Carbon Dioxide Sorbed Patents (Class 95/139)
  • Publication number: 20080293976
    Abstract: The invention relates to regenerative, supported amine sorbents that includes an amine or an amine/polyol composition deposited on a nano-structured support such as nanosilica. The sorbent provides structural integrity, as well as high selectivity and increased capacity for efficiently capturing carbon dioxide from gas mixtures, including the air. The sorbent is regenerative, and can be used through multiple operations of absorption-desorption cycles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2007
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Inventors: George A. Olah, Alain Goepert, Sergio Meth, G.K. Surya Prakash
  • Publication number: 20080289500
    Abstract: A system for removing carbon dioxide from an atmosphere to reduce global warming and increase availability of renewable energy including an air extraction system that collects carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through a medium and removes carbon dioxide from the medium; a sequestration system that isolates the removed carbon dioxide to a location for at least one of storage and generation of a renewable carbon fuel; and one or more renewable energy sources that supply heat to the air extraction system to remove the carbon dioxide from the medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Inventors: Peter Eisenberger, Graciela Chichilnisky
  • Publication number: 20080289495
    Abstract: A system for removing carbon dioxide from an atmosphere to reduce global warming including an air extraction system that collects carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through a medium and removes carbon dioxide from the medium; a sequestration system that isolates the removed carbon dioxide to a location for at least one of storage and which can increase availability of renewable energy or non-fuel products such as fertilizers and construction materials; and one or more energy sources that supply process heat to the air extraction system to remove the carbon dioxide from the medium and which can regenerate it for continued use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Inventors: Peter Eisenberger, Graciela Chichilnisky
  • Publication number: 20080289499
    Abstract: A system for removing carbon dioxide from an atmosphere to reduce global warming and increase availability of renewable energy including an air extraction system that collects carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through a medium and removes carbon dioxide from the medium, a sequestration system that isolates the removed carbon dioxide to a location for at least one of storage and generation of a renewable carbon fuel, and one or more power supplying units that supply heat to the air extraction system to remove the carbon dioxide from the medium, at least one of the one or more power supplying units being a concentrated solar power supplying unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2007
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Inventors: Peter Eisenberger, Graciela Chichilnisky
  • Publication number: 20080282888
    Abstract: The adsorption of CO2 from flue gas streams using temperature swing adsorption. Adsorbent contactors are used in the temperature swing adsorption unit that contain a plurality of substantially parallel channels comprised of or coated with an adsorbent material that is selective for adsorbing CO2 from flue gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Inventors: Harry W. Deckman, Bruce T. Kelley, Frank Hershkowitz, Ronald R. Chance, Paul S. Northrop, Edward W. Corcoran, JR.
  • 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
  • Patent number: 7442232
    Abstract: Adsorbents and methods of use thereof are provided. One representative, among others, includes an adsorbent having an alkali metal promoted, mixed trivalent layered double hydroxide (LDH) composition. When the mixed trivalent layered double hydroxide (LDH) composition is heated to a temperature ranging from about 300° C. to 450° C., an the adsorbent having an adsorption capacity of at least 0.8 millimoles of CO2 adsorbed per gram of adsorbent is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Mark G. White, Alexei V Iretski, Scott Jeffrey Weigel, Robert Ling Chiang, Jeffrey Richard Brzozowski
  • Publication number: 20080210091
    Abstract: A carbon dioxide absorbent suitable for use in anesthesiology during low flow or closed circuit made of from 70 to 90% lime, from 0.1 to 17% of lithium hydroxide or its precursor, or a combination thereof, and from 5 to 25% water, wherein the absorbent provides low Compound A by-product, and high absorbency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Applicant: Allied Healthcare Products, Inc.
    Inventors: John Robertson, Carlos A. Benitez, Channon Visscher, Douglas L. Woerner
  • Publication number: 20080210240
    Abstract: A method and a system for providing a hypoxic environment inside an enclosed compartment with simultaneous removal of carbon dioxide and moisture produced by occupants; said method and system designed for fire prevention and for simulated altitude training, wellness and hypoxic therapy, including equine and other animal applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Inventor: Igor K. Kotliar
  • Publication number: 20080202339
    Abstract: A carbon dioxide (CO2) removal system includes a first sorbent bed and a second sorbent bed. Each of the first and second sorbent beds has a molecular sieve sorbent for adsorbing or desorbing CO2. One of the sorbent beds adsorbs CO2 and the other of the sorbent beds desorbs CO2. The first and second sorbent beds are thermally connected to transfer heat between the sorbent beds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2007
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Applicant: Hamilton Sunstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy A. Nalette, Tony Rector
  • Patent number: 7413595
    Abstract: An improved control scheme is set forth for an adsorption process that removes water and carbon dioxide (CO2) from a feed gas using a hybrid of both temperature swing (i.e. TSA) and pressure swing (PSA) to regenerate the adsorbent. The control scheme comprises adjusting the quantity of heat to be provided by the regeneration gas as a function of temperature data taken within a strategic portion of the water selective adsorbent zone. The strategic portion corresponds to the location for the desired transition from regeneration by temperature swing, to regeneration by pressure swing. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, said quantity of regeneration heat is also adjusted as a function of the water content of the feed gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: William Paul Schmidt, Daniel Patrick Zwilling, Andrew David Wright, Mohammad Ali Kalbassi, Christopher James Raiswell
  • Patent number: 7404846
    Abstract: Method for the separation of a gas mixture comprising providing a PSA system with at least one adsorber vessel containing adsorbent material that is selective for the adsorption of carbon monoxide and nitrogen, passing a feed gas mixture containing at least hydrogen and carbon monoxide and optionally containing nitrogen through the adsorbent material in a feed step and withdrawing a purified hydrogen product from the adsorber vessel, wherein the feed step has a duration or feed time period of about 30 seconds or less. The adsorbent material is characterized by any of (1) a Henry's law constant for carbon monoxide between about 2.5 and about 5.5 (mmole/g)/atm; (2) a carbon monoxide heat of adsorption between about 6.0 and about 7.5 kcal/gmole; (3) a Henry's law constant for nitrogen greater than about 1.5 (mmole/g)/atm; and (4) a selectivity of carbon monoxide to nitrogen between about 5.0 and about 8.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Christopher Golden, Edward Landis Weist, Jr., Paul Anthony Novosat
  • Publication number: 20080128878
    Abstract: A chip module assembly includes a CO2 getter exposed through a gas-permeable membrane to a chip cavity of a chip module. One or more chips is/are enclosed within the cavity. The CO2 getter comprises a liquid composition including 1,8-diaza-bicyclo-[5,4,0]-undec-7-ene (DBU) in a solvent that includes an alcohol, preferably, 1-hexanol. In one embodiment, a sheet of gas-permeable membrane is heat-welded to form a pillow-shaped bag in which the liquid composition is sealed. The pillow-shaped bag containing the liquid composition is preferably disposed in a recess of a heat sink and exposed to the cavity through a passage between the recess and the cavity. The CO2 getter can remove a relatively large amount of carbon dioxide from the cavity, and thus effectively prevents solder joint corrosion. For example, based on the formula weights and densities of the DBU and 1-hexanol, 200 g of the liquid composition can remove over 34 g of carbon dioxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Joseph Kuczynski
  • Publication number: 20080121104
    Abstract: There is provided herein a composition which comprises a silicone copolymer and/or terpolymer component containing a polyether moeity (a); and, a water-soluble and/or water dispersible gas-processing component (b); said composition being substantially free of metal oxide-filled non-polyether moiety-containing silicone fluid. There is also provided herein a method for processing a gas comprising treating the gas with said composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2006
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Inventor: David George Quinn
  • Publication number: 20080121105
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the separation of carbon dioxide from a gas mixture containing carbon dioxide comprising the steps of (a) contacting the gas mixture with at least one sorbent comprising a porous metal-organic framework material, the framework material taking up the carbon dioxide from the gas mixture and comprising at least one at least bidentate organic compound coordinately bound to at least one metal ion, wherein the at least bidentate organic compound comprises at least one substituted or unsubstituted amino group and wherein the at last one metal ion is an ion selected from the group of metals consisting of magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium, aluminium, gallium, indium, scandium, yttrium, titanium, zirconium, iron, copper and lanthanoids; and (b) desorbing the carbon dioxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2006
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Applicant: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Markus Schubert, Ulrich Muller, Christoph Kiener
  • Patent number: 7361206
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus and a method for continuously removing water vapor from a closed loop, re-circulated gas flow in an ion mobility spectrometer using a water permeable membrane, having a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The gas flow is disposed adjacent and carried past the first side to deposit water vapor that passes through the membrane to the second side. An exhaust flow is disposed adjacent and carried passed the second side of the membrane to remove the water vapor from the system. Therefore, the water removal apparatus continuously regenerates in-situ. Heaters, heat sinks and additional treatment systems including charcoal filters can also be included in the system to enhance its performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Michael D. Jahn, Matthew Todd Griffin, Norman Popkie, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20080072752
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to vacuum pressure swing adsorption (VPSA) processes and apparatus to recover carbon dioxide having a purity of approximately ?90 mole % from streams containing at least carbon dioxide and hydrogen (e.g., syngas). The feed to the CO2 VPSA unit can be at super ambient pressure. The CO2 VPSA unit produces three streams, a H2-enriched stream, a H2-depleted stream and a CO2 product stream. When the CO2 VPSA unit is installed between an SMR/shift reactor and a H2 PSA unit, hydrogen recovery is expected to be increased by extracting CO2, thereby increasing hydrogen partial pressure in the H2 PSA feed. The stream from the CO2 VPSA unit, normally used as fuel, is recycled as feed to increase CO2 recovery. The recovered CO2 can be further upgraded, sequestered or used in applications such as enhanced oil recovery (EOR).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2006
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Inventor: Ravi Kumar
  • Patent number: 7329307
    Abstract: A method of processing carbon dioxide adsorbent for use in a CO2 removal system. The method includes combining a polymer, lithium hydroxide (LiOH), and lubricant that dissolves the polymer to form a first LiOH adsorbent. A structure may be formed using the first LiOH adsorbent. The lubricant may be extracted from the structured LiOH adsorbent using a solvent to form a second LiOH adsorbent. The solvent may be removed from the second LiOH adsorbent to form a third LiOH adsorbent. The third LiOH adsorbent may be hydrated to form a fourth LiOH adsorbent having a water content above an anhydrous level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Micropore, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael B. Hrycak, Douglas B. McKenna
  • Patent number: 7314503
    Abstract: A process for the removal of inert gases, such as nitrogen and carbon dioxide, from methane-containing gases, such as natural gas, including a first stage removal which lowers the total combined inert content to about less than 30% and a second stage removal utilizing a pressure swing adsorption process comprising one or more adsorbent beds comprising contracted titanosilicate-1 adsorbent, wherein the purified methane-containing gas contains less than about 6% total combined inerts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Syntroleum Corporation
    Inventors: J. Mark Landrum, Branch J. Russell, Kenneth Agee, Stephen LeViness
  • Patent number: 7314847
    Abstract: A process for making a granular sorbent to capture carbon dioxide from gas streams comprising homogeneously mixing an alkali metal oxide, alkali metal hydroxide, alkaline earth metal oxide, alkaline earth metal hydroxide, alkali titanate, alkali zirconate, alkali silicate and combinations thereof with a binder selected from the group consisting of sodium ortho silicate, calcium sulfate dihydrate (CaSO4.2H2O), alkali silicates, calcium aluminate, bentonite, inorganic clays and organic clays and combinations thereof and water; drying the mixture and placing the sorbent in a container permeable to a gas stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventor: Ranjani V. Siriwardane
  • Patent number: 7309378
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for purifying a syngas of the CO/H2 or N2/H2 type, which consists in removing CO2 and possibly other gaseous impurities (water, etc.) before the gas undergoes a cryogenic process. These impurities are adsorbed by the gas stream to be purified passing over an NaLSX-type zeolite and then desorbed during a regeneration step which may be performed by raising the temperature (TSA) and/or reducing the pressure (PSA or VSA).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Arkema France
    Inventors: Stephane Bancon, Remi Le Bec
  • Patent number: 7300899
    Abstract: A lithium exchanged zeolite X adsorbent blend with improved performance characteristics produced by preparing a zeolite X, preparing a binder which includes highly dispersed attapulgite fibers wherein the tapped bulk density of the highly dispersed attapulgite fibers measured according to DIN/ISO 787 is more than about 550 g/ml, mixing the zeolite X with the binder to form a mixture, forming the mixture into a shaped material, ion exchanging the zeolite X at least 75% with lithium ions, and calcining the shaped material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Zeochem, LLC
    Inventors: Kerry Weston, Dave Jaussaud, Robert L. Chiang
  • Patent number: 7294172
    Abstract: A gas recovery system comprising a source of gas having a preselected concentration of a desired component (9), at least one application (1) that adds impurities to said gas, and at least one an adsorption system (6) that purifies said gas to produce a purified gas for re-use in application (1), wherein said at least one adsorption system includes at least one adsorbent bed (A) having at least three layers of adsorbents. A recovery process is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Mohamed Safdar Allie Baksh, Scot Eric Jaynes, Bernard Thomas Neu, James Smolarek, Mark Thomas Emley
  • Patent number: 7288136
    Abstract: A method is provided for making low-cost CO2 sorbents that can be used in large-scale gas-solid processes. The improved method entails treating an amine to increase the number of secondary amine groups and impregnating the amine in a porous solid support. The method increases the CO2 capture capacity and decreases the cost of utilizing an amine-enriched solid sorbent in CO2 capture systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: United States of America Department of Energy
    Inventors: McMahan L. Gray, Kenneth J. Champagne, Yee Soong, Thomas Filburn
  • Patent number: 7250150
    Abstract: A chemical reaction is performed with separation of the product(s) and reactant(s) by pressure swing adsorption (PSA), using an apparatus having a plurality of adsorbers cooperating with first and second valve assemblies in a PSA module. The PSA cycle is characterized by multiple intermediate pressure levels between higher and lower pressure of the PSA cycle. Gas flows enter or exit the PSA module at the intermediate pressure levels as well as the higher and lower pressure levels, entering from compressor stage(s) or exiting into exhauster or expander stages, under substantially steady conditions of flow and pressure. The PSA module comprises a rotor containing the adsorbers and rotating within a stator, with ported valve faces between the rotor and stator to control the timing of the flows entering or exiting the adsorbers in the rotor. The reaction may be performed within a portion of the rotor containing a catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: QuestAir Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Bowie G. Keefer, Denis J. Connor
  • Patent number: 7207170
    Abstract: A warm-up system is provided for an internal combustion engine equipped with a CO2 absorbing and releasing agent that absorbs CO2 at a temperature in a first temperature range and releases the CO2 at a temperature in a second temperature range that is higher than the first temperature range. The warm-up system increases a temperature of the CO2 absorbing and releasing agent to reach the second temperature range such that the CO2 released from the CO2 absorbing and releasing agent is supplied to a component of the internal combustion engine such as an intake manifold and an exhaust gas purification catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takao Fukuma
  • Patent number: 7189280
    Abstract: A method and system for adsorptive separation of a feed gas mixture provides for increased system efficiency and product recovery. The requirement for purge gas streams consuming desired product gas to regenerate adsorption beds is reduced through an inventive method for adsorbent selection and adsorption bed and process design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: QuestAir Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Soheil Alizadeh-Khiavi, Surajit Roy, James A. Sawada
  • Patent number: 7172645
    Abstract: An apparatus for separating a first gas from a mixture of the first gas and at least one second gas comprises a housing having an inlet port and an outlet port and an adsorbent which is positioned in the housing. The adsorbent comprising a carbon based foam monolith that has an affinity for the first gas. Thus, as the gas mixture flows through the housing, the first gas will be adsorbed onto the adsorbent and the second gas will exit the housing through the outlet port. In this manner, the first gas is separated from the second gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis M. Pfister, Charles M. Byrd
  • Patent number: 7156900
    Abstract: The invention relates to an adsorber station with a first adsorber (A) and a second adsorber (B). A first closed loop pipeline (1) is connected to the adsorbers (A, B) and is provided with product gas feed line valves (4A, 4B) and regeneration gas discharge line valves (6A, 6B). A second closed loop pipeline (2) that is connected to the adsorbers (A, B) has product gas discharge line valves (7A, 7B) and regeneration gas feed line valves (8A, 8B).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Linde AG
    Inventors: Stefan Moeller, Wolfgang Bader
  • Patent number: 7153344
    Abstract: A process for the separation and recovery of carbon dioxide from waste gases produced by combustible oxidation is described comprising the steps of feeding a flow of waste gas to a gas semipermeable material, separating a gaseous flow comprising high concentrated carbon dioxide from said flow of waste gas through the gas semipermeable material, and employing at least a portion of the gaseous flow comprising high concentrated carbon dioxide as feed raw material in an industrial production plant and/or stockpiling at least a portion of the gaseous flow comprising carbon dioxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Ammonia Casale S.A.
    Inventors: Ermanno Filippi, Federico Zardi
  • Patent number: 7144445
    Abstract: Process for purifying or separating a gas or gas mixture using a monolithic adsorbent for the separation or purification of gases or gas mixtures, having a cellular structure with open porosity in the form of a solid foam permeable to the gas molecules. The gas phase of the adsorbent possesses an essentially convex structure and the solid phase an essentially concave structure. The solid foam has a density of greater than or equal to 500 kg/m3 and an open porosity of between 20 and 60%. The gas is air or an H2/CO mixture. The process is of the VSA, PSA or TSA type. This process can be used in particular in OBOGS-type systems to supply passengers of the vehicle or a device participating in the traction of the vehicle and/or in its electrical supply, in particular a fuel cell. This process can also be used in medical oxygen concentrators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Société Anonyme à Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procédés Georges Claude
    Inventors: Vincent Gueret, Serge Moreau
  • Patent number: 7128776
    Abstract: An improved thermal swing adsorption process is set forth which addresses the problem of water ingress into the adsorbent by periodically heating the adsorbent to a temperature greater than the temperature used in the normal regeneration cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: William Paul Schmidt, Steven Ray Auvil, Mohammad Ali Kalbassi, Timothy Christopher Golden
  • Patent number: 7101415
    Abstract: A continuous method of producing a process fluid gas from a feed stream that includes the process fluid and impurities. The method includes: (a) providing a first and second vessel, each vessel containing one or more regenerable purifier materials for removing at least one of the impurities from the feed stream; (b) removing at least one of the impurities by passing the feed stream through one or the other of the vessels to provide a purified process fluid gas, with the vessel being maintained at a first temperature during the removal of impurities; and (c) regenerating the purifier materials in the vessels at a second temperature and during the time when it is not purifying the feed stream by flowing a portion of the purified process fluid or the feed stream or a separate source of the process fluid gas therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Matheson Tri-Gas, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Torres, Jr., Joseph Vivinski, David Lawrence
  • Patent number: 7087102
    Abstract: A process and system for the synthesis and/or purification of crude germane to provide a purified germane product are disclosed herein. In one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a process for making a purified germane product containing less than 1 volume percent of one or more germanium-containing impurities comprising: providing a crude germane fluid; passing at least a portion of the crude germane fluid through a first adsorbent which selectively adsorbs water and carbon dioxide contained therein and withdrawing therefrom a partially purified germane fluid; passing at least a portion of the partially purified germane fluid through a second adsorbent which selectively adsorbs the one or more germanium-containing impurities contained therein and withdrawing therefrom a hydrogen-enriched purified germane fluid; and separating the purified germane product hydrogen from the hydrogen-enriched purified germane fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Howard Paul Withers, Jr., Philip Bruce Henderson
  • Patent number: 7078011
    Abstract: A method of storing and supplying a gaseous hydrogen product to a pipeline under a product purity specification in which a hydrogen stream made up of gaseous hydrogen is compressed to form a compressed hydrogen stream and introduced into a salt cavern for storage. A crude hydrogen stream, contaminated from storage in the salt cavern is recovered and purified by sufficiently removing at least carbon dioxide and water vapor to produce a hydrogen product stream having an impurity level at or below the product purity specification. The hydrogen product stream is supplied back to the pipeline. Alternatively, during periods of low demand, hydrogen produced by a production facility is both purified and supplied to the pipeline and stored in the salt cavern. During high demand period, both the output of the production facility and hydrogen retrieved from the salt cavern are purified and supplied to the pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. Morrow, Marianne Corrao, Steven Hylkema
  • Patent number: 7066986
    Abstract: An adsorber vessel for use in the adsorption of a component from a gas and subsequent regeneration by thermally induced desorption of the component comprises an inlet for regeneration gas having an inlet nozzle containing at least one heater element, and an outlet for regeneration gas, the inlet and outlet for regeneration being separated by a flow path including a flow chamber containing a body of adsorbent, and wherein the body of adsorbent has a first end which is adjacent the inlet for regeneration gas and a second end which is remote from the inlet for regeneration gas, and the or each heater element is located so as not to penetrate through the first end of the body of adsorbent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Richard Haben, Mohammad Ali Kalbassi, Declan Patrick O'Connor
  • Patent number: 7029519
    Abstract: A gas recycling system which has a carbon dioxide collecting device for collecting gas containing carbon dioxide from a carbon dioxide source. In the system, at least part of the gas containing sulfur hexafluoride used as an electric insulation medium in a gas-insulated electric device is replaced with the carbon dioxide obtained by the carbon dioxide collecting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Uchii, Katsumi Suzuki, Motoharu Shiiki
  • Patent number: 7025801
    Abstract: The treatment unit comprises N adsorption units, N being greater than or equal to 1, operating on a parametrized cycle split uniformly into at most N phase times. Further more, use is made of a control unit for controlling the treatment unit, designed to modify at least one parameter of the cycle. Each time there is a predicted change in the composition of the feed gas, the control unit is sent a pre-established signal representing this change. The processing unit then processes the signal to determine the parameters of an exceptional operating cycle of the treatment unit which cycle is suited to the predicted change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Société Anonyme àl Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procédés Georges Claude
    Inventor: Christian Monereau
  • Patent number: 7022159
    Abstract: A process and an apparatus related to the reduction of the level of a component in a feed gas such as air involving passing the gas to at least three parallel thermal swing adsorption zones charged with an adsorbent and operating according to an adsorption cycle, wherein the cycle of each zone is phased with respect to that of the other zones so that at any point during the cycle, the number of zones in the adsorption step is greater than the number of zones not in the adsorption step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Mohammad Ali Kalbassi, Paul Higginbotham
  • Patent number: 7022168
    Abstract: In a method for removing carbon dioxide from the exhaust gas from a gas turbine plant (11), which exhaust gas is subjected to a downstream heat recovery process (12, 33), preferably in the heat recovery steam generator (33) of a water/steam cycle (12), a simplification of the plant engineering is achieved by the fact that the carbon dioxide is removed from the exhaust gas (39) between the gas turbine plant (11) and the heat recovery process (12, 33), and that a rotating, regenerative absorber/desorber (22) is used to remove the carbon dioxide, the absorber side of which absorber/desorber is connected into the exhaust gas stream (39) and the desorber side of which absorber/desorber is connected into a carbon dioxide cycle (38).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Alstom Technology LTD
    Inventors: Armin Schimkat, Juergen Baum
  • Patent number: 7011693
    Abstract: A PSA unit for purifying hydrogen in a fuel processor system. The PSA unit employs rotary valves that cycle the pressurization of vessels, including an adsorbent, between a high pressure state and a low pressure state. The purified hydrogen is released from the vessels through a purified gas output port when the vessels are in the high pressure state and the impurities are released through an exhaust port when the vessels are in the low pressure state. The PSA unit also employs a mass flow control device and a pressure sensor in the purified gas output port. A controller receives a pressure signal from the pressure sensor, and controls the flow through the mass flow control device and the speed of the rotary valves so that the proper pressure is maintained at the hydrogen output port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Kiran Mallavarapu, John B Ruhl, Craig S. Gittleman
  • Patent number: 7011695
    Abstract: Zeolite adsorbent, and method of production, exchanged with calcium and barium cations, for purifying or separating a gas or gas mixture, in particular air, so as to remove therefrom the impurities found therein, such as hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides (NxOy). The adsorbent is preferably an X or LSX zeolite and the gas purification process is of the TSA type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme A Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Serge Moreau, Elise Renou, Claire Szulman
  • Patent number: 6984258
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for treating a gas by adsorption. A gas is compressed and then treated by being circulated in an adsorber. A regenerating fluid is indirectly heated by the gas coming from the compressor. In a second regeneration phase, the regenerating fluid is sent directly to the adsorber, while the treated gas is refrigerated by an auxiliary refrigerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Société Anonyme à Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procédés Georges Claude
    Inventors: Norbert Niclout, Marc Wagner
  • Patent number: 6977007
    Abstract: A method of separating a gas mixture using a permeation membrane unit, wherein the gas mixture, containing primarily hydrogen and carbon monoxide, is first treated to reduce the level of secondary components to lower than 100 molar ppm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Société Anonyme à Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procédés Georges Claude
    Inventors: Nicolas Siadous, Yves Engler, Christian Monereau
  • Patent number: 6946017
    Abstract: A process for separation of carbon dioxide and methane in which a gas mixture comprising carbon dioxide and methane is brought into contact with a methane hydrate solid material disposed in a reactor vessel, whereby the methane hydrate is displaced by carbon dioxide hydrate, thereby freeing the methane, which is then removed from the reactor vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
    Inventors: Dennis Leppin, Alwarappa Sivaraman
  • Patent number: 6942719
    Abstract: Methods and systems for pressure swing absorption for hydrogen generation are presented. In one embodiment, a method includes absorbing at least one oxide of carbon with a pressure swing absorber from a steam reformation of methane. The steam reformation may occur at an ambient pressure in excess of 300 psia and at an ambient temperature in excess of 600° centigrade. The steam reformation of methane produces a stream of product gas. The steam reformation of methane is interrupted allowing the regenerating of the pressure swing absorber at an ambient pressure of less than 10 psia and at an ambient temperature sufficient to calcine the pressure swing absorber to exude carbon dioxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Albert E. Stewart
  • Patent number: 6918948
    Abstract: A Process for the production and uses of a molecular sieve adsorbent blend product with improved performance characteristics produced by preparing a zeolite powder, preparing a highly dispersed attapulgite fiber binder, mixing the zeolite powder with the highly dispersed attapulgite binder to form a mixture, forming molecular sieve adsorbent products into a shaped material and calcining the shaped material, wherein the tapped bulk density of the highly dispersed attapulgite fibers measured according to DIN/ISO 787 is more than about 550 g/ml.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Zeochem LLC
    Inventors: Dave Jaussaud, Kerry Weston, Armin Pfenninger, Beat Kleeb
  • Patent number: 6916359
    Abstract: Methods of providing ozone at a selected pressure above atmospheric pressure include supplying a purge gas supply (22) pressurized above the selected pressure to at least one ozone adsorption apparatus (12); desorbing ozone from the ozone adsorption apparatus (12) with the pressurized purge gas supply (22); and delivering a mixture of ozone and the purge gas supply (24) at the selected pressure without further compression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Ravi Jain
  • Patent number: 6913638
    Abstract: Product gas (Gpro) is separated from material gas (Gmat) by a PSA process utilizing a plurality of adsorption towers (A-C) each loaded with an adsorbent. The separation of the product gas (Gpro) is performed by repeating a cycle comprising an adsorption step, a decompression step, a desorption step, a cleaning step and a pressurization step. In the decompression step, remaining gas (Grem) as cleaning gas is introduced from one adsorption tower (C) to another adsorption tower (B). The amount of the remaining gas (Grem) introduced is 2 to 7 times the volume of the adsorbent loaded in the adsorption tower (B) as converted into volume at common temperature and under atmospheric pressure. To remove both of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide from the material gas (Gmat) by a single kind of adsorbent, use is made of zeolite having a faujasite structure with a Si/Al ratio lying in a range of 1 to 1.5 and a lithium-exchange ratio of no less than 95%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Sumitomo Seika Chemicals Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiko Sumida, Hiroaki Sasano, Masanori Miyake
  • Patent number: 6911066
    Abstract: A method for operating a typical cyclic adsorption unit that is easily implemented in both new and existing treatment plants, wherein fluctuations in the stream compositions due to the adsorption and regeneration phase transitions of the cycles are minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Société Anonyme á Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procédés Georges Claude
    Inventor: Christian Monereau