Separation Process Patents (Class 700/273)
  • Patent number: 11951242
    Abstract: A method for performing a peritoneal dialysis therapy includes performing a plurality of peritoneal dialysis cycles for a patient and tracking an amount of dialysis fluid provided by at least one dialysis fluid pump during the plurality of peritoneal dialysis cycles. The method also includes determining an amount of ultrafiltrate (“UF”) removed from the patient based on the amount of dialysis fluid provided by the at least one dialysis fluid pump. The method further includes updating a UF trend using previous amounts of UF removed from the patient and the amount of UF removed from the patient during the most recent dialysis treatment and generating an alert if the UF trend changes by more than a preset percentage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignees: Baxter International Inc.
    Inventors: Robert W. Childers, Ying-Cheng Lo, Peter A. Hopping
  • Patent number: 11619954
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for mixing additives into a fluid fuel at a predictable concentration. The method involves taking a sample of the fuel; mixing the additive into the sample in metered proportions; testing the sample to determine that the correct amount of additive is present; storing the remaining fuel until it is time for the fuel to be used; and mixing the additive into the remainder of the fuel in the same metered proportions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Icon Scientific Limited
    Inventors: Kevin Fogarty, David Hope, Dave Thompson, Bob Birchmore
  • Patent number: 11362351
    Abstract: An apparatus (10) configured to determine reactant purity comprising: a first fuel cell (11) configured to generate electrical current from the electrochemical reaction between two reactants, having a first reactant inlet (13) configured to receive a test reactant comprising one of the two reactants from a first reactant source (7, 5, 16); a second fuel cell (12) configured to generate electrical current from the electrochemical reaction between the two reactants, having a second reactant inlet (14) configured to receive the test reactant from a second reactant source (5); a controller (20) configured to apply an electrical load to each fuel cell and determine an electrical output difference, ODt, between an electrical output of the first fuel cell (11) and an electrical output of the second fuel cell (12), and determine a difference between a predicted output difference and the determined electrical output difference, ODt, the predicted output difference determined based on a historical output of difference
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Intelligent Energy Limited
    Inventors: Michael John Provost, Kevin M. Kupcho, Simon Edward Foster, Ashley James Kells
  • Patent number: 11199860
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a method and apparatus for mixing additives into a fluid fuel at a predictable concentration. The method comprises: taking a sample of the fuel; mixing the additive into the sample in metered proportions; testing the sample to determine that the correct amount of additive is present; storing the remaining fuel until it is time for the fuel to be used; and mixing the additive into the remainder of the fuel in the same metered proportions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Icon Scientific Limited
    Inventors: Kevin Fogarty, David Hope, Dave Thompson, Bob Birchmore
  • Patent number: 11077766
    Abstract: A fleet management system includes a market component that monitors a hydrogen market and identifies one or more hydrogen parameters associated with the hydrogen market, an electric vehicle component that analyzes the hydrogen parameters and selectively instructs one or more electric vehicles to provide electricity for generating hydrogen based on the hydrogen parameters, and a hydrogen vehicle component that selectively instructs one or more hydrogen vehicles to obtain at least a portion of the hydrogen generated from the electricity provided by the electric vehicles. The fleet management system enables a fleet of vehicles using a plurality of fuel types to be effectively and efficiently managed. Moreover, the fleet management system allows a hydrogen economy to grow in an economical and pragmatic manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeremy Whaling, Robert M. Uyeki, Ryan Douglas Roy Harty, Sruthi Raju Nadimpalli
  • Patent number: 11063442
    Abstract: A system for generating, storing and managing energy features a solar-power center, a wind-power center, a hydrogen-power center with hydrogen fuel cells, a hydrogen supply center operable for producing hydrogen, and an energy storage center with both hydrogen storage tanks and one or more rechargeable batteries. An energy management subsystem monitors energy consumption from the system and available energy reserves at the power storage center, and manages the different centers based at least partly on the monitored consumption and reserves. A cooling loop circulates hydrogen for cooling of mechanical and electrical equipment, while heating loops use fuel cell waste heat and collected solar thermal energy for heat-requiring applications, such as warming of the battery storage in cold weather climates. Black-out/brown-out restart capability is included, as well as novel wind turbines whose rotor heights are autonomously adjusted to an optimal elevation based on wind conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Inventor: Neil Crawford
  • Patent number: 11047835
    Abstract: In a gas chromatograph 1, a back-pressure calculation processor 242 calculates a back pressure for a first detector. The pressure calculation processor 243 calculates a pressure of a carrier gas in a branching part. The back-flow determination processor 244 compares the pressure of the carrier gas in the branching part calculated by the pressure calculation processor 243 with the back pressure of the first detector calculated by the back-pressure calculation processor 242, and if the pressure of the carrier gas in the branching part is smaller than the back pressure of the first detector, the back-flow determination processor 244 determines that the carrier gas will flow back. It is therefore possible to surely know that there is a possibility that a back-flow of the carrier gas will occur, by checking the determination result of the back-flow determination processor 244.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kimoto, Shingo Masuda
  • Patent number: 11016065
    Abstract: In a gas chromatograph 1, a back-pressure calculation processor 242 calculates a back pressure for a first detector. The pressure calculation processor 243 calculates a pressure of a carrier gas in a branching part. The back-flow determination processor 244 compares the pressure of the carrier gas in the branching part calculated by the pressure calculation processor 243 with the back pressure of the first detector calculated by the back-pressure calculation processor 242, and if the pressure of the carrier gas in the branching part is smaller than the back pressure of the first detector, the back-flow determination processor 244 determines that the carrier gas will flow back. It is therefore possible to surely know that there is a possibility that a back-flow of the carrier gas will occur, by checking the determination result of the back-flow determination processor 244.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kimoto, Shingo Masuda
  • Patent number: 10698393
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a method of manufacturing a population of parts produced with a manufacturing device, based on the analysis of at least one statistical indicator representative of a characteristic dimension of the parts, according to which: a) a sample comprising a number n of parts is collected from among the parts produced with the manufacturing device; b) the characteristic dimension of each part of the sample is measured, and a measured value of the statistical indicator is calculated for the sample; c) a mathematical expectation of the proportion of parts which are noncompliant with respect to a specification regarding the characteristic dimension is calculated, said calculation being performed on the basis of the measured value of the statistical indicator for the sample collected and of the number n of parts of the sample; d) the mathematical expectation of the proportion of parts that are noncompliant calculated is compared with a threshold value of proportion of noncompliant parts; e) the m
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Olivier Ferry, Arnaud Cambefort, Pascal Courtin, Nicolas Hardouin, Charles Cleret De Langavant
  • Patent number: 10481069
    Abstract: Particle processing systems and methods utilize a sort monitoring system to monitor an operational characteristic for a particle sorting system. The operational characteristic may be related to the performance and operation of a sorter or a group of sorters in the particle sorting system. The operational characteristic may be monitored based on monitoring particles for an output of a sorter or of a group of sorters. Operational characteristics which may be monitored include sort error, sort fraction, yield, purity and recovery percentage. The sort monitoring system may evaluate the monitored operational characteristic, for example, as related to sort performance, and take an action, for example, a corrective action or a notifying action, based on the evaluation of the operational characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: CYTONOME/ST, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Charles Sharpe, Donald F. Perrault, Jr., Blair Morad
  • Patent number: 10166328
    Abstract: In one step of a method for infusing an infusion fluid, the infusion fluid is pumped through a fluid delivery line of an infusion system. In another step, measurements are taken with at least one sensor connected to the infusion system. In an additional step, an air determination is determined with at least one processor. The air determination is related to air in the fluid delivery line. The air determination is based on the measurements taken by the at least one sensor. The air determination is further based on: (1) medication information regarding the infusion fluid or infusion information regarding the infusion of the infusion fluid; or (2) multi-channel filtering of the measurements from the at least one sensor or non-linear mapping of the measurements from the at least one sensor; and statistical process control charts applied to the multi-channel filtered measurements or applied to the non-linear mapped measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: ICU Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Meriyan Oruklu, Timothy L. Ruchti, Paul T. Kotnik, Anatoly S. Belkin
  • Patent number: 10131855
    Abstract: A method for pressurized pyrolysis of biomass in a pressurized pyrolysis furnace, including: 1) crushing and screening biomass; collecting biomass having desired particle sizes; and delivering the biomass having desired particle sizes to a pulse-type feeding system; 2) transporting the biomass to a pyrolysis furnace via the pulse-type feeding system; synchronously initiating microwave and a plasma torch, the microwave producing a microwave field in the pyrolysis furnace, working gas of the plasma torch being ionized for the first time to produce plasma jet entering the pyrolysis furnace; and 3) allowing the syngas generated in 2) to continue moving upwards and introducing the syngas out from the top of the pyrolysis furnace; chilling the syngas; introducing the syngas to a cyclone separator to separate residues; and then cooling and purifying the syngas using a cooling device and a purifying device, respectively, to produce clean syngas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: WUHAN KAIDI ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yanfeng Zhang, Liang Zhang, Yilong Chen
  • Patent number: 9798320
    Abstract: A method for alarm monitoring abnormal conditions associated with a process operation includes collecting N sample data representing one or more parameters of a process, determining a distribution type of the sample data, obtaining an alarm monitoring strategy associated with the distribution type, and monitoring the process using the alarm monitoring strategy. The distribution type may be single-constant, multi-level discrete, normally distributed, continuous non-normally distributed, cyclical trend-up/down, and drifting away after a period maintenance. The alarm monitoring strategy includes a unilateral or bilateral control chart. The one-side control chart has either an upper control limit (UCL) of (100?p) or a lower control limit (LCL) of (p), and the two-sided control chart has a UCL of (100?p/2) and an LCL of (p/2), where p is a predetermined false alarm rate which determines the number N. The control limit may be a difference between two adjacent sample values of the sample data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Semiconductor Manufacturing International (Shanghai) Corporation
    Inventors: Randy Kang, Jenny Ma, Elaine Wang, Serena Ji, Chien Wei Ting
  • Patent number: 9764314
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the cracking of a petroleum oil feedstock to produce a desulfurized full-range gasoline product. The petroleum oil feedstock is contacted with a base cracking catalyst and an FCC additive in an FCC unit, wherein the catalyst includes a stable Y-type zeolite and a rare-earth metal oxide and the additive includes a shape selective zeolite. The catalyst, additive and petroleum oil feedstock can be contacted in a down-flow or riser fluid catalytic cracking unit, that can also include a regeneration zone, a separation zone, and a stripping zone. The FCC unit includes an integrated control and monitoring system that monitors at least one parameter selected from FCC operating parameters, feed rate, feedstock properties, and product stream properties, and adjusts at least one parameter in response to the measured parameter to increase production of desulfurized products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Saeed Saad Al-Alloush, Othman A. Taha, M. Rashid Khan
  • Patent number: 9470568
    Abstract: A mass flow rate sensor system (200) is provided. The mass flow rate sensor system (200) includes a density meter (202) including a sensor assembly (204a) and a density meter electronics (204b) configured to generate a density measurement of a process fluid. The mass flow rate sensor system (200) further includes a volumetric flow meter (203) including a sensor assembly (205a) and a volumetric meter electronics (205b) configured to generate a volumetric flow rate of the process fluid and in electrical communication with the density meter electronics (204b). A remote processing system (207) is provided that is in electrical communication with only one of the density meter electronics (204b) or the volumetric meter electronics (205b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Timothy Patten, Ruth Galic-Mackall, Anna Pishchulina
  • Patent number: 9447332
    Abstract: A method of producing olefins and aromatic compounds from a feedstock includes introducing a hydrocarbon feedstock and a catalyst composition that is suitable for converting the feedstock to at least one of olefins and aromatic compounds within a reactor. The reactor has a reactor flow path having a length L between the inlet and outlet. The temperature in the reactor is monitored in at least one location that is at or adjacent to the inlet at a temperature-monitoring distance that is from 0.3 L or less from the inlet. In response to the monitored temperatures one or more parameters are modified. At least a portion of the feedstock is allowed to be converted to at least one of olefins and aromatic compounds within the reactor, which are removed as a product stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: SAUDI BASIC INDUSTRIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ravichander Narayanaswamy, Krishna Kumar Ramamurthy, P. S. Sreenivasan
  • Patent number: 9322812
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for simultaneously analyzing at least two samples using a chromatography device comprising a chromatography column having an inlet and an outlet, and at least one detector placed at the outlet of the chromatography column, the method comprising steps of: injecting fractions of each independent sample at the inlet of the chromatography column, the fractions of each independent sample being injected according to a specific injection timing sequence derived from a pseudo-random binary sequence associated with said independent sample; recording a signal generated by said detector for a period of time at least equal to a duration of the longest of the specific injection timing sequences; cross-correlating the recorded signal and a derived correlation function, said derived correlation function being derived from the pseudo-random binary sequence associated with one of the independent samples, so as to obtain an individual correlogram signal specific to said independent sample; and
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignees: Institut Francais des Sciences et Technologies des Transports, De L'Amenagement et des Reseaux (IFSTTAR), Chambre de Commerce et D'Industrie de Region Paris Ile de France (ESIEE Paris)
    Inventors: Dan Angelescu, William Cesar, Tarik Bourouina
  • Patent number: 9122280
    Abstract: A control system for controlling a dry feed system to convey a solid fuel includes multiple sensors, a pressurizing gas controller, at least one assistant gas controller and multiple gas valves. The sensors generate multiple measurement signals signifying characteristics of the dry feed system. The pressuring gas controller calculates a feed tank pressure bias or/and a pressuring gas flow bias based on a solid flow rate and generates a first control signal based on the pressure bias or/and the pressurizing gas flow bias. The assistant gas controller calculates an assistant gas bias based on a solid loading ratio and generates a second control signal based on the assistant gas bias. The gas valves are driven by the first or/and second control signals to regulate the solid fuel. A control method is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Xu Fu, Zhongzhi Hu, Tong Zhao, Zili Cai, Yao Chen, Baoming Huang, Wei Chen, Ke Liu
  • Patent number: 9037990
    Abstract: An automotive user interface for controlling the temperature, the distribution and of the air flow rate in a ventilation system of a motor vehicle. The automotive user interface comprises: a touch-sensitive control display unit, which comprises light-emitter diodes structured for providing a visual representation of temperatures that can be set by a user according to a generally circular arrangement; an optically semitransparent touch-sensitive control panel superimposed on the light-emitter diodes in a position corresponding to an area for setting the temperature; and an electronic control unit connected to the light-emitter diodes and to the control panel for controlling the temperature of the air in the ventilation system and the light-emitter-diode means in response to an action of touch contact by a user on the area for setting the temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: C.R.F. Societá Consortile per Azioni
    Inventors: Federica Fino, Diego Marzorati, Giovanni Boreanaz
  • Patent number: 9014858
    Abstract: The present invention provides novel techniques for controlling the balance between energy usage and biofuels dehydration between a distillation process unit and molecular sieves with model predictive control technology. In particular, the present techniques are presented in the context of biofuel production, wherein control of the balance between energy usage and water removal in biofuel production may be optimized. However, the present techniques may also be applied to any other suitable applications, such as liquor processing, where energy may be used to remove water from the liquor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Maina A. Macharia, Zhaozhi Wei, Donald Melvin Maxwell
  • Patent number: 8936720
    Abstract: The present system and method in one embodiment limit a maximum instantaneous peritoneal volume to a comfortable level, while allowing the dialysis machine to advance to fill a prescribed volume whenever the drain ends after a minimum drain percentage has been attained. If a low drain condition occurs, the nominal fill volume is lowered and a therapy cycle is added, so that a prescribed total amount of fresh therapy fluid is used during therapy, maximizing therapeutic benefit. An allowable residual volume at the end of an incomplete drain is increased, thereby lowering the probability of a subsequent low drain condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignees: Baxter International Inc., Baxter Healthcare S.A.
    Inventors: Robert W. Childers, Ying-Cheng Lo, Peter Hopping
  • Patent number: 8892498
    Abstract: Methods and systems for forecasting a future event in an event stream are provided herein. The event stream includes a number of events, wherein each of the events includes an event label and an associated time stamp. The system includes a processor that is adapted to execute stored instructions and a system memory. The system memory includes code configured to generate one or more decision graphs for predicting events with event labels chosen from a number of event labels based on the events within the event stream, wherein the decision graph includes decision nodes and leaf nodes, and wherein each of the decision nodes includes a question. The system memory also includes code configured to analyze event stream data using the decision graph and forecast a future event in the event stream based on the analysis of the event stream data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Asela Jeevaka Ranaweera Guanwardana, Christopher A. Meek, Ankur P. Parikh
  • Patent number: 8805587
    Abstract: The method for optimizing and controlling pressure in gas-oil separation plants utilizes a genetic algorithm-based control method for controlling pressure in each stage of a multi-stage gas-oil separation plant to optimize oil production parameters. A neural network simulation model is used with an optimization procedure to provide on-line operation optimization of the multi-stage gas-oil separation plant. Pressure set points of each stage are automatically and continuously adjusted in the presence of fluctuating ambient temperatures and production rates to ensure optimal oil recovery and optimal quality of the produced oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
    Inventors: Moustafa Elshafei Ahmed Elshafei, Mahmoud El Awady Doklah
  • Patent number: 8795409
    Abstract: A method of controlling an air separation plant and a control system to optimize production of an argon product produced by the plant. A computer program is continually executed that has models of each column of the plant, a condenser reboiler and an argon reflux condenser. The models contain stage models of each stage of separation within each of the columns that when assembled are able to calculate current values of controlled variables in response to input variables applied to the models. The controlled variables serve as an input to a controller that controls manipulated variables comprising flow rates of an air feed stream to the air separation plant, a product oxygen stream removed from the lower pressure column and the crude argon feed stream such that the controlled variables are within a targeted range selected to optimize the production of the argon product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ashish Singhal, Stephane Blouin
  • Patent number: 8755916
    Abstract: A control system for optimizing an oxy-fuel power plant comprises an optimizer in communication with the oxy-fuel power plant; the oxy-fuel power plant being operative to recycle carbon dioxide from a flue gas stream to a boiler; a control platform; the control platform being operative to control the oxy-fuel power plant; and a simulator; the simulator being operative to simulate performance of the oxy-fuel power plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd.
    Inventor: Xinsheng Lou
  • Patent number: 8734747
    Abstract: A method for treating exhaust gas is provided, which includes measuring SO3 concentration in the exhaust gas which contains at least SO2 and SO3 by using an SO3 gas analyzer; injecting fine particles into the exhaust gas after the step of measuring; cooling the exhaust gas after the step of injection, by recovering heat from the exhaust gas; collecting fly ash from the cooled exhaust gas; and removing at least SO2 from the exhaust gas after the step of collecting by absorbing the SO2 with an absorbing solution. In addition, an apparatus for treating exhaust gas is provided, which includes an SO3 gas analyzer; a fine particles injector; a heat exchanger; an electrostatic precipitator; an absorption tower; and a fine particle feed controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Satoru Sugita
  • Patent number: 8734578
    Abstract: An indoor dust collecting system includes an air conditioner having an indoor unit that generates an air current, a dust collector, and a controller for controlling the air current from the indoor unit. A moving body detector is provided to detect a moving body such as, for example, a person, a pet, a cleaning robot, and the like. The air current from the indoor unit is controlled by the controller based on the position of the indoor unit, the position of a spot of occurrence of dust detected by the moving body detector, and the position of the dust collector such that the air current from the indoor unit reaches the dust collector via the spot of occurrence of dust in order for the dust collector to effectively suck the dust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tadashi Miki, Masami Fukumoto, Osamu Eguchi, Yasuhiro Umekage, Kazuhiro Kuroyama, Hiroaki Kurihara
  • Patent number: 8727744
    Abstract: The disclosure describes systems and methods relating generally to filtration. Even more particularly, embodiments described herein relate to optimizing operating routines of a pump based on filter information and process fluid information. The filter information can be stored on an electronically readable tag on the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Entegris, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul J. Magoon, Raul A. Ramirez, Jennifer M. Braggin
  • Publication number: 20140128627
    Abstract: The present invention provides a chromatographic separation process for recovering a polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) product from a feed mixture, which process comprises the steps of: (i) purifying the feed mixture in a first separation step in a simulated or actual moving bed chromatography apparatus having a plurality of linked chromatography columns containing, as eluent, an aqueous organic solvent, to obtain an intermediate product; and (ii) purifying the intermediate product obtained in (i) in a second separation step using a simulated or actual moving bed chromatography apparatus having a plurality of linked chromatography columns containing, as eluent, an aqueous organic solvent, to obtain the PUFA product; wherein (a) the first and second separation steps are carried out sequentially on the same chromatography apparatus, the intermediate product being recovered between the first and second separation steps and the process conditions in the chromatography apparatus being adjusted between the first an
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: BASF Pharma (Callanish ) Limited
    Inventors: Adam Kelliher, Angus Morrison, Anil Oroskar, Rakesh Vikraman Nair Rema, Abhilesh Agarwal
  • Patent number: 8716025
    Abstract: A control device for a sample separation apparatus, the sample separation apparatus including a first separation unit and a second separation unit downstream of the first separation unit and supplied with the fluidic sample after treatment by the first separation unit. A control device is configured for controlling the first separation unit to execute a primary separation sequence within a time interval for separating the fluidic sample into fractions, and for controlling the second separation unit to execute secondary separation sequences within the time interval for further separating the separated fractions into sub-fractions, wherein the secondary separation sequences form part of a common sample separation method defined by a common specification of the sample separation involving a set of parameters, and adjusting, over a progress of the primary separation sequence, at least one parameter according to which at least one of the plurality of secondary separation sequences is executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Klaus Witt
  • Patent number: 8702977
    Abstract: A water distribution system configured for control by a remote control system is disclosed comprising of a water filtration unit for filtering water and a water storage unit for storing the filtered water and including a water dispenser. A control unit is provided that is configured to control the operation of the water filtration unit and includes a sensor system to measure the quality and the quantity of the water filtered, and to monitor the functioning of one or more components of the water filtration unit. A point of sale device is also provided comprising of a service management device mounted on the water dispenser and is configured to control the operation of the water dispenser and a user interface to receive user inputs and is configured to process user payments for the dispensing of water at the remote control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Piramal Enterprises Limited
    Inventors: Anand Shah, Naman Shah, Sameer Kalwani
  • Patent number: 8684705
    Abstract: The disclosure describes systems and methods relating generally to filtration. Even more particularly, this disclosure relates to controlling the operation of a pump using filter information. A removable filter can include an electronically readable tag storing filter information. The filter information can be read by a tag reader and rules applied to the filter information to determine whether or how to operate a pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Entegris, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul J. Magoon, Raul A. Ramirez, Traci L. Batchelder
  • Patent number: 8615325
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an advanced control system for steam hydrocarbon reformer furnaces, especially steam methane reformer furnaces. As described herein, the advanced control system may improve the control quality and efficiency of adjusting steam hydrocarbon reformer furnaces operating coefficients. As a result, the steam hydrocarbon reformer furnace operations become more stable, resulting in energy savings and improved furnace yield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Tong Li, Justin Jian Wang
  • Patent number: 8608826
    Abstract: The method of modeling fly ash collection efficiency in wire-duct electrostatic precipitators provides for the optimization of fly ash collection through the generation of numerical solutions to the electrostatic and electrodynamic equations associated with the particular geometry of the wire-duct electrostatic precipitator. Particularly, the solutions are developed through use of the finite element method and a modified method of characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
    Inventor: Zakariya Mahmoud Al-Hamouz
  • Patent number: 8597401
    Abstract: An exhausting method includes determining an exhaust flow rate of a process gas to be a predetermined value that is less than or equal to a gas flow rate corresponding to a maximum process capability of a purification system when the process gas is diluted to a lower explosive limit; calculating a pressure drop amount per unit time to maintain the determined exhaust flow rate of the process gas, based on a relation between the exhaust flow rate and the pressure drop amount per unit time; and evacuating an inside of the chamber to maintain the determined exhaust flow rate, while controlling the pressure through an automatic pressure control valve by setting a target pressure value to be updated as a control value of the automatic pressure control valve at every predetermined time interval so as to achieve a calculated pressure drop amount per unit time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Norihiko Amikura, Risako Miyoshi
  • Patent number: 8585892
    Abstract: A wastewater treatment system includes independent wastewater treatment facilities. Each of the facilities has a number of wastewater treatment subsystems. A wastewater collection subsystem holds wastewater to be treated. A pump subsystem moves wastewater from a wastewater collector to a filtration subsystem having a bioreacting filter. The filter has a sump and a fluidized-bed filter therein and supports the filter upright. The filter has an upwardly expanding, hollow, conical filter body with filter media. A monitoring subsystem measures wastewater process parameters. Control devices receive control commands and, dependent upon the command received, alter parameters of the wastewater treatment subsystems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Biofilter Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Mark B. Robertson, David O'Keefe, John D. Cox, Daniel T. White
  • Patent number: 8571688
    Abstract: A method includes controlling a lift-gas compression process, controlling a lift-gas extraction process, and controlling a production separation process. The method also includes receiving asset data and optimizing the lift-gas compression process, the lift-gas injection process, and the production separation process according to the asset data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Brian A. Coward
  • Patent number: 8557087
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the separation by distillation of a hydrocarbon-containing feed stream containing olefin monomer, co-monomer and hydrocarbon diluent. The present invention also relates to a distillation system including a distillation column for carrying out the process according to the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Total Petrochemicals Research Feluy
    Inventor: Denis Mignon
  • Patent number: 8511140
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method of chemical analysis entail acquiring a chromatogram, median filtering the chromatogram to produce a model baseline, smoothing the model baseline to reduce noise, and subtracting the smoothed model baseline from the acquired chromatogram to produce a modified chromatogram having a substantially flat baseline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Waters Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Marc V. Gorenstein, Anthony C. Gilby
  • Patent number: 8512554
    Abstract: In an embodiment, an automated peritoneal dialysis (“APD”) machine includes at least one pump, a logic implementer storing a plurality of therapy prescriptions by which to operate the at least one pump, each therapy prescription pre-approved for a particular patient, and an input device operating with the logic implementer to allow the patient to select one of the therapy prescriptions for a particular therapy. In another embodiment, the input device operating with the logic implementer allows a doctor/clinician to select or approve one of the therapy prescriptions to be run on the APD machine. In a further embodiment, the logic implementer is programmed to select or suggest one of the therapy prescriptions to be run on the APD machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignees: Baxter International Inc., Baxter Healthcare S.A.
    Inventors: Anping Yu, Robert W. Childers, Borut Cizman
  • Patent number: 8506674
    Abstract: A method of cleaning a dust filter includes applying a negative electrical potential to a first electrode in a first area of a dust filter and applying a positive electrical potential to a second electrode disposed in a second area of the dust filter, wherein a voltage differential between the first and second electrodes is sufficient to cause electrostatic movement of dust from the first area to the second area. Then, the method further includes applying a negative electrical potential to the second electrode and applying a positive electrical potential to a third electrode disposed in a third area of the dust filter, wherein a voltage differential between the second and third electrodes is sufficient to cause electrostatic movement of dust from the second area to the third area, and wherein the first, second and third areas are generally linearly arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kathy L. Brown-Fitzpatrick, Gary D. Cudak, Christopher J. Hardee, James R. Lee, John Lloyd, William E. Lohmeyer, Jr., Andrew H. Wray
  • Patent number: 8428753
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a system and a method for planning the operation of, monitoring processes in, simulating, and/or optimizing a technical installation comprising several units that can be combined with each other. Said system comprises at least one process planning module, at least one process simulation module, and at least one process optimization module. Components for modeling, simulating, and optimizing the technical installation are stored in said modules. The interrelated modules cooperate with a data management layer via at least one interface, said data management layer making available actual measured and/or historical process data for determining parameters and/or operational data for the modules in order to plan operations as well as simulate and optimize processes. The parameters and/or operational data determined in the modules can be fed to the data management layer for further processing by taking into account the stored components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Markus Gauder, Rolf Schmitt, Stefan Lauxtermann
  • Patent number: 8404184
    Abstract: A system and method for calculating a value indicative of the amount of an undesirable constituent of a volatile gas stream that is removed from the atmosphere. Data received at a higher sampling rate is subjected to a plurality of validation processes and data that is determined to be faulty is then quarantined. Quarantined data can be replaced, however, an audit trail is generated to indicate what data has been replaced and the underlying rationale for the replacement data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Inventor: Jamie Tooley
  • Patent number: 8404020
    Abstract: A method for monitoring operation of a rapper in an electrostatic precipitator using a rapper control system is described. The method includes determining model electrical characteristics of the rapper. The model electrical characteristics of the rapper correspond to model mechanical operating characteristics of the rapper. The method also includes storing data corresponding to the model electrical characteristics and the model mechanical operating characteristics of the rapper, determining actual electrical characteristics of the rapper, and comparing the actual electrical characteristics of the rapper to the stored model electrical characteristics to determine actual mechanical operating characteristics of the rapper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Babcock & Wilcox Power Generation Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Terry Lewis Farmer, Vivek Badami, Charles Erklin Seeley, David F. Johnston, Michael M. Mahler, Timothy Gerald Lawrence
  • Patent number: 8364315
    Abstract: The present invention provides modified droplet actuator systems, software, and software-executed methods for use in droplet actuator operation and droplet actuator systems that are configured and programmed to execute such software. An aspect of the software components of the invention is an interface description file for each hardware component of a microfluidics system that allows hardware components to be changed without modifying the program for performing droplet operations protocols. Another aspect of the software components of the invention is the establishment of electrode-to-electrode relationships and other aspects of droplet actuator configurations, which may be used when programming droplet operations protocols. Another aspect of the software components of the invention is a physical design library of predefined electrode elements that may be used by a droplet actuator designer when constructing a layout of electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Advanced Liquid Logic Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan A. Sturmer, Gregory F. Smith, Michael Fogleman, Keith R. Brafford, Sai Ram Rongali
  • Patent number: 8349185
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a method for rebalancing a solvent solution useful for treating photosensitive printing elements having a photopolymerizable layer. The solvent solution becomes contaminated with unpolymerized material and other materials that release from the photosensitive printing elements during washout treating, and separation of contaminates also removes some of one or more components in the used solvent solution. The method rebalances the proportion of the components in a solvent solution having 3 or more components. The method includes measuring a reclaimant, which has been separated from the contaminates, for two or more properties, calculating a mass of the components to be added to the reclaimant based on an equation generated for each measured property, and adding the mass of the component or components to the reclaimant to adjust the proportion of the components in the reclaimant to targeted proportions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: E I du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Mark A. Hackler, Rajgopal Subramanian
  • Patent number: 8323503
    Abstract: This patent application relates generally to processing devices in the medical device area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Roland Levin, Martin Joseph Crnkovich, Fei Wang, Michael Emmanuel Kotsos, Gregg Eric Fuhriman
  • Patent number: 8311652
    Abstract: An optimization method based on statistical modeling relating NGL plant process variables. The modeling may rely on input data from process history and modeled data. The method identifies process scenarios when a compressor from an associated propane/propylene refrigeration system may be deactivated and still allow the NGL plant to achieve product specification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Othman A. Taha, Henry H. Chan
  • Patent number: 8306665
    Abstract: The present invention provides a control system for the conversion of carbonaceous feedstock into a gas. In particular, the control system is designed to be configurable for use in controlling one or more processes implemented in, and/or by, a gasification system for the conversion of such feedstock into a gas, which may be used for one or more downstream applications. Gasification processes controllable by different embodiments of the disclosed control system may include in various combinations, a converter, a residue conditioner, a recuperator and/or heat exchanger system, one or more gas conditioners, a gas homogenization system and one or more downstream applications. The control system operatively controls various local, regional and/or global processes related to the overall gasification process, and thereby adjusts various control parameters thereof adapted to affect these processes for a selected result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Plasco Energy Group Inc.
    Inventors: Andreas Tsangaris, Kenneth Craig Campbell, Douglas Michael Feasby, Alisdair Alan McLean
  • Patent number: 8293084
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for the identification of compounds in carbohydrate mixture compositions as well as the determination of carbohydrate mixture composition patterns, based on e.g. orthogonal cross determining migration time (indices) using capillary gel electrophoresis-laser induced fluorescence and identifying said carbohydrate components based on comparing said migration time (indices) with standard migration time (indices) from a database which data are preferably also orthogonal cross determined. In a further aspect, the present invention relates to a method for carbohydrate mixture composition pattern profiling, like glycosylation pattern profiling using capillary gel electrophoresis-laser induced fluorescence (CGE-LIF). In another aspect, the present invention refers to a system for an automated determination and/or identification of carbohydrates and/or carbohydrate mixture composition patterns (e.g.: glycosylation patterns).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissenschaften e.V.
    Inventors: Erdmann Rapp, Jana Schwarzer, Udo Reichl, Christian Bohne