rotation. Additionally, the compressor is so closely coupled to the heat exchanger that the vapor speed at the condensation chamber's entrance is at least an eighth of the peak vapor speed in the compressor, and the entrance area can therefore be small enough to simplify the task of sealing it.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventor: William H. Zebuhr
  • Patent number: 7357849
    Abstract: A method and system for treating feedwater includes evaporating a portion of the feedwater in a first evaporation chamber so as to separate water vapor from the remaining feedwater. Droplets of the remaining feedwater are dispersed into a stream of hot air produced in a second evaporation chamber. The droplets evaporate and solids in the feedwater precipitate. The precipitated solids are collected in the lower section of the second evaporation chamber. Water vapor discharged from both evaporation chambers can be treated in a cyclone separator to remove residual solids therefrom. The cleansed water vapor output from the cyclone separator can be condensed to recover clean water. Dry solids can be discharged from the second evaporation chamber and the cyclone separator for recovery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Watervap, LLC
    Inventor: Robert R. Wright
  • Patent number: 7297237
    Abstract: By using a dephlegmator which conducts distillation concurrently with heat exchange within at least one distillation column, or a portion of one distillation column, of a distillation cascade, the quantity of liquid holdup within the distillation apparatus is reduced and the start-up time is shortened. Consequently, the operational costs associated with startup are reduced, and productivity is improved markedly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignees: Koichi Asano, Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation
    Inventors: Koichi Asano, Shigeru Hayashida, Nobuaki Egoshi, Hiroshi Kawakami
  • Patent number: 7232504
    Abstract: A distilling apparatus and method use a two step distillation and purification process for processing a waste liquid, such as an impure sulfuric acid solution, to form a highly concentrated sulfuric acid solution. First, the waste liquid is stored in a concentrating column, where it is heated. A condenser, which uses the waste liquid as a cooling medium, condenses the vapor generated by the heater. The condensed vapor is passed through a filter, which separates impurities out of the waste liquid, prior to feeding the waste liquid back into the concentrating column. Water is then removed from the waste liquid via a distilling process. The resulting concentrated liquid is then fed to a purifying column, where it is again heated, to remove residue, and condensed, resulting in a highly pure waste liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Hiroshi Osuda, Toru Matoba, Daisuke Adachi, Masataka Fukuizumi
  • Patent number: 7189377
    Abstract: 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: BP Chemicals Limited
    Inventors: Simon Jobson, Derrick John Watson
  • Patent number: 7153394
    Abstract: A process to isolate dianhydride from an exchange reaction comprises extracting a bisimide/anhydride exchange reaction aqueous phase with an organic solution comprising an exchange catalyst at a first temperature and pressure to form an extracted aqueous phase comprising water, exchange catalyst and a dianhydride precursor; removing water from the extracted aqueous phase at a second temperature and pressure to form a molten phase, wherein the second pressure is less than the first pressure; removing water and exchange catalyst from the molten phase at a third temperature and pressure to form an isolation mixture; and converting the dianhydride precursor in the isolation mixture to dianhydride at a fourth temperature and pressure, wherein the fourth temperature is greater than the second and third temperatures and the fourth pressure is less than the second and third pressures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Link Guggenheim, David Anthony Mongilio