Water Vapor Permeates Barrier Patents (Class 95/52)
  • Patent number: 11969676
    Abstract: A refiner device for refining of a liquid, wherein the refiner device includes a housing provided with a liquid inlet for unrefined oil or fuel, a liquid outlet for refined oil or fuel, an air inlet for supplying a flow of air into the housing, and an air outlet for discharging air and contaminants removed from the liquid. The refiner device further includes a liquid receiving plate arranged inside the housing, the refiner device arranged such that when liquid has passed through the liquid inlet during operation of the device, the liquid is contacted with an upper surface of the liquid receiving plate before it reaches the liquid outlet, and at least one heating element arranged to directly or indirectly heat the liquid while the liquid is in contact with the liquid receiving plate. The refiner device further includes a hollow air-guiding member arranged at the liquid receiving plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: COT—Clean Oil Technology AB
    Inventor: Magnus Lindstam
  • Patent number: 11944942
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a polyether block polyamide/polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) composite membrane for gas separation, and a preparation method and use thereof, and belongs to the technical field of membrane separation. In the present disclosure, an amphoteric copolymer PDMS-polyethylene oxide (PEO) (PDMS-b-PEO) is introduced into an intermediate layer to adjust the interfacial binding performance, thereby promoting preparation of an ultra-thin polyether block polyamide composite membrane. Studies have shown that the surface enrichment of PEO segments not only inhibits a dense SiOx layer formed due to a plasma treatment of a PDMS intermediate layer, but also provides additional hydrophilic sites and interfacial compatibility for the subsequent selective layer. The use of PDMS-b-PEO in an intermediate layer allows the successful preparation of a selective layer with a thickness of about 50 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: NANJING TECH UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Gongping Liu, Jiangying Liu, Wanqin Jin, Yang Pan
  • Patent number: 11937701
    Abstract: A bed system includes microclimate control capabilities for providing quality sleep experience. The bed system can include a microclimate control subsystem configured to supply conditioned air (e.g., heated or cooled air) to a mattress, or draw ambient air from the mattress, to achieve a desired temperature at the top of the mattress. Utilizing supply of conditioned air to provide air at desired temperature to the mattress system, or utilizing air suction to drain heat away from the mattress system, can provide precise microclimate control at the mattress, thereby permitting conformable sleep.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Sleep Number Corporation
    Inventors: Kody Lee Karschnik, Chee Nong Yang, Eric Stephen Rose, Caleb Siffring, Alexander Norell, Reuben Wesley Meline
  • Patent number: 11906199
    Abstract: A heat and humidity exchanger comprises panels made up of membrane sheets attached on either side of a separator. Channels extend across each panel between the separator and the membrane sheets. The panels are much stiffer than the membrane sheets. Panels are stacked in a spaced apart relationship to provide an ERV core. Spacing between adjacent panels may be smaller than a thickness of the panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: CORE ENERGY RECOVERY SOLULTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Curtis Warren Mullen, David Erwin Kadylak, Christopher Robert Barr, James Franklin Dean, Guy Timothy Pearson
  • Patent number: 11786048
    Abstract: A bed system includes microclimate control capabilities for providing quality sleep experience. The bed system can include a microclimate control subsystem configured to supply conditioned air (e.g., heated or cooled air) to a mattress, or draw ambient air from the mattress, to achieve a desired temperature at the top of the mattress. Utilizing supply of conditioned air to provide air at desired temperature to the mattress system, or utilizing air suction to drain heat away from the mattress system, can provide precise microclimate control at the mattress, thereby permitting conformable sleep.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Sleep Number Corporation
    Inventors: Kody Lee Karschnik, Chee Nong Yang, Eric Stephen Rose, Caleb Siffring, Alexander Norell, Reuben Wesley Meline
  • Patent number: 11666975
    Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) printer includes an ejector having a nozzle. The 3D printer also includes a heating element configured to heat a solid metal in the ejector, thereby causing the solid metal to change to a liquid metal within the ejector. The 3D printer also includes a coil wrapped at least partially around the ejector. The 3D printer also includes a power source configured to supply one or more pulses of power to the coil, which cause one or more drops of the liquid metal to be jetted out of the nozzle. The 3D printer also includes a substrate configured to support the one or more drops as the one or more drops solidify to form a 3D object. The 3D printer also includes a gas source configured to cause an oxygen concentration to be less than about 5% proximate to the one or more drops, the 3D object, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Varun Sambhy, George Shannon, Santokh S. Badesha
  • Patent number: 11549836
    Abstract: A multiphase flow metering device may have a conduit through which a multiphase fluid can flow and a structured packing insert positioned in the conduit. The structured packing insert may have a water-wet packing structure zone and/or an oil-wet packing structure zone. The multiphase flow metering device may also have a Halbach pre-polarizing magnet array positioned around the conduit, an RF coil, an electromagnet, an NMR console adapted to detect NMR signals from the multiphase fluid, and a control system configured to vary a polarization of the Halbach pre-polarizing magnet array. The Halbach pre-polarizing magnet array may be positioned or positionable over one or both of the oil-wet and water-wet packing structure zones. In some embodiments, the structured packing insert may include immobilized radicals, providing for dynamic nuclear polarization of the multiphase fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignees: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY, UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA
    Inventors: Michael Leslie Johns, Masoumeh Zargar, Einar Orn Fridjonsson, Paul Stanwix, Jana M. Al-Jindan, Mohamed Nabil Noui-Mehidi
  • Patent number: 11517850
    Abstract: An air separation device and a refrigerating and freezing device. The air separation device comprises a support frame and an air separation membrane, wherein a supporting surface with a channel and an enriched-gas collection chamber communicated with the channel are formed in the support frame. The air separation membrane laid on the support surface of the support frame and configured to enable more of a specific gas than other gases in airflow of the space around the air separation device to enter the enriched-gas collection chamber through the air separation membrane. According to the air separation device provided by the present invention, the support frame is specially designed to adopt the structure provided with the support surface and the enriched-gas collection chamber, the channel communicated with the enriched-gas collection chamber is formed on the support surface, and the air separation membrane is disposed on the support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: QINGDAO HAIER JOINT STOCK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xiaobing Zhu, Bo Jiang, Lei Wang, Hao Zhang, Jing Wang
  • Patent number: 11484830
    Abstract: A carbon dioxide separator includes an absorption tower for producing a carbon dioxide-rich absorbent and a carbon dioxide-depleted flue gas by reaction of a carbon dioxide-containing flue gas and an absorbent contained therein; a regeneration tower for removing the carbon dioxide-rich absorbent transferred from the absorption tower in the presence of the flowing gas to separate the same into a carbon dioxide-rich treatment gas and a carbon dioxide-lean absorbent; and a separation membrane module for selectively membrane-separating and concentrating the carbon dioxide, wherein the carbon dioxide-containing flue gas is transferred to the absorption tower as a carbon dioxide-lean flue gas obtained via the separation membrane module, and the flowing gas is transferred to the regeneration tower as the carbon dioxide-rich flue gas obtained via the separation membrane module from the carbon dioxide-containing flue gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignees: KOREA ELECTRIC POWER CORPORATION, KOREA SOUTH POWER CO., LTD., KOREA SOUTH-EAST POWER CO., LTD., KOREA MIDLAND POWER CO., LTD., KOREA WESTERN POWER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tae Hyoung Eom, Joong Beom Lee, Ui Sik Kim, Hyun Geun Jo, Joong Won Lee
  • Patent number: 11465097
    Abstract: A dehumidification mechanism for an appliance includes a blower that delivers humid process air along an airflow path. A drum is positioned along the airflow path. A condensing apparatus dehumidifies the humid air to define dehumidified air. A membrane has a plurality of nanopores that define a portion of the airflow path within the condensing apparatus. The humid air is delivered along the membrane having the plurality of nanopores and the nanopores operate through capillary condensation to dehumidify the humid air and separate condensate away from the humid air to define the dehumidified air. The condensate removed by the nanopore membrane is delivered away from the airflow path and to a condensate collection area within the appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher A. Hartnett
  • Patent number: 11421193
    Abstract: A method for reducing beverage loss during loading of beverage into an ethanol concentration system having a set of reverse osmosis pressure vessels, each pressure vessel having a feed inlet, a retentate outlet, and a permeate outlet. The method includes feeding deaerated water into the feed inlet of a first pressure vessel, feeding the beverage into the feed inlet of the first pressure vessel, monitoring an alcohol percentage at the retentate outlet of a second pressure vessel, the second pressure vessel coupled directly or indirectly to the first pressure vessel, and coupling a retentate from the retentate outlet of the second pressure vessel to a feed tank coupled to the feed inlet of the first pressure vessel when the alcohol percentage is within a first target range of 0.5 to 18% alcohol-by-volume (ABV).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Alfa Laval Copenhagen A/S
    Inventors: Ronan K. McGovern, Grace Connors, Adam M. Weiner
  • Patent number: 11413573
    Abstract: An air purifying system is a system for purifying air in a room, and the air purifying system includes: a carbon dioxide removing device including a first space and a second space that are divided from each other by a separation membrane that selectively allows carbon dioxide to permeate therethrough; a feed passage that leads the air in the room to the first space; a return passage that leads purified air from which carbon dioxide has been removed from the first space to the room; a supply passage that supplies sweep gas to the second space, the sweep gas having a carbon dioxide partial pressure that is lower than a carbon dioxide partial pressure in the air in the room; and a discharge passage that discharges the sweep gas from the second space after the sweep gas is mixed with the carbon dioxide that has permeated through the separation membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsuya Umemoto, Teruo Kishimoto, Kazuhiro Okumura
  • Patent number: 11346601
    Abstract: A system for cooling residential or commercial refrigerators, freezers, ULT freezers, and air conditioners is disclosed using liquified gas as the refrigerant. The system has no HCFCs or CFCs. The system is completely non-polluting and returns the refrigerant air to the environment in a cleaner state than the input air. The system is totally green, obtaining all energy from an array of solar panels and may be operated independently and remotely from all other energy sources. The refrigerant may be liquid air or liquid nitrogen. The system may also operate on-the-grid for power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Reflect Scientific
    Inventors: John J Hammerman, William G Moon
  • Patent number: 11035756
    Abstract: In order to secure a separation ability required for an oxidation catalyst such as a non-methane cutter, and to enable a sample gas to be measured accurately, this gas analyzing device is provided with a sample gas line where a sample gas flows, an analyzer that is provided in the sample gas line and that detects the concentration of a specific component contained in the sample gas, a catalyst that is arranged upstream of the analyzer in the sample gas line and that reacts with the sample gas, and a moisture concentration adjusting unit that is arranged upstream of the catalyst in the sample gas line to adjust the moisture concentration of the sample gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: HORIBA, LTD.
    Inventor: Tomoshi Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 10969124
    Abstract: An apparatus for removing water vapor from a feed gas is provided that comprises a membrane housing, a membrane that divides a first pressure side and a second pressure side of the membrane housing, a feed gas inlet and outlet on the first pressure side, a sweep gas inlet and outlet on the second pressure side, a sweep gas flow regulator, and a pump. In some embodiments the feed gas can be at ambient pressure and a pressure drop across the membrane can be less than about 1 atm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI
    Inventors: Paul Scovazzo, Anthony Scovazzo
  • Patent number: 10731042
    Abstract: A nanocomposite coating composition for use in the mitigation of whisker growth from a metallic surface (82) includes a polymer matrix (86) comprising a base polymer and insulating material nanoplatelets (85), for example clay nanoplatelets, within the polymer matrix (86). A conformal coating (84) for application to a metal surface (82) is formed from the coating composition. The conformal coating mitigates the spontaneous growth of whiskers (83), in particular tin whiskers, from the coated surface (82), reducing the risk of short-circuits caused by such whiskers bridging gaps within electronic devices. Methods are provided for the preparation of coating compositions and coatings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: LOUGHBOROUGH UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Mark Andrew Ashworth, Helen Elizabeth Pearson, Xujin Bao, Geoffrey David Wilcox
  • Patent number: 10569229
    Abstract: A graphene-based membrane and a method of producing the same are disclosed. The graphene-based membrane may include a graphene-polymer composite, wherein the graphene-polymer composite may consist of an amine functionalized graphene and a polymer containing an anhydride group as a linker for linking the amine functionalized graphene to the polymer. The graphene-based membrane may be constructed of a single-layer. A method may include reacting a polymer containing an anhydride with an amine functionalized graphene in presence of a solvent to form an intermediate product; and thermal imidizing the intermediate product to form a graphene grafted polymer composite for use in fabricating a graphene-based membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: NGEE ANN POLYTECHNIC
    Inventors: James Antony Prince, Sowrirajalu Bhuvana, Anbharasi Vanangamudi, Gurdev Singh
  • Patent number: 10537853
    Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed relate to methods of separating volatile compounds from a liquid feed mixture comprising an emulsion. In various embodiments, the method includes contacting a first side of a first membrane with a liquid feed mixture including an emulsion having a polymer, and at least one volatile compound. The method can also include contacting a second side of the first membrane with a sweep medium including at least one a sweep fluid to produce a permeate mixture on the second side of the first membrane and a retentate mixture on the first side of the first membrane, wherein the permeate mixture is enriched in the volatile compound, and the retentate mixture is depleted in the volatile compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Dow Silicones Corporation
    Inventors: Dongchan Ahn, Aaron Greiner, Mark Keinath, James Thompson
  • Patent number: 10502438
    Abstract: A membrane-based assembly and process for cooling and/or de-vaporizing a gas. The assembly and process can provide sensible cooling and/or dehumidification of air, and can be contained within a single, integrated apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: THE RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
    Inventors: Jon P. Owejan, Nathan C. DeMario
  • Patent number: 10427108
    Abstract: A zeolite film structure comprising a support, a zeolite film and a protective film. The zeolite film is formed on a surface of the support. The protective film is formed on a surface of the zeolite film. The protective film is configured from organic-nonorganic hybrid silica or carbon. An average thickness of the protective film is less than or equal to 172 nanometers and greater than or equal to 44 nanometers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoto Kinoshita, Hiroyuki Shibata
  • Patent number: 10226056
    Abstract: Durable asymmetric composite membranes consisting of a film of cross-linked sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) adhered to a sheet of sulfonated microporous poly(ethylene) are disclosed. The membranes have application in the recovery of water from feed streams were the ability to clean in situ is desirable, for example in dairy processing. Methods of preparing cross-linked sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) suitable for use as a rejection layer in such membranes are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: HYDROXSYS HOLDINGS LIMITED
    Inventors: Daryl Joseph Briggs, Lenka Benacek Craft, Ashveen Vikash Nand
  • Patent number: 10137665
    Abstract: After bringing a water-containing peeling liquid in contact with a thin flat film formed on a substrate, a support film including a cover film having one main surface thereof is laminated onto the flat film, such that the support film is in contact with the flat film, a cover film-attached laminate composed of a support film and a cover film is then separated from the substrate, and the laminate including the flat film and the support film is separated from the cover film-attached film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: TOKYO OHKA KOGYO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takuya Noguchi, Takahiro Senzaki, Toshiyuki Ogata
  • Patent number: 10034808
    Abstract: Mattresses and cushions, methods of making mattresses and cushions, and patient supports comprising a mattress and/or a cushion. At least some embodiments of the present mattresses and cushions comprise a body with air-impermeable material having a plurality of openings, and a cover sheet comprising air-permeable and liquid-impermeable material covering at least a portion of the plurality of openings and coupled to the body by a liquid-impermeable welded seam encircling the covered one or more openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Huntleigh Technology Limited
    Inventors: John H. Vrzalik, Bruce Phillips, Kz Hong
  • Patent number: 9724652
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a copolymer containing a constitutional unit derived from acrylic acid cesium salt or acrylic acid rubidium salt and a constitutional unit derived from vinyl alcohol, a resin composition containing the copolymer, a carbon dioxide gas separation membrane which can be manufactured with the resin composition, a carbon dioxide gas separation membrane module having the separation membrane, and a carbon dioxide gas separation apparatus including at least one type of the module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Kenichi Hirose, Hayato Sugiyama, Takehiro Nakasuji, Shinichi Furukawa
  • Patent number: 9675940
    Abstract: A membrane obtainable from curing a composition comprising: (i) a curable compound comprising at least two (meth)acrylic groups and a sulphonic acid group and having a molecular weight which satisfies the equation: MW<(300+300n) wherein: MW is the molecular weight of the said curable compound; and n has a value of 1, 2, 3 or 4 and is the number of sulphonic acid groups present in the said curable compound; and optionally (ii) a curable compound having one ethylenically unsaturated group; wherein the molar fraction of curable compounds comprising at least two (meth)acrylic groups, relative to the total number of moles of curable compounds present in the composition, is at least 0.25.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Fujifilm Manufacturing Europe BV
    Inventors: Bastiaan Van Berchum, Willem Johannes Van Baak, Jacko Hessing
  • Patent number: 9572433
    Abstract: A system for directing fluid flow in a mattress is disclosed. The mattress comprises a base support layer which is configured to spatially locate at least one insert support layer. The insert layer comprises a conduit to allow fluid flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles A. Lachenbruch, Christopher R. O'Keefe, Rachel Williamson, Timothy J. Receveur
  • Patent number: 9358508
    Abstract: Apparatuses and systems for removing water vapor from a gas stream and for providing water purification, recovery and/or concentration. The apparatuses and systems employ a graphene oxide or a perforated graphene monolayer membrane to separate liquid water molecules and/or water vapor molecules from gasses, liquids, and other substances such as a wet muck or an aqueous sample. In one embodiment, an apparatus for removing water from a gas or liquid stream includes a first lumen, a second lumen, and a graphene oxide membrane separating the first lumen from the second lumen. Water molecules within a humid gas or liquid stream introduced into the first lumen pass through the graphene oxide membrane into a dry gas stream introduced into the second lumen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: John A. Wood, Rebecca Schwartz, Paul J. Lilly
  • Patent number: 9333457
    Abstract: To provide a CO2 membrane separation and recovery system that is excellent in CO2 permeability and CO2 separation selectivity on recovery of CO2 in a hydrogen production process and the like. The CO2 membrane separation and recovery system of the present invention comprises a dehydration treatment module (2) preliminary to a CO2 membrane separation module (1), the CO2 membrane separation module (1) comprises a hydrophilic zeolite membrane (3) that exhibits CO2 selective permeability and is formed on a porous substrate, and the hydrophilic zeolite membrane (3) is subjected to a dehydration treatment by a heat treatment at from 100 to 800° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignees: Hitachi Zosen Corporation, JX Nippon Oil & Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Ken-ichi Sawamura, Masanobu Aizawa, Takehiro Shimizu
  • Patent number: 9255579
    Abstract: It is intended to provide a vacuum pump so that without upsizing the vacuum pump, noise and vibration are reduced, heat dissipation property is secured, and the casing is downsized. Therefore, at least one turning part is provided in an exhausting path formed in a casing body. The casing body is formed of a material whose thermal conductivity is higher than that of a rotor and vanes, and a cylinder part where the vanes slide is press fitted in the casing body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: NABTESCO AUTOMOTIVE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Mitsuhashi, Katsunori Tanaka, Hiroyuki Murakami, Kouji Takahashi, Taku Kawakami, Ichiro Minato
  • Patent number: 9242206
    Abstract: In a gas separation apparatus that separates carbon dioxide and water vapor from a first mixture gas containing at least carbon dioxide, nitrogen and water vapor, the energy utilization efficiency thereof is improved. The gas separation apparatus is constructed to include a first separation membrane 33 and a second separation membrane 34 that are made of different materials. When the first mixture gas is supplied, the first separation membrane 33 separates a second mixture gas containing carbon dioxide and water vapor that permeate through the first separation membrane by allowing carbon dioxide and water vapor to permeate selectively. When the second mixture gas is supplied, the second separation membrane 34 separates water vapor that permeates through the second separation membrane 34 by allowing water vapor to permeate selectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: RENAISSANCE ENERGY RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Osamu Okada, Masaaki Teramoto, Eiji Kamio, Nobuaki Hanai, Yasato Kiyohara
  • Patent number: 9234665
    Abstract: An energy exchanger is provided. The exchanger includes a housing having a front and a back. A plurality of panels forming desiccant channels extend from the front to the back of the housing. Air channels are formed between adjacent panels. The air channels are configured to direct an air stream in a direction from the front of the housing to the back of the housing. A desiccant inlet is provided in flow communication with the desiccant channels. A desiccant outlet is provided in flow communication with the desiccant channels. The desiccant channels are configured to channel desiccant from the desiccant inlet to the desiccant outlet in at least one of a counter-flow or cross-flow direction with respect to the direction of the air stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignees: NORTEK AIR SOLUTIONS CANADA, INC., UNIVERSITY OF SASKATCHEWAN
    Inventors: Blake Erb, Robert W. Besant, Carey J. Simonson, Howard Hemingson
  • Patent number: 9211957
    Abstract: An aircraft fuel tank ventilation system, comprising a refrigerative dehumidifying device having a refrigerating element in contact with air flowing between a vent open to the atmosphere and a fuel tank. Also, a method of dehumidifying air introduced into an aircraft fuel tank via the ventilation system, the method comprising directing atmospheric air from the vent into contact with the refrigerating element, and cooling the refrigerating element so as to remove water vapor from the air flowing from the vent towards the fuel tank by condensation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED
    Inventors: Joseph K-W Lam, Franklin Tichborne, Simon Masters, David Parmenter
  • Patent number: 9174740
    Abstract: A system for supplying an aircraft with inert gas is provided. The system includes at least one fuel cell with an air inlet and an exhaust air outlet as well as a membrane device with an inlet, an outlet and a vapor-permeable membrane. The exhaust air outlet is in fluid communication with the inlet of the membrane device. The membrane device guides a gas from the inlet to the outlet and to give off to the outside through the membrane any water vapor contained therein. This leads to a cost efficient, passive and reliable dehumidifaction of inert exhaust gas for inerting purposes, and a dehumidification device that does not or only marginally increases the weight of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Ralf-Henning Stolte, Johannes Lauckner, Gwenaelle Renouard-Vallet
  • Publication number: 20150129413
    Abstract: A gas separation process for treating a gas stream containing vapors of condensable components. The process includes two membrane separation steps, the second step using membranes of lower selectivity than the first step. Advantageously, the first membrane separation step may be carried out outside the pressure-ratio-limited region and the second membrane separation step may be carried out within the pressure-ratio-limited region. The second residue stream is a desired product of the process, and the process is particularly useful for applications where the target concentration of component A in this product is low, such as below 1-2 vol %.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: MEMBRANE TECHNOLOGY AND RESEARCH, INC.
    Inventors: Yu Huang, Richard W. Baker
  • Patent number: 8985474
    Abstract: Systems and methods utilizing water-vapor-partial-pressure-differential across a chemically-selective membrane to remove water vapor from a habitable spacecraft environment(s). The system preferably utilizes heat from an exothermic CO2 removal process to prevent condensation at the chemically-selective membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Paragon Space Development Corporation
    Inventor: Taber K. MacCallum
  • Publication number: 20150079651
    Abstract: A method to recover and harvest nutrients and volatile gases such as alcohols from a liquid stream using a fixed film bioreactor. The method includes a means of concentrating product gas stripped from a bioreactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventor: Dennis A. Burke
  • Patent number: 8961652
    Abstract: A method for removal and condensation of vapors from within an enclosed space (120) is disclosed. An enclosed space (120) containing material (110) is surrounded by an insulative permeable layer (130) having a lowering temperature gradient (230) between the inner surface (220) and the outer surfaces (240). The insulative layer (130) may also be covered by an impermeable layer (140). Heating the material (110) in the enclosed space (120) causes the formation of vapors at a positive pressure within the enclosed space (120). Vapors pass through the inner surface (220) of the insulative permeable layer (130) and contact the permeable materials and are condensed by the lowering temperature within the insulative layer (130). The condensate liquid passes downwardly through the insulative layer (130) for collection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Red Leaf Resources, Inc.
    Inventor: James W. Patten
  • Patent number: 8945287
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to active particle-enhanced membrane and methods for making and using the same. In some embodiments, a breathable membrane includes a base material solution and active particles. The active particles incorporated in the membrane may improve or add various desirable properties to the membrane, such as for example, the moisture vapor transport capability, the odor adsorbance, the anti-static properties, or the stealth properties of the membrane. In some embodiments, the base material may exhibit water-proof properties when converted into non-solution state, and thereby result in a water-proof membrane. In some embodiments, the active particles may be protected from losing activity before, during, or after (or any combination thereof) the process of producing the membrane. The membrane may be applied to a substrate, or may be used independent of a substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Cocona, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory W. Haggquist
  • Patent number: 8936668
    Abstract: A water vapor transport membrane comprises a nanofibrous layer disposed on a macroporous support layer, the nanofibrous layer coated with a water permeable polymer. A method for making a water vapor transport membrane comprises forming a nanofibrous layer on a macroporous support layer and applying a water permeable polymer to the nanofibrous layer. The water permeable polymer can be applied for so that the nanofibrous layer is substantially or partially filled with the water permeable polymer, or so that the coating forms a substantially continuous layer on one surface of the nanofibrous layer. In some embodiments of the method, the nanofibrous layer is formed by electro-spinning at least one polymer on at least one side of the porous support layer. In some embodiments, the support layer is formable and the method further comprises forming a three-dimensional structure from the water vapor transport membrane, for example, by compression molding, pleating or corrugating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Dpoint Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Nicholas Huizing, Frank K. Ko
  • Patent number: 8926733
    Abstract: A method for preparing a polymeric material includes: providing a polymeric matrix having at least one polymer and at least one porogen; and degrading the at least one porogen at a temperature T?1.1 Tg, where Tg is a glass transition temperature of the polymeric matrix. The degrading step includes exposing the polymeric matrix to thermal degradation, chemical degradation, electrical degradation and/or radiation degradation, wherein the polymeric material has a permeability at least 1.2 times a permeability of the polymeric matrix for a gas, and a selectivity of the polymeric material is at least 0.35 times a selectivity of the polymeric matrix for a gas pair. The method preferably provides gas separation membranes that exceed Robeson's upper bound relationship for at least one gas separation pair. Novel polymeric materials, gas separation membranes and fluid component separation methods are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Shiying Zheng, Lloyd M. Robeson, M. Keith Murphy, Jeffrey R. Quay
  • Patent number: 8926731
    Abstract: A system and method of controlling a flow of steam in a steam generator having a heater for heating fluid in a vessel is disclosed. The method includes: delivering the steam from the steam generator to a first side of a filtering membrane; receiving purified steam from a second side of the filtering membrane, the purified steam having a steam flow rate; determining at least one coefficient of a substantially linear mathematical relationship between the steam flow rate of the purified steam and duty cycle; and configuring the steam generator to control: the duty cycle of the heater based on the determined at least one coefficient and a target steam flow rate; and/or the target steam flow rate based on the at least one coefficient and a target duty cycle of the heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: RASIRC
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Spiegelman, Richard D. Blethen
  • Publication number: 20150000522
    Abstract: The present invention relates to hydrosilylation-curable silicone compositions that include an alkenyl-functional trialkylsilane compound. The present invention relates to a membrane including a cured product of the hydrosilylation-curable silicone composition. The present invention also relates to a method of making the membrane, and a method of separating components in a feed mixture using the membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Dongchan Ahn, James S. Hrabal, Alexandra N. Lichtor
  • Publication number: 20150005468
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to high permeability, UV cross-linkable copolyimide polymers and membranes for gas, vapor, and liquid separations, as well as methods for making and using these membranes. The invention provides a process for separating at least one gas from a mixture of gases using the high permeability copolyimide membrane or the UV cross-linked copolyimide membrane, the process comprising: (a) providing a high permeability copolyimide membrane or a UV cross-linked copolyimide membrane which is permeable to said at least one gas; (b) contacting the mixture on one side of the high permeability copolyimide membrane or the UV cross-linked copolyimide membrane to cause said at least one gas to permeate the membrane; and (c) removing from the opposite side of the membrane a permeate gas composition comprising a portion of said at least one gas which permeated said membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Zara Osman, Chunqing Liu, Angela N. Troxell, Carl W. Liskey
  • Patent number: 8906136
    Abstract: A water vapor transport membrane comprises a nanofibrous layer disposed on a macroporous support layer, the nanofibrous layer coated with a water permeable polymer. A method for making a water vapor transport membrane comprises forming a nanofibrous layer on a macroporous support layer and applying a water permeable polymer to the nanofibrous layer. The water permeable polymer can be applied for so that the nanofibrous layer is substantially or partially filled with the water permeable polymer, or so that the coating forms a substantially continuous layer on one surface of the nanofibrous layer. In some embodiments of the method, the nanofibrous layer is formed by electro-spinning at least one polymer on at least one side of the porous support layer. In some embodiments, the support layer is formable and the method further comprises forming a three-dimensional structure from the water vapor transport membrane, for example, by compression molding, pleating or corrugating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Dpoint Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Nicholas Huizing, Frank K. Ko
  • Publication number: 20140331860
    Abstract: There is disclosed a ceramic separation membrane. This ceramic separation membrane includes a porous substrate, and a separation layer formed on the substrate. The separation layer is a laminate having an outermost layer positioned on the most surface side, and a base layer positioned in a lower layer than the outermost layer and made of zeolite. The outermost layer is a layer made of a siliceous material containing 90 mol % or more of silica, an organic material-containing amorphous silica material having a Si-Cn-Si (wherein n is 1 or 2) bond and a Si/C ratio of 0.5 to 2, or a carbonaceous material containing 90 mass % or more of carbon. The outermost layer is different from the base layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Inventors: Manabu ISOMURA, Naoto KINOSHITA, Naoko INUKAI
  • Patent number: 8876947
    Abstract: A method and a device for reducing the humidity of a gas in a housing interior, in particular in a battery housing interior, includes leading a gas through a first selectively permeable membrane and into an intermediate space. The intermediate space has the first selectively permeable membrane as an inlet and a second selectively permeable membrane as an outlet. The gas is then cooled in the intermediate space by a cooling unit such that a water vapor portion of the gas is condensed into water and the gas having a reduced water vapor content is directed through the second selectively permeable membrane into the housing interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Reitzle, Ulrich Zimmermann
  • Publication number: 20140322519
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of treating a surface comprising a silicone elastomer having a plurality of Si—H groups by contacting at least one region of the surface with a solution comprising a surface treatment compound, to give a treated surface with Si—OH, Si—OR, or Si—C groups. The present invention relates to a hydrosilylation-curable silicone composition. In some examples, the hydrosilylation-curable silicone composition includes an organohydrogen-polysiloxane having an average of at least forty silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms per molecule, a cross-linking agent having an average of at least two aliphatic unsaturated carbon-carbon bonds per molecule, and a hydrosilylation catalyst, wherein the mole ratio of silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms in the composition to aliphatic unsaturated carbon-carbon bonds in the composition is at least 20:1. The invention also relates to membranes, methods of making membranes, gas permeable supports for membranes, and methods of gas separation using membranes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventors: Dongchan Ahn, James S. Hrabal, Jeong Yong Lee
  • Publication number: 20140290478
    Abstract: The present invention discloses high performance cross-linked polyimide asymmetric flat sheet membranes and a process of using such membranes. The cross-linked polyimide asymmetric flat sheet membranes have shown CO2 permeance higher than 80 GPU and CO2/CH4 selectivity higher than 20 at 50° C. under 6996 kPa of a feed gas with 10% CO2 and 90% CH4 for CO2/CH4 separation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Chunqing Liu, Zara Osman, Howie Q. Tran, Angela N. Troxell
  • Patent number: 8828119
    Abstract: A membrane cartridge is manufactured by repeatedly folding and joining two strips of membrane to form a cross-pleated cartridge with a stack of openings or fluid passageways configured in an alternating cross-flow arrangement. The cartridge can be modified for other flow configurations including co-flow and counter-flow arrangements. Methods for manufacturing such cross-pleated membrane cartridges, as well as apparatus used in the manufacturing process are described. Cross-pleated membrane cartridges comprising water-permeable membranes can be used in a variety of applications, including in heat and water vapor exchangers. In particular they can be incorporated into energy recovery ventilators (ERVs) for exchanging heat and water vapor between air streams being directed into and out of buildings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: DPoint Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Greg Montie, James Franklin Dean, Curtis Mullen, Robert Hill
  • Publication number: 20140238235
    Abstract: A membrane device and processes for fabrication and for using are disclosed. The membrane device may include a number of porous metal membranes that provide a high membrane surface area per unit volume. The membrane device provides various operation modes that enhance throughput and selectivity for mass exchange, mass transfer, separation, and/or filtration applications between feed flow streams and permeate flow streams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: BATTELLE MEMORIAL INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Wei Liu, Nathan L. Canfield