Plural Pressure Varying Steps (e.g., Pressure Swing Adsorption, Etc.) Patents (Class 95/96)
  • Publication number: 20120222553
    Abstract: A pressure-temperature swing adsorption process for the removal of a target species, such as an acid gas, from a gas mixture, such as a natural gas stream. Herein, a novel multi-step temperature swing/pressure swing adsorption is utilized to operate while maintaining very high purity levels of contaminant removal from a product stream. The present process is particularly effective and beneficial in removing contaminants such as CO2 and/or H2S from a natural gas at high adsorption pressures (e.g., at least 500 psig) to create product streams of very high purity (i.e., very low contaminant levels).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Preeti Kamakoti, Daniel P. Leta, Harry W. Deckman, Peter I. Ravikovitch, Thomas N. Anderson
  • Publication number: 20120222551
    Abstract: A process for reducing the loss of valuable products by improving the overall recovery of a contaminant gas component in swing adsorption processes. The present invention utilizes at least two adsorption beds, in series, with separately controlled cycles to control the adsorption front and optionally to maximize the overall capacity of a swing adsorption process and to improve overall recovery a contaminant gas component from a feed gas mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventor: Harry W. Deckman
  • Patent number: 8241401
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for producing purified hydrogen gas by a pressure swing adsorption process. Further the invention relates to detecting an operating life of adsorbents in a adsorption tower. The method and the apparatus have a gas supply unit for adding an inert gas to an unpurified hydrogen gas and a detector for measuring an inert gas in a purified hydrogen gas discharged from the adsorption tower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Polycrystalline Silicon America Corporation (MIPSA), Mitsubishi Materials Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Kamei, Yasunari Takimoto
  • Patent number: 8241400
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process for recovering gaseous hydrogen and gaseous carbon dioxide from a mixture of hydrocarbons by utilizing a system that includes a reformer unit, an optional water gas shift reactor, and a pressure swing adsorption unit in conjunction with a carbon dioxide purification unit such as a cryogenic purification unit or a catalytic oxidizer. In this process, purified CO2 from the CO2 purification unit is used as a co-feed/co-purge in the pressure swing adsorption unit in order to produce a CO2 tail gas that includes a higher concentration of CO2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Bhadra S. Grover
  • Patent number: 8231709
    Abstract: A process for separating a gas mixture in a separation unit of the type in which the gas mixture comes from a reaction unit and comprises, as main constituents, hydrogen (H2) and/or carbon monoxide (CO).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme Pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Pascal Marty, Bernd Polster
  • Patent number: 8226744
    Abstract: A method for purifying or separating a gas mixture comprising at least one fuel, using a unit having at least one adsorber subjected to a pressure cycle comprising at least one step of placing under vacuum by means of a vacuum pump, wherein at least one adsorber and/or the vacuum pump, depressurized during the cycle, is repressurized at least partly by an external gas to said unit and not containing a sufficient quantity of oxidizer to create an inflammable mixture during this repressurization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Christian Monereau, Natacha Haik-Beraud, Vincent Gueret, Anne Berthelemot
  • Patent number: 8221524
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for achieving low oxygen levels in a natural gas stream without the use of a catalytic system. In one embodiment, the method comprises: membrane treatment for the removal of the bulk of CO2 and oxygen in the natural gas feed and the addition of a PSA system using a carbon molecular sieve adsorbent for the adsorption of residual oxygen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Guild Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael J. Mitariten
  • Publication number: 20120174775
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a ten 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). More specifically, through the newly developed process cycles, the ten bed PSA system is capable of matching the hydrogen recovery of conventional twelve bed PSA systems designed to manufacture 100 million standard cubic feet per day of gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Inventors: Mohamed S. A. Baksh, Marian Simo
  • Patent number: 8216343
    Abstract: A radial flow reactor vessel is disclosed for use in gas purification, separation or reaction processes and most suitably used in prepurification processes. The reactor has internal baskets for confining a bed of active material. The baskets are rigidly supported at both the top and bottom ends of the reactor and have walls that are axially flexible and radially rigid. The vessel has multiple movable support columns designed to facilitate pre-stressing of the baskets to offset axial compressive loads induced from thermal cycling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark William Ackley, Cem E. Celik, Jeffert John Nowobilski, James Stanley Schneider
  • Publication number: 20120167761
    Abstract: A method comprising (i) providing a metal organic framework formed by AlIII ions to which fumarate ions are coordinated to produce a porous framework structure, (ii) bringing a substance into contact with the metal organic framework such that the substance is uptaken by the porous metal organic framework to provide storage of or controlled release of, the substance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: BASF SE
    Inventors: Christoph Kiener, Ulrich Müller, Markus Schubert
  • Patent number: 8211211
    Abstract: Methane product gas is produced from landfill gas and gob gas either by a three-stage process of PSA-TSA-PSA or PSA-PSA-PSA, or a two-stage process of PSA-PSA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Kent S. Knaebel & Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: Kent S. Knaebel
  • Publication number: 20120160097
    Abstract: This disclosure involves an adsorption-desorption material, e.g., crosslinked epoxy-amine material having an Mw from about 500 to about 1×106, a total pore volume from about 0.2 cc/g to about 2.0 cc/g, and a CO2 adsorption capacity of at least about 0.2 millimoles CO2 per gram of crosslinked material, and/or linear epoxy-amine material having an Mw from about 160 to about 1×106, a total pore volume from about 0.2 cc/g to about 2.0 cc/g, and a CO2 adsorption capacity of at least about 0.2 millimoles CO2 per gram of linear material. This disclosure also involves processes for preparing the crosslinked epoxy-amine materials and linear epoxy-amine materials, as well as selective removal of CO2 and/or other acid gases from a gaseous stream using the epoxy-amine materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Dennis G. Peiffer, David C. Calabro, Quanchang Li, Mobae Afeworki, Stephen M. Cundy
  • Patent number: 8202351
    Abstract: A process for gas purification or separation intended to produce a gas mixture containing mainly hydrogen and, to a minor extent CO, it being imperative for the CO content to remain below a set value is presented. This invention particularly relates to adsorption processes and even more particularly to processes of the PSA (“Pressure Swing Adsorption”) type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude Et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Christian Monereau, Pluton Pullumbi, Guillaume Rodrigues
  • Patent number: 8202350
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention include a method and apparatus for reversibly sorbing a target gas. In one embodiment, an apparatus for reversibly sorbing a target gas is disclosed. The apparatus includes an inlet, a multi-channel monolith coupled to the inlet, the multi-channel monolith including a plurality of channels, each one of the plurality of channels includes one or more walls, wherein at least one of the one or more walls of at least one of the plurality of channels is porous and wherein one or more of the plurality of channels contain a sorbent and an outlet coupled to the multi-channel monolith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: SRI International
    Inventors: Marianna F. Asaro, Yigal Blum
  • Patent number: 8192527
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing hydrogen of very high purity from a feed predominantly containing said hydrogen and a minor part of impurities mainly consisting of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane and heavier hydrocarbons. The purification method by hydrogen adsorption using a desorption stage at a lower pressure than the pressure of the feed, such as a PSA method for example, allows to produce the desorption stream and notably to recover the carbon dioxide under pressure and high-purity hydrogen, with a high yield. These performances are obtained by combining the successive stages of the method according to the invention with the use of a new family of adsorbent whose dynamic capacity at a high desorption pressure is greater than that of conventional adsorbents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: IFP Energies Nouvelles
    Inventors: Gerhard Pirngruber, Elsa Jolimaitre, Luc Wolff, Damien Leinekugel le Cocq
  • Patent number: 8192526
    Abstract: An improved gas separation PSA process, more particularly for oxygen production, utilizing adsorbents of Type X characterized by high frequency (i.e., cycle times of less than 4 s), bed length to square of mean particle diameter ratio within 200 to 600 mm?1, bed size factor of less than 50 lb/TPDO. The bed length, mean particle size, and cycle time are selected in a range such that axial dispersion becomes an important factor. In this way, low product recovery and high pressure drop (high power consumption) disadvantages often associated with the use of small particles are overcome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Guoming Zhong, Peter James Rankin, Mark William Ackley
  • Patent number: 8187363
    Abstract: A process for improving the thermodynamic efficiency of a hydrogen generation system is provided. This includes producing a syngas stream in a reformer, wherein the reformer has a combustion zone. This also includes introducing a syngas stream into a pressure swing adsorption unit, thereby producing a product hydrogen stream and a tail gas stream. This also includes heating the tail gas stream by indirect heat exchange with a heat source, thereby producing a heated tail gas stream; and introducing the heated tail gas stream into the combustion zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Air Liquide Process & Construction, Inc.
    Inventor: Bhadra S. Grover
  • Patent number: 8177886
    Abstract: A method of continuously removing nitrogen from a blast furnace exhaust stream containing oxygen, nitrogen and unburned hydrocarbons in order to form a supplemental feed to a gas turbine engine containing residual hydrocarbon fuel by first removing entrained solid particulates in the blast furnace exhaust stream to create a substantially particulate-free gas, passing the particulate-free stream through at least one separator bed containing an adsorptive material capable of adsorbing nitrogen from air, adsorbing substantially all of the nitrogen as interstitial nitrogen on solids within the separator bed, feeding non-adsorbed hydrocarbon fuel and oxygen components leaving the separator to a gas turbine engine and removing the adsorbed nitrogen from the separator bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sam David Draper, Shahryar Rabiei
  • Publication number: 20120107219
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for producing purified hydrogen gas by a pressure swing adsorption process. Further the invention relates to detecting an operating life of adsorbents in a adsorption tower. The method and the apparatus have a gas supply unit for adding an inert gas to an unpurified hydrogen gas and a detector for measuring an inert gas in a purified hydrogen gas discharged from the adsorption tower.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicants: MITSUBISHI MATERIALS CORPORATION, Mitsubishi Polycrystalline Silicon America Corporation (MIPSA)
    Inventors: Takeshi Kamei, Yasunari Takimoto
  • Publication number: 20120090465
    Abstract: A pressure or vacuum swing adsorption process for separating water from solvent utilizing molecular sieves and regenerating the molecular sieve by passing non-condensable recycled gas along the molecular sieve, capturing the recycled gas and using the recycled gas again to repeat regeneration of the molecular sieve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: WINTEK CORPORATION
    Inventor: Paul M. Winter
  • Publication number: 20120090353
    Abstract: A concentrated carbon dioxide stream is produced during a hydrogen pressure swing adsorption unit cycle by fractionating the carbon dioxide removed from the adsorbent in the adsorption beds during the regeneration of the adsorption beds. Thereby providing a cost efficient process for producing merchant carbon dioxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: American Air Liquide, Inc.
    Inventor: Yudong Chen
  • Patent number: 8157892
    Abstract: Systems and methods for circulating air in an enclosed environment are disclosed. An inlet can be provided to receive an outside air from outside of the enclosed environment and an air handling unit coupled to the inlet to receive the outside air through the inlet and configured to receive a circulated air from the enclosed environment. The air handling unit can be configured to affect a temperature of at least one of the received outside air and the received circulated air. Based on the received outside air and the received circulated air, the air handling unit can be further configured to generate air for supplying to the enclosed environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Enverid Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Udi Meirav
  • Patent number: 8142544
    Abstract: A system and a method are described for monitoring pressure imbalances in the adsorbent beds of a portable gas concentrator. Using the programmability features found in modern portable concentrators, various mitigative procedures to adjust for pressure imbalances and to predict the need for service are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Inogen, Inc.
    Inventors: Brenton Taylor, Peter Hansen
  • Patent number: 8141649
    Abstract: A fire suppression system and a method for providing fire suppression onboard of an aircraft by rapidly establishing a breathable hypoxic atmosphere onboard of an aircraft, which can be generated by an air separation device utilizing a positive pressure of the bleed air and a negative pressure of the outside atmosphere; breathable hypoxic fire-extinguishing agent, containing 12%-18% of oxygen, can flood protected compartments of an aircraft in case of a fire and/or can be used as propellant for generating water mist or foam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: FirePass Corporation
    Inventor: Igor K. Kotliar
  • Patent number: 8128734
    Abstract: An improved two stage pressure swing adsorption process for producing enriched oxygen and separating nitrogen or oxygen from a feed air stream. The process utilizes two-stage pressure swing adsorption plants which are serially connected. In the first stage, carbon dioxide, water and part of nitrogen are removed and nitrogen is concentrated. In the second stage nitrogen is further separated from the effluent intermediate gas from the adsorption step in the adsorption towers of the first stage and oxygen is concentrated to the desired concentration. In the first stage the adsorption towers go through the steps in turn in a cycle: Adsorption, Purge, evacuation, countercurrent pressure equalization rising of the second stage gas, purge gas pressurization, and final pressurization. In the second stage the adsorption towers go through the steps in turn in a cycle: Adsorption, countercurrent pressure equalization falling, and final pressurization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Chengdu Tianli Chemical Engineering Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuwen Song
  • Publication number: 20120049110
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a carbon-comprising composite, wherein a porous metal-organic framework comprising at least one at least bidentate organic compound coordinated to at least one metal ion is pyrolyzed under a protective gas atmosphere and the at least one at least bidentate organic compound is nitrogen-free. The invention further relates to composites which can be obtained in this way and sulfur electrodes comprising these and also their uses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: BASF SE
    Inventors: Natalia Trukhan, Ulrich Müller, Emi Leung, Alexander Panchenko, Nicole Janssen
  • Publication number: 20120031268
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to porous frameworks for ethylene oxide separation and recovery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2010
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicants: BASF SE, THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Omar M. Yaghi, David Kyle Britt, Alexander U. Czaja
  • Publication number: 20120024152
    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: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Inventors: Masaya Yamawaki, Yoshio Ishihara, Tadanobu Arimura
  • Patent number: 8101133
    Abstract: A radial flow reactor is disclosed for use in gas purification, separation or reaction processes and most suitably used in prepurification processes. The reactor has two concentric internal baskets which are rigidly supported at both the top and bottom ends of the reactor. The reactor has a removable section in the inner basket to accommodate rotating arms to dense load one or more layers of active materials between the concentric baskets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark William Ackley, Cem E. Celik, Jeffert John Nowobilski, James Stanley Schneider
  • Publication number: 20120012000
    Abstract: A feed stream, comprising hydrogen sulphide (H2S), carbon dioxide (CO2), hydrogen (H2) and, optionally, carbon monoxide (CO), is separated into at least a CO2 product stream and an H2 or H2 and CO product stream. The stream is separated using a pressure swing adsorption system, an H2S removal system and a further separation system, which systems are used in series to separate the stream. The method has particular application in the separation of a sour (i.e. sulphur containing) syngas, as for example produced from the gasification of solid or heavy liquid carbonaceous feedstock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew David Wright, Vincent White, Kevin Boyle Fogash, Jeffrey William Kloosterman, Jeffrey Raymond Hufton, Charles Linford Schaffer
  • Patent number: 8088197
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods for removing CO2 from air, which comprises exposing sorbent covered surfaces to the air. The invention also provides for an apparatus for exposing air to a CO2 sorbent. In another aspect, the invention provides a method and apparatus for separating carbon dioxide (CO2) bound in a sorbent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Kilimanjaro Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Allen B. Wright, Klaus S. Lackner, Burton Wright, Matt Wallen, Ursula Ginster, Eddy J. Peters
  • Publication number: 20110315012
    Abstract: ETS-10 type materials preferentially adsorb ethane and, if present, C3+ paraffins from mixtures comprising methane, ethane and optionally C3+ paraffins at pressures above 200 psia. A process in which ETS-10 type materials are used to separate ethane and C3+ paraffins from natural gas streams at over 200 psia is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Inventors: Steven Mitchell Kuznicki, Adolfo Maria Avila, Meng Shi, Vernon Lindsay Strom, Patricio S. Herrera
  • Patent number: 8083836
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for extracting CO2 from air comprising an anion exchange material formed in a matrix exposed to a flow of the air, and for delivering that extracted CO2 to controlled environments. The present invention contemplates the extraction of CO2 from air using conventional extraction methods or by using one of the extraction methods disclosed; e.g., humidity swing or electro dialysis. The present invention also provides delivery of the CO2 to greenhouses where increased levels of CO2 will improve conditions for growth. Alternatively, the CO2 is fed to an algae culture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Kilimanjaro Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Allen B. Wright, Klaus S. Lackner, Ursula Ginster
  • Publication number: 20110308385
    Abstract: The present invention relates to selectively isolating gases using a natrolite-based zeolite, and more particularly, to a novel natrolite-based zeolite and to selectively isolating hydrogen and/or helium gas using a natrolite-based zeolite. The present invention is characterized in that gas containing hydrogen is brought into contact with a natrolite-based zeolite to selectively isolate the hydrogen. The present invention provides a sorbent which can selectively isolate hydrogen and/or helium, and provides a method for isolating the hydrogen and/or helium at room temperature or at a high temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: POSTECH ACADEMY-INDUSTRY FOUNDATION
    Inventor: Suk Bong Hong
  • Patent number: 8080139
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of anhydrous ethanol production using circulation by multiple towers' alternation, the procedure includes the steps of heating, adsorption, internal circulation, vacuum suction, washing and resolving etc. The method can prolong the life of adsorbent, reduce the heat exchanger's surface, cooling water, the equipment investment and energy consumption, provide high ethanol recovery rate and high dehydration, and protect environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Inventors: Yaling Zhong, Yuming Zhong
  • Patent number: 8070853
    Abstract: In one aspect, a product gas concentrator is provided. In one embodiment, the apparatus may include: a first process separating absorbable components from a source gaseous mixture, a second process providing concentrated product gas in a continuous output mode, a third process providing concentrated product gas in a pulsed output mode, and a fourth process selectively switching between the continuous and pulsed output modes. In another embodiment, the apparatus may include: a first process pressurizing a source gaseous mixture, a second process separating absorbable components from the pressurized gaseous mixture, a product tank accumulating concentrated product gas for dispensing, an output path, a third process selecting a volume to be dispensed during a predetermined time, a pressure sensor monitoring pressure of the concentrated product gas, and a fourth process controlling flow of the concentrated product gas in response to the selected volume and the monitored pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Invacare Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas B. Sprinkle
  • Patent number: 8062613
    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: November 22, 2011
    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
  • Patent number: 8052777
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a pressure swing adsorber vessel. The pressure swing adsorber vessel can include one or more walls. Generally, the one or more walls contain an adsorbent bed having a first side and a second side and at least one spacer forming a cusp. Usually, the one or more walls and the adsorbent bed define at least one void volume adjacent to the adsorbent bed, and the cusp of the at least one spacer may be positioned in the at least one void volume. The cusp can be positioned opposing an incoming feed stream or a desorbent stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Paul A. Sechrist
  • Publication number: 20110247491
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process and an apparatus for the treatment of a carbon dioxide-containing gas stream from a large-scale combustion plant, in particular of a power station. The gas stream is separated in a carbon dioxide purification stage R into a gas substream having an increased carbon dioxide content and a gas substream having a reduced carbon dioxide content. The gas substream having an increased carbon dioxide content is fed to a further use and/or storage S. In particular, compression of the carbon dioxide under the ground can reduce the emission of gases which affect the climate. To increase the proportion of compressible CO2, it is proposed that the gas substream having a reduced carbon dioxide content is fed to a pressure swing adsorption stage PSA in which a fraction which is rich in carbon dioxide and a fraction which is low in carbon dioxide are produced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2009
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: LINDE-KCA-DRESDEN GMBH
    Inventors: Paul Leitgeb, Werner Sebastian Leitmayr, Torsten Stoffregen, Roland Ritter
  • Patent number: 8029603
    Abstract: A pressure swing adsorption cycle designed to reduce the variations in ozone concentration, and produce a higher average ozone concentration, in a product gas stream throughout the cycle. The cycle includes a relatively long air sweep stage and provides for the overlapping of the air sweep stage in two adsorber vessels. Effluent from an adsorber vessel in a feed rinse stage is routed to another adsorber vessel that is in an air sweep stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventor: Edward Landis Weist, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20110226126
    Abstract: An arrangement for generating oxygen in a facility is described, which arrangement has at least one unit for generating medical air (V, R), a vacuum system (VS), and a PSA unit (A), which serves to generate an oxygen product stream. According to the invention, the PSA unit (A) and the vacuum system (VS) are interconnected in such a way that the adsorber or adsorbers of the PSA unit (A) can be regenerated by means of the vacuum system (VS), and/or the unit for generating medical air (V, R) is connected to the PSA unit (A) in such a way that at least a subsidiary stream (2) of the generated medical air is delivered as feed gas to the PSA unit (A).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: LINDE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Matthias GRAHL, Philippe SAGE, Alfred BOLKART, Paul LEITGEB
  • Patent number: 8020553
    Abstract: An oxygen concentrator comprises an oxygen reservoir and adsorbent columns that each have an inlet, an outlet, and a bed of adsorbent material. The concentrator also comprises an air inlet, an exhaust outlet, and a vacuum pump for pumping nitrogen rich gas from one of the column inlets to the exhaust outlet. A product control pump pumps oxygen rich gas from one of the column outlets to the oxygen reservoir. A control valve controls flow in and out of the columns by selectively connecting the air inlet to one column inlet, connecting the vacuum pump to another column inlet, and connecting the product control pump to a column outlet. A motor drives the vacuum pump and control valve to produce vacuum swing adsorption (VSA) cycles in which oxygen-rich product gas is separated and accumulated in the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Vbox, Incorporated
    Inventors: Theodore W. Jagger, Nicholas P. Van Brunt, John A. Kivisto, Perry B. Lonnes
  • Patent number: 8021464
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for combined production of hydrogen and carbon dioxide from a mixture of hydrocarbons wherein the residual PSA is treated to produce a carbon dioxide-enriched fluid, and wherein: the residual PSA is compressed to a pressure such that the partial pressure of the CO<SUB>2</SUB> contained ranges between about 15 and 40 bar; the residue is subjected to one or more condensation/separation steps with production of CO<SUB>2</SUB>-rich condensate(s) and a purge of noncondensable gas; the purge of noncondensable gas is preferably treated to produce a H<SUB>2</SUB>-rich permeate which is recycled to the PSA, and a residue which is recycled to syngas generation, Preferably, the condensate(s) are purified by cryogenic distillation to produce food grade CO<SUB>2</SUB>. The invention also concerns an installation for implementing the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Pierre-Robert Gauthier, Bernd Polster, Pascal Marty
  • Publication number: 20110219950
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for purifying a feedstock gas flow including a main compound, water (H2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2) as well as so-called secondary impurities, that comprises: a) feeding the feedstock gas flow into at least one 2-grid radial adsorber comprising as a single adsorption bed an activated alumina or silica gel bed on which H2O is preferably adsorbed; b) feeding the gas resulting from step a) into at least one 2-grid radial adsorber comprising as a single adsorption a molecular sieve bed on which CO2 and secondary impurities are preferably adsorbed; and c) recovering a gas resulting from step b) enriched with the main compound and suitable for cryogenic distillation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Inventors: Guillaume Rodrigues, Benoit Davidian
  • Patent number: 8016918
    Abstract: Pressure swing adsorption process for producing oxygen comprising (a) providing at least one adsorber vessel having a first layer of adsorbent adjacent the feed end of the vessel and a second layer of adsorbent adjacent the first layer, wherein the surface area to volume ratio of the first layer is in the range of about 0.75 to about 1.8 cm?1; (b) introducing a pressurized feed gas comprising at least oxygen, nitrogen, and water into the feed end, adsorbing at least a portion of the water in the adsorbent in the first layer, and adsorbing at least a portion of the nitrogen in the adsorbent in the second layer, wherein the superficial contact time of the pressurized feed gas in the first layer is between about 0.08 and about 0.50 sec; and (c) withdrawing a product gas enriched in oxygen from the product end of the adsorber vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew James LaBuda, Timothy Christopher Golden, Roger Dean Whitley, Craig E. Steigerwalt
  • Patent number: 8016914
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and a control system for controlling an adsorbent bed unit in which an adsorbent bed concentration of an impurity within an adsorbent bed of the adsorbent bed unit is measured. The adsorbent bed concentration is controlled by manipulating the feed cycle time during which an adsorbent bed is adsorbing the impurities to maintain the adsorbent bed concentration at a targeted adsorption bed concentration. The targeted adsorption bed concentration is determined such that the product impurity concentration is maintained at product impurity concentration targets. The method and control system can incorporate a supervisory level of control reactive to product impurity concentration levels and related targets to determine the targeted adsorption bed concentration and a primary level of control that calculates the feed cycle time based upon an error between the measured and targeted adsorption bed concentrations. Proportional integral control can be used for such purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul W. Belanger, Mohamed Safdar Allie Baksh, Preeti Chandra, Andrew C. Rosinski
  • Patent number: 8012240
    Abstract: In one aspect, a product gas concentrator is provided. In one embodiment, the apparatus may include: a first process separating absorbable components from a source gaseous mixture, a second process providing concentrated product gas in a continuous output mode, a third process providing concentrated product gas in a pulsed output mode, and a fourth process selectively switching between the continuous and pulsed output modes. In another embodiment, the apparatus may include: a first process pressurizing a source gaseous mixture, a second process separating absorbable components from the pressurized gaseous mixture, a product tank accumulating concentrated product gas for dispensing, an output path, a third process selecting a volume to be dispensed during a predetermined time, a pressure sensor monitoring pressure of the concentrated product gas, and a fourth process controlling flow of the concentrated product gas in response to the selected volume and the monitored pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Invacare Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas B. Sprinkle
  • Patent number: 7993431
    Abstract: A gas purifier of the present invention includes a purifier in which a gas-purifying agent is packed, wherein a gas is fed into the purifier, and impurities in the gas are removed by a thermal swing adsorption method, in which an amount A of the gas-purifying agent is determined such that an impurities-removing capacity possessed by half of the amount A of the gas-purifying agent is equal to the total amount of impurities in the gas to be purified in one purification step, and the amount of the gas-purifying agent packed in the purifier is the amount A or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation
    Inventors: Morimitsu Nakamura, Masato Kawai
  • Publication number: 20110185896
    Abstract: A method for removing contaminants from a natural gas stream such as a biogas/landfill gas stream. The natural gas stream is fed to a first adsorption unit for removal of certain contaminants and then to a second adsorption unit for the removal of additional contaminants. Alternatively, a membrane stage may be employed between the adsorption units. The method utilizes the external purge to enhance pressure swing adsorption working capacity so that the vacuum level required for regeneration is not as high.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Inventors: Rustam Sethna, Russ Tietjen, Steve Eckhardt
  • Patent number: 7988765
    Abstract: In various implementations, various feed gas streams which include hydrogen and carbon monoxide may be processed for conversion to product streams. For example, the feed gas stream may be processed using the Fischer-Tropsch process or a methanol synthesis process. Unconverted hydrogen and carbon monoxide can be recycled at high recovery and/or inert components removed to prevent build-up in the recycle system by using an arrangement of pressure swing adsorption systems designed to recover impure product gas streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: GTLpetrol LLC
    Inventor: Rodney J. Allam