Sweep Gas Used Patents (Class 95/104)
  • Patent number: 11224834
    Abstract: A combustion system and process of operating the combustion system incorporating an electrostatic precipitator, an optional flue gas desulfurizer, and a temperature swing adsorptive gas separator, for post-combustion emission abatement is provided. A very low pressure steam stream may be employed as a first regeneration stream for the temperature swing adsorptive gas separator where the very low pressure steam stream may optionally be recovered from, a very low pressure steam turbine or an auxiliary boiler. A fluid stream at a suitable temperature for regeneration of at least one adsorbent material in the temperature swing adsorptive gas separator may be employed as a second regeneration stream where the fluid stream may optionally be recovered from an electrostatic precipitator, an oxidant preheater, or an auxiliary heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Svante Inc.
    Inventors: Andre Boulet, Soheil Khiavi
  • Patent number: 11148092
    Abstract: Methods and systems for capture of CO2 from a hydrated gaseous stream are described. Systems can be utilized for direct air capture of CO2 and incorporate a low energy temperature-vacuum swing adsorption (TVSA) process. A TVSA process can include a multi-step CO2 capture bed regeneration process that includes depressurization of the bed, heating of the bed, venting and purging of the bed, and cooling of the bed. Multiple beds can be cycled between CO2 capture and regeneration, during which captured CO2 is recovered. Off-gas from a CO2 capture bed can be used in regenerating a parallel bed for increased efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: University of South Carolina
    Inventors: James A. Ritter, Armin D. Ebner, Charles E. Holland
  • Patent number: 10988379
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides compositions including method of producing H2, variable volume reactors, methods of using variable volume reactors, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Andrei G. Fedorov, David M. Anderson
  • Patent number: 10874974
    Abstract: A temperature swing adsorption (TSA) process for removing a target component from a gaseous mixture, where the process is carried out in a plurality of reactors. Each reactor performs the following steps: an adsorption step wherein an input stream of said gaseous mixture is contacted with a solid adsorbent selective for said target component, producing a first waste stream depleted of the target component; a heating step for regeneration of the loaded adsorbent providing a first output stream containing the target component; and a cooling step of the regenerated adsorbent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Casale SA
    Inventors: Lisa Joss, Matteo Gazzani, Marco Mazzotti
  • Patent number: 10632416
    Abstract: A controller can be configured to control a system for extracting liquid water from air comprising a thermal unit, a primary desiccant wheel, and a regeneration fluid path. The controller can comprise a sensor, a motor, and a microcontroller coupled to the sensor and the motor. The microcontroller can be configured to determine a water extraction efficiency based on at least one signal received from the sensor, and also can be configured to maximize the water extraction efficiency by adjusting a speed of the motor in response to the determined water extraction efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Zero Mass Water, Inc.
    Inventors: Cody Alden Friesen, Grant Harrison Friesen, Heath Lorzel, Jonathan Edward Goldberg
  • Patent number: 10439242
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for combined cycle power generation while reducing or mitigating emissions during power generation. Recycled exhaust gas from a molten carbonate fuel cell power generation reaction can be separated by using a swing adsorption process so as to generate a high purity CO2 stream while reducing or minimizing the energy required for the separation and without having to reduce the temperature of the exhaust gas. A high temperature adsorption reactor adsorbs the CO2 and recovers H2 from an exhaust gas of a first molten carbonate fuel cell at a high temperature and at a low pressure. The reactor passes along the adsorbed CO2 to a cathode and the recovered H2 to an anode of a second molten carbonate fuel cell for further power generation. This can allow for improved energy recovery while also generating high purity streams of CO2 and H2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Narasimhan Sundaram, Hans Thomann, Franklin F. Mittricker, Loren Starcher
  • Patent number: 10357739
    Abstract: A controller may control a system for extracting liquid water from air comprising a thermal unit, a primary desiccant wheel, and a regeneration fluid path. The controller may comprise a plurality of sensors, a plurality of motors, and a microcontroller coupled to the plurality of sensors and the plurality of motors. The microcontroller may be configured to determine a water extraction efficiency based on at least one signal received from at least one of the plurality of sensors and maximize the water extraction efficiency by adjusting a speed of at least one of the plurality of motors in response to the determined water extraction efficiency. The water extraction efficiency may be a value obtained by multiplying a regeneration fluid flow rate within the regeneration fluid path by an absolute humidity of air on a side of the primary desiccant wheel opposite a side in communication with the thermal unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: ZERO MASS WATER INC.
    Inventors: Cody Alden Friesen, Grant Harrison Friesen, Heath Lorzel, Jonathan Edward Goldberg
  • Patent number: 10105678
    Abstract: An oxygen adsorbent which can be manufactured at a low cost, and an oxygen manufacturing equipment and an oxygen manufacturing method which are capable of producing oxygen-enriched gas at a low cost by using the oxygen adsorbent are provided. The oxygen adsorbent comprises at least an oxide of a perovskite structure. The oxide is represented by a compositional formula of Sr1?xCaxFeO3??, wherein 0.12?x?0.40, 0???0.5. Since this oxide does not include La and Co included in a conventional oxygen adsorbent, it can be manufactured at a low cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignees: TOKYO GAS CO., Ltd.
    Inventors: Norio Miura, Hiroshi Ikeda, Akinori Tsuchida, Masaya Oi, Kiyofumi Momma, Toshinari Araki
  • Patent number: 9795915
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a temperature enhanced pressure swing adsorption (TEPSA) process for removing at least two components including a less strongly adsorbed component and a more strongly adsorbed component from a gas mixture, said process comprising using one single heater and at least two adsorber vessels, in each of which repeated cycles comprising an adsorption phase and subsequent regeneration phases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Mohammad Ali Kalbassi, April Emma Louise O'Meara, Christopher James Raiswell, Ian Robert Zone
  • Patent number: 9314731
    Abstract: A Temperature Swing Adsorption method for separating a first component, comprising a more adsorbable component, from a feed stream comprising more than 50 mol % of a second component, comprising a less adsorbable component, is provided. The method includes providing an adsorbent structure suitable for adsorbing the first component, the structure being of the parallel passage contactor type, and cyclically implementing the following steps. Passing the feed stream through the adsorbent structure thus adsorbing the first component and producing a stream depleted in the first component and enriched in the second component. Heating the adsorbent structure to desorb the adsorbed first component by means of circulating a heating stream enriched in the first component at a temperature suitable for regeneration. And cooling the structure by means of passing through it more than 50% of the stream enriched in the second component produced in the step a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Société Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procédés Georges Claude
    Inventors: Yudong Chen, Christian Monereau, Edgar S. Sanders, Jr., Pascal Tessier
  • Patent number: 9289717
    Abstract: An air drying system for OBOGS is provided. The system comprises a bypass valve having an opened state and a closed state. The bypass valve is in fluid communication with an air inlet providing pressurized air. A dryer unit is configured to produce dried air when the bypass valve is in the closed state. An OBOGS unit produces oxygen enriched air while a purge valve has an opened state and a closed state. When the bypass valve is its closed state, the purge valve is in its opened state thereby directing a portion of the dried air to the oxygen generating system unit and a portion of the dried air to the dryer unit. When the bypass valve is its open state the pressurized air passes directly to the OBOGS unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Carleton Life Support Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Steven C. Peake, Timothy T. Raleigh
  • Patent number: 9278305
    Abstract: A Temperature Swing Adsorption method for separating a first component, comprising a more adsorbable component, from a feed stream comprising more than 50 mol % of a second component, comprising a less adsorbable component, is provided. The method includes providing an adsorbent structure suitable for adsorbing the first component, the structure being of the parallel passage contactor type, and cyclically implementing the following steps. Passing the feed stream through the adsorbent structure thus adsorbing the first component and producing a stream depleted in the first component and enriched in the second component. Heating the adsorbent structure to desorb the adsorbed first component by means of circulating a heating stream enriched in the first component at a temperature suitable for regeneration. And cooling the structure by means of passing through it more than 50% of the stream enriched in the second component produced in the step a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Société Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procédés Georges Claude
    Inventors: Yudong Chen, Christian Monereau, Edgar S. Sanders, Jr., Pascal Tessier
  • Patent number: 9216374
    Abstract: The gas separation device includes an adsorption tower having at least one part thereof exposed to an atmosphere at a higher or lower temperature than normal temperature, a mixed gas feed unit, an adsorbent provided inside the adsorption tower to adsorb a matter contained in a mixed gas upon contact with the mixed gas in a prescribed pressure and temperature environment, and separate the matter from the mixed gas, a separated gas discharge unit that discharges a separated gas from the adsorption tower, and an adsorbed gas discharge unit that discharges from the adsorption tower the adsorbed gas which is adsorbed by the adsorbent. Heat reserving elements are arranged in the adsorption tower at positions upstream and downstream of the adsorbent in the mixed gas supply direction respectively such that the mixed gas, separated gas, and adsorbed gas flow through the heat reserving elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignees: TOKYO GAS CO., LTD., ADSORPTION TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRIES, LTD., KYUSHU UNIVERSITY, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION, JNC ENGINEERING CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoya Fujimine, Yoshifumi Nakashima, Jun Izumi, Norio Miura, Tadashi Taniuchi, Manabu Kuroki
  • Patent number: 8673059
    Abstract: Novel adsorbent contactors and methods are disclosed herein for use in temperature swing adsorption for gas separation applications, as well as for heat exchange applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Daniel P. Leta, Harry W. Deckman, Peter I. Ravikovitch, Bruce A. Derites
  • Patent number: 8641803
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a gas-assisted hydrogen desorption method and apparatus, and more particularly, to a method for desorbing hydrogen from a self-catalyzing hydrogen storage material that is assisted by a carrier gas so as to further enable the portion of hydrogen containing in the self-catalyzing hydrogen storage material that can not be desorbed by conventional hydrogen desorption methods to be desorbed, and thus increase the amount of hydrogen to be released from the a self-catalyzing hydrogen storage material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Institute of Nuclear Energy Research Atomic Energy Council, Executive Yuan
    Inventors: Huan-Hsiung Tseng, Cheng-Hsiang Tung, Ming-Sheng Yu
  • Publication number: 20130312606
    Abstract: A system and method of reducing the net carbon dioxide footprint of an industrial process that generates power from the combustion of hydrocarbon fuels in which ambient air is admixed with up to 50% by volume of an effluent gas from the power generator of the industrial process, in order to substantially increase the CO2 concentration in the air prior to treatment. The treatment comprises adsorbing CO2 from the admixed ambient air utilizing a cooled, porous substrate-supported amine adsorbent, wherein the porous substrate initially contacts the mixed ambient air containing condensed water in its pores, which act as an intrinsic coolant with respect to the exothermic heat generated by the adsorption process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Inventor: Peter Eisenberger
  • Patent number: 8404024
    Abstract: During the conventional temperature swing adsorption (TSA) process, NF3 co-adsorbed with the impurities is vented during regeneration. This invention is a novel TSA cycle in which the co-adsorbed NF3 is recovered. In this novel TSA cycle, a control scheme is used to stop the adsorption prior to the saturation of the adsorber with impurities and use a recovery purge gas (either co-current or counter-current) to release the co-adsorbed NF3 off the saturated adsorber. The effluent of the inert purge gas can be combined with the effluent of the on-stream vessel or can be recycled to the feed of the on-stream vessel. 10%-100% of the co-adsorbed NF3 is recovered and made available as product in this novel TSA cycle. Thus the overall process yield of NF3 is increased. The removing of the co-adsorbed NF3 from the adsorber also prevents adsorber degradation thus prolonging the useful life of the adsorber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip Bruce Henderson, Patrick Michael Colleran, Forrest Eli Hulbert
  • Patent number: 8361204
    Abstract: A vacuum-pressure swing absorption concentrator includes a motor driven compressor having pressure and vacuum heads that are connected to a pressure reservoir and a vacuum reservoir respectively. The pressure and vacuum reservoirs are selectively and alternately interconnected in sequence through a main valve to a pair of nitrogen filtering sieve beds. A controller operates the valve to alternately and cyclically interconnect the sieve beds to the pressure and vacuum reservoirs respectively. During each cycle, a respective bed is pressurized and enriched oxygen is produced and delivered to a tank for use by a patient. At the same time, the other bed is evacuated through the vacuum reservoir. A crossover valve delivers oxygen from a pressurized bed to an evacuated bed to facilitate purging of impurities previously collected in the evacuated bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: O2 Concepts, LLC
    Inventor: Stuart Bassine
  • Patent number: 8268045
    Abstract: A compressed air producing method, in which two or more adsorption columns, in all or part of which a zeolite-series adsorbent is charged, are switched over to purify feed air and the adsorbent charged in at least one adsorption column of said adsorption columns is regenerated in turn with regeneration gas, is characterized by comprising a step of performing, when an adsorption column (R) in a regeneration step transfers to a purification step, the purge of said adsorbent with purified air, and characterized in that the internal pressure of an adsorption column (R) in the purge step is controlled such that a differential pressure thereof from the internal pressure of an adsorption column (P) in the purification step falls within a specified value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Yong Yi Lim, Tsuyoshi Matsutomi, Shoji Kaneshima, Shinji Tomita
  • Patent number: 8268044
    Abstract: A feed stream, comprising hydrogen sulphide (H2S), carbon dioxide (CO2), hydrogen (H2) and, optionally, carbon monoxide (CO), is separated into at least a CO2 product stream and an H2 or H2 and CO product stream. The stream is separated using a pressure swing adsorption system, an H2S removal system and a further separation system, which systems are used in series to separate the stream. The method has particular application in the separation of a sour (i.e. sulphur containing) syngas, as for example produced from the gasification of solid or heavy liquid carbonaceous feedstock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew David Wright, Vincent White, Kevin Boyle Fogash, Jeffrey William Kloosterman, Jeffrey Raymond Hufton, Charles Linford Schaffer
  • Publication number: 20120222554
    Abstract: Novel adsorbent contactors and methods are disclosed herein for use in temperature swing adsorption for gas separation applications, as well as for heat exchange applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Daniel P. Leta, Harry W. Deckman, Peter I. Ravikovitch, Bruce A. Derites
  • Patent number: 8236095
    Abstract: A vacuum-pressure swing absorption concentrator includes a motor driven compressor having pressure and vacuum heads that are connected to a pressure reservoir and a vacuum reservoir respectively. The pressure and vacuum reservoirs are selectively and alternately interconnected in sequence through a main valve to a pair of nitrogen filtering sieve beds. A controller operates the valve to alternately and cyclically interconnect the sieve beds to the pressure and vacuum reservoirs respectively. During each cycle, a respective bed is pressurized and enriched oxygen is produced and delivered to a tank for use by a patient. At the same time, the other bed is evacuated through the vacuum reservoir. A crossover valve delivers oxygen from a pressurized bed to an evacuated bed to facilitate purging of impurities previously collected in the evacuated bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: O2 Concepts, LLC
    Inventor: Stuart Bassine
  • Publication number: 20110271833
    Abstract: An adsorbent vessel and process for using the adsorbent vessel subject to thermal swing expansion/contraction is disclosed where the adsorbent vessel comprises a support screen affixed to the adsorption vessel subject to thermal swing expansion/contraction and where a first section of the support screen extends along a portion of the length of the adsorption vessel subject to thermal swing expansion/contraction in the axial direction and comprises apertures permitting gas permeation and where the first section of the support screen has a cross-section in the axial direction that is arcuate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2010
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC.
    Inventors: Stephen Clyde Tentarelli, Stephen John Gibbon
  • Publication number: 20110154986
    Abstract: A high efficiency gas concentrating apparatus includes an air compressor for supplying high pressure air, first and second adsorption towers that are disposed above the air compressor and communicating with the air compressor to adsorb nitrogen and concentrate oxygen as the high pressure air is alternately supplied thereto, first and second concentrating passages that are disposed above the respective first and second adsorption towers to discharge the concentrated oxygen, and a cleaning tank that is disposed between the first and second concentrating passages to receive a portion of the concentrated oxygen from one of the first and second adsorption towers, temporarily store the received concentrated oxygen therein, and alternately remove adsorbed nitrogen by supplying the temporarily concentrated oxygen to the other of the first and second adsorption towers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicants: OXUS CO., LTD, Sogang University Industry-University Cooperation Foundation
    Inventors: Tae Soo Lee, Yoon Sun Choi, Seung Kwon Oh, Shin Kyu Han
  • Publication number: 20100326272
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention include a method and apparatus for reversibly sorbing a target gas. In one embodiment, an apparatus for reversibly sorbing a target gas is disclosed. The apparatus includes an inlet, a multi-channel monolith coupled to the inlet, the multi-channel monolith including a plurality of channels, each one of the plurality of channels includes one or more walls, wherein at least one of the one or more walls of at least one of the plurality of channels is porous and wherein one or more of the plurality of channels contain a sorbent and an outlet coupled to the multi-channel monolith.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Inventors: MARIANNA F. ASARO, Yigal Blum
  • Patent number: 7850762
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for reducing emissions due to gaseous decomposition products of an electrolyte of electrochemical storage devices in a motor vehicle, preferably double-layer capacitors with organic solvents as the electrolyte. According to this invention, the gaseous decomposition products are sent to an activated carbon filter and/or a molecular sieve for deposition of at least a portion of the decomposition products and/or a chemically reactive material and/or a catalytically active material for conversion of at least a portion of the decomposition products. In addition, devices for implementing the inventive method are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Steffen Lutz, Sebastian Scharner
  • Patent number: 7763100
    Abstract: Novel polybed VPSA process and system to achieve enhanced O2 recovery are disclosed. The VPSA process comprises using three or more adsorber beds; providing a continuous feed supply gas using a single feed blower to one bed, wherein at any instant during the process, two beds are in an evacuation step and only one bed is in a feed mode; and purging the adsorber beds using two purge gases of different purity. The VPSA cycle may further comprise utilizing a storage device (e.g., a packed or empty equalization tank) to capture void gases during co-current depressurization step of the VPSA cycle, which is used at a later stage for purging and repressurization of the bed. In addition, the VPSA process employs a single feed compressor and two vacuum pumps at 100% utilization. Furthermore, the use of the storage device minimizes the use of product quality gas for purging. About 10-20% improvement in O2 productivity is realized in the new VPSA process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Mohamed Safdar Allie Baksh, Andrew Chester Rosinski
  • Publication number: 20100089236
    Abstract: Solid nanoparticulate transition metal complexes of Co(II) salen exhibit reversible oxygen absorption in a near stoichiometric manner. In contrast, no measurable oxygen binding was observed with unprocessed Co(II) salen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Inventors: Bala Subramaniam, Andrew S. Borovik, Chad A. Johnson
  • Patent number: 7694674
    Abstract: An electronic controller (16) controls the operation of an electrochemical oxygen generating system (14) producing a desired gas. The product gas is fed to a storage unit (12) or a regulator (28) and pulsing valve (28) controlling the gas flow to a user. A two-stage system (180) combines a low pressure 100 and a high pressure (150) gas generating subsystems. The low pressure subsystem (100) uses IMAT's (106) to pump oxygen from ambient air to generate a low-pressure. The high pressure subsystem (150) uses IMAT's (160) to pump oxygen to high-pressure oxygen storage devices (194).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Carleton Life Support Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Victor P. Crome, Gary N. Byrd, Russell F. Hart, Scott R. Sehlin, Tuan Q. Cao, Courtney Joseph Monzyk, Timothy P. Raleigh, Lyle J. Berkenbosch, Craig L. Schledewitz
  • Publication number: 20090301300
    Abstract: A gas dryer having an inlet for receiving a wet gas; at least one vessel containing at least a desiccant for absorbing moisture from a wet gas passing through the desiccant in a first direction under pressure and for desorbing the desiccant by passing a second gas under a partial vacuum in a direction counter to the first direction during a warming and a cooling phase of regeneration; a means for generating a partial vacuum in the vessel; and an outlet for expelling dried gas from the vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: XEBEC ADSORPTION, INC.
    Inventor: Guy Couturier
  • Patent number: 7591880
    Abstract: A method of operating a fuel cell system includes providing a fuel inlet stream into a fuel cell stack, operating the fuel cell stack to generate electricity and a hydrogen containing fuel exhaust stream, separating at least a portion of hydrogen contained in the fuel exhaust stream using partial pressure swing adsorption, and providing the hydrogen separated from the fuel exhaust stream into the fuel inlet stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
    Inventors: M. Douglas Levan, John E. Finn, James F. McElroy
  • Publication number: 20090007783
    Abstract: Method for drying a gas from a compressor (1) by means of a drier (2) of the type which consists of a pressure tank (3) with a drying zone (4) and a regeneration zone (5), with a rotor (6) which is composed of a drying element (7) in which has been provided an adsorption and/or absorption medium (8) which is alternately put through the drying zone (4) and the regeneration zone (5), characterised in that at a low load or zero load, the inlet of the regeneration zone (5) is connected to the user network (12) via a regeneration pipe (27), and in that the outlet of the regeneration zone (5) is connected to the atmosphere.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2005
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Inventors: Bart Etienne Agnes Vanderstraeten, Ben Paul Karl Van Hove
  • Patent number: 7452406
    Abstract: A pressure swing adsorption (PSA) dryer for separating water and carbon dioxide from a gas stream includes two compound adsorbent columns [32, 42]. Each column comprises a primary adsorption material for adsorbing water and a secondary adsorbent that adsorbs carbon dioxide. The secondary adsorbent comprises a solid amine. The secondary adsorbent may be, for example, a highly porous polystyrene matrix with amine groups bonded to the porous resin structure. Preferably, a mixture of the primary and secondary adsorbent materials forms an intermediate layer [38, 48] sandwiched between a top layer [34, 44] and bottom layer [36, 46] of pure water adsorbent material in each of the columns [32, 42].
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: MMR Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: William A. Little, Sam Spektor
  • Publication number: 20080200742
    Abstract: Adsorbent compositions for vapor-phase adsorption processes, which are selective for para-xylene. Such compositions can be used in gas-phase adsorption processes for the separation of para-xylene or the separation of para-xylene and ethylbenzene from mixed xylenes or a C8 aromatic mixture, respectively. The adsorbent compositions generally comprise materials of a molecular sieve material and a binder, wherein the adsorbent composition has a macropore volume of at least about 0.02 cc/g and a mesopore volume of less than about 0.20 cc/g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2006
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Applicant: BP CORPORATION NORTH AMERICA INC.
    Inventors: Ruth Ann Doyle, Bryce A. Williams, Jeffrey T. Miller
  • Patent number: 7306652
    Abstract: Biogas released from landfills and sewage treatment plants is freed of siloxane contaminants by passing the biogas through a bed containing activated alumina, which absorbs the siloxanes. When the activated alumina becomes saturated with siloxanes, the absorption capability of the activated alumina can be recovered by passing a regeneration gas through the bed of activated alumina. A system containing two or more beds of activated alumina can use one bed to remove siloxanes from biogas while one or more of the other beds are being regenerated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventor: Vincent Leo Higgins
  • Patent number: 7285154
    Abstract: A first aspect of a process of recovering xenon from feed gas includes: providing an adsorption vessel containing adsorbent having a Xe/N2 selectivity ratio <75; feeding into the adsorption vessel feed gas having an initial nitrogen concentration >50% and an initial xenon concentration ?0.5%; evacuating the adsorption vessel; and purging the adsorption vessel at a purge-to-feed ratio ?10. The final xenon concentration is ?15× the initial xenon concentration. A second aspect of the process includes providing an adsorption vessel containing adsorbent having a Xe Henry's law Constant ?50 mmole/g/atm; feeding into the adsorption vessel feed gas having an initial nitrogen concentration >50% and an initial xenon concentration ?0.5%; heating and purging the adsorption vessel to recover xenon having a final concentration ?15× its initial concentration. Apparatus for performing the process are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene Joseph Karwacki, Jr., Timothy Christopher Golden, Bing Ji, Stephen Andrew Motika, Thomas Stephen Farris
  • Patent number: 7179324
    Abstract: A three-bed pressure swing adsorption system providing a constant continuous supply gas, preferably containing a hydrogen component, in a multi-step and preferably in a twelve-step, process cycle that can produce a purified gas product, preferably hydrogen, on a constant flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Mohamed Safdar Allie Baksh, Andrew C. Rosinski
  • Patent number: 7101414
    Abstract: A method of reducing the sorbate concentration of a process fluid stream using a sorption bed system includes the following steps. A mass of a sorbent material is rotated so that, in a cycle of operation, a given volume of the sorbent mass sequentially passes through first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth zones, before returning to the first zone. A process fluid stream is passed through the sorbent mass in the first zone, and a regeneration fluid stream is passed through the sorbent mass in the fourth zone. A first isolation fluid stream is recycled in a closed loop, independent of the process fluid stream and the regeneration fluid stream, between the sorbent mass in the second zone and in the sixth zone. A second isolation fluid stream, meanwhile, is recycled in a closed loop, independent of the process fluid stream, the regeneration fluid stream, and the first isolation fluid stream, between the sorbent mass in the third zone and in the fifth zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Munters Corporation
    Inventors: Paul A. Dinnage, Stephen C. Brickley
  • Patent number: 6929683
    Abstract: A pressure swing adsorption system including a pressure vessel having an opening and a valve manifold including a body having a first cavity fluidly connected to the opening. The body further includes a passage and a channel, such that the passage connects the channel to the cavity. The valve manifold further includes a valve provided within the passage. The valve is configured to selectively permit and restrict flow between the channel and the cavity via the passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: H2gen Innovations, Inc.
    Inventors: Franklin D. Lomax, Jr., Michael S. Streeks
  • Patent number: 6869463
    Abstract: A method is described for rapid and economical activation and/or preconditioning of gas purification substrates by providing forced convection of the preconditioning or activating gas through the pores of the substrate. The gas is pumped into the substrate-containing vessel and raised to an elevated pressure, which is maintained for a short predetermined time, followed by venting of contents of the vessel. The vessel is again pressurized with the purging gas to an elevated level, and the elevated pressure is maintained for a short predetermined time, followed by venting of the vessel. This cycle is repeated as often as needed or desired. Activation and/or preconditioning can be accomplished in a much shorter time and with much less gas usage compared to diffusion preconditioning and activation processes. This process is particularly suited for preconditioning and activation of gas purifier substrates for decontamination of gases down to ?1 ppm contaminants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Mykrolis Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Spiegelman, Daniel Alvarez, Jr., Joshua T. Cook
  • Patent number: 6858065
    Abstract: A pressure swing adsorption process including the step of separating a gas mixture by absorbing a gas component in adsorbent beds provided within vessels, where the separating step has at least a two-stage pressure equalization and is performed with no more than five valves per vessel of the plurality of vessels. The process includes an adsorption step, a first pressure equalization step having at least two stages where the pressure decreases, a purge step, and a second pressure equalization step having at least two stages where the pressure increases. A pressure swing adsorption system is provided with vessels each having a first opening connected to a source manifold via a first valve and connected to a waste manifold via a second valve, and a second opening connected to a product manifold via a third valve and connected to an equalization conduit via a fourth valve and a fifth valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: H2Gen Innovations, Inc.
    Inventor: Franklin D. Lomax, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20040159234
    Abstract: A method is described for rapid and economical activation and/or preconditioning of gas purification substrates by providing forced convection of the preconditioning or activating gas through the pores of the substrate. The gas is pumped into the substrate-containing vessel and raised to an elevated pressure, which is maintained for a short predetermined time, followed by venting of contents of the vessel. The vessel is again pressurized with the purging gas to an elevated level, and the elevated pressure is maintained for a short predetermined time, followed by venting of the vessel. This cycle is repeated as often as needed or desired. Activation and/or preconditioning can be accomplished in a much shorter time and with much less gas usage compared to diffusion preconditioning and activation processes. This process is particularly suited for preconditioning and activation of gas purifier substrates for decontamination of gases down to ≦1 ppm contaminants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2003
    Publication date: August 19, 2004
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Spiegelman, Daniel Alvarez, Joshua T. Cook
  • Patent number: 6755895
    Abstract: A pressure swing adsorption system including a pressure vessel having an opening and a valve manifold including a body having a first cavity fluidly connected to the opening. The body further includes a passage and a channel, such that the passage connects the channel to the cavity. The valve manifold further includes a valve provided within the passage. The valve is configured to selectively permit and restrict flow between the channel and the cavity via the passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: H2GEN Innovations, Inc.
    Inventors: Franklin D. Lomax, Jr, Michael S. Streeks
  • Patent number: 6699307
    Abstract: A pressure swing adsorption process including the step of separating a gas mixture by absorbing a gas component in adsorbent beds provided within vessels, where the separating step has at least a two-stage pressure equalization and is performed with no more than five valves per vessel of the plurality of vessels. The process includes an adsorption step, a first pressure equalization step having at least two stages where the pressure decreases, a purge step, and a second pressure equalization step having at least two stages where the pressure increases. A pressure swing adsorption system is provided with vessels each having a first opening connected to a source manifold via a fist valve and connected to a waste manifold via a second valve, and a second opening connected to a product manifold via a third valve and connected to an equalization conduit via a fourth valve and a fifth valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: H2gen Innovations, Inc.
    Inventor: Franklin D. Lomax, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6652627
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for separating a fluid component from a fluid mixture comprising the fluid component, the process comprising: (A) flowing the fluid mixture into a microchannel separator; the microchannel separator comprising a plurality of process microchannels containing a sorption medium, a header and a footer, the combined internal volume of the header and the footer being up to about 40% of the internal volume of the process microchannels; the fluid mixture being maintained in the microchannel separator until at least part of the fluid component is sorbed by the sorption medium; purging the microchannel separator to displace non-sorbed parts of the fluid mixture from the microchannel separator; and (B) desorbing the fluid component from the sorption medium and flowing a flush fluid through the microchannel separator to displace the desorbed fluid component from the microchannel separator. The process is suitable for purifying oxygen as well as effecting other fluid separations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Velocys, Inc.
    Inventors: Anna Lee Tonkovich, Bruce F. Monzyk, Dongming Qiu, Matthew B. Schmidt, G. Bradley Chadwell, Wesley Bruno, Eric Burckle
  • Patent number: 6638341
    Abstract: A method is described for rapid and economical activation and/or preconditioning of gas purification substrates by providing forced convection of the preconditioning or activating gas through the pores of the substrate. The gas is pumped into the substrate-containing vessel and raised to an elevated pressure, which is maintained for a short predetermined time, followed by venting of contents of the vessel. The vessel is again pressurized with the purging gas to an elevated level, and the elevated pressure is maintained for a short predetermined time, followed by venting of the vessel. This cycle is repeated as often as needed or desired. Activation and/or preconditioning can be accomplished in a much shorter time and with much less gas usage compared to diffusion preconditioning and activation processes. This process is particularly suited for preconditioning and activation of gas purifier substrates for decontamination of gases down to ≦1 ppm contaminants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Aeronex, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Spiegelman, Daniel Alvarez, Jr., Joshua T. Cook
  • Patent number: 6530974
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel family of inorganic solids with a narrow and calibrated mesopore distribution which are agglomerated with a binder; these solids can advantageously be used as adsorbents for the industrial separation of gas-phase compounds having different boiling points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: CECA S.A.
    Inventor: Dominique Plee
  • Patent number: 6461410
    Abstract: A raw gas containing a gas component A with low affinity with an adsorbent and a gas component C with high affinity with the adsorbent are sequentially supplied to at least three adsorption columns, while a desorption gas containing a gas component D which differs from the gas components A and C is supplied to each of the adsorption columns other than the one to which the raw gas is being supplied. When the raw gas is supplied to the adsorption columns, the gas component A having lower affinity with the adsorbent exits the adsorption columns earlier than the gas component C having higher affinity. The gas components A and C can thus be separated from each other. When a gas including an enriched gas component A is discharged from the outlet of each adsorption column, the full amount is extracted out of the system. When a gas including an enriched gas component C is discharged from the outlet of each adsorption column, the full amount is extracted out of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Organo Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuya Abe, Sadamitsu Tanzawa, Takayuki Masuda
  • Patent number: 6425937
    Abstract: A process for purifying a gas stream containing at least one impurity chosen from the group formed by propane, nitrogen protoxide and ethylene, in which process: (a) the gas stream to be purified is brought into contact with at least one adsorbent including at least one X zeolite containing barium cations; (b) at least one impurity is adsorbed on the adsorbent. Preferably, the adsorbent includes particles of X zeolite exchanged to at least 70%, preferably at least 89%, with barium cations, it being possible for the adsorbent to furthermore include a bed of activated alumina particles which is located upstream of the bed of barium-exchanged X zeolite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Georges Kraus, Cyrille Millet, Serge Moreau, Jean-Pierre Gabillard
  • Patent number: 6402814
    Abstract: The regeneration phase of the adsorption cycle includes a depressurization step, a heating/elution step, during which the bed is purged with a hot heating/elution gas, and a cooling/elution step, during which the bed is purged with a cold cooling/elution gas. The cooling/elution step is terminated while the cooling/elution gas leaving the bed is at a temperature markedly higher than the temperature of the gas to be treated and the adsorption phase comprises an initial adsorption step during which the bed is cooled down to the low adsorption temperature due to the effect of the gas to be treated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Georges Kraus, Patrick Le Bot, Lian-Ming Sun