Plural Pressure Varying Steps (e.g., Pressure Swing Adsorption, Etc.) Patents (Class 95/96)
  • Patent number: 8715617
    Abstract: A hydrogen production process wherein steam and a hydrocarbon feed is reacted in a prereformer, the prereformed intermediate is further reacted in an oxygen-based reformer, the reformate is shifted and then separated by a pressure swing adsorber to form a H2 product stream and a tail gas, a first portion of the tail gas is recycled to the prereformer and/or the oxygen-based reformer, and a second portion of the tail gas is recycled to the pressure swing adsorber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene S. Genkin, Patricia Kentosh Hershman, Edward Landis Weist, Jr., Jianguo Xu
  • Patent number: 8709135
    Abstract: An off gas extraction system cleans common sources of off gas, such as storage tanks and polluted soils. Off gas is extracted, followed by compression and condensation. Compression and condensation produce an off gas that can be reintroduced as a treated gas into the off gas source. Alternatively, a regenerative absorber cleans the treated gas by adsorbing residual chemical vapor and concentrates the removed chemical vapors and reprocesses them. If the treated gas is not reintroduced into the off gas source, conventional scrubbers may used on the back end of the system to produce a final exhaust as prescribed by environmental regulation. Methods of accomplishing the same are similarly provided, including novel methods for degassing storage tanks and treating polluted soils to meet current environmental regulations, as well as green technology and sustainability initiatives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Inventor: Carol Diane Krumbholz
  • Patent number: 8702848
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a process for separating particulate solids from a gas stream. The process can include regenerating a catalyst in a regenerator, separating particulate solids in first and second cyclone stages, passing the gas stream from the second cyclone stage to an external third stage separator, and passing the gas stream from the external third stage separator to a cyclone recirculator to obtain a clean gas stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Sathit Kulprathipanja, Paolo Palmas, Richard A. Johnson, II
  • Patent number: 8685175
    Abstract: An apparatus and process for isomerizing a hydrocarbon stream rich in a C4 hydrocarbon and/or at least one of a C5 and C6 hydrocarbon which includes a first drier and a second drier; and a reaction zone communicating with at least the first drier. The first drier operates at a first condition to dry the reactant and the second drier operates at a second condition during regeneration. The used regenerant remaining in the second drier after regeneration can (1) pass through a vent-to-flare assembly in a batch-wise manner; (2) pass through a downflow-depressure-to-low-pressure-device assembly in a batch-wise manner; (3) pass through a cross-over piping purge assembly to minimize upsets in the reaction and fractionation zones when the second drier is placed back in operation; or any combination of (1) (2) and/or (3) to minimize upsets in the reaction and fractionation zones when the second drier is placed back in operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Bryan S. Garney, Jocelyn C. Daguio, Kurt A. Detrick, David J. Shecterle, John M. Krupczak, Andrew D. Mezera, Douglas A. Becci
  • Publication number: 20140084213
    Abstract: Method for removing dissolved gases from water to produce boiler feed water in a catalytic steam reforming process where boiler feed water is heated by indirect heat transfer with a reformate stream and/or a combustion product gas stream and the boiler feed water subsequently flash vaporized to form steam and residual liquid water, where the steam formed by flash vaporization strips the dissolved gases from the water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Joel Charles MacMurray, Gary Stuart Roth, Russell Ira Snyder, Gerald Michael Loughney
  • Publication number: 20140083293
    Abstract: Adsorber for adsorbing a fluid, comprising a cylinder with at least two parallel-passage contactors disposed in series in the direction of flow of the fluid to be adsorbed, and characterised in that each contactor comprises an internal insulation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: l' Air Liquide, Société Anonyme pour I'Etude et I'Exploitation des Procédés Georges Claude
    Inventor: Benoit Davidian
  • Patent number: 8679229
    Abstract: An adsorbent comprising a zeolite having a pore diameter of not less than 4.5 angstroms and not more than 7.3 angstroms as a principal component, which can adsorb xenon under ordinary temperatures and pressures or under ordinary temperatures and low xenon partial pressure, is used. In the xenon recovery method of the present invention, the adsorbent is communicated with a xenon-containing equipment, and xenon is adsorbed on the adsorbent and xenon is detached from the adsorbent. Thereby, xenon can be recovered, with efficiency, directly from used equipment in which xenon is enclosed under ordinary temperatures and pressures or under ordinary temperatures and low xenon partial pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Akiko Yuasa
  • Patent number: 8679239
    Abstract: An adsorbent comprising a zeolite having a pore diameter of not less than 4.5 angstroms and not more than 7.3 angstroms as a principal component, which can adsorb xenon under ordinary temperatures and pressures or under ordinary temperatures and low xenon partial pressures. In addition, a xenon adsorbing device comprising an adsorbent, a container of a vapor poorly-permeating material, which houses the adsorbent, and a joint part which joins the container to a xenon enclosure space, in which the adsorbent is communicated with the xenon enclosure space. Thereby, the present invention provides an adsorbent which recovers xenon directly from the used equipment in which xenon is enclosed with efficiency under ordinary temperatures and pressures or under ordinary temperatures and low xenon partial pressures, and a xenon adsorbing device using the adsorbent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Akiko Yuasa
  • Patent number: 8673135
    Abstract: The invention described herein relates to a novel process for reducing the carbon dioxide emissions from a coal and/or biomass liquefaction facility by utilizing a steam methane reformer unit in the complex designed to produce additional hydrogen which can be thereafter utilized in the process, as required for the plant fired heaters (including the SMR furnace), and for the production of plant steam. The plant light ends (C1, C2, etc.), which are normally utilized as fuel gas streams are the primary feeds to the SMR Unit along with the tail gas purge from a gasification complex within the facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Axens
    Inventors: James J. Colyar, James B MacArthur, Michael Peluso
  • Publication number: 20140069275
    Abstract: The invention is drawn to a cyclic pressure swing adsorption (PSA) process to recover an off-gas stream at high pressure with low energy consumption. Each cycle of said process comprises a blowdown phase consisting in lowering the pressure in an adsorbent bed from Phigh to Plow, wherein said blowdown phase is divided into several partial blowdown phases, wherein the gas streams discharged during the partial blowdown phases are introduced into respective discharge tanks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Inventors: Sebastien Rifflart, Ana Mafalda Almeida Peixoto Ribeiro, Joao Carlos Godinho De Faria Dos Santos, Alirio Egidio Rodrigues
  • Patent number: 8668767
    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: April 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    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
  • Publication number: 20140060326
    Abstract: The invention relates to an increased efficiency high-capacity pressure and/or temperature swing adsorption process comprising: contacting a feedstream at a rate of more than 75 MSCFD with an adsorbent material under conditions sufficient for the adsorbent material to selectively adsorb at least one of the component gases in the feedstream, so as to form a first effluent; and selectively desorbing the adsorbed gas from the adsorption material, so as to form a second effluent The adsorption module can contain rotary valves both on the feed end and on the product end and a rotational member defining a central rotational axis, with the adsorption bed(s) oriented circumferentially thereto. The adsorption bed walls can be angled, the feed end cross-sectional area of the adsorption bed(s) can be larger than the product end, and/or the feed end rotary valve diameter of the module(s) can be larger than the product end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventor: NARASIMHAN SUNDARAM
  • Patent number: 8658120
    Abstract: Disclosed is a non-thermofusible phenol resin powder having an average particle diameter of not more than 20 ?m and a single particle ratio of not less than 0.7. This non-thermofusible phenol resin powder preferably has a chlorine content of not more than 500 ppm. This non-thermofusible phenol resin powder is useful as an organic filler for sealing materials for semiconductors and adhesives for semiconductors. The non-thermofusible phenol resin powder is also useful as a precursor of functional carbon materials such as a molecular sieve carbon and a carbon electrode material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Air Water Inc.
    Inventors: Naoto Yoshinaga, Satoshi Ibaraki, Yoshinobu Kodani, Takaomi Ikeda
  • Patent number: 8657922
    Abstract: A method which separates a component which is easily adsorbed by an adsorbent and a component which is not easily adsorbed by the adsorbent, from a feed gas which includes at least two kinds of components, with adsorption columns, wherein the adsorbent is filled in the adsorption columns and has strong adsorbability with respect to at least one kind of component included in the feed gas, and also has weak adsorbability with respect to at least one kind of other components included in the feed gas, and a temperature of the adsorbents which is filled in the column is maintained to be higher than the highest temperature of an ambient temperature around the adsorption columns which is variable throughout the year.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation
    Inventors: Masaya Yamawaki, Yoshio Ishihara, Tadanobu Arimura
  • Publication number: 20140047978
    Abstract: A temperature swing adsorption process to purify a gas comprising at least one adsorption step and at least one regeneration step wherein the regeneration step takes place at a higher pressure than the adsorption step. The pressure is increased by a repressurization step between the regeneration step and the adsorption step, and then a purge step takes place after said repressurization step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Steven S. M. Struyf, William C. Rooney
  • Publication number: 20140026750
    Abstract: For separating carbon dioxide (CO2) from a gas stream, a substantially moisture free gas stream is produced using a first temperature swing adsorption (TSA), a first pressure swing adsorption (PSA), a first vacuum swing adsorption (VSA), membrane separation, a first absorption, or any combination thereof. CO2 is captured from the substantially moisture free gas stream and substantially dry CO2 depleted stream is produced using a second TSA, a second PSA, a second VSA, or a second absorption with a non-aqueous solvent with or without a chemical reaction. Adsorbents and/or absorbents used during moisture removal are regenerated using the substantially dry CO2 depleted stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: Innosepra LLC
    Inventor: Ravi Jain
  • Patent number: 8636003
    Abstract: An oxygen supply system is provided for generating oxygen from cabin air in an aircraft. The oxygen supply system exhibits a modular cabin unit with an oxygen port and a decentralized oxygen supply unit with an oxygen outlet, and the decentralized oxygen supply unit is set up in the modular cabin unit. The decentralized oxygen supply unit is set up to generate oxygen-enriched air from the cabin air by means of electrical power, and the oxygen-enriched air can be provided to the oxygen port of the modular cabin unit via the oxygen outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Walter Deutscher, Thomas Vogt, Robertino Kolarski, Dorothee Lang
  • Patent number: 8623118
    Abstract: A cyclic adsorption process is provided, the process containing one or more adsorber vessels undergoing the steps of at least pressurization and depressurization and driven by one or more variable speed centrifugal machines operating under acceleration and deceleration conditions and adjusted to the steps, vessel size, and process conditions employed, wherein the process cycle time is greater than the ratio of the change in inertia, defined the maximum energy that can be lost during a cycle due to inertia changes, to 0.3 times the total power of the one of more centrifugal machines that would be consumed in the absence of inertial effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul W. Belanger, Michael S. Manning, Andrew C. Rosinski
  • Patent number: 8617294
    Abstract: Pressure swing adsorption (PSA) assemblies and hydrogen-producing fuel processing assemblies and/or fuel cell systems including the same. The PSA assemblies include, or are utilized with, combustion fuel stream supply systems that are adapted to regulate the flow of a byproduct stream from the PSA assembly for delivery to a heating assembly for use as a combustible fuel stream, such as to maintain at least a hydrogen-producing region of the fuel processing system at a hydrogen-producing temperature or range of temperatures. In some embodiments, the combustion fuel stream supply system is configured to ensure that the supply of combustible fuel from the PSA assembly to the heating assembly contains at least a sufficient fuel value, such as to maintain at least the hydrogen-producing region at or within a predetermined hydrogen-producing temperature or range of temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: DCNS SA
    Inventors: Patton M. Adams, Travis A. Bizjak, James A. Givens
  • Publication number: 20130340615
    Abstract: Adsorbent compositions useful in adsorption and separation processes are made using silicone-derived binding agents. The adsorbent compositions are made from crystallite aluminosilicate particles bound with silicone-derived binding agents, and optionally small amounts of a clay binder, to form agglomerated crystallite particles and are calcined to volatilize the organic components associated with the silicone-derived binding agents. The agglomerated crystallite particles have superior pore structures and superior crush strengths at low binder concentrations and exhibit enhanced N2 adsorption rates and capacities when used in air separation processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Inventors: Philip Alexander Barrett, Steven John Pontonio, Persefoni Kechagia, Neil Andrew Stephenson, Kerry C. Weston
  • Publication number: 20130340614
    Abstract: Adsorbent compositions useful in adsorption, separation and purification processes are made using silicone-derived binding agents. The adsorbent compositions having enhanced adsorption rate and crush strength properties are made from agglomerated crystallite particles bound with silicone-derived binding agents. The silicone binder precursors are calcined during the manufacturing process to produce the silicone-derived binding agents. The adsorbent compositions are preferably used in air separation processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Inventors: PHILIP ALEXANDER BARRETT, STEVEN JOHN PONTONIO, PERSEFONI KECHAGIA, NEIL ANDREW STEPHENSON
  • Patent number: 8608830
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a method of minimizing wear of a rotary valve. The method can include regulating a velocity of the rotary valve having a controller for communicating one or more fluids to and from an adsorption zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Matthew W. Acker, Jeffrey M. Borek
  • Patent number: 8608827
    Abstract: An oxygen generator includes a stationary unit and a portable unit. The portable unit includes a compressor, molecular sieves, controllable valves and an enriched gas storage chamber. The stationary unit includes a compressor having a greater capacity than a capacity of the portable compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Bernhard Lewis Haberland, Joseph Thomas Dolenski, Jeremy Blair, Donald Kenneth Griffin, Marvin Norman Zeigler, Gerry Dean Richardson
  • Publication number: 20130327216
    Abstract: A swing adsorption process for removing contaminants from a gaseous feed stream through a combination of a selective adsorbent material containing an effective amount of a non-adsorbent filler, adsorbent contactor design, and adsorption cycle design.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: EXXONMOBIL UPSTREAM RESEARCH COMPANY
    Inventors: Harry W. Deckman, Robert A. Johnson, Robert F. Tammera, Thomas N. Anderson
  • Patent number: 8603220
    Abstract: Pressure swing adsorption system comprising two or more vessels, each having a feed end, a product end, and adsorbent material adapted to adsorb one or more components from a multi-component feed gas mixture; piping adapted to (1) introduce the feed gas mixture into the feed ends, withdraw a product gas from the product ends, and withdraw a waste gas from the feed ends of the vessels, and (2) place the product ends of any pair of vessels in flow communication; a feed pipe adapted to supply the feed gas mixture to the system; a product pipe adapted to withdraw the product gas from the system; and a waste gas pipe adapted to withdraw the waste gas from the system. An indexed rotatable multi-port valve is adapted to place the product end of each vessel in sequential flow communication with the product end of each of the other vessels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: David Lester Rarig, Roger Dean Whitley, Matthew James Labuda
  • Patent number: 8603221
    Abstract: A rapid cycle, gas permeable, adsorbent-containing (“RCA”) paper suitable for separating at least a portion of a first gas from a second gas in a gas mixture to produce a product stream enriched in the first gas. The RCA paper contains p-aramid fibrids and zeolite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Robert L. Bedard
  • Publication number: 20130324397
    Abstract: A durable carbon pyrolyzate adsorbent having reversible sorptive affinity for hydrogen sulfide, and including the following characteristics: (a) a bulk density as measured by ASTM D2854 in a range of from 0.55 g/cc adsorbent to 1.25 g/cc adsorbent; (b) an H2S capacity in a range of from 140 cc H2S/g adsorbent to 250 cc H2S/g adsorbent, at normal conditions (1 atm, 293.15° K); (c) an H2S capacity in a range of from 1.0 cc H2S/g adsorbent to 15.0 cc H2S/g adsorbent, at partial pressure of 0.76 ton (101.3 Pa) (1000 ppm) of H2S at 293.15° K; and (d) a single pellet radial crush strength in a range of from 7 kilopond (kP) to 40 kilopond (kP) as measured by ASTM D4179.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: Advanced Technology Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Shaun M. Wilson, Edward A. Sturm, Michael J. Wodjenski, J. Donald Carruthers, Joshua B. Sweeney
  • Patent number: 8597408
    Abstract: An apparatus for separation of gases from ambient air that has at least one separation column with an inlet at a first end and an outlet at a second end, a buffer column having a single inlet at a first end, a vacuum pump, and a valve system that connects the vacuum pump to the outlet at the first end of the separation column, and that connects the outlet at the second end of separation column to the single inlet at the first end of the buffer column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Vbox, Incorporated
    Inventors: Nicholas P. Van Brunt, Theodore W. Jagger, Perry B. Lonnes, John A. Kivisto
  • Patent number: 8597400
    Abstract: In a method and an apparatus for separating at least one gaseous component from a waste gas of an installation for producing liquid pig iron, liquid primary steel products or sponge iron, in a first step, a stream of the waste gas passes through at least one adsorption separator at a first pressure, whereby the gaseous component is largely separated from the waste gas and, in a second step, the gaseous component is largely removed from the adsorption separator at a second pressure, which is lower than the first pressure. The method and apparatus are maintenance-free, cause low investment and energy costs and has a lower space requirement by a method in which the second pressure or the desorption pressure is generated by at least one jet pump, which is fed a stream of a propellant gas at a third pressure, which is higher than the second pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Vai Metals Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Robert Millner, Norbert Rein, Gerald Rosenfellner
  • Patent number: 8591627
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and system for separating carbon dioxide (CO2) from a CO2 containing gas stream containing water vapor and additional impurities, for example, nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, and mercury. The CO2 is captured by subjecting the CO2 gas feed stream to a temperature swing adsorption step. The temperature swing adsorption step comprises an adsorption step for producing a substantially dry carbon dioxide-depleted stream, and an adsorbent regeneration step comprising heating the adsorbent bed to produce a substantially water vapor-free carbon dioxide stream. Moisture from the gas stream containing CO2 is optionally removed by pressure swing adsorption, temperature swing adsorption, membrane separation, or absorption prior to CO2 capture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Innosepra LLC
    Inventor: Ravi Jain
  • Patent number: 8574347
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a pressure swing adsorption process, also known as PSA process, which is modified with a view to utilizing the heat from the post-adsorption stream coming from the molecular sieves to heat/vaporize the pre-adsorption stream containing the hydrated product or the mixture component(s) to be adsorbed in said sieves. The present invention provides alternative arrangements for the heat exchanger system in order to use the thermal potential of the post-adsorption stream with the elimination or minimization of the risk of a slug flow regime in the exchangers, the so-called “gush,” which would be a natural result from the periodic oscillation characteristic of PSA processes. With this, the vapor consumption with the modified process according to the present invention is considerably reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignees: Siemens LTDA, Dedini S/A Industrias de Base
    Inventors: Adler Gomes Moura, Daniel Moozydlower
  • Patent number: 8574348
    Abstract: A temperature swing adsorption process to purify a gas comprising at least one adsorption step and at least one regeneration step wherein the regeneration step takes place at a lower pressure than the adsorption step. The pressure is increased by a repressurization step between the regeneration step and the adsorption step, and then a purge step takes place after said repressurization step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Steven S. M. Struyf, William C. Rooney
  • Patent number: 8574346
    Abstract: A thermocyclic process having a short cycle time, typically a cycle time of less 30 minutes, especially a PSA (Pressure Swing Adsorption) process, using agglomerates that contain phase change materials (PCMs), so as to reduce the thermal effects that said thermocyclic process is subjected to during each cycle is provide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Christian Monereau, Pluton Pullumbi, Vincent Gueret
  • Patent number: 8562723
    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: April 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    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
  • Publication number: 20130269519
    Abstract: A portable oxygen concentrator designed for medical use where the usable life of the sieve beds, adsorbers, is monitored and communicated to the user or service provider through a user interface or a transmitted signal. The concentrator is designed so that the beds are easily replaced by the user or a field technician. Preferably PSA cycle operating parameters appropriate to the replaced beds can be easily reset if needed by the user or service provider.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Inventors: Brenton Taylor, Peter Hansen
  • Publication number: 20130269523
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the purification by adsorption of a feed flow rich in methane and comprising at least carbon dioxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Inventors: Jean-Marc Bernhardt, Pierre Briend, David Grillot, Elise Renou, Simon Saulquin, Olivier Weitten
  • Patent number: 8551229
    Abstract: Hydrogen sulfide is removed from a hydrogen rich gas stream using adsorbents having a low loss of carbon dioxide adsorption capacity upon sulfur loading including high purity silica gels, titania or highly cross-linked, non-chemically reactive resins. The adsorbents may be used to adsorb both carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide, or may be used as a guard bed upstream of a separate carbon dioxide adsorbent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Raymond Hufton, Timothy Christopher Golden, Robin Joyce Maliszewskyj, Edward Landis Weist, Jr., Robert Quinn, Erin Marie Sorensen
  • Patent number: 8551217
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a six bed pressure swing adsorption (PSA) system utilizing new and advanced cycles to obtain enhanced hydrogen recovery from a hydrogen containing feed gas (i.e., synthesis gas). In one such cycle each of the six beds has four pressure equalization steps, and at least one of the beds is receiving and processing said feed gas to obtain a hydrogen product gas (i.e., a 6-1-4 cycle).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Mohamed S. A. Baksh, Marian Simo
  • Publication number: 20130259782
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and apparatus for producing a fluid enriched in carbon dioxide starting from a waste gas from a ferrous metallurgy unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme pour I'Etude et I'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Alain Briglia, Christophe Szamleski, Olivier De Cayeux, Richard Dubettier-Grenier, Alain Guillard, Xavier Traversac
  • Patent number: 8545608
    Abstract: Embodiments of crystalline, titanium silicate molecular sieves are described having a formula representing mole ratios of oxides of nM1O:TiO2:ySiO2:zH2O:wX where M1 refers to a metal cation or mixture of metal cations; n is from about 1 to about 2; y is from about 1 to about 10; z is from 0 to about 100; X is a halide anion other than fluorine, or combination of halide anions that excludes fluorine; and w is greater than 0. The pore size of the sieves can be adjusted by ion exchanging M1 cations with a suitable amount of another species. Embodiments of the invention are useful for various adsorptive fluid separation processes, including pressure swing adsorption processes. For example, disclosed embodiments are useful for separating methane from air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: The Governors of the University of Alberta
    Inventors: James A. Sawada, Edward J. Rode, Steven M. Kuznicki, Christopher Chih Itao Lin
  • Patent number: 8545604
    Abstract: A modular and compact adsorbent bed structure is disclosed for use in an adsorption-based gas separation plant. The conventional adsorbent bed in a gas separation plant is replaced with a plurality of modular adsorbent bed units connected to make the adsorbent bed structure. The modular design requires lower fabrication and maintenance costs; is easier to transport; and is easier to load with adsorbent material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ashwin Desai, Cem E. Celik, Mark William Ackley, James Smolarek
  • Patent number: 8545603
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a method utilizing adsorber bed(s) and reversible blower(s) operating in a vacuum pressure swing adsorption separation process to separate gases. The process is designed to provide a safer and more cost-effective adsorption system that captures and utilizes energy typically wasted during equipment transitions thereby achieving overall higher power efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Adsorptech Inc.
    Inventors: Apurva Maheshwary, John Robert Ambriano, James J Flaherty, Krishnamurti V Subramanian
  • Patent number: 8545601
    Abstract: A two-stage complete recycle pressure-swing adsorption process for gas separation features that separating more adsorptable component and less adsorptable component from gas mixture, and the product is more adsorptable component or less adsorptable component or both of them. Serially-connected operation of two-stage pressure-swing adsorber is employed. The gas mixture is fed into the first stage pressure-swing adsorption gas separation system, and the more adsorptable component of the gas mixture is absorbed, then is abstracted into product. The semifinished gas mixture from the outlet of the first stage pressure-swing adsorption tower is fed into the second stage pressure-swing adsorption gas separation system. The more adsorptable component of the semifinished gas mixture is absorbed further, and the less adsorptable component is fed into next stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Inventor: Yuwen Song
  • Patent number: 8545602
    Abstract: The removal of one or more of the gases CO2, N2 and H2S from gas mixtures containing at least one of said gases with use of an 8-ring zeolite having a Si:Al ratio from about 1:1 to about 1000:1. The preferred gas mixture is a natural gas feedstream and the preferred 8-ring zeolite is DDR.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Ronald R. Chance, Sebastian C. Reyes, Harry W. Deckman, Gregory J. DeMartin, Bruce T. Kelley, Paul S. Northrop, Eugene R. Thomas
  • Patent number: 8535412
    Abstract: The present system is an adsorption system for separating air into a concentrated gas component, which has an air supply, a compressor for receiving and compressing the air supply, providing a compressed air supply, and molecular sieve material for separating the compressed air supply into a concentrated gas component. The adsorption system delivers at least 5 liters per minute (LPM) of concentrated gas component from the molecular sieve material in which the system has a specific total weight per LPM <9 lbs/LPM. Additionally, an output quantity of the concentrated gas is delivered by the adsorption system and a purging quantity of the concentrated gas is dispensed into a sieve chamber of the adsorption system undergoing a purge cycle. The purging quantity has a value equal to or less than the difference between the maximum quantity and the output quantity, and the purging quantity is controlled based on the output quantity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: RIC Investments, LLC
    Inventor: Joseph T. Dolensky
  • Patent number: 8535415
    Abstract: A process and system for recovering valuable by-products (e.g., hydrogen) from refinery gas streams. For hydrogen-only recovery, the invention comprises a partial condensation step to upgrade the refinery fuel gas to a minimum of 60% hydrogen, which is further purified in a pressure swing adsorption process. When configured to recover hydrogen, methane-rich gas and raw LPG (methane depleted gas containing C2 hydrocarbons and heavier), the invention comprises two partial condensation steps where the feed is cooled in the first step to allow separation of ethane and heavier hydrocarbons, and the resulting vapor is cooled to a lower temperature in a second step for hydrogen recovery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ramona Manuela Dragomir, Raymond Francis Drnevich, Dante Patrick Bonaquist
  • Patent number: 8529665
    Abstract: Systems and processes are provided for gas separation using high-speed induction variable-speed motors to accelerate and decelerate centrifugal compressors suitable for use in pressure swing adsorption (PSA) or vacuum pressure swing adsorption (VPSA) processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael S. Manning, Andrew C. Rosinski, Gerald Thomas O'Connor, Paul William Belanger
  • Patent number: 8529663
    Abstract: The present invention relates the separation of a target gas from a mixture of gases through the use of engineered structured adsorbent contactors in pressure swing adsorption and thermal swing adsorption processes. Preferably, the contactors contain engineered and substantially parallel flow channels wherein 20 volume percent or less of the open pore volume of the contactor, excluding the flow channels, is in the mesopore and macropore range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Sebastian C. Reyes, Harry W. Deckman, Ronald R. Chance, Gregory J. DeMartin, Frank Hershkowitz, Eugene R. Thomas, Paul S. Northrop, Bruce T. Kelley, Edward W. Corcoran, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8529674
    Abstract: Pressure swing adsorption process for the separation of a feed gas mixture comprising (a) providing a pressure swing adsorption system comprising one or more composite beds, each composite bed comprising adsorbent material disposed in two or more vessels in parallel flow configuration, each vessel having a feed end and a product end; (b) performing cyclic sequential steps comprising adsorption/make product, withdrawing gas at decreasing pressure from the composite bed, purging the composite bed, and introducing gas into the composite bed at increasing pressure; and (c) for any of the sequential steps, setting a flow rate or flow rates of one or more gases selected from the group consisting of gas introduced into or withdrawn from the feed end or ends of any of the two or more vessels and gas introduced into or withdrawn from the product end or ends of any of the two or more vessels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Sang Kook Lee, Justin David Bukowski, Carolyn Taylor Zelson, Mark Ephraim Levine
  • Patent number: 8529662
    Abstract: A process for the separation of one or more heavy hydrocarbon gases from a gas mixture containing heavy hydrocarbon gas components and methane. The process is conducted in swing adsorption apparatus containing adsorbent contactor having a plurality of flow channels and wherein 20 volume percent or less of the open pore volume of the contactors, is in the mesopore and macropore range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Bruce T. Kelley, Paul S. Northrop, Ronald R. Chance, Harry W. Deckman, Edward W. Corcoran, Jr., Eugene R. Thomas