Apparatus For Selective Diffusion Of Gases (e.g., Semipermeable Membrane, Etc.) Patents (Class 96/4)
  • Patent number: 8906137
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an arrangement for separating oxygen from an oxygen containing gas. It comprises a membrane unit (12), and an electrode unit (24). The membrane unit (12) comprises a porous substrate (20), a dense membrane (14) and at least one electrode (18), wherein the porous substrate (20) is directed towards the electrode unit (24), and wherein the electrode unit (24) comprises at least one electrode comprising at least one rotatable electrode wing (26) being at least partially electrically conductive. An arrangement according to the invention allows to separate oxygen with improved efficiency and improved convenience with respect to maintenance and noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Rainer Hilbig, Mareike Klee, Wilhelmus Cornelis Keur
  • Patent number: 8900351
    Abstract: Provided is a filter medium including a porous polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane and a gas-permeable supporting member that are integrated to ensure sufficient stiffness, having excellent gas permeability, and providing excellent bonding between respective layers included in the filter medium. The gas-permeable supporting member includes: a substrate having gas-permeability; and a fiber layer that is placed on the substrate so as to be in contact with the porous PTFE membrane. The gas-permeable supporting member has a structure in which fibers of the fiber layer enter into the substrate and are entangled with the substrate so that the fiber layer is bonded to the substrate. The fiber layer contains polyolefin-containing fibers that are bonded to the porous membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventors: Masaaki Mori, Masatoshi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8900345
    Abstract: A separation membrane including an alloy, the alloy including at least one Group 5 element, and at least one selected from Pt and Ir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kwang Hee Kim, Hyeon Cheol Park, Byung Ki Ryu, Jae Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 8900350
    Abstract: One aspect of the present teachings includes a separation membrane arranged in a hollow case. A particular component concentration chamber and a particular component dilution chamber are arranged in series in the hollow case. The particular component concentration chamber is capable of increasing concentration of the particular component by allowing permeation of the particular gas through the separation membrane. The particular component dilution chamber is capable of increasing concentration of the particular component by not allowing permeation of the particular gas through the separation membrane. The particular component concentration chamber and the particular component dilution chamber are configured such that only a gas containing the particular component and permeated through the separation membrane or only a gas containing the particular component not permeated through the separation membrane in one of the chambers disposed on an upstream side (i.e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masataka Suzuki, Takashi Suefuji, Akio Muraishi, Katsuhiko Makino, Toshiyuki Iwasaki, Takashi Mani
  • Patent number: 8900523
    Abstract: A method of converting C2 and/or higher alkanes to olefins by contacting a feedstock containing C2 and/or higher alkanes with a first surface of a metal composite membrane of a sintered homogenous mixture of an Al oxide or stabilized or partially stabilized Zr oxide ceramic powder and a metal powder of one or more of Pd, Nb, V, Zr, Ta and/or alloys or mixtures thereof. The alkanes dehydrogenate to olefins by contact with the first surface with substantially only atomic hydrogen from the dehydrogenation of the alkanes passing through the metal composite membrane. Apparatus for effecting the conversion and separation is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: UChicago Argonne, LLC.
    Inventor: Uthamalingam Balachandran
  • Publication number: 20140339167
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to polymeric membrane materials formed, at least in part, from monomeric material selected from 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (CF3CF?CH2, HFO-1234yf) or trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (CF3CH?CFH, HFO-1234ze), and to membrane preparations and uses thereof in water desalination, filtration, membrane distillation, pervaporation, and selective gas separation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventors: Changqing Lu, Andrew J. Poss, Rajiv R. Singh
  • Patent number: 8882875
    Abstract: Various high performance, high efficiency filter media are provided that are cost effective and easy to manufacture. In particular, various filter media are provided having at least one layer with a waved configuration that results in an increased surface area, thereby enhancing various properties of the filter media. The filter media can be used to form a variety of filter elements for use in various applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Hollingsworth & Vose Company
    Inventor: David T. Healey
  • Patent number: 8882886
    Abstract: An aircraft fuel tank flammability reduction method includes contacting a membrane filter with air feed, permeating oxygen and nitrogen from the air feed through the membrane, and producing filtered air from the filter. The filtered air is produced from the filter as a result of the membrane removing any hydrocarbons containing six or more carbon atoms to produce a total of 0.001 ppm w/w or less. An air separation method includes feeding air into a filter containing a hollow fiber membrane that exhibits the property of resisting degradation due to exposure to hydrocarbons containing six or more carbon atoms. The filter exhibits a pressure drop across the membrane of less than 5 psi. The method includes feeding the filtered air into an air separation module containing a hollow fiber membrane that exhibits a susceptibility to degradation from exposure to hydrocarbons containing six or more carbon atoms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Barbara J Evosevich, Ivana Jojic
  • Patent number: 8876947
    Abstract: A method and a device for reducing the humidity of a gas in a housing interior, in particular in a battery housing interior, includes leading a gas through a first selectively permeable membrane and into an intermediate space. The intermediate space has the first selectively permeable membrane as an inlet and a second selectively permeable membrane as an outlet. The gas is then cooled in the intermediate space by a cooling unit such that a water vapor portion of the gas is condensed into water and the gas having a reduced water vapor content is directed through the second selectively permeable membrane into the housing interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Reitzle, Ulrich Zimmermann
  • Publication number: 20140322519
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of treating a surface comprising a silicone elastomer having a plurality of Si—H groups by contacting at least one region of the surface with a solution comprising a surface treatment compound, to give a treated surface with Si—OH, Si—OR, or Si—C groups. The present invention relates to a hydrosilylation-curable silicone composition. In some examples, the hydrosilylation-curable silicone composition includes an organohydrogen-polysiloxane having an average of at least forty silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms per molecule, a cross-linking agent having an average of at least two aliphatic unsaturated carbon-carbon bonds per molecule, and a hydrosilylation catalyst, wherein the mole ratio of silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms in the composition to aliphatic unsaturated carbon-carbon bonds in the composition is at least 20:1. The invention also relates to membranes, methods of making membranes, gas permeable supports for membranes, and methods of gas separation using membranes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventors: Dongchan Ahn, James S. Hrabal, Jeong Yong Lee
  • Publication number: 20140318373
    Abstract: Apparatuses and systems for removing water vapor from a gas stream and for providing water purification, recovery and/or concentration. The apparatuses and systems employ a graphene oxide or a perforated graphene monolayer membrane to separate liquid water molecules and/or water vapor molecules from gasses, liquids, and other substances such as a wet muck or an aqueous sample. In one embodiment, an apparatus for removing water from a gas or liquid stream includes a first lumen, a second lumen, and a graphene oxide membrane separating the first lumen from the second lumen. Water molecules within a humid gas or liquid stream introduced into the first lumen pass through the graphene oxide membrane into a dry gas stream introduced into the second lumen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: John A. Wood, Rebecca Schwartz, Paul J. Lilly
  • Patent number: 8871010
    Abstract: A plasma spray method for the manufacture of an ion conductive membrane is provided which ion conductive membrane has an ion conductivity, in which method the membrane is deposited as a layer (11) onto a substrate (10) in a process chamber, wherein a starting material (P) is sprayed onto a surface of the substrate (10) in the form of a process beam (2) by means of a process gas (G), wherein the starting material is injected into a plasma at a low process pressure, which is at most 10,000 Pa, and is partially or completely molten there. Oxygen (O2; 22) is supplied to the process chamber (12) during the spraying at a flow rate which amounts to at least 1%, preferably at least 2%, of the overall flow rate of the process gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Inventors: Malko Gindrat, Rajiv J. Damani
  • Patent number: 8858682
    Abstract: In order to control bubble removal or mixing in a flow channel, bubble transfer between flow channels (1, 2) is controlled by disposing first flow channel (1) for flow of a first fluid of liquid or gas and second flow channel (2) for flow of a second fluid of liquid with, interposed therebetween, gas exchange unit (5) through which while no liquid can pass, a gas component can be transferred, and by providing a pressure difference between the flow channels (1, 2) with the gas exchange unit (5). By rendering the pressure of the second flow channel (2) higher than that of the first flow channel (1), any bubble transfer from the first fluid to the second fluid is prevented, or bubbles within the second fluid are transferred into the first fluid to thereby attain deaeration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventor: Masakazu Akechi
  • Publication number: 20140298993
    Abstract: Provided is a hydrogen separation membrane module, and more particularly, a hydrogen separation membrane module having a mixing part capable of increasing hydrogen purification efficiency by maximizing a mixing effect and a dispersion effect of a mixture gas supplied to the hydrogen separation membrane using the mixing part provided with a microchannel to supply the mixture gas to the hydrogen separation membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventors: Shin-Kun Ryi, Jong-Soo Park, Kyung-Ran Hwang, Chun-Boo Lee, Sung-Wook Lee
  • Publication number: 20140290489
    Abstract: The ventilation member of the present invention includes: a support; and an air-permeable membrane disposed on the support. The support includes: a base portion supporting the air-permeable membrane; and a leg portion extending from the base portion toward the interior space of a housing and adapted to fix the ventilation member to the opening of the housing. The leg portion includes: insertion portions separated from each other in a circumferential direction by slits formed between the insertion portions in an insertion start side of the leg portion, the insertion portions being adapted to be elastically deformed radially inwardly when the insertion portions are inserted into the opening and then to be fixed to the opening; and receding portions in the insertion portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventors: Kou UEMURA, Youzou YANO
  • Publication number: 20140290488
    Abstract: The ventilation member of the present invention includes: a support; and an air-permeable membrane disposed on the support. The support includes: a base portion supporting the air-permeable membrane; and a leg portion extending from the base portion toward the interior space of a housing and adapted to fix the ventilation member to the opening of the housing. The leg portion includes: insertion portions separated from each other in a circumferential direction by slits formed between the insertion portions, the insertion portions being adapted to be elastically deformed radially inwardly when the insertion portions are inserted into the opening and then to be fixed to the opening; and rounded portions each formed in a region between an inner circumferential surface of the insertion portion and a circumferential end surface of the insertion portion at a root of the insertion portion and having a rounded convex surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventors: Kou UEMURA, Youzou YANO
  • Publication number: 20140290490
    Abstract: The present invention provides a ventilation member attachable to a housing having an opening for ventilation. This ventilation member includes: a support including: a base portion adapted to form an air passage between an interior space and an exterior space of the housing; and a leg portion extending from the base portion and adapted to be fitted into the opening; an air-permeable membrane disposed on the support to cover the air passage; and a sealing member made of a resin and placed at a root of the leg portion of the support. This sealing member has a compression set of 10% or less when measured under conditions of a test temperature of 100° C. and a test time of 100 hours in accordance with JIS K 6262. According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a ventilation member suitable for preventing water from entering a housing even during a high-pressure car wash test using high-temperature water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventors: Kou UEMURA, Youzou YANO
  • Patent number: 8845791
    Abstract: A system and method of cleaning and scrubbing contaminants, including sulfides, from an unclean or raw gas includes one or more containers, each of which include a gas permeable receptacle or bag containing an appropriate gas scrubbing medium for removing the contaminants from the gas stream. A gas extraction device is adapted via inserted into the gas scrubbing medium with the gas permeable receptacle wherein the gas extraction device is connected to at least one gas outlet port in the container. A series of containers can be used wherein the containers are connected sequentially to remove the gas. A system for bypassing one of the plurality of containers in order to clean out the container while the gas cleaning mechanism is still in operation is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Gundersen Lutheran Health System
    Inventor: Corey Zarecki
  • Patent number: 8845784
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system for carbon dioxide seperation and capture. The system includes a porous metal membrane comprising Ni, Ag, or combinations thereof and having molten carbonate within the pores. A CO2 containing flue gas input stream is separated from a reactant gas input stream by the membrane. The CO2 is removed from the flue gas input stream as it contacts the membrane resulting in a CO2 free flue gas output stream and a CO2 containing reactant gas output stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: University of South Carolina
    Inventor: Kevin Huang
  • Publication number: 20140260985
    Abstract: A device includes a desiccant and an enclosure having an interior surrounding the desiccant. The enclosure may include a moisture vapor permeable membrane with a moisture permeability sufficient to pass moisture from outside the enclosure to the desiccant. The device may further include a functional device within the enclosure having processing circuitry to perform at least one function associated with the desiccant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Makefield LLC
    Inventors: Kutadgu Akdogan, Kalyan C. Vepuri, Christian Von Heifner
  • Patent number: 8834612
    Abstract: A hydrogen separation apparatus, provided with an independent hydrogen permeable membrane, capable of suppressing or preventing deformation of the hydrogen permeable membrane. The hydrogen separation apparatus includes a porous support member, an independent hydrogen permeable membrane disposed adjacent to the porous support member, and a joining member for joining the porous support member and the hydrogen permeable membrane. A production process for the hydrogen separation apparatus includes (1) disposing a joining member forming material at a surface side of a porous support member, to be opposite to an independent hydrogen permeable membrane, (2) disposing the independent hydrogen permeable membrane adjacent to the porous support member at the surface side of the porous support member to which surface side the joining member forming material is disposed, and (3) joining the porous support member and the independent hydrogen permeable membrane with the joining member forming material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Maki Hoshino, Takao Izumi
  • Publication number: 20140255636
    Abstract: Disclosed are blended polymeric membranes that include at least a first polymer and a second polymer that is UV treated, wherein the first and second polymers are each selected from the group consisting of a polymer of intrinsic microporosity (PIM), a polyetherimide (PEI) polymer, a polyimide (PI) polymer, and a polyetherimide-siloxane (PEI-Si) polymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: SAUDI BASIC INDUSTRIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ihab Nizar Odeh, Lei Shao
  • Publication number: 20140251131
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to palladium-alloyed membranes, and more specifically to palladium-alloyed membranes for high temperature applications and to methods for making and using the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Inventors: James Douglas Way, Sabina Kathleen Gade, Amanda Elizabeth Lewis, Hani Walid Abu El Hawa
  • Publication number: 20140251128
    Abstract: A process and a plant for obtaining highly pure methane from biogas where biogas coming from a fermenter is compressed and fed to at least one membrane unit having a selectively permeable membrane, which provides a product gas stream containing an elevated proportion of methane and a gas stream containing a reduced proportion of methane. A quality sensor may be arranged in the outlet line for the highly pure product gas. A vacuum pump, the capacity of which can be regulated, may be connected to the low-pressure side of one of the membrane units. It is controlled by a control unit which receives its input signal from the quality sensor in the outlet line, and if the proportion of methane measured by the quality sensor falls below a certain value, the capacity of the vacuum pump is regulated so that the pressure difference at the membrane increases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: EISENMANN AG
    Inventor: Lukas Graf
  • Patent number: 8828119
    Abstract: A membrane cartridge is manufactured by repeatedly folding and joining two strips of membrane to form a cross-pleated cartridge with a stack of openings or fluid passageways configured in an alternating cross-flow arrangement. The cartridge can be modified for other flow configurations including co-flow and counter-flow arrangements. Methods for manufacturing such cross-pleated membrane cartridges, as well as apparatus used in the manufacturing process are described. Cross-pleated membrane cartridges comprising water-permeable membranes can be used in a variety of applications, including in heat and water vapor exchangers. In particular they can be incorporated into energy recovery ventilators (ERVs) for exchanging heat and water vapor between air streams being directed into and out of buildings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: DPoint Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Greg Montie, James Franklin Dean, Curtis Mullen, Robert Hill
  • Patent number: 8828125
    Abstract: The ventilation member of the present invention includes a waterproof gas permeable membrane (11), and a support body (12) having a through hole (13). One opening of the through hole (13) is closed by the gas permeable membrane (11). The support body (12) includes, at an edge of the opening closed by the gas permeable membrane (11), a first region and a second region facing each other with the opening located therebetween. A first angled protrusion (12a) in which a peak and a trough are arranged alternately along the edge of the opening is provided in the first region, and a second angled protrusion (12b) in which a peak and a trough are arranged alternately along the edge of the opening is provided in the second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventors: Kouji Furuuchi, Youzou Yano
  • Patent number: 8828120
    Abstract: A device for separating a gas mixture into product gas and offgas by way of gas permeation includes four membrane units and a compressor connected upstream of the first membrane unit. The membrane units have a gas inlet, a retentate outlet and a permeate outlet. Lines connect the membrane units to each other and to the compressor. Product gas is obtained via the permeate outlet of the second membrane unit and offgas via the retentate outlet of the first membrane unit. Additional product gas is obtained via the retentate outlet of an upstream membrane unit and additional offgas is obtained via the permeate outlet of a further upstream membrane unit. A method includes use of the device to separate a gas mixture into product gas and offgas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Axiom Angewandte Prozesstechnik Ges. m.b.H.
    Inventors: Johannes Szivacz, Michael Harasek
  • Patent number: 8828122
    Abstract: A system includes an acid gas removal (AGR) system configured to remove an acid gas from an untreated syngas to generate a treated syngas, a hydrogen separation system configured to receive the treated syngas to generate a non-permeate and a permeate, and an expander configured to expand the non-permeate to generate a cooled non-permeate. The AGR system includes a solvent chiller configured to cool a solvent via heat exchange with the cooled non-permeate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Pradeep Stanley Thacker, Sachin Suhas Naphad, Rupinder Singh Benipal
  • Patent number: 8821616
    Abstract: DDR nanocrystals were synthesized using hydrothermal secondary growth. The morphology of the nanoparticles can be manipulated by changing the ratio of silica to water, the synthesis temperature, and the mineralizing agents. Specifically, nanocrystals with morphology of hexagonal plates, octahedral, and diamond-like plates are disclosed. These nanoparticles can be used as seed coatings for DDR membrane growth on substrates, and for the fabrication of mixed matrix membranes, and for any other use where uniform, small DDR zeolite crystals are beneficial.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Zhengzhi Zhou, Sankar Nair
  • Patent number: 8821614
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a membrane testing system for individual evaluation of a plurality of planar membranes subjected to a feed gas on one side and a sweep gas on a second side. The membrane testing system provides a pressurized flow of a feed and sweep gas to each membrane testing cell in a plurality of membrane testing cells while a stream of retentate gas from each membrane testing cell is ported by a retentate multiport valve for sampling or venting, and a stream of permeate gas from each membrane testing cell is ported by a permeate multiport valve for sampling or venting. Back pressure regulators and mass flow controllers act to maintain substantially equivalent gas pressures and flow rates on each side of the planar membrane throughout a sampling cycle. A digital controller may be utilized to position the retentate and permeate multiport valves cyclically, allowing for gas sampling of different membrane cells over an extended period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: U.S. Department of Energy
    Inventors: Erik J. Albenze, David P. Hopkinson, David R. Luebke
  • Publication number: 20140238023
    Abstract: A device for automatically detecting and removing air from a gas mixture of an organic gas and air includes calculating a saturation pressure value based on a temperature of the gas mixture in a reservoir 1, and obtaining a pressure threshold value by adding a margin value to the saturation pressure value. When the pressure value inside the reservoir 1 is higher than the pressure threshold value, air is detected to be in the gas mixture. After this detection, a controller 5 pressurizes and introduces the gas mixture into a pressure container 2 to condense the organic gas in the gas mixture, thus producing a diluted gas mixture. Subsequently, the diluted gas mixture is introduced to a supply side of a membrane unit 3, the organic gas in the diluted gas mixture is recovered at a permeation side thereof, and a residual gas is discharged outside of the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mikiko Hatama, Kokan Kubota, Yoshitaka Kawahara, Hiroaki Sgu, Ichiro Myogan, Isamu Osawa
  • Patent number: 8814984
    Abstract: A gas purification process for treating a gas stream includes supplying the gas stream to at least one membrane unit to produce a permeate stream and a retentate stream. The retentate stream contains a lower concentration of at least one of water, hydrogen sulfide, or carbon dioxide as compared to the gas stream. The retentate stream is supplied to a molecular sieve unit to remove hydrogen sulfide to produce a treated gas product stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Christopher B. McIlroy, John R. Harness, Nagaraju Palla, Ronald K. Subris, Stephen J. Van Dyke
  • Patent number: 8814993
    Abstract: A housing (10) is provided with an opening (11) having a tapered surface (12). A vent member (2) to be attached to the opening (11) includes a support body (3) having a vent passage (30), a waterproof gas-permeable membrane (4), and a cover (5). The support body (3) has a base portion (31) to which the waterproof gas-permeable membrane (4) is bonded, and a stem portion (32) extending from the base portion (31) so as to be engaged with an inside surface of the housing (10). The stem portion (32) is fitted with a seal member (6), and this seal member (6) is pressed against the tapered surface (12) in the opening (11) by a pressing portion (34).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventor: Youzou Yano
  • Patent number: 8814982
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a new type of high selectivity UV-cross-linked tetrazole group functionalized polymer nanosieve (TZPIM) membranes, their preparation, as well as their use for gas and liquid separations. The UV-cross-linked TZPIM membrane showed more than 50% improvement in CO2/CH4 selectivity and more than 30% improvement in CO2/N2 selectivity compared to the uncross-linked TZPIM membrane for CO2/CH4 and CO2/N2 separations, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Chunqing Liu, Mark E. Schott, Travis C. Bowen
  • Patent number: 8814983
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system for delivery of a target material and/or energy. The system includes a source configured to provide a mixture containing the target material and a non-target material, a delivery conduit coupled to the source to receive the mixture from the source, and an in-line extraction device concentric to the delivery conduit. The in-line extraction device is configured to selectively extract the target material and/or energy from the mixture in the delivery conduit and to delivery it to a downstream facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: McAlister Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Roy Edward McAlister
  • Publication number: 20140230654
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a gas separation membrane comprising as a main component a polyacetal, wherein the polyacetal contains 1.5 to 10 mol of an oxyalkylene unit based on 100 mol of an oxymethylene unit. The gas separation membrane of the present invention has high carbon dioxide gas separating ability and high permeability rate to carbon dioxide gas and is advantageously used as a separation membrane for carbon dioxide gas contained in exhaust gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2012
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI GAS CHEMICAL COMPANY, INC.
    Inventor: Akira Ito
  • Publication number: 20140230649
    Abstract: A gas separation method includes flowing a gas feed along a feed flow path within a housing directionally from a product end to a feed end of a gas separation membrane. After the feed flow path, the gas feed flows along a membrane flow path defined by the membrane from the feed end to the product end. The feed flow path is counter to the membrane flow path. Heat may be exchanged between the feed flow path and the membrane flow path and increase separation efficiency. Also, heat exchanged may compensate for some temperature drop in the membrane due to enthalpy of gas separation. A gas separation module includes a feed flow path within a housing extending directionally from a product end to a feed end of a membrane. The feed flow path is counter to a membrane flow path defined by the membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventor: The Boeing Company
  • Publication number: 20140220462
    Abstract: [Problem] The object of the invention is to provide the filter device disposed in the moist fluid passage of the fuel cell system in that, water is not adhered and never remains in the filter and when leaving it under the low temperature after the system stops, blockage by freezing the filter can surely be prevented, and the complex control and the heat source such as heaters for the decompression as conventional is unnecessary, and the filter device is cheap and compact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicants: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD., KABUSHIKI KAISHA SAGINOMIYA SEISAKUSHO
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Takeda, Kazuhiko Osawa, Daisaku Inamura, Ichiro Okawara, Takatada Usami, Shinichiro Takemoto
  • Publication number: 20140208949
    Abstract: A gas separation membrane, containing: a support; and a separating layer formed on the support, the separating layer containing a resin; the separating layer containing, at the side thereof opposite to the support, a hydrophilic modification treatment surface, the hydrophilic modification treatment surface involved in a layer having a film thickness of 0.1 ?m or less, and the hydrophilic modification treatment surface provided with a surface contact angle measured by using water thereon in the range of 60 degrees or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenichi ISHIZUKA, Shigehide ITOU
  • Patent number: 8784531
    Abstract: In a gas separation apparatus that separates carbon dioxide and water vapor from a first mixture gas containing a predetermined major component gas, carbon dioxide, and water vapor, the energy utilization efficiency thereof is improved. Also, by utilizing the function of this gas separation apparatus, a membrane reactor and a hydrogen production apparatus exhibiting high energy utilization efficiency are provided. The gas separation apparatus is constructed to include a first separation membrane 33 and a second separation membrane 34 that are made of different materials. When the first mixture gas is supplied at a temperature of 100° C. or higher, the first separation membrane 33 separates a second mixture gas containing carbon dioxide and water vapor that permeate through the first separation membrane by allowing carbon dioxide and water vapor to permeate selectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Renaissance Energy Research Corporation
    Inventors: Osamu Okada, Masaaki Teramoto, Eiji Kamio, Nobuaki Hanai, Yasato Kiyohara
  • Patent number: 8784542
    Abstract: The invention relates to a nanofiber membrane layer having a basis weight of 0.01-50 g/m2 and a porosity of 60-95%, comprising a nanoweb made of polymeric nanofibers with a number average diameter in the range of 50-600 nm, consisting of a polymer composition comprising a semicrystalline polyamide having a C/N ratio of at most 5.5. The invention also relates to water and air filtration devices comprising such a nanofiber membrane layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: DSM IP Assets B.V.
    Inventors: Konraad Albert Louise Hector Dullaert, Marko Dorschu, Arnaud David Henri Chiche
  • Patent number: 8778062
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing air. The apparatus comprises an air separation module, a first input, a first output, a second output, and a flow control system. The air separation module is configured to generate an inert gas. The first input for the air separation module is configured to receive first air. The first output for the air separation module is configured to output the inert gas from the air separation module. The second output for the air separation module is configured to output separated air from the air separation module. The flow control system is configured to control a flow of air in the air separation module that increases a rate at which the air separation module reaches a desired operating temperature for generating the inert gas using a number of ports in the flow control module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Donald Ray Snow, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8778056
    Abstract: There are provided a process for producing a zeolite membrane which, even when large, has few defects and which has higher separation performance than conventional zeolite membranes, and a zeolite membrane obtained by the process. In the process, the structure-directing agent is removed in the atmosphere having an O2 concentration of 22.0 vol % or more. Specifically, the process includes: a particle adhesion step of allowing zeolite particles functioning as seeds to flow down the surface of the substrate by means of the weight of the slurry itself, thereby adhering to the substrate and a membrane-forming step of forming a zeolite membrane on the substrate by immersing the substrate having the zeolite particles adhering thereto in sol containing the structure-directing agent for hydrothermal synthesis, thereby forming a zeolite membrane on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Uchikawa, Kenji Yajima, Makiko Niino
  • Patent number: 8778054
    Abstract: A method for generating heat energy in a power plant by burning a carbonaceous fuel in a combustion chamber of the power plant and a system for carrying out the method is described. A combustion chamber is fluidly connected to a membrane chamber that includes a membrane operating at a temperature between 600 and 1000° C. The combustion chamber receives a cleaned flue-gas oxygen mixture for combustion from the membrane chamber. Oxygen from heated air passes through the membrane in the membrane chamber to the permeate side of the membrane, where it is mixed with cleaned heated flue gas and the resulting gas mixture is fed to the combustion chamber. Flue gas removed from the combustion chamber are cooled, cleaned and heated as described herein and recirculated to the membrane chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH
    Inventors: Jewgeni Nazarko, Ernst Riensche, Reinhard Menzer, Wilhelm Albert Meulenberg, Stefan Baumann
  • Publication number: 20140190146
    Abstract: The carbon dioxide membrane separation system in a coal gasification process contains introduction of a mixed gas of hydrogen (H2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) in a high temperature and high pressure condition generated through water gas shift reaction from a water gas shift reaction furnace, while maintaining the temperature and pressure condition, to a zeolite membrane module containing a zeolite membrane for removing carbon dioxide, thereby removing carbon dioxide and generating a fuel gas rich in hydrogen. The fuel gas rich in hydrogen in a high temperature and high pressure condition discharged from the zeolite membrane module is fed to a gas turbine of the power generation facility while maintaining the temperature and pressure condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: HITACHI ZOSEN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Suguru Fujita, Ken-ichi Sawamura, Masanobu Aizawa
  • Patent number: 8771402
    Abstract: A vapor particle separator including a temperature controlled chamber for desorbing vapors from the particulates of an exhaust gas and a separation chamber including a micro porous membrane. The micro porous membrane provides an interface between at least one particle passageway and at least one vapor passageway through the separation chamber. The particle passageway extends from an entrance to the separation chamber to a particle exit from the separation chamber. The vapor passageway extends from the micro-porous membrane to a vapor exit from the separation chamber that is separate from the particle exit from the separation chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: UT-Battelle, LLC
    Inventors: Meng-Dawn Cheng, Steve L. Allman
  • Publication number: 20140183133
    Abstract: Technologies are generally described for a gas filtration device including an array of parallel carbon nanotubes. The carbon nanotubes may extend between first and second substrates, and the ends of the carbon nanotubes may be embedded in the substrates and cut to expose openings at each end of the carbon nanotubes. The carbon nanotubes may be composed from a graphene membrane which may be perforated with a plurality of discrete pores of a selected size for enabling one or more molecules to pass through the pores. A fluid mixture including two or more molecules for filtering may be directed through the first openings of the array of nanotubes, and the fluid mixture may be filtered by enabling smaller molecules to pass through the discrete pores of the graphene membrane walls of the carbon nanotubes to produce in a filtrate fraction including the smaller molecules and a retentate fraction including larger molecules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Inventors: Kraig Anderson, Angeie Sjong
  • Patent number: 8764888
    Abstract: There is provided herein a dryer polymer substance including a hetero-phase polymer composition including two or more polymers wherein at least one of the two or more polymers include sulfonic groups, wherein the substance is adapted to pervaporate a fluid. The fluid may include water, water vapor or both. There is also provided herein a process for the preparation of a dryer polymer substance adapted to pervaporate a fluid (such as water, water vapor or both) the process includes mixing two or more polymers, wherein at least one of the two or more polymers may include groups which are adapted to be sulfonated, to produce a hetero-phase polymer composition and processing the polymer blend into a desired form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Oridion Medical 1987 Ltd.
    Inventors: Amos Ophir, Eyal Cohen, David Dishon, Joshua Lewis Colman
  • Patent number: 8764881
    Abstract: A membrane suitable for separating a gas from a gas mixture comprising a non cross-linked PVAm having a molecular weight of at least Mw 100,000 carried on a support wherein after casting onto the support, said PVAm has been heated to a temperature in the range 50 to 150° C., e.g. 80 to 120° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Norwegian University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Marius Sandru, Taek-Joong Kim, May-Britt Hägg
  • Patent number: 8764887
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to a method for preparing crystalline metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). The method includes the steps of providing an electrolyte solution in contact with a conductive surface, and applying a current or potential to the conductive surface in contact with the electrolyte solution. The electrolyte solution includes a protonated organic ligand, a metal ion, and a probase. Application of the reductive current or potential to the conductive surface produces the crystalline metal-organic framework (MOF) deposited on the conductive surface. The MOFs produced by the method may be incorporated into a gas separation membrane, a purification filter, and/or a sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Mircea Dinca, Minyuan Li