Liquid Recycled Or Reused Patents (Class 95/169)
  • Patent number: 9316123
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to power generation systems configured to absorb and capture a component, such as carbon dioxide, in a flue gas for later sequestration or utilization, wherein heat generated in the sorption process is captured for use in the power generation system. In some examples, the heat of sorption is used to preheat fluids in one or more systems of the power generation system to reduce the heating load on the subsystem. By using the heat of sorption, the carbon dioxide capture and sequestration process not only reduces or eliminates the concentration of carbon dioxide in the flue gas, but reduces or eliminates the parasitic effect of carbon dioxide capture and sequestration on power generation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan Paul Lively, William John Koros, Ron Chance
  • Publication number: 20140366727
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a vent gas adsorption system and a method of recovering volatile organic compounds (VOCs), more particularly to a vent gas adsorption system devised to effectively adsorb VOCs included in the vent gas and reduce VOC content of the vent gas, and a method of recovering VOCs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Kyeong-Soo MOK, Haeng-Seok LEE, Seon-Bok WI, Duk-Kyun CHUNG, Jong-Ha KIM, Tae-Jung KIM
  • Patent number: 8864879
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method comprising contacting a residual flue gas stream with a lean solution stream in an appendix stripper; where the residual flue gas stream comprises nitrogen, oxygen and moisture; and where the lean solution stream comprises ammonium, ammonium carbonate, ammonium bicarbonate and ammonium sulfate; forming a vapor phase that comprises ammonia vapor, water vapor, carbon dioxide and nitrogen; forming a liquid phase that comprises water, ammonium sulfate and ammonia; discharging the vapor phase to a capture system; and discharging the liquid phase to a direct contact cooler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Inventors: Jalal Askander, Fred Kozak
  • Publication number: 20140275691
    Abstract: A system and method for efficiently removing hydrogen sulfide from a natural gas feed stream to produce a Stinson Process feed stream and an acid gas stream. A first solvent separates the majority of the carbon dioxide and hydrocarbons from the hydrogen sulfide in the natural gas feed to produce the Stinson feed stream. By removing the majority of the hydrogen sulfide prior to feeding the Stinson Process, a carbon dioxide stream suitable for use in flooding operations may be produced with the Stinson Process. The system and method also increase the concentration of hydrogen sulfide in the acid gas stream, making it suitable for sulfur recovery operations. The system and method are particularly suitable for natural gas feed streams containing 0.5%-20% hydrogen sulfide and at least 20% carbon dioxide. Operation in an anhydrous mode with the addition of nitrogen aids in solvent recovery for recycling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Butts Properties, LTD.
    Inventor: Rayburn C. Butts
  • Publication number: 20140238902
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are generally related to a system and method to remove hydrogen sulfide from sour water and sour oil. In particular, hydrogen sulfide is removed from sour water and sour oil without the need for special chemicals, such as catalyst chemicals, scavenger chemicals, hydrocarbon sources, or a large scale facility. The system and method in the present invention is particularly useful in exploratory oil and gas fields, where large facilities to remove hydrogen sulfide may be inaccessible. The present invention addresses the need for safe and cost effective transport of the deadly neurotoxin. Particular embodiments involve a system and method that can be executed both on a small and large scale to sweeten sour water and sour oil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: Anschutz Exploration Corporation
    Inventor: Jeff Blair Morris
  • Patent number: 8790496
    Abstract: A compact and portable liquid concentrator includes a gas inlet, a gas exit and a flow corridor connecting the gas inlet and the gas exit, wherein the flow corridor includes a narrowed portion that accelerates the gas through the flow corridor. A liquid inlet injects liquid into the gas stream at a point prior to the narrowed portion so that the gas-liquid mixture is thoroughly mixed within the flow corridor, causing a portion of the liquid to be evaporated. A demister or fluid scrubber downstream of the narrowed portion removes entrained liquid droplets from the gas stream and re-circulates the removed liquid to the liquid inlet through a re-circulating circuit. Fresh liquid to be concentrated is also introduced into the re-circulating circuit at a rate sufficient to offset the amount of liquid evaporated in the flow corridor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Heartland Technology Partners LLC
    Inventors: Bernard F. Duesel, Jr., Michael J. Rutsch, Craig Clerkin
  • Publication number: 20140007768
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for separating gases in a mixed gas feed stream, and to an apparatus for carrying out said method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicants: A.V. TOPCHIEV INSTITUTE OF PETROCHEMICAL SYNTHESIS RUSSIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, NEDERLANDSE ORGANISATIE VOOR TOEGEPAST-NATUURWETENSCHAPPELIJK ONDERZOEK TNO
    Inventors: Leo Jacques Pierre van den Broeke, Annemieke van de Runstraat, Eva Sanchez Fernandez, Alexey Volkov, Vladimir Volkov, Valery Khotimsky
  • Patent number: 8292989
    Abstract: A power generation plant (112), a method, and a CO2 capture system (122) for removing carbon dioxide (104) from a flue gas stream (106) are disclosed. As shown in FIG. 2, a CO2 capture system (122), comprises an absorber vessel (202), a water wash vessel (210), and a stripper (214). The CO2 capture system (122) can be configured to introduce both a lean ionic ammonia solution (204) from a regeneration system (124) and a flue gas stream (106) from a cooling system (120) and to provide a rich ionic ammonia solution (206) to a regeneration system (124), wherein the introduction of the lean ionic ammonia solution (204) to the flue gas stream (106) produces a flue gas substantially devoid CO2 (224). The water wash vessel (210) can be configured to receive the flue gas substantially devoid CO2 (224) and produce ammoniated water (212) by introducing water (218) to the flue gas substantially devoid CO2 (224).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Frederic Z. Kozak, Arlyn V. Petig, Vikram Shabde
  • Patent number: 8282899
    Abstract: Solvent absorption processes for separating components of an impure feed gas are disclosed. The processes involve two stages of gas-liquid contacting, namely a first, absorption stage and a second, stripping stage. In the case of a carbon dioxide (CO2)-containing methane gas as an impure feed gas, contacting, in the stripping stage, the solvent effluent from the absorption stage with a recycled vapor fraction of the solvent effluent from the stripping stage can improve the recovery and purity of not only the methane (and/or other light hydrocarbons in the impure feed gas), but also that of the CO2 contaminant gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: David A. Bahr, Lamar A. Davis
  • Publication number: 20120238793
    Abstract: Provided are gas processing facilities for the separation of components in a gas stream and methods of using the same. The facility includes one or more co-current contactors. Each contactor includes a mass transfer vessel having a mixing section. The mixing section receives a gas stream and a liquid contacting stream. The mixing section mixes theses two streams and releases a two-phase flow. Each contactor also includes a separator that receives the two-phase fluid stream from the mass transfer vessel in-line, and then separates a vapor phase from a liquid phase. The separator has a gas-phase outlet configured to release the vapor phase as a treated gas stream, and a liquid-phase outlet configured to release the liquid phase as a loaded treating solution. The contactors may be used to remove water or other contaminant from a natural gas stream or other gas stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Inventors: John T. Cullinane, Edward J. Grave, Paul S. Northrop
  • Patent number: 8211213
    Abstract: The invention involves a process for maintaining a low level of carbon monoxide in a carbon dioxide product stream and also for keeping the carbon monoxide out of the fully shifted synthesis gas. The overall process is a process for treating both fully shifted and partially shifted or unshifted synthesis gas. The carbon monoxide is separately removed by a carbon monoxide stripping column and returned to the partially shifted or unshifted synthesis gas which can then undergo a shift reaction to convert the carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: William J. Lechnick, Leonid Bresler, Nagaraju Palla
  • Publication number: 20120160101
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for removing sour gases from raw gases (1). The removed sour gases are intended to accumulate at a high regeneration pressure. This enables the sour gases to be transported to a storage area with a minimum effort for compression. The raw gas (1) is fed into an absorption column (40) and there purified of the sour gas components present in the raw gas (1), under increased operational pressure, by means of a physical absorption agent (16). The absorption agent (5) charged with sour gases and useful gases is then fed into a high-pressure stripping column (43), in which a portion of the absorption agent is vaporized, and a stripping vapor is thereby generated. The coabsorbed useful gases are driven out by the stripping vapor. The useful gases are drawn off at the head of the high-pressure stripping column (43). The absorption agent present in the head vapors of the high-pressure stripping column (43) is liquefied and fed back into the high-pressure stripping column (43).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Inventor: Johannes Menzel
  • Patent number: 8038779
    Abstract: A method of assembling a gas removal system for an integrated gasification combined cycle is provided. The method includes coupling a first rich solvent tank in flow communication with the integrated gasification combined cycle to store a first emissions-rich solvent discharged from the integrated gasification combined cycle and coupling a first stripper in flow communication with the first rich solvent tank to facilitate removing gases from the first emissions-rich solvent. The method also includes coupling an absorber in flow communication with the first stripper to receive gases from the first stripper and create a second emissions-rich solvent and coupling a second rich solvent tank in flow communication with the absorber to store the second emissions-rich solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Terry Hughes
  • Publication number: 20110132193
    Abstract: The invention involves a process for maintaining a low level of carbon monoxide in a carbon dioxide product stream and also for keeping the carbon monoxide out of the fully shifted synthesis gas. The overall process is a process for treating both fully shifted and partially shifted or unshifted synthesis gas. The carbon monoxide is separately removed by a carbon monoxide stripping column and returned to the partially shifted or unshifted synthesis gas which can then undergo a shift reaction to convert the carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: William J. Lechnick, Leonid Bresler, Nagaraju Palla
  • Patent number: 7938887
    Abstract: Compositions and methods related to the removal of acidic gas. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a composition and method for the removal of acidic gas from a gas mixture using a solvent comprising a diamine (e.g., piperazine) and carbon dioxide. One example of a method may involve a method for removing acidic gas comprising contacting a gas mixture having an acidic gas with a solvent, wherein the solvent comprises piperazine in an amount of from about 4 to about 20 moles/kg of water, and carbon dioxide in an amount of from about 0.3 to about 0.9 moles per mole of piperazine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Gary Rochelle, Marcus Hilliard
  • Patent number: 7842121
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for providing aqueous stream purification services. The system includes at least one separation unit. Each separation unit may include a mechanical vapor recompression separator, a steam stripper, and a secondary recovery heat exchanger. The system for wastewater purification may receive water from a waste water storage, purify the water, and return the purified water to a purified water storage. The system may include a controller. The controller may include an operating conditions module configured to interpret at least one operating condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Capital Corporation
    Inventors: Larry D. Sanderson, James W. Schleiffarth, Leslie D. Merrill, Bradford M. Rohwer
  • Patent number: 7749308
    Abstract: A system for recovering and recycling otherwise vented or flared volatile and non-volatile reactive organic materials from pipeline and plant operations associated with oil and gas recovery, refining and petrochemical manufacture, processing and transportation includes a means to remove and store volatile hydrocarbons for a portion of a system or pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Inventor: Tim McCully
  • Patent number: 7749309
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for deacidifying a fluid stream containing acidic gases as contaminants, according to which the fluid stream is brought into intimate contact with a washing liquid in at least one absorption step. Said washing liquid represents an aqueous solution containing a) tertiary aliphatic alkanolamines (alkanolamine A), at least 30 percent by weight of said tertiary aliphatic alkanolamines being 3-dimethylamino-1-propanol, and b) secondary aliphatic amines (activator B), at least 20 percent by weight of said secondary aliphatic amines being piperazin. The fluid stream which has been essentially purified of the acidic gases is then separated from the washing liquid that is loaded with acidic gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Norbert Asprion, Christoph Grossmann
  • Patent number: 7687048
    Abstract: Processing schemes and arrangements for the amine treatment of high olefin content (e.g., ethylene-rich) carbon dioxide-containing streams such as for the effective separation and removal of carbon dioxide therefrom are provided. Corresponding or associated processing schemes and arrangements for the catalytic cracking of a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock and obtaining light olefins substantially free of carbon dioxide via absorption-based product recovery are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Michael A. Schultz, Gavin P. Towler, John P. Brady, William J. Lechnick
  • Patent number: 7637987
    Abstract: A plant includes a vacuum stripper (118) that receives a lean hydrogen sulfide-containing physical solvent (32) and in which substantially hydrogen sulfide-free stripping gas (51,52) is provided by at least one of a high-pressure flash vessel (110) and a medium pressure flash vessel (112). Contemplated configurations advantageously extend the range of use for physical solvents to treat sour gas comprising carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide, and can be used to meet most pipeline specification of 4 ppm hydrogen sulfide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Fluor Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: John Mak
  • Patent number: 7597742
    Abstract: The invention provides a process for treating a loaded solvent stream having a time-varying contaminant concentration, the process comprising the steps of: (a) providing a plurality of hold-up tanks; (b) feeding the loaded solvent stream in dependence on its contaminant concentration to one or more of the hold-up tanks and; (c) allowing lowed solvent to flow from the plurality of hold-up tanks to obtain a smoothed loaded solvent stream having a reduced time-varying contaminant concentration. The invention further provides a treating unit comprising a circuit for circulating a solvent stream, which circuit includes a device for smoothing contaminant peak concentrations, said device comprising a plurality of hold-up tanks each hold-up tank having at least one inlet and an outlet equipped with an outlet valve, the device further comprising an inlet distributor allowing the control of solvent flow to one or more of the hold-up tanks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Anders Carlsson, Gijsbert Jan Van Heeringen, Thijme Last
  • Patent number: 7597746
    Abstract: A gas (1) comprising hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, and hydrocarbon contaminants is treated in a plant (FIG. 2) in a configuration in which waste streams are recycled to extinction. In especially preferred aspects of contemplated methods and configurations, hydrogen sulfide and other sulfurous components are converted to a sulfur product (37), carbon dioxide (44A) is separated at a purity sufficient for enhanced oil recovery or sale, and hydrocarbon contaminants are purified to a marketable hydrocarbon product (49).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Fluor Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: John Mak, Curt Graham
  • Publication number: 20090211446
    Abstract: Compositions and methods related to the removal of acidic gas. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a composition and method for the removal of acidic gas from a gas mixture using a solvent comprising a diamine (e.g., piperazine) and carbon dioxide. One example of a method may involve a method for removing acidic gas comprising contacting a gas mixture having an acidic gas with a solvent, wherein the solvent comprises piperazine in an amount of from about 4 to about 20 moles/kg of water, and carbon dioxide in an amount of from about 0.3 to about 0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2009
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Inventors: Gary Rochelle, Marcus Hilliard
  • Publication number: 20090120285
    Abstract: A system and methods of reducing sulfur emissions are provided. In one embodiment, a method for reducing sulfur emissions is provided. The method includes routing at least a portion of an untreated gas to a low pressure absorber, removing at least a portion of sulfur from the untreated gas to create a low pressure absorber overhead gas, and further processing the low pressure absorber overhead gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventors: Pradeep Thacker, Sachin Naphad
  • Patent number: 7377956
    Abstract: Method and system for processing natural gas containing contaminants through the use of one or more rotary screw compressors. A natural gas containing a contaminant (e.g., water or carbon dioxide and/or hydrogen sulfide) and a contaminant removing agent are combined and processed within a rotary screw compressor. The contaminant removing agent may be a dehydrating agent such as a glycol or a carbon dioxide and/or hydrogen sulfide removing agent such an amine. The method and system of the present invention also may employ a series of rotary screw compressors to process natural gas containing a plurality of contaminants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: RDC Research LLC
    Inventors: Richard P. Cheney, Jr., Brad Salzman
  • Patent number: 7083662
    Abstract: Method of making a product gas mixture comprising providing a first gas mixture, contacting the first gas mixture with a lean absorber liquid at a first pressure and absorbing a portion of the first gas mixture in the lean absorber liquid to provide a rich absorber liquid and a non-absorbed residual gas, pressurizing the rich absorber liquid provide a pressurized rich absorber liquid, stripping the pressurized rich absorber liquid with a stripping gas at a second pressure greater than the first pressure to provide a pressurized lean absorber liquid and the product gas mixture, and reducing the pressure of the pressurized lean absorber liquid to provide the lean absorber liquid at the first pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Jianguo Xu, Xiang-Dong Peng, Harold Henry Gunardson
  • Patent number: 6955705
    Abstract: Method and system for compressing and dehydrating wet natural gas produced from a low-pressure well using a rotary screw compressor. A dehydrating agent is combined with wet natural gas within a rotary screw compressor. Operation of the rotary screw compressor causes compression and dehydration of the wet natural gas to produce a compressed dry natural gas. Engine exhaust produced by the engine which powers the rotary screw compressor may be used to remove water absorbed by the dehydrating agent and thereby recover the dehydrating agent for re-circulation in the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: RDC Research LLC
    Inventors: Richard P. Cheney, Brad Salzman
  • Patent number: 6607585
    Abstract: An improved method and structure for purification of an acid gas stream by using raw fuel gas as a stripper to remove the BTEX and VOCs from the liquid amine stream. The improved method is particularly useful for purification of acid gas streams with BTEX contaminant levels in excess of environmentally acceptable levels for standard processing. Raw fuel gas is utilized at moderate temperatures and pressures, the uptake of BTEX and VOCs reduces the level of these compounds in the waste amine stream to environmentally acceptable levels, and the remaining contaminants may then be dealt with by ordinary means. Levels of H2S and CO2. in the liquid amine stream are also reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Inventor: David Morrow
  • Patent number: 6358399
    Abstract: A process and a device for separating ethane and ethylene from a hydrocarbon steam-cracking effluent is described. Effluent (1) is absorbed in an absorption column (7) by a cooled solvent (9). At the bottom of the column, liquid phase (12) that contains the solvent and the C2+ hydrocarbons is recovered and hydrogenated (15). The hydrogenation effluent that contains the solvent is introduced into a first distillation column (70) where the solvent is regenerated. The solvent is cooled and recycled at the top of absorption column (7). The C2+ hydrocarbons are collected at the top, and a condensed liquid phase is distilled in a second distillation column (77) to recover a C2 fraction that consists of ethane and ethylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Institute Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Ari Minkkinen, Jean-Hervé Le Gal, Pierre Marache
  • Patent number: 6340429
    Abstract: A process for separating ethane and ethylene from a hydrocarbon steam-cracking effluent is described. Effluent (1) is absorbed in an absorption column by a cooled solvent (9). At the bottom of the column, the liquid phase that contains the solvent and the C2+ hydrocarbons is recovered and hydrogenated (15). The hydrogenation effluent that contains the solvent is introduced into a first distillation column (16). Ethane-ethylene mixture (17) is drawn off laterally from the column, and a phase (19) that contains the solvent and hydrocarbons with at least 3 carbon atoms is drawn off at the bottom of the column. This phase (19) is separated in a second distillation column (22), and C3+ hydrocarbons and, at the bottom of the column, regenerated solvent (26) that is cooled and that is recycled (9, 52) in the absorption column are collected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2002
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Ari Minkkinen, Jean-Hervé Le Gal, Pierre Marache
  • Patent number: 6299671
    Abstract: There is described a method for regeneration of triethylene glycol (TEG) that has been used as a drying medium to remove water from a fluid such as natural gas, where a drier TEG is recovered at the bottom fraction in a regeneration column (7), where water vapor together with other gases is removed at the top fraction and where the partially dried TEG from the regeneration column (7) optionally is also supplied to a stripping column (9) for further dehydration, where in the optional stripping column (9) and in the still column (7) there is supplied a stripping gas in countercurrent to the TEG stream, where as stripping gas there is mainly used gas which is recovered from the top fraction from the regeneration column (7). There is also described an apparatus for carrying out the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Read Process Engineering A/S
    Inventor: Tor Christensen
  • Patent number: 6214242
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for stripping a volatile compound from waste water comprises creating a high velocity spray of air and stream of water at a first inlet to a first expansion chamber to volatize the compound, recombining the water and air flow through a second and successive expansion chambers and recreating a spray at each such chamber, whereby additional volatile compounds are released from the water at each stage to steadily reduce the contamination of the water. The decontaminated water and volatile compound-laden air are separately collected after exiting the last expansion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Inventor: Frederick B. Swensen
  • Patent number: 6174348
    Abstract: A system for regenerating chemical solvent loaded with acid gas with improved energy efficiency wherein the chemical solvent is partially flash vaporized, heated, and passed in countercurrent mass transfer contact with nitrogen gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: M. Mushtaq Ahmed, Minish Mahendra Shah, Raymond Francis Drnevich
  • Patent number: 6139605
    Abstract: A double-loop process for the removal of specified gas or gases from a process gas by absorption with a liquid absorbent for said specified gas or gases wherein the process gas is contacted counter-currently in a first absorption stage with semi-lean absorbent liquid and then in a second absorption stage with lean absorbent liquid to give a sweet process gas and the absorbed gases are stripped from the laden absorbent liquid in a first stage giving a semi-lean absorbent liquid. Part of the semi-lean absorbent is recycled to the first absorption stage while the remainder is subjected to further stripping by counter-current contact with an auxiliary gas that has a concentration of the specified gas or gases that is lower than the concentration of the specified gas or gases in the process gas to give the lean absorbent liquid which is recycled to the second absorption stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Imperial Chemical Industries PLC
    Inventors: Peter John Herbert Carnell, Hiren Krishnakant Shethna, Gavin Paul Towler, Edwin Stephen Willis
  • Patent number: 5958110
    Abstract: A low temperature process for the dehydration of aqueous glycol solutions using an induced airflow (3) and low temperature thermal sources (4, 21) to reduce the water concentration in aqueous glycol solutions (22). The invention utilizes the ability for air to evaporate water at low vapor pressures and corresponding low vapor temperatures in a direct contacting device (5). The relative vapor pressures of glycol to water at low temperatures assures the preferential vaporization rate of water over that of glycol thereby providing dehydration and effective regeneration of aqueous glycol solutions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Inventors: James Jeffrey Harris, James William Harris
  • Patent number: 5958238
    Abstract: Method for anaerobic removal of a sulphur compound from waste water containing such compound, comprising the steps of: 1) feeding the waste water to an anaerobic digestion system; 2) converting the sulphur compound in the digestion system to a sulphide; 3) circulating an effluent containing the sulphide from the digestion system in a by-pass channel, the channel comprising a stripper system for stripping the sulphide from the effluent; 4) removing the sulphide from the effluent by contacting with a transporting gas in the stripper system; and 5) converting the sulphide to sulphur; wherein 6) the sulphide is absorbed from the transporting gas in an absorber system by an absorbing liquid, which absorbing liquid is passed in a closed loop through the absorber system and a regenerator system, and comprises a regenerable redox liquor, which redox liquor has a pH-value in the range of 4 to 7, preferably about 6.5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Nederlandse Organisatie Voor Toegepast Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek TNO
    Inventor: Josephus Sychbertus Adrianus Langerwerf
  • Patent number: 5954861
    Abstract: A process for separating a gaseous mixture comprising C.sub.1 chlocarbons and noncondensible gases into a liquid component comprising the C.sub.1 chlorocarbons and a component comprising the noncondensible gases. The method employs a liquid hydrocarbon having an average molecular weight within a range of about 142 to 422 to adsorb the C.sub.1 chlorocarbons from the gaseous mixture. The present process is especially useful for separating methyl chloride from a gaseous mixture resulting from an oxychlorination process where the gaseous mixture further comprises, methane, water vapor, and hydrogen chloride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Dow Corning Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce Robert Crum, Corey Grant Knutson, Brian Michael Naasz, Jeffrey Scott Smith
  • Patent number: 5830260
    Abstract: The waste gas accumulating in the drying of products containing volatile ingredients is cooled, the condensate obtained is subjected to crossflow membrane filtration and part of the cleaned waste gas is returned to the drying process. The concentrate obtained is put to a material, thermal or other use. The both effective and economic process is suitable for eliminating the aerosols, particularly the organic aerosols, present in the waste gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Henkel Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien
    Inventors: Levent Yueksel, Wilhelm Johannisbauer, Katrin Burmeister, Heike Fleischmann
  • Patent number: 5772731
    Abstract: A process of removing carbon dioxide from a liquor in a vessel comprises the step of continuously passing a portion of the liquor into a sidestream and introducing discrete bubbles of between 0.005 mm and 1.0 mm diameter of nitrogen rich gas into the liquor before returning it to the vessel in which the nitrogen acts to adsorb carbon dioxide from the liquor and is then expelled from the liquor as an off-gas. The process also includes introducing a gas to be dissolved in the liquor into the sidestream as discrete bubbles having a diameter of between 0.005 mm and 1.0 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: The BOC Group plc
    Inventor: Stephen B. Harrison
  • Patent number: 5772734
    Abstract: A membrane hybrid process for treating organic-containing gas streams to remove or recover the organic. The process combines absorbent scrubbing, gas stripping, condensation, and membrane separation, and is particularly useful in treating high-volume, low-organic-concentration streams. The process may be operated such that the only products are a clean air stream suitable for venting to the atmosphere, and a small-volume, condensed liquid organic stream suitable to reuse or disposal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard W. Baker, Ramin Daniels
  • Patent number: 5766313
    Abstract: Apparatus for treating emissions from a reboiler used to remove glycol from water laden glycol wherein the emissions are condensed; pressurized and separated so that hydrocarbon vapors may be directed to a burner used to supply heat to a reboiler. Control apparatus is provided to combine fuel gas and the pressurized hydrocarbon vapors as needed to supply all of the fuel required by the burner. Also, separate apparatus is provided to control the movement of dry glycol in the apparatus and to pressurize the condensed emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Inventor: Rodney T. Heath
  • Patent number: 5536303
    Abstract: A method of low temperature regeneration of glycol used for dehydrating natural gas in a glycol dehydration system including the steps of passing natural gas against flowing glycol in an absorber vessel so that the glycol absorbs water from the gas, providing spent glycol and dehydrated gas, conducting the spent glycol into a reboiler vessel, feeding a portion of the dehydrated gas into a burner positioned within the reboiler vessel where the dehydrated gas is combusted to heat the spent glycol, conducting a first portion of dehydrated gas into a gas distributor located within a lower portion of the reboiler vessel, the gas distributor causing small bubbles of gas to move upwardly through the spent glycol within the reboiler to augment separation of water from the heated glycol, conducting a second portion of the dehydrated gas into an upper gas stripper vessel mounted within an upper portion of the reboiler vessel to contact the dehydrated gas with the spent glycol to further augment the separation of water
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Inventor: Harold O. Ebeling
  • Patent number: 5520724
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the recovery of low molecular weight C.sub.2+ hydrocarbons, in particular ethylene and ethane from a cracking gas, in particular from a fluid catalytic cracking waste gas. In accordance with the invention the light C.sub.2+ hydrocarbons are scrubbed out of the cracking gas by absorption, using an organic, preferably paraffinic, physically acting scrubbing agent, the scrubbing agent having a molecular weight of between 50 and 75 g/mol, preferably between 60 and 75 g/mol. Particularly suitable as scrubbing agents are pentane, isopentane or mixtures thereof. Prior to the generation of the loaded scrubbing agent, co-extracted methane is advantageously stripped off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1996
    Assignee: Linde Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Heinz Bauer, Hans Becker
  • Patent number: 5490873
    Abstract: An improved process for the glycol dehydration of water-containing natural gas comprises contacting the natural gas and glycol in a contacting zone to produce a dried natural gas and a water-rich glycol, and heating the water-rich glycol in a regeneration zone to produce a water-lean glycol for reintroduction into the contacting zone and a water-containing gaseous overhead. The gaseous overhead is partially condensed and the resulting gaseous components are returned to the contacting zone. In a preferred embodiment, the glycol is further purified by contact in a separate stripping column with dry stripping gas under a pressure lower than that of the regeneration zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1996
    Assignee: Bryan Research & Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven D. Behrens, Jerry A. Bullin
  • Patent number: 5453114
    Abstract: A method of dehydrating natural gas and for reducing emissions of hydrocarbon aromatics including the steps of passing natural gas upwardly in an absorber against downwardly flowing liquid desiccant to provide treated gas, the desiccant absorbing water and hydrocarbon impurities from the gas and forming spent desiccant, passing a portion of the treated gas from the absorber through a desiccant stripper vessel, the balance of the treated gas being passed for distribution, heating the spent desiccant and passing it downwardly through the desiccant stripper vessel to purge the spent desiccant of hydrocarbon aromatics, conducting the spent desiccant from the stripper vessel into a reboiler to again heat the spent desiccant and conveying treated gas from the stripper vessel to a burner in the reboiler where the treated gas is combusted with air, the spent desiccant is being heated in the reboiler to boil off entrained water to provide a regenerated desiccant that is recirculated back to the absorber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1995
    Inventor: Harold O. Ebeling
  • Patent number: 5439509
    Abstract: Solute gas-rich absorbing media formed in scrubbing a solute gas from an off-gas stream prior to discharge of the same are regenerated to solute gas-lean absorbing medium for recycle to the scrubbing operation. Hot solute gas-rich absorbing media is formed into one or more spray patterns of very small liquid droplets in a flowing purge steam stream in a chamber into which the solute gas is desorbed from the droplets. The droplets are coalesced to form a regenerated absorption medium, the solute gas-containing gas stream is cooled to condense out the steam and a pure solute gas stream is recovered. The operation may be effected in multiple stripping stages, which may utilize cocurrent flow of solute gas laden absorbing medium and purge steam within a single chamber or in multiple chambers. Multiple stripping steps may be effected within a single stripping stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1995
    Assignee: Turbotak Inc.
    Inventors: Donald R. Spink, Kim D. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 5330563
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for recovering a volatile organic compound at a recovery of 90 to 96% by volume from a gas generated from gasoline, kerosine, benzene, and alcohol discharged from storage tanks, tank trucks, and tank lorries. In the process comprising absorption stages followed by desorption stages for the volatile organic compound, the pressure at the desorption stages is controlled within the area below, for instance, curves C' and B in FIG. 1 of the drawings according to the concentration of the volatile organic compound in the gas to be fed to a first absorption stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1994
    Assignee: Showa Shell Sekiyu Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Osamu Yamase, Yasuyuki Makita, Kazuyoshi Jajima
  • Patent number: 5298156
    Abstract: Process for the simultaneous decarbonation and gasoline stripping of a gaseous mixture at an absolute pressure higher than 0.5 MPa containing methane, C.sub.2 and higher hydrocarbons and CO.sub.2 in which a demethanized rich solvent is regenerated so the process can be carried out more easily and at lower costs than previously known systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1994
    Assignee: Societe Nationale Elf Aquitaine (Production)
    Inventors: Claude Blanc, Henri Paradowski