Gas-flow Control Patents (Class 261/109)
  • Patent number: 11904262
    Abstract: A high capacity and high efficiency co-current and cross-flow vapor-liquid contacting apparatus and process is useful in distillation columns and other vapor-liquid contacting processes. The apparatus is characterized by an arrangement of contacting modules and perforated receiving pans in horizontal stages. The modules define a co-current contacting volume and in an exemplary configuration the modules include a liquid distributor and a demister. Liquid dispensed from the modules on a perforated receiving pan are contacted with upflowing vapor through perforations therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Zhanping Xu
  • Patent number: 11857991
    Abstract: A wet scrubber having a body that is molded from a plastic material in combination with a nozzle insert that is removably received in the inlet of the wet scrubber and configured to optimize the speed of fluid flow entering a mixing chamber provided in the wet scrubber. Interchangeable nozzle inserts allow to optimize operation of the wet scrubber for different processes the wet scrubber is operating in conjunction with.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: GIFFIN, INC.
    Inventors: Abraham J. Salazar, Steve M. Smith, Gregory S. Batchik
  • Patent number: 11850543
    Abstract: Disclosed is a desulfurizer of a fuel cell. The desulfurizer includes a pipe extended long and having one side that is open and the other side that is closed; a cap coupled to one side of the pipe and closing the pipe; a plurality of baffles installed in an inner space of the pipe and sequentially partitioning the inner space in a direction crossing a length direction of the pipe; an inflow pipe penetrating through the cap and the plurality of baffles and communicating from the outside of the pipe to the inner space of the pipe; and an outflow pipe installed in the cap and communicating the outside of the pipe and the inner space of the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hyoungsuk Woo, Dongkeun Yang, Hyungsoon Kim
  • Patent number: 11612849
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling air pollution using a venturi scrubber with a venturi throat having multiple variable apertures. In some embodiments, the venturi throat comprises a first plate and a second plate, each with multiple apertures. The plates may move relative to each other. The dimensions of the apertures may be determined based on the movement of two plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Inventors: Devpreet Jassal, Man Zhou, Liang Xiong
  • Patent number: 11585614
    Abstract: A fill support grid hanger for hanging a full support grid from a horizontal structural member that obviates the need for an intervening spacer bar. The hanger features a flange at the top, a plurality of blocks in the back to stabilize the hanger on the horizontal structural member, and three-dimensional features on the front side to receive and prevent lateral movement of two or more different types of fill support grids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Evapco, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce A. McAllister, Ronald D. Forest, John H. Ahern
  • Patent number: 11313105
    Abstract: There is provided a work machine that is capable of realizing operability and energy saving ability that are equivalent to those of work machines that have a joint line to be used during swinging/boom raising operation, without incorporating a joint line for supplying a pressurized fluid from a second pump to a bottom-side chamber of a boom cylinder. The controller is configured to compute a hypothetical flow rate representing a flow rate in a hypothetical joint line, compute a first pump provisional target flow rate on the basis of an operation amount of a boom operation device, compute a second pump provisional target flow rate on the basis of an operation amount of a swing operation device, compute a first pump final target flow rate by adding the hypothetical flow rate to the first pump provisional target flow rate, and compute a second pump final target flow rate by subtracting the hypothetical flow rate from the second pump provisional target flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuichi Ogawa, Shinya Imura
  • Patent number: 11079177
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a skid-mounted cold box and its prefabricated structure and assembly method. Each prefabricated structure includes a framework and a first panel that is used to enclose sides of the framework. Ring beams of two adjacent prefabricated structures are connected through bolts on site. A second panel connected through bolts encloses the gap between ring beams of the two adjacent prefabricated structures from sides. The present invention cancels all field welding seams and omits the field welding and nondestructive testing operations. The crane can be dismissed after the upper prefabricated structure of the cold box is lifted into place and bolts corresponding to columns on ring beams are connected. The present invention guarantees the connection strength of steel structures relying on bolt-based connection between ring beams and the second panel connected through bolts guarantees the airtightness of the cold box. This effectively reduces field assembly work and saves time and cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Chenxi Gao, Remy Kurtz, Alain Briglia, Jia Ding
  • Patent number: 10857501
    Abstract: Described and depicted is a gas scrubber, in particular for desulphurising flue gases, preferably for installation on a ship, having a scrubber housing and a gas pipe arranged underneath the scrubber housing for guiding the gas to be scrubbed in the scrubber housing, wherein the scrubber housing has a scrubber chamber delimited by a scrubber base, a scrubber head and a scrubber shell provided between the scrubber base and the scrubber head. In order to achieve a more reliable operation, it is provided that a gas supply for the lateral introduction of gas via at least one opening into the scrubber chamber is provided in the region of the scrubber shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Babcock Noell GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Klüpfel, Andreas Breeger
  • Patent number: 10794643
    Abstract: A cooling tower is provided having a heat exchange section, and a fan for moving air through the heat exchange section. A water distribution assembly provides water onto and through the heat exchange section. An air inlet section is provided through which air is drawn into the cooling tower and the heat exchange section. The air inlet section has outside edges and corners. A wall assembly is provided in the air inlet section, with the wall assembly extending from the corners of the air inlet section inwardly. The water passing through the heat exchange section enters the air inlet section, and exits to a sump beneath the air inlet section. The air inlet section is comprised of a structure having outside edges and corners, and the wall assembly is comprised of a plurality of wall panel sections. Each wall panel section has an outer edge at a corner of the air inlet section, and each wall panel section extends inwardly from the corner of the air inlet section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: BALTIMORE AIRCOIL COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Yoon K. Shin, Gregory Adam Russell, Ryan J. Most, Ravindra Singh, David Andrew Aaron, Frank T. Morrison
  • Patent number: 10773809
    Abstract: The present invention provides a dewatering device for an air-conditioning system of a plane, comprising: one or more filter plates disposed within a mixing cavity of an air-conditioning system of a plane, for filtering liquid-state water in mixed air in the mixing cavity, wherein the filter plates are configured to be inclinable relative to an axis of the mixing cavity, and an inclination angle thereof is adjustable so as to change a filtering amount of the mixed air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignees: COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT CORPORATION OF CHINA, LTD, COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT CORPORATION OF CHINA, LTD SHANGHAI AIRCRAFT DESIGN AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Xuede Sun, Geping Li, Xizhong Jian, Xudong Yan, Zhan Cheng
  • Patent number: 10757840
    Abstract: According to some embodiments, a system to improve heat transfer for a data center may include a substantially cylindrical data center tower. The data center tower may include a data center tower bottom having at least one bottom opening to receive external air and a data center tower top, smaller than the data center tower bottom, having a top opening to expel air containing heat, created by the data center, via the Venturi effect. A plurality of hydrophilic bladders may be located proximate to at least a portion of a side of the data center tower, and plurality of data center computer servers may be arranged proximate to the side of the data center tower. In some embodiments, a heat capturing bottom portion of the side of the data center tower is formed of transparent material and/or a translucent material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Priscilla Johnson, Nicholas Andrew Keehn
  • Patent number: 10512388
    Abstract: A dish treating appliance can include a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber and having an access opening providing access to the treating chamber, a closure selectively closing the access opening, a condenser including an inlet, an outlet, and a condensing passage defining a serpentine path with multiple turns fluidly coupling the inlet and the outlet, with the inlet fluidly coupled to the treating chamber, the outlet fluidly coupled to ambient air, and multiple ambient air inlets provided in the serpentine path, and a blower fluidly coupled to the condenser flowing a volume of air through the serpentine path of the condenser, and at least one separator wall located within the condenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Alvaro Vallejo Noriega, Subhash N. Varvate, Patrick J. Duffy, Gautam P. Kamat, Thomas M. DeLellis
  • Patent number: 10359027
    Abstract: The hydroelectric power generating system includes a reservoir for retaining a body of water and an outer vessel that surrounds a peripheral wall of the reservoir. A circumferential canal extends between an upper portion of the reservoir peripheral wall and the outer vessel. One or more penstocks extend below the canal between the reservoir and the outer vessel. Each penstock has one or more hydroelectric turbine generators installed therealong. A plurality of primary wind turbines can be disposed on a peripheral wall of the reservoir and a plurality of air columns can be disposed within the reservoir to generate auxiliary power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Inventor: Yaser K. Barakat
  • Patent number: 10352603
    Abstract: A cooling system includes a cooling tower, a refrigeration device, a cooling fan provided in the cooling tower, a cooling water pump which circulates cooling water between the cooling tower and the refrigeration device, an inlet temperature sensor which detects the cooling water temperature at an inlet of the cooling tower, an outlet temperature sensor which detects the cooling water temperature at an outlet of the cooling tower, and an inverter apparatus which variably controls the speed of the cooling fan or the cooling water pump. The output frequency of the inverter apparatus is reduced after the output frequency reaches an upper limit frequency. The inverter apparatus controls the cooling device based on a temperature differential between a temperature of the cooling water at the inlet and a temperature of the cooling water at the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Kono
  • Patent number: 10066524
    Abstract: An oil-separating device for crankcase ventilation of an internal combustion engine may include a hollow member that extends axially in a longitudinal axis and through which a gas flow charged with oil can flow. The gas flow may flow against an oil separation ring disposed within or formed in the hollow member. The hollow member may contain a substantially rotationally symmetrical flow guiding member that has a flow projection located in the longitudinal axis and that has a flow contour that radially increases in a downstream direction so that gas can flow around the flow guiding member and so that the gas flow between the flow contour and the inner side of the hollow member can strike the oil separation ring in an accelerated manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: THYSSENKRUPP PRESTA TECCENTER AG
    Inventors: Robert Reichelt, Ulf Müller, Jürgen Meusel, Ingo Jokisch
  • Patent number: 9759440
    Abstract: An air conditioning system includes a multiple effect evaporative condenser, at least one compressor, at least one heat exchanger, an expansion valve, and at least one multiple-effect evaporative condensers. The multiple effect evaporative condenser and the heat exchanger utilize a highly efficient heat exchanging pipe for performing heat exchange between water and refrigerant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Inventor: Lee Wa Wong
  • Patent number: 9371818
    Abstract: A wind turbine is provided that has a blade encased into a substantially circular portion of a shell, the shell having an interior surface, an exterior surface, a first end, an opposite second end, and an intake opening between the first and the second end, wherein the first end is closed and wherein the shell has an exhaust opening at or near the second end, wherein wind ingested into the shell through the intake opening is forced to become a vortex having a higher speed than the ingested wind and concentrating the ingested wind substantially near the interior surface of the shell into a spiral air stream traveling toward the exhaust opening, in order to increase an amount of energy harvested by the blade from the ingested wind before the ingested wind, devoid of the amount of energy harvested, exits the shell through the exhaust opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Inventor: Mark T. Monto
  • Patent number: 9320983
    Abstract: The invention relates to a valve for carrying out a mass-transfer process in which a gas (13) flows through a liquid (31) standing on an upper tray (21), when the gas supply is interrupted the liquid (31) flows into a lock (17) beneath the tray (21) and, when the gas supply is restarted, the liquid (31) flows out of the lock (17) through a lower tray (19) bordering the lock (17) downward, wherein the valve (1) comprises a closing element (5) which comprises a piston rod (5), an upper valve disk (9) and a lower valve disk (7), and which is conducted in a sleeve (3), wherein the lower valve disk (7), in a first valve position, closes an opening (43) at the lower end of the sleeve (3). The upper valve disk (9) and the lower valve disk (7) are each movably connected to the piston rod (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Reiner Giese, Stefan Haedicke, Egon Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20150136582
    Abstract: Provided is an NMP recovery system 1 for causing NMP-containing gas to contact NMP-absorbing water, including: fillers (10A) to (10D) that are permeable to the water and hold the water, wherein the permeated water moves according to gravity to flow out from the fillers; an NMP-containing gas distribution unit (30) for distributing the NMP-containing gas so as to cause the NMP-containing gas to contact the water held by the fillers (10A) to (10D); and a water distribution unit (40) for distributing the water so as to make the water permeate through the fillers (10A) to (10D). In the fillers (10A) to (10D), the NMP-containing gas is made to contact the NMP-absorbing water. Accordingly, NMP in the NMP-containing gas is absorbed in the water, so that the NMP is separated from the NMP-containing gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Tomokiyo Takeyama, Akiyoshi Oda, Yasuhito Kawase, Taijun Kawase
  • Patent number: 9011790
    Abstract: A reactor for carrying out a three-phase reaction of a liquid phase, a gaseous phase, and a catalyst over a fixed catalyst bed is disclosed. The liquid and gaseous phases are passed through the reactor via a mixing and distribution device positioned over the fixed catalyst bed. The mixing and distribution device includes a trough distributor for the liquid phase, having trough-shaped channels, outlet tubes in the trough-shaped channels for the liquid phase, a distributor plate below the trough distributor, and vertical nozzles, having one or more openings for the gaseous phase and one or more openings, arranged below the openings for the gaseous phase. For entry of the liquid phase, the nozzles are installed so that, at a predetermined liquid feed rate, the surface of the liquid on the distributor plate is below the openings for the gaseous phase and above the openings for the liquid phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Stefan Iselborn, Andreas Daiss, Reiner Geier, Marcus Bechtel, Michael Wille, Benjamin Hepfer, John Sauter
  • Patent number: 8978546
    Abstract: This invention provides a device for preserving and dispensing a beverage, having: (a) a housing including one or more compartments, each compartment for storing a beverage container; and (b) one or more dispensing head removably connected to a cartridge, wherein said dispensing head having an aerator for aerating said beverage, wherein said cartridge removably and securely holds a beverage container, wherein said beverage flows from said container to said dispensing head by the force of a pump connected to said cartridge. In one embodiment, the beverage is wine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Electrical & Electronics Ltd
    Inventors: Andrew Yuen Chin Chen, Amy Decem Cheng, Dick Tak Fung Leung, Paul Cheuk Wai Lai, Raymond Wai Ming Wong
  • Publication number: 20140364650
    Abstract: The present invention describes a distributor plate provided with distribution elements having low sensitivity to a lack of horizontality, a distribution element being constituted by two substantially co-axial cylinders termed the inner cylinder (1) and the outer cylinder, the lower horizontal surface (5) separating the two cylinders being closed. The distributor plate is suitable for co-current downflows of gas and liquid, more particularly in “trickle bed” mode. The invention also concerns the application of the distributor plate to processes for the hydrotreatment or hydrogenation of various oil cuts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2012
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Applicant: IFP Energies nouvelles
    Inventors: Yacine Haroun, Frederic Bazer-Bachi, Frederic Augier, Charly Rogeon, Christophe Boyer
  • Patent number: 8888076
    Abstract: A separation column containing a feed distribution device and a feed distribution device for a separation column, such as a vacuum distillation column. The feed distribution device being capable of diffusing and directing a feed flow from a feed inlet so as to distribute the feed substantially evenly over the surface area of a separation plate in the column thereby increasing the columns efficiency. The separation column containing the feed distribution device being capable of shorter height, less costly design and lower operating cost than a separation column without the feed distribution device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Neste Oil Oyj
    Inventors: Esa Tamminen, Jari Sutinen
  • Patent number: 8864949
    Abstract: A system and method for decontaminating water and generating water vapor includes introducing contaminated water in to a vessel. The water is moved through a series of rotating trays alternately separated by stationary baffles so as to swirl and heat the water to effect the vaporization thereof to produce a vapor having at least some of the contaminants separated therefrom. The vapor is removed from the vessel for condensing apart from the separated contaminants and the remaining water. The vapor may be passed through a turbine connected to an electric generator. Sensors in a controller may be employed to adjust the speed of rotation of the trays or water input into the vessel in response to the sensed conditions. The treated water may be recirculated and reprocessed through the vessel to increase the purification thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Verno Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: John D. Riley, Dana L. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20140242241
    Abstract: This invention provides a device for preserving and dispensing a beverage, comprising: (a) a housing comprising one or more compartments, each compartment for storing a beverage container; and (b) one or more dispensing head removably connected to a cartridge, wherein said dispensing head comprises an aerator for aerating said beverage, wherein said cartridge removably and securely holds a beverage container, wherein said beverage flows from said container to said dispensing head by the force of a pump connected to said cartridge. In one embodiment, the beverage is wine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS, LTD.
    Inventors: Andrew Yuen Chin Chen, Amy Decem Cheng, Dick Tak Fung Leung, Paul Cheuk Wai Lai, Raymond Wai Ming Wong
  • Patent number: 8777189
    Abstract: Versions of the invention include methods for reducing microbubbles in liquids treated by heat or mass exchange devices. The exchange devices may be conditioned by having gases in crevices and surfaces displaced by a liquid. The methods can be used to prepare liquids with reduced numbers of microbubbles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Entegris, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Zahka, Aiwen Wu
  • Publication number: 20130312602
    Abstract: A diffuser object for a flue gas desulfurization (FGD) absorber is described. The diffuser object is placed in a high flue gas velocity zone inside the absorber in order to better distribute the flue gas and improve absorption efficiency. A method of improving absorption efficiency in a FGD absorber is also described. The method involves identifying high and low velocity zones within the absorber and positioning diffuser objects within the high velocity zones in a non-packed manner. The placement of the diffuser objects and configuration of the objects are calculated to equalize flow rates within the absorber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Inventor: Dennis W. Johnson
  • Patent number: 8585024
    Abstract: A water cooling tower having an improved water collection system. The cooling tower has an outer shell, legs, and one or more layers of fill material, through which the water to be cooled moves vertically downward. The water is distributed across the upper surface of the fill material by piping and nozzles. A fan underlying the fill material moves air vertically upward through the fill material. The water collection system, which is positioned below the fill material, has upper and lower troughs which receive water flowing vertically downward through the fill material. Preferably, the lower troughs are positioned beneath the spaces between upper troughs, to catch water falling between the upper troughs. A number of hinged baffles close off the spaces between lower troughs, but rotate upward in response to upward air flow and open the spaces between the lower troughs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Aggreko, LLC
    Inventors: David Alan Ferree, Billy Wayne Childers, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20130147069
    Abstract: An air intake housing and flow enhancing plate for a carburetor with a fluted and contoured air intake opening that flushly aligns with and matches the shape of the carburetor air intake opening. The low profile plate is made of metal for durability and heat resistance. The centrally located air intake opening of the plate has a clover leaf or undulating shape that conforms to the shape of the carburetor air intake opening. The plate is secured directly over the top of the carburetor, and extends radially outward to provide a larger area for securing its fiberglass housing. The housing holds a conventional ring shaped air filter located around the carburetor air intake opening. The plate provides smooth transitions between surfaces to decrease turbulence and improve air flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Inventors: Carl W. Schultz, Timothy G. Ormiston
  • Publication number: 20130127074
    Abstract: A system and method for decontaminating water and generating water vapor includes introducing contaminated water in to a vessel. The water is moved through a series of rotating trays alternately separated by stationary baffles so as to swirl and heat the water to effect the vaporization thereof to produce a vapor having at least some of the contaminants separated therefrom. The vapor is removed from the vessel for condensing apart from the separated contaminants and the remaining water. The vapor may be passed through a turbine connected to an electric generator. Sensors in a controller may be employed to adjust the speed of rotation of the trays or water input into the vessel in response to the sensed conditions. The treated water may be recirculated and reprocessed through the vessel to increase the purification thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: VERNO HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventor: VERNO HOLDINGS, LLC
  • Publication number: 20130074694
    Abstract: In a bubble-column vapor mixture condenser, a fluid source supplies a carrier-gas stream including a condensable fluid in vapor phase. The condensable fluid in liquid form is contained as a bath in a chamber in each stage of the condenser, and the carrier gas is bubbled through the bath to condense the fluid into the bath. The bubble-column vapor mixture condenser can be used, e.g., in a humidification-dehumidification system for purifying a liquid, such as water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Prakash Narayan Govindan, Gregory P. Thiel, Ronan K. McGovern, John H. Lienhard, Mostafa H. Elsharqawy
  • Publication number: 20120318009
    Abstract: A cooling tower includes an evaporator vessel, a gas delivery tube partially disposed within the evaporator vessel and a liquid inlet that provides liquid to the evaporator vessel. A weir is disposed within the evaporator vessel adjacent the gas delivery tube to form a first liquid circulation path between a first weir end and a wall of the evaporator vessel and a second fluid circulation path between a second weir end and another wall of the evaporator vessel. During operation, gas introduced through the tube mixes with the liquid and the combined gas and liquid flow at a high rate with a high degree of turbulence along the first and second circulation paths defined around the weir, thereby promoting vigorous mixing and intimate contact between the gas and the liquid. This turbulent flow leads to a more efficient and complete heat and mass transfer between the gas and the liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: HEARTLAND TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS LLC
    Inventors: Bernard F. Duesel, JR., Michael J. Rutsch
  • Patent number: 8317168
    Abstract: This invention provides a mixer without a rotational or similar structure, capable of mixing quickly several liquids including at least one liquid being prone to gel or solidify, a mixing device with the mixer incorporated, and a medical component-measuring unit capable of reducing the formation of thrombi and accurately measuring the concentration of glucose, and with a small time constant, which unit can be incorporated into medical support devices, such as artificial endocrine pancreas devices. The mixer has an air bubble-trapping structure for temporarily trapping air bubbles supplied to a surface of a mixing channel through which liquids to be mixed flow. The mixing device has the mixer, an air bubble supplier or generator to make air bubbles exist in the mixing channel, and a liquid supplier for supplying liquids to be mixed to a liquid inlet. The medical component-measuring unit has the mixer or the mixing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Nikkiso Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Motoaki Murakami
  • Patent number: 8286952
    Abstract: A vapor distributor for use in atmospheric or vacuum columns includes a new design of vapor inlet device, or vapor horn, to provide superior mixing and distribution of a tangential first feed and a vertical second feed. New vapor inlet device has an inlet dividing the first feed into two portions, each flowing in respective housings in opposed circulation directions, and a plurality of vanes for redirection of vapor. Mixing and distribution of feeds by the vapor distributor is further enhanced by inclusion in vapor distributor of a mixer and vapor directing plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignees: AMT International, Inc., Petroliam Nasional Berhad
    Inventors: Adam T. Lee, Farzad G. Tahmassi, Lindsey Vuong, Zainab Kayat, Mohd Rizal Bin Abdul Rahman, Arman Bin Anuar
  • Publication number: 20120228787
    Abstract: A hybrid cooling tower apparatus that extends along a vertical axis is provided. The cooling tower includes a first housing structure having an inlet and a first outlet located a first position along the vertical axis, wherein the housing structure includes a base and opposing side walls that extend along the vertical axis away from the base. The tower also includes a heat exchanger disposed in the housing structure, wherein the heat exchanger is positioned adjacent the first outlet and extends at least partially all the way across the first outlet. Finally the hybrid tower employs an air current generator positioned in a plane normal to the vertical axis and oriented to direct an air stream toward the base and through the heat exchanger and the first outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: SPX Corporation
    Inventor: Helmut Schreiber
  • Patent number: 8240640
    Abstract: [Technical Problem] A contactor is provided which is capable of making fluids of two phases contact each other under a good dispersion state and which can be easily multi-staged. [Means for Solving the Problems] The inside of a contactor 1 is divided into a plurality of cells 22, 32 by partition walls (a vertical wall 10, horizontal walls 21, 31) and the respective cells 22, 32 become countercurrent contacting spaces of an upflow fluid flowing up in the contactor 1 and a downflow fluid flowing down in the contactor 1. A downflow fluid injection hole 52 provided in the vertical wall 10 of each stage makes the downflow fluid blocked by the partition wall and residing inject into the neighboring cells 22, 32 of a lower stage side, while an upflow fluid flow-in port 51 provided in an upper side of the injection hole 2 makes an upflow fluid from the cells 22, 32 of the lower stage side flow in.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: JGC Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Nakayama
  • Patent number: 8235361
    Abstract: A structured packing for a reactor is formed from a metal sheet to promote heat and mass transfer near the wall of the reactor. The structured packing causes lateral flow of fluids flowing through the packing such that jet impingement of at least one reactor wall is promoted. The packing may be used in a cylindrical, annular or plate-type reactor, e.g., a catalytic reactor, or a heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Tribute Creations, LLC
    Inventor: Jonathan Jay Feinstein
  • Patent number: 8231111
    Abstract: A foam generating apparatus has a body with an inlet end at one end and an outlet end at the other end; a wind averaging piece contained in the body and adjacent to the inlet end, a buffer space being defined between the side of the wind averaging piece toward the inlet end and the inner edge of the inlet end, and the wind averaging piece being provided with a plurality of radially arranged through holes; and a porous body disposed in the body and abutting against the side of the wind averaging piece toward the outlet end, and a foam collecting chamber being defined between the porous body and the inner edge of the outlet end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Mei Thung Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jen-Chih Chang
  • Patent number: 8220658
    Abstract: A system for evaporating excess water from a source includes a housing having: an air inlet, the air inlet directing air in a first direction; an air outlet; a plurality of channels arranged generally perpendicular to the first direction, the channels having undulations; and a water reservoir that feeds water into the channels. In some embodiments, baffles are created with walls that depend from the ceiling of the housing and that are interdigitated with dividers that separate the channels. This configuration can remove water generated by the source (such as an external compressor unit) in a quick and efficient manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Parata Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Jason Cora, Matthew P. Daniels
  • Patent number: 8211375
    Abstract: The invention is a fluid distribution device for coupling with a fluid distribution conduit or chimney for improving the distribution of downwardly flowing poly-phase mixture including at least one gas phase and at least one liquid phase, above at least one catalyst bed of granular solid catalytic material. The fluid distribution device for receiving the liquid and gas phases has one or more openings in the top and/or upper portion of its height through which a gas phase can enter and has a gas conduit that opens to a mixing cavity within the device. The fluid distribution device further comprises one or more lateral openings for liquid ingress. The lateral opening or openings allow the liquid to enter a liquid conduit that opens to the internal mixing cavity. The mixing cavity allows intimate contact between the liquid and gas phases. Therefore the flow distribution device of the invention provides improved tolerance for tray out of levelness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Krishniah Parimi, Steven X. Song, Ralph E. Killen, Ronald K. Meeker, Steven A. Souers
  • Patent number: 8152143
    Abstract: An improved structure of cooling tower includes a fan housing with a fan disposed therein, induction openings distributed on the fan housing and located below the fan, and a diffuser stack disposed at one end surface of the fan housing. In operation, cold air is drawn into the cooling tower by the fan through inlet openings of the cooling tower so as to exchange heat with the condensing water within a water chiller. When warm and wet air is drawn out of the cooling tower and the warm and wet air outside the cooling tower is induced in through the induction openings and then is drawn out, circulation reflux of warm and wet air, which tends to occur in conventional cooling towers, can be avoided and therefore increase the efficiency of the water chiller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: National Taipei University Technology
    Inventors: Yew-Khoy Chuah, Chia-Wei Liu, Nien-Hung Yao, Min-Hsiang Hung
  • Publication number: 20120068367
    Abstract: The Present Invention is a modular tower structure comprising a common up-flow column topped with a covered header to which multiple independent down-flow and scavenger columns are attached. It employs a renewable energy process for extracting energy from the atmosphere. The process works by creating a vacuum into which atmospheric air is drawn through a vacuum operated motor driver. The motor in turn can operate other mechanisms as electric power generators. A scavenger column and a header operate independently to collect and remove air before it can accumulate in the tower header and interfere with the siphon process. The tower header is equipped to remove solids or floatables before they can collect at the top of the header and interfere with the process. The header cover is removable for inspection and ease of maintenance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Inventor: Alden C. Sprague
  • Patent number: 8113492
    Abstract: A system for evaporating excess water from a source includes a housing having: an air inlet, the air inlet directing air in a first direction; an air outlet; a plurality of channels arranged generally perpendicular to the first direction, the channels having undulations; and a water reservoir that feeds water into the channels. In some embodiments, baffles are created with walls that depend from the ceiling of the housing and that are interdigitated with dividers that separate the channels. This configuration can remove water generated by the source (such as an external compressor unit) in a quick and efficient manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Parata Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Jason Cora, Matthew P. Daniels
  • Publication number: 20120001352
    Abstract: A cooling tower or, in alternate operation an evaporative condenser, is provided having a dry sensible or indirect heat exchange section and an evaporative heat exchange section. The dry sensible section includes a coil circuit through which a liquid to be cooled passes. The evaporative section is below the dry sensible section and may include a coil circuit or fill sheets. Modulating louvers are provided to allow the air flow and accordingly the evaporative loading to be varied between the dry sensible section and the evaporative section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Inventors: Thomas P. Carter, Kurt Geens
  • Patent number: 8066949
    Abstract: Fouling in the scrubber section of a fluid coker unit is reduced by providing perforated baffles to improve the uniformity of the gas flow profile in the scrubber by reducing the gas velocity of the cyclone outlet gases in the scrubber section of the unit. These baffles are located with the objective of reducing the rotational component of the gas flow in the scrubber created by the alignment of the gas outlets of the cyclones. The baffles are preferably located in the shed section of the scrubber and comprise upstanding perforated plates located at the periphery of the scrubber section to disrupt high velocity gas jets in the region of the interior wall of the scrubber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research & Engineering Company
    Inventors: Craig A. McKnight, Larry P. Hackman, Brian A. Knapper, Daniel Bulbuc, George B. Jones, Jonathan Tyler, Darwin E. Kiel
  • Publication number: 20110049733
    Abstract: A water cooling tower having an improved water collection system. The cooling tower has an outer shell, legs, and one or more layers of fill material, through which the water to be cooled moves vertically downward. The water is distributed across the upper surface of the fill material by piping and nozzles. A fan underlying the fill material moves air vertically upward through the fill material. The water collection system, which is positioned below the fill material, has upper and lower troughs which receive water flowing vertically downward through the fill material. Preferably, the lower troughs are positioned beneath the spaces between upper troughs, to catch water falling between the upper troughs. A number of hinged baffles close off the spaces between lower troughs, but rotate upward in response to upward air flow and open the spaces between the lower troughs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: AGGREKO LLC
    Inventors: David Alan Ferree, Billy Wayne Childers, JR.
  • Patent number: 7887030
    Abstract: An atmospheric cooling tower apparatus includes a housing structure having an air inlet and an air outlet, a first evaporative heat transfer media disposed in the housing, and a closed coil heat transfer media disposed in the housing. A water distribution assembly is disposed above the evaporative heat transfer media and configured to distribute water onto the evaporative fill heat transfer fill media. A collection basin is disposed beneath the evaporative heat transfer media configured to collect water that has passed through the evaporative heat transfer media. A first control valve controls an inflow of water to supply water to one or both of the evaporative heat transfer media and the closed coil heat transfer media. The closed coil heat transfer media and the evaporative heat transfer media are disposed laterally next to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: SPX Cooling Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory P. Hentschel, Scott T. Maurer
  • Patent number: 7744067
    Abstract: A mass and/or heat transfer column is provided with a multiphase vapor distributor with distributes a vapor stream about the inner periphery of the column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Stone & Webster Process Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Sabah A. Kurukchi, Joseph M. Gondolfe, John A. Stippick, Kenneth J. Fewel, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20100133706
    Abstract: An emulsifier system includes a mixing pump, a water source, a water intake regulator for regulating the flow rate of water supplied by the water source to the mixing pump, an air intake regulator for regulating the flow rate of air being supplied to the mixing pump for enabling the mixing pump to output a high pressure flow of mixed fluid and gas, and an emulsifier for emulsifying the high pressure flow of mixed fluid and gas outputted by the mixing pump by means of a cavitation effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Inventors: I-Fu Yang, Yung-Chuan Lin
  • Patent number: 7651076
    Abstract: A device for distributing a poly-phase mixture having a gas phase and liquid phase which mixture is in downflow mode through at least one bed of granular solid. The device has at least one tray (P) located above one of the beds of granular solid. It further has mixer conduits (21) for the liquid and gas phases, each conduit having an upper cross section for flow (22) allowing the passage of the majority of the gas phase, and a lower cross section for flow (23) allowing the mixture formed inside the conduits to communicate with a bed of granular solid. The mixer conduits (21) also having one or more lateral cross sections for flow (26) over at least a portion of their height to allow the passage of the liquid phase and possibly a minor portion of the gas phase inside the mixer conduits. The device also has a jet breaker type dispersive system (28) having a controlled porosity disposed below the lower cross section for flow (23) and above the bed of granular solids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Isabelle Harter, Robert Agoero