Plural Pressure Varying Steps (e.g., Pressure Swing Adsorption, Etc.) Patents (Class 95/96)
  • Patent number: 11964105
    Abstract: An oxygen concentrator comprises a product tank that is fluidly coupled to at least one sieve bed, and a product gas accumulator tank that is fluidly coupled to the product tank via a first conduit and to an outlet port via a second conduit, wherein the first conduit and the second conduit are disposed to allow at least a portion of product gas to flow from the product tank to the outlet port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: INOGEN, INC.
    Inventor: Todd Allum
  • Patent number: 11904096
    Abstract: An ambulatory assist ventilation (AAV) apparatus and system are disclosed for the delivery of a respiratory gas to assist the spontaneous breathing effort of a patient with a breathing disorder. The AAV system includes a compressed respiratory gas source, a respiratory assist device for controlling respiratory gas flow to the patient, a patient circuit tubing and a low profile nasal interface device, which does not have a dead space or hollow area where CO2 can collect, for delivering the respiratory gas to the patient, wherein the nasal interface device is fluidly connected to the respiratory assist device via tubing for receiving the respiratory gas therefrom. In some cases, the nasal interface device may be used in combination with other gas sources, such as oxygen concentrators, to provide dual therapy capability suitable for some applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Inogen, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd W. Allum, Gregory J. Kapust
  • Patent number: 11883775
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an intensified process cycle that utilizes the adsorption beds present to a substantially greater degree allowing the processing of significantly more gas and/or the generation of significantly more product. The elimination of purge steps, reduction in equalization step times, and introduction of overlapping feed and equalization steps which normally cause a degradation in performance for equilibrium-based cycles, frees extra step for other actions to be taken, such as additional equalization steps, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: PRAXAIR TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Nicholas R. Stuckert, Michael St. James
  • Patent number: 11865491
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for managing a PSA unit having at least N adsorbers arranged in pairs, where each pair is designed to be able to be selectively isolated, a control device, and a plurality of interfaces for accessing the instrumentation of each adsorber. When a first pair is fluidically isolated, the first pair having a first and a second adsorber, the isolating of a third adsorber includes setting the control device to control N-4 adsorbers, fluidically isolating a second pair having the third and a fourth adsorber, isolating one of the first and second adsorbers and the third adsorber, configuring the interfaces so as to swap over the instrumentation of the other of the first and second adsorbers and the instrumentation of the fourth adsorber, placing the first and second pairs in fluidic communication, and setting the control device to control N-2 adsorbers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Société Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procédés Georges Claude
    Inventors: Jan Matthyssen, Pascal Meerman, Luc Nelis
  • Patent number: 11794140
    Abstract: A process and device for enhancing the chemical protection capability of a collective protection filter whereby the process stream exiting the collective protection filter is passed through an Auxiliary Filter. The auxiliary filter containing an ammonia removal media, such as zirconium hydroxide impregnated with zinc chloride (ZnCl2/Zr(OH)4), an oxidizing media, preferably zirconium hydroxide impregnated with potassium permanganate (KMnO4/Zr(OH)4), and a methyl bromide removal media, preferably activated carbon impregnated with triethylenediamine (TEDA/carbon). The auxiliary filter and process are configured to remove toxic industrial chemicals including NH3, NOx (mixtures of NO and NO2) and CH2O, and CH3Br.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Gregory Peterson, Ryan Ballantyne, Michael Boruch, William Clark, Bruce Corso, William B Feaver, Nicole Puckace, Jeffery Stephen Hoene, Joseph Hunt, Neil Kennihan, Craig LaMoy, Robert Kinter, Michael J Knapke, Mark Noltimier, Michael Pompeii, Chris Ritchey, Joseph A Rossin, Rachel L Rossin, Richard Warder, Jr
  • Patent number: 11779876
    Abstract: A gas separation process in which the thermal storage of the heat in the gas is desired as well as the gas separation. This invention outlines a novel process and system whereby the thermal storage efficiency can be vastly increased by matching the gas sorption fronts and the thermal fronts to cause thermal front sharpening. The gas separation process and system include an adsorption vessel having an adsorbent in an amount of 10-40% and a thermal storage component in an amount of 50-90% by volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Inventor: Nicholas Stuckert
  • Patent number: 11738299
    Abstract: An exhaust gas processing system including a process chamber in which an exhaust gas is produced; an exhaust gas measurer receiving the exhaust gas and measuring a concentration of the exhaust gas; a solid producing gas processor receiving the exhaust gas and removing a solid producing gas contained in the exhaust gas; a gas supply supplying dilution and cooling gases to the solid producing gas processor; a processed gas measurer receiving, as a processed gas, the exhaust gas free of the solid producing gas and measuring a temperature of the processed gas and ingredients of the processed gas; and a controller receiving results of measurement of the concentration of the exhaust gas from the exhaust gas measurer and results of measurement of the temperature of the processed gas and the ingredients of the processed gas from the exhaust gas measurer and controlling the gas supply based on the measurement results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignees: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., PureSphere Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Suji Gim, Sunwoo Yook, Youngduk Ko, Youngseok Roh, Seoyoung Maeng, Jongyong Bae, Jihnkoo Lee, Jungjoon Pyeon, Jongha Hwang
  • Patent number: 11666884
    Abstract: The invention relates to a material for storing and releasing oxygen, consisting of a reactive ceramic made of copper, manganese and iron oxides, wherein, subject to the oxygen partial pressure of a surrounding atmosphere and/or an ambient temperature, the reactive ceramic has a transition region that can be passed through any number of times, said transition region being between a discharge threshold state of a three-phase crednerite/cuprite/hausmannite mixed ceramic and a charge threshold state of a two-phase spinel/tenorite mixed ceramic. A passing through of the transition region from the discharge threshold state towards the charging threshold state is associated with oxygen uptake and a passing through of the transition region from the charge threshold state towards the discharge threshold state is associated with oxygen release.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Inventor: Alexander Tasch
  • Patent number: 11650010
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an adsorption process for xenon recovery from a cryogenic liquid or gas stream wherein a bed of adsorbent is contacted with a xenon-containing liquid or gas stream selectively adsorbing the xenon from said stream. The adsorption bed is operated to at least near full breakthrough with xenon to enable a deep rejection of other stream components, prior to regeneration using the temperature swing method. After the stripping step, the xenon adsorbent bed is drained to clear out the liquid residue left in the nonselective void space and the xenon molecules in those void spaces is recycled upstream to the ASU distillation column for increasing xenon recovery. The xenon adsorbent bed is optionally purged with oxygen, followed by purging with gaseous argon at cryogenic temperature (?160 K) to displace the oxygen co-adsorbed on the AgX adsorbent due to higher selectivity of argon over oxygen on the AgX adsorbent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: PRAXAIR TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Hai Du, Michael J. Dray, James P. Meagher, Steven R. Falta
  • Patent number: 11466878
    Abstract: An HVAC system having a fan coil and an oxygen concentrator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Patent number: 11420869
    Abstract: A pressure swing adsorption process is provided to remove oxygen from a hydrogen stream through the use of a copper material in combination with layers of adsorbent to remove water, C2 and C3 hydrocarbons, as well as other impurities. The feed gas comprises more than 70 mol % hydrogen, at least 1 mol % methane and more than 10 ppmv oxygen. The purified product hydrogen stream comprises greater than 99 mol % hydrogen, with less than 1 ppmv oxygen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Bradley P. Russell, David W. Greer, Mark M. Davis, Shain Doong, Jince Sebastian
  • Patent number: 11413567
    Abstract: Provided are apparatus and systems for performing a swing adsorption process. This swing adsorption process may involve performing modeling to generate a swing adsorption system to manage a feed stream to produce a product stream within specification. The process may be utilized for swing adsorption processes, such as TSA and/or PSA, which are utilized to remove one or more contaminants from a gaseous feed stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventor: Robert A. Johnson
  • Patent number: 11339072
    Abstract: Ion removing system includes primary-side ion removing apparatus that includes primary-side hard water storage part storing hard water and primary-side fine bubble generating part generating and supplying fine bubbles to primary-side hard water storage part and that causes fine bubbles to adsorb first metal ions in hard water in primary-side hard water storage part to remove first metal ions from hard water, secondary-side pH adjustment apparatus increasing pH of hard water from which first metal ions are removed by primary-side ion removing apparatus, and secondary-side ion removing apparatus that includes secondary-side hard water storage part storing hard water having pH increased by secondary-side pH adjustment apparatus and secondary-side fine bubble generating part generating and supplying fine bubbles to secondary-side hard water storage part and that causes fine bubbles to adsorb second metal ions in hard water in secondary-side hard water storage part to remove second metal ions from hard water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ayane Takehisa, Yasunari Maeda, Tomohiro Akita
  • Patent number: 11325087
    Abstract: A method, system, and device for separating components is described. A vessel is provided. A first volume of a process liquid, containing a first component and a second component, is passed into an inner chamber. The piston retracts to a first position. The fluid inlet is closed. The piston is retracted to a second position, causing the first component and a first portion of the second component to flash to form a vapor stream while a second portion of the second component freezes to form a solid product stream. The fluid outlet is then opened. The piston is advanced to a third position that results in a third volume, smaller than the first volume, such that the vapor stream is expelled. The fluid outlet is closed. The piston is fully closed such that the solid product stream is pressed into and extruded through the solids outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Sustainable Energy Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Larry Baxter
  • Patent number: 11253810
    Abstract: Disclosed in certain embodiments are sorbents for capturing heavy hydrocarbons via thermal swing adsorption processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: BASF CORPORATION
    Inventors: William B. Dolan, Roger Wyatt, Angela Siegel, Klaus Neumann, Tobias Eckardt
  • Patent number: 11247014
    Abstract: An oxygen concentrator is provided with a controller for recovering an oxygen concentration to a level suitable for treatment in a short period of time by selecting an optimum purge time corresponding to the deterioration state of an adsorbent. The judgment of moisture-absorption deterioration is performed when the detected value of the oxygen concentration sensor is equal to or less than a control value of the oxygen concentration in the oxygen-enriched gas and the detected value of the pressure sensor is equal to or more than an adsorption pressure at which the oxygen concentration increases significantly before and after the control to reduce the purge time, and control of reducing a time for the purge step shorter than a preset time is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Teijin Pharma Limited
    Inventors: Ryo Koizumi, Yuki Yamaura
  • Patent number: 11214530
    Abstract: A method for the separation of C4 olefin mixtures using anion-pillared hybrid porous materials as physical adsorbents is provided. The anion-pillared hybrid porous material was constructed by metal ions (M), organic ligand (L), and inorganic anion (A), forming a three-dimensional structure (A-L-M). C4 olefin mixtures contact with hybrid porous materials in certain ways, then each single C4 olefin monomer can be obtained. The pore size of anion-pillared hybrid porous materials and the spatial configurations of the anions within the pores can be fine-tuned and pre-designed. C4 olefins with different size and shape can be efficiently separated by the anion-pillared hybrid porous materials through shape recognition and size-sieving mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: ZHEJIANG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Huabin Xing, Zhaoqiang Zhang, Qiwei Yang, Qilong Ren, Zongbi Bao
  • Patent number: 11179668
    Abstract: The present invention discloses methods for extracting and recycling hydrogen in an MOCVD process by FTrPSA. Through pretreatment, fine deamination, PSA hydrogen extraction, deep dehydration and hydrogen purification procedures, ammonia-containing waste hydrogen from an MOCVD process is purified to meet the electronic-level hydrogen (the purity is greater than or equal to 99.99999% v/v) standard required by the MOCVD process, to implement resource reuse of exhaust gases, where the hydrogen yield is greater than or equal to 75-86%. The present invention solves the technical problem that atmospheric-pressure or low-pressure waste hydrogen from MOCVD processes cannot be returned to the MOCVD processes for use after being recycled, and fills the gap in green and circular economy development of the LED industry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Zhejiang Tiancaiyunji Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Lanhai Wang, Yaling Zhong, Yun Chen, Jincai Tang, Yueming Cai, Yuming Zhong
  • Patent number: 11058987
    Abstract: A process for component separation in a polymer production system, comprising: separating a polymerization product stream into a gas stream and a polymer stream; contacting the polymer stream with a purge gas to yield a purged polymer stream and a spent purge gas stream; introducing the spent purge gas stream to a compressor to produce a compressed gas stream; introducing the compressed gas stream to a first separation unit to produce a first hydrocarbon stream and a membrane unit feed stream; introducing the membrane unit feed stream to a membrane unit to produce a first recovered purge gas stream and a retentate stream; introducing the retentate stream to a second separation unit to produce a second hydrocarbon stream and a PSA unit feed stream; and introducing the PSA unit feed stream to a PSA unit to produce a second recovered purge gas stream and a tail gas stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
    Inventors: Lei Ji, Joseph A. Curren, Ji Xian Loh
  • Patent number: 11007472
    Abstract: Adsorption vessels and systems utilizing adsorption vessels are provided herein. In one embodiment, an adsorption vessel for receiving a fluid mixture and for separating a component from therein includes a vessel wall extending from a bottom end to a top end and defining a vessel chamber. A bottom inlet is formed in the bottom end of the adsorption vessel for introducing the fluid mixture to the vessel chamber. A filler material having a total porosity of less than about 25% and a density less than about 900 kg/m3 or an insert or both are positioned in the top void volume to increase overall performance of the adsorbent vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Bradley P. Russell, David W. Greer, Shain-Jer Doong
  • Patent number: 10933372
    Abstract: Oxygen is removed from a gas feed such as a landfill gas, a digester gas or an industrial CO2 off-gas by heating the feed gas, optionally removing siloxanes and silanols from the heated feed gas, optionally removing part of the sulfur-containing compounds in the heated feed gas, injecting one or more reactants for oxygen conversion into the heated feed gas, carrying out a selective catalytic conversion of any or all of the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in the gas, including sulfur-containing compounds, chlorine-containing compounds and any of the reactants injected, in at least one suitable reactor, and cleaning the resulting oxygen-depleted gas. The reactants to be injected comprise one or more of H2, CO, ammonia, urea, methanol, ethanol and dimethyl ether (DME).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Haldor Topsoe A/S
    Inventors: Kresten Egeblad, Niklas Bengt Jakobsson, Rasmus Trane-Restrup, Jacob Hjerrild Zeuthen, Troels Dahlgaard Stummann
  • Patent number: 10882742
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to methods, processes, and systems for safely and reliably purifying hydrogen from a gas mixture containing hydrogen and oxygen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: SABIC GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES B.V.
    Inventors: Nasser Ali Aldalaan, Abdulaziz M. Al-Jodai, Mubarik Ali Bashir
  • Patent number: 10835856
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are rapid cycle pressure swing adsorption (PSA) process for separating O2 from N2 and/or Ar. The processes use a carbon molecular sieve (CMS) adsorbent having an O2/N2 and/or O2/Ar kinetic selectivity of at least 5 and an O2 adsorption rate (1/s) of at least 0.2000 as determined by linear driving force model at 1 atma and 86° F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger Dean Whitley, Shubhra Jyoti Bhadra, Erdem Arslan, Yong Cao, Timothy Christopher Golden
  • Patent number: 10821392
    Abstract: A composite fiber comprising sorbent particles (at 50 wt %) in a polymeric matrix that comprises a polymer or blend of polymers including at least one thermoplastic polymer, the extrudates being produced by thermal-induced phase separation or diffusion-induced phase separation from a dope suspension of the thermoplastic polymer, an optional solvent and the sorbent particles. The polymer or blend of polymers is able to withstand exposure to temperatures at or above 220° C. without experiencing significant detrimental effects upon the sorbent capacity of the sorbent particles. The fiber exhibits an elongation at break of at least 5%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignees: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude, Air Liquide Advanced Technologies U.S. LLC
    Inventors: Philippe A. Coignet, Dean W. Kratzer, Sudhir S. Kulkarni, Edgar S. Sanders, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10786778
    Abstract: A power supply control device of a nitrogen gas generator includes: a pipe having a nitrogen gas inlet for receiving input of nitrogen gas from a nitrogen gas generator that compresses air by a compressor to separate the nitrogen gas from the air, and a nitrogen gas outlet for outputting, to outside, the nitrogen gas received by the nitrogen gas inlet; a pressure gauge that measures pressure inside the pipe; a flowmeter that measures a flow rate of the nitrogen gas flowing inside the pipe; and a control unit that controls supply of power to the compressor and shut-off of the supply of the power in accordance with a measurement result of at least one of the pressure gauge and the flowmeter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: SYSTEM INSTRUMENTS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Yamamoto, Yoshihisa Ujima, Takeshi Akiba
  • Patent number: 10760010
    Abstract: The present invention integrates adsorption and liquefaction techniques to separate hydrocarbon feed mixtures into light and heavy components. A feed is partially liquefied in two or more stages. A first stage occurs at higher pressure. A second stage occurs at lower pressure. At each stage, gas and liquid components are separated. The separated heavy components resulting from liquefaction provide a purified natural gas liquid product. The separated gas components may be further processed and/or handled to provide purified natural gas. Heavy streams resulting from the further processing of the separated gas streams may be recycled and incorporated into the feed mixture. By using separate liquefaction stages at different pressures to favor C1 and then C2 separation from the heavy stream, a natural gas liquid product with high C3+ purity results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Ross E. Dugas, Zubin B. Kuvadia, Preshit Dandekar, German A. Oliveros Patino
  • Patent number: 10744450
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are multi-bed rapid cycle pressure swing adsorption (RCPSA) processes for separating O2 from N2 and/or Ar, wherein the process utilizes at least five adsorption beds each comprising a kinetically selective adsorbent for O2 having an O2 adsorption rate (1/s) of at least 0.20 as determined by linear driving force model at 1 atma and 86° F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Shubhra Jyoti Bhadra, Roger Dean Whitley, Timothy Christopher Golden, Dingjun Wu, Glenn Paul Wagner
  • Patent number: 10737791
    Abstract: An Environmental Control Systems (ECS) for an aerospace vehicle comprises an air supply airflow path inputting, monitoring, and conditioning air from external to the vehicle, and a recirculation airflow path inputting, monitoring, filtering, and moving air from one portion of the interior of the vehicle to another portion. The air supply airflow can include a dynamically controlled VOC/ozone converter, which can be operated when the aerospace vehicle is on the ground. The recirculation airflow path can include a dynamically controlled regenerative gas contaminant filter and/or VOC/CO2 removal device. The filter/adsorption media of the controlled regenerative gas contaminant filter and/or VOC/CO2 removal device can be regenerated by suppling hot air or a vacuum, and gaseous contaminants can be broken down for removal from the regenerative gas contaminant filter by controlling UV irradiation. The controller can alert a flight crew if air quality falls outside predetermined or programmable parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: David R. Space, Stephen M. Trent, Dale A. Scheer, Warren A. Atkey, Anil Kumar Salgar
  • Patent number: 10710730
    Abstract: In some examples, a temperature control system comprises a heat exchanger providing thermal communication between inlet air and an avionics temperature controlled fluid, for controlling the temperature of the inlet air for use in an onboard oxygen generating system (OBOGS). The inlet air that exits the heat exchanger can be used as supply air for the OBOGS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew Zug
  • Patent number: 10710887
    Abstract: The subject invention is a novel UZM-63 material which comprises globular aggregates of crystallites having a DDR framework type with a mesopore volume of at least 0.025 cc/g, the nanocrystals having an average diameter of less than 60 nm. The novel UZM-63 material is useful for hydrocarbon conversion processes as well as separation applications, particularly the separation of olefins from paraffins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin Daniel Yuhas, Mimoza Sylejmani-Rekaliu, Jaime G. Moscoso
  • Patent number: 10632415
    Abstract: The invention relates to a set for separating two or more gases from each other, including: a first adsorption column set comprising at least two columns in series; an optional number of additional column sets comprising additional columns; connectors connecting each parallel additional column to the column; auxiliary equipment feeding a gas mixture to the columns and additional columns jointly and discharging separated gases according to pressure swing adsorption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: BIOGTS GREEN ENERGY COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Mika Rautiainen, Annimari Lehtomäki
  • Patent number: 10449480
    Abstract: A process for component separation in a polymer production system, comprising: separating a polymerization product stream into a gas stream and a polymer stream; contacting the polymer stream with a purge gas to yield a purged polymer stream and a spent purge gas stream; introducing the spent purge gas stream to a compressor to produce a compressed gas stream; introducing the compressed gas stream to a first separation unit to produce a first hydrocarbon stream and a membrane unit feed stream; introducing the membrane unit feed stream to a membrane unit to produce a first recovered purge gas stream and a retentate stream; introducing the retentate stream to a second separation unit to produce a second hydrocarbon stream and a PSA unit feed stream; and introducing the PSA unit feed stream to a PSA unit to produce a second recovered purge gas stream and a tail gas stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
    Inventors: Lei Ji, Joseph A. Curren, Ji Xian Loh
  • Patent number: 10427086
    Abstract: A gas separation unit for the separation of carbon dioxide from air is proposed for use in a cyclic adsorption/desorption process and using a loose particulate sorbent material. Sorbent material is arranged in at least two stacked layers, and each layer comprises two sheets of a flexible fabric material which is gas permeable but impermeable to the loose sorbent material. The sheets are arranged parallel defining an inlet face and an outlet face, are arranged with a distance in the range of 0.5-2.5 cm, and are enclosing a cavity in which the sorbent material is located. Said layers are arranged in the unit such that the inflow passes through the inlet face, subsequently through the particular sorbent material located in the cavity of the respective layer, subsequently to exit the layer through the outlet face to form the gas outflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: CLIMEWORKS AG
    Inventors: Christoph Gebald, Nicolas Repond, Tobias Ruesch, Jan André Wurzbacher
  • Patent number: 10413859
    Abstract: A (V)PSA unit for purifying a gas stream by adsorption is provided. The (V)PSA unit comprises, arranged successively in the direction of flow of the feed gas stream, a rotary-structured adsorbent wheel configured so as to drive the gas stream therethrough in an axial manner and allowing the feed gas to dry to a level corresponding to a dew point below ?30 C., and an adsorber with a centripetal radial configuration, comprising a bed of particulate adsorbent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Société Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procédés Georges Claude
    Inventors: Patrick Le Bot, Maxime Perez, Guillaume Rodrigues
  • Patent number: 10399032
    Abstract: Process and apparatuses for purifying a feed stream containing CO2 and predominantly hydrogen are provided. In an embodiment, the process includes passing the feed stream through a multilayer adsorbent bed comprising a first adsorbent section, a second adsorbent section downstream from the first adsorbent section and a third adsorbent section downstream from the second adsorbent section. The first adsorbent section comprises an activated carbon layer, the second adsorbent section comprises a layer of molecular sieve of the faujasite structure type with a Si/Al atomic ratio of from 1.5 to 8.0 and the third adsorbent section comprises a layer of molecular sieve of the faujasite structure type with a Si/Al atomic ratio of from 1.0 to 1.5. At least one of N2, CO2, CH4 and CO is adsorbed from the feed stream and a purified hydrogen product is recovered from the multilayer adsorbent bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Bradley P. Russell, Kirit M. Patel, Henry Rastelli
  • Patent number: 10392251
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for treating a mixture in order to separate carbon dioxide and hydrogen from said mixture, in which: i) the mixture is cooled and partially condensed and a first liquid is separated from the rest of the mixture in a first phase separator; ii) a gas from or derived from a gas from the first phase separator is treated in a hydrogen pressure swing adsorption module in order to produce a hydrogen-rich gas and a hydrogen-depleted residual gas; and iii) said hydrogen-depleted residual gas or a gas derived from said depleted gas is cooled and partially condensed and a second liquid is separated from the remaining gas in a second phase separator, separate from the first phase separator, wherein the first and/or second liquid being rich in carbon dioxide. The invention also relates to an installation for implementing such a method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Nicolas Chambron, Richard Dubettier-Grenier, Mathieu Leclerc, Pascal Marty
  • Patent number: 10350537
    Abstract: Methods are provided for the production of nitrogen, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide from an exhaust gas. Exhaust gas from combustion in a fuel rich (or reducing) atmosphere is primarily composed of CO2, CO, N2, H2O, and H2. CO may be converted to CO2 and H2 via the water gas shift reaction. Carbon dioxide may then be effectively separated from nitrogen and hydrogen to produce a carbon dioxide stream and a nitrogen/hydrogen stream. The nitrogen/hydrogen stream may then be effectively separated to produce a high purity nitrogen stream and a high purity hydrogen stream. The process may be done in any order, such as separating the nitrogen first or the carbon dioxide first.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Narasimhan Sundaram, Hans Thomann
  • Patent number: 10315157
    Abstract: A system and method for separating CO2 from natural gas, which ensure that no clogging or deterioration occurs in a gas separation membrane even after the gas separation membrane is used to remove carbon dioxide from the natural gas under conditions in which the natural gas is pressurized. First, an H2S remover removes hydrogen sulfide from raw natural gas. Then, a compressor pressurizes the natural gas from which H2S has been removed. After that, a cooler cools the pressurized natural gas so as to condense components that are a part of the natural gas. A gas/liquid separator removes the condensed components, and a CO2 separator, including a separation membrane for separating CO2 removes CO2 from the natural gas from which the condensed components have been removed. An expander, which shares a drive shaft with the compressor, expands the natural gas from which CO2 has been removed and recovers energy therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukio Tanaka, Tomoh Akiyama, Ryuji Yoshiyama, Masayuki Eda
  • Patent number: 10196277
    Abstract: A method for producing ammonia may be provided. The method may include supplying ammonia synthesis gas to a synthesis gas screw compressor and compressing the synthesis gas. The compressed synthesis gas may be joined with a flow of recycle gas compressed in a recycle gas screw compressor. The compressed combined flow may then be introduced to an ammonia reactor. The ammonia reactor may discharge ammonia, purge gas, and unconverted gas, which may be the recycle gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Inventor: Derek Carlton Lennon
  • Patent number: 10118877
    Abstract: The disclosure provides for metal organic frameworks (MOFs) that are selective adsorbents for aromatic hydrocarbons, devices comprising the MOFs thereof, and methods using the MOFS thereof for separating and/or storing aromatic hydrocarbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Long, Eric D. Bloch, Matthew Kapelewski, Miguel Carlos I. Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 10101066
    Abstract: An adsorber includes: a heat-medium pipe through which a heat medium flows; an adsorbent layer having an adsorbent that adsorbs a vapor-phase refrigerant located outside the heat-medium pipe by being cooled by the heat medium, and further desorbs the adsorbed refrigerant by being heated; and a heat-transfer member that transfers heat between the heat-medium pipe and the adsorbent. In the adsorber in which the heat-transfer member and the adsorbent are integrally formed, an adsorbent filling ratio ? is set at 70% or less when the adsorbent filling ratio ? is defined as a value obtained by dividing a filling density ? of the adsorbent filled in the adsorbent layer by a true density ?abs of particles of the adsorbent. For example, the adsorber may be suitably used for an adsorption refrigerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinsuke Takeuchi, Akira Yanagida, Yoshiyuki Okamoto, Hisao Nagashima
  • Patent number: 9764311
    Abstract: The present invention refers to a microporous crystalline material, to the method for the production thereof and to the use of same, the material having a composition: xX2O3:zZO2:yYO2 in which: X is a trivalent element such as Al, B, Fe, In, Ga, Cr, or mixtures thereof, where (y+z)/x can have values of between 9 and infinity; Z corresponds to a tetravalent element selected from Si, Ge or mixtures thereof; and Y corresponds to a tetravalent element such as Ti, Sn, Zr, V or mixtures thereof, where z/y can have values of between 10 and infinity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignees: Universitat Politecnica De Valencia, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (CSIC)
    Inventors: Avelino Corma Canós, Fernando Rey García, Manuel Hernández Rodríguez, José Luis Jordá Moret
  • Patent number: 9687803
    Abstract: Embodiments of a compact pressure swing reformer are disclosed. Certain embodiments have a construction comprising multiple rotating reformer beds, high temperature rotary valves at the bed ends, and E-seals to seal the beds to the valves. Several possible designs for introducing reactants into the beds also are disclosed. The multiple reformer beds are configured to provide for pressure equalization and ‘steam push’. The compact pressure swing reformer is suitable for use in fuel cell vehicle applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Soheil Alizadeh-Khiavi, Brooke Cox, Kamal Hatami, Daryl Musselman, Rajeev Agnihotri, Paul Berlowitz, Bruce Derites, Jeffrey Frederick, Jeffrey Grenda, Frank Hershkowitz, Zhiguo Hou, Novica Rados, John Siller, Richard Socha, George Walchuk
  • Patent number: 9656241
    Abstract: The present invention provides an adsorbent and a method for preparation of the adsorbent, wherein, the average crystal grain diameter of 5A molecular sieves in the adsorbent is 0.2-2.1 ?m; measured on the basis of the dry weight of the adsorbent, the content of 5A molecular sieves in the adsorbent is 92 wt. % or higher; the breaking ratio of the adsorbent at 250N is 9% or lower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: CHINA PETROLEUM & CHEMICAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Changzhi Tu, Shihua Chen, Yunlong Ding
  • Patent number: 9573116
    Abstract: Methods are provided for synthesizing ZSM-58 crystals with an improved morphology and/or an improved size distribution. By controlling the conditions during synthesis of the ZSM-58 crystals, crystals of a useful size with a narrow size distribution can be generated. Steaming the H-form DDR framework type crystals at a temperature from 426±° C. to 1100±° C. for a time period from about 30 minutes to about 48 hours can attain one or more of the following properties: a CH4 diffusivity of no more than 95% of the CH4 diffusivity of the unsteamed H-form DDR framework type crystals; an N2 BET surface area from 85% to 110% of the surface area of unsteamed H-form DDR framework type crystals; and an equilibrium CO2 sorption capacity from 80% to 105% of the equilibrium CO2 sorption capacity of unsteamed H-form DDR framework type crystals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Ivy D. Johnson, Tilman W. Beutel, Peter I. Ravikovitch, Harry W. Deckman, Jack W. Johnson, Jean W. Beeckman, Natalie A. Fassbender, Nadya A Hrycenko, Randolph J. Smiley
  • Patent number: 9555401
    Abstract: A molecular sieve blend with improved performance characteristics produced by preparing or obtaining a hydrophilic zeolite, particularly a hydrophilic zeolite A with a low SiO2:Al2O3 ratio, preparing or obtaining a hydrophobic silicon based binder, particularly a hydrophobic colloidal silica or a hydrophobic siloxane based material, mixing the zeolite with the silicon based binder and, in one embodiment, a seed containing small quantities of a clay binding agent and the zeolite, to form a mixture, and forming the mixture into the molecular sieve blend.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: ZEOCHEM LLC
    Inventors: Kerry Weston, Patrick Purcell
  • Patent number: 9533280
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to compositions useful in adsorption and reactive processes comprising an adsorbent powder, such as a zeolite, and a binder mixed to form an agglomerate having a porosity of 0.30??p?0.42 and a N2 pore diffusivity Dp?3.5×10?6 m2/s and wherein the mean particle diameter of the crystalline zeolite powder is 10 ?m or less; the mean particle diameter of the binder is 0.10 dA or less, and the binder concentration is 10% or less expressed on a dry weight basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: PRAXAIR TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Mark William Ackley, Philip Alexander Barrett, Neil Andrew Stephenson, Eustathios S. Kikkinides
  • Patent number: 9498746
    Abstract: Using a method and installation for separating acid components, dust and tar from hot gases of gasification installations, an economical method using a corresponding installation is to be created, which enables acid compounds HF, HCl, H2S, dust and tar to be reliably separated in the highest possible temperature range. The aim is achieved in that the media flow leaving the gasification at above 700° C. is fed with additives to a desulfurization process and subsequently to a combined cyclone 9 having associated filter cartridges 17 in a common vessel 8, and the gas is withdrawn for further use downstream of the filter cartridges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: ThyssenKrupp Uhde GmbH
    Inventors: Domenico Pavone, Ralf Abraham
  • Patent number: 9458013
    Abstract: Process for the production of a H2-containing product in a hydrogen production facility comprising a catalytic steam-hydrocarbon reformer and a pressure swing adsorption unit. The process comprises a catalytic steam-hydrocarbon reformer shutdown mode, a pressure swing adsorption unit shutdown mode, a pressure swing adsorption unit maintenance state, a pressure swing adsorption unit startup mode, and a catalytic steam-hydrocarbon reformer startup mode. The pressure swing adsorption unit startup mode comprises purging the adsorption beds with N2, then purging the adsorption beds with H2, and then adjusting the pressure of the H2 in the adsorption beds to within defined target pressure ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Andrew Sicinski, Christopher H. Wood, Bryan Clair Hoke, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9375674
    Abstract: Various equipment and methods associated with providing a concentrated product gas are provided. In one embodiment, the equipment includes an input device first and second sieve tanks, a variable restrictor, and a controller. In one embodiment, the method includes: a) selecting a desired output setting for the concentrated product gas from a plurality of output settings, b) separating one or more adsorbable components from a pressurized source gaseous mixture via first and second sieve tanks in alternating and opposing pressurization and purging cycles to form the concentrated product gas, and c) selectively controlling a variable restrictor based at least in part on the desired output setting to selectively provide flow between the first and second sieve tanks such that the flow for at least one output setting is different from the flow for at least one other output setting in relation to corresponding pressurization cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Invacare Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas B. Sprinkle, William J. Daniels, Thomas A. Drobnak, David G. Felty, Valentine A. Hodos, Martin J. Fabian, Samuel J. Shelnutt, Jonathon R. Olszewski