Barriers Connected In Series Patents (Class 96/9)
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Publication number: 20110023710Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for separating and purifying a landfill gas stream. In one embodiment, the method includes a step of collecting a crude landfill gas stream which includes at least methane, carbon dioxide, oxygen, and nitrogen gases. The method also includes a step of separating the crude landfill gas stream into at least an intermediate landfill gas stream and a first waste gas stream using a membrane separation unit, wherein the intermediate landfill gas stream is enriched in methane and depleted in carbon dioxide relative to the crude landfill gas stream. The method further includes a step of separating the intermediate landfill gas stream into at least a final landfill gas stream and a second waste gas stream using a pressure swing adsorption separation unit, wherein the final landfill gas stream is enriched in methane and depleted in carbon dioxide, oxygen, and nitrogen relative to the intermediate landfill gas stream.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2010Publication date: February 3, 2011Applicant: MANUFACTURED METHANE CORPORATIONInventors: Cary V. Sorensen, Jeffrey R. Bailey
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Publication number: 20110020188Abstract: An integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) system involving CO2 capture is provided comprising a CO2-selective membrane, a pre-compressor, and a sulfur gas removal system to selectively remove H2S and CO2 from shifted syngas, wherein the pre-compressor increases the permeate stream from the CO2-selective membrane from a first pressure to a second pressure prior to entering the sulfur removal system. Also provided herein is a method of maintaining a substantially constant pressure in a sulfur removal system, comprising introducing a feed gas stream to a CO2-selective membrane for separation into a syngas rich stream and a permeate gas stream, wherein the permeate gas stream is at a first pressure; increasing the permeate gas stream from the first pressure to a second pressure; and introducing the permeate gas stream at the second pressure to a sulfur removal system downstream of the pre-compressor.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 24, 2009Publication date: January 27, 2011Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Mahendhra Muthuramalingam, Ashok Kumar Anand, Anthony Yu-Chung Ku, Chetan Madhav Joshi, Joseph J.
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Patent number: 7867324Abstract: A fuel system includes a fuel deoxygenator for removing oxygen from a liquid fuel. A vaporizer is in fluid communication with the fuel deoxygenator. The vaporizer vaporizes at least a portion of the liquid fuel to produce vaporized fuel. At least a portion of the vaporized fuel pre-mixes with oxidizer to reduce formation of undesirable emissions.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2009Date of Patent: January 11, 2011Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Alexander G Chen, Jeffrey M. Cohen
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Publication number: 20100313750Abstract: A fast gas is recovered from a feed gas containing a fast gas and at least one slow gas using a gas separation membrane. A controller may control a control valve associated with a partial recycle of a permeate gas from the membrane for combining with the feed gas. A controller may control a control valve associated with the backpressure of a residue gas from the membrane.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 14, 2009Publication date: December 16, 2010Applicant: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges ClaudeInventors: Edgar S. Sanders, JR., Sarang Gadre, Michael D. Bennett, Ian C. Roman, David J. Hasse, Indrasis Mondal
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Publication number: 20100300114Abstract: A method of operating a membrane separation module is provided that includes the steps of directing a feed stream comprising a first component into the membrane separation module to separate the first component by permeating it across a membrane; and introducing a second component into the feed stream such that the second component has a higher permeability through said membrane than the permeability of the first component through said membrane.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2009Publication date: December 2, 2010Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Ashish Balkrishna Mhadeshwar, Scott Michael Miller
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Publication number: 20100288701Abstract: The present invention involves the use of a multi-stage membrane system for gas, vapor, and liquid separations. In this multi-stage membrane system, high selectivity and high permeance or at least high selectivity polybenzoxazole membranes or cross-linked polybenzoxazole membranes are applied for a pre-membrane or both the pre-membrane and the secondary membrane. A primary membrane can be from conventional glassy polymers. This multi-stage membrane system can reduce inter-stage compression cost, increase product recovery and product purity for gas, vapor, and liquid separations. It can also save the cost compared to the system using all the high cost polybenzoxazole membranes or cross-linked polybenzoxazole membranes.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 12, 2009Publication date: November 18, 2010Inventors: Lubo Zhou, Chunqing Liu, Carlos A. Cabrera, Peter K. Coughlin
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Patent number: 7833314Abstract: Purification method and apparatus for purifying a gas stream by oxygen removal. The apparatus includes primary and secondary oxygen separation zones and tubular electrically driven oxygen separation elements. There are more elements in the primary zone than the secondary zone so that low concentrations of oxygen can be obtained in a purified stream and turbulent flow conditions can also be obtained that will permit purification to very low levels. In addition, a junction is provided to connect the tubular separation elements to metallic elements such as manifolds.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2008Date of Patent: November 16, 2010Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.Inventors: Jonathan Andrew Lane, David M. Reed
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Publication number: 20100282085Abstract: A hydrogen purifier utilizing a hydrogen-permeable membrane to purify hydrogen from mixed gases containing hydrogen is disclosed. Improved mechanical support for the permeable membrane is described, enabling forward or reverse differential pressurization of the membrane, which further stabilizes the membrane from wrinkling upon hydrogen uptake.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2009Publication date: November 11, 2010Inventor: Peter David DeVries
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Publication number: 20100275777Abstract: Disclosed is a membrane-based method and system for treatment of flue gases from an oxy-combustion coal-fired boiler to recover approximately 90% (vol/vol) to approximately 95% (vol/vol) of the carbon dioxide in the flue gas and produce a carbon dioxide product having a carbon dioxide concentration of approximately 90% (vol/vol dry basis) to approximately 97% (vol/vol dry basis).Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2009Publication date: November 4, 2010Inventors: David J. HASSE, Rajeev S. PRABHAKAR
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Publication number: 20100263537Abstract: An air separation module and blanket has an air separation module having an air inlet, an oxygen outlet and a nitrogen outlet. At least one tank has air separation elements for separating oxygen from air, and delivers the separated oxygen to the oxygen outlet, and delivers nitrogen to the nitrogen outlet. A resistance heating element is positioned between the blanket and the air separation module. Further, an inventive blanket for use with the air separation module is also disclosed and claimed.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2009Publication date: October 21, 2010Inventor: William Joseph Beeson
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Publication number: 20100263538Abstract: A hydrogen purifier utilizing a hydrogen-permeable membrane to purify hydrogen from mixed gases containing hydrogen is disclosed, with improved sealing means where the seals are formed by first melting a metal with a low temperature melting point, and then allowing the metal to form a subsequent alloy which has a melting temperature above the operational temperature of the purifier. The improved seal allows for the fabrication of hydrogen purifiers at lower temperatures than conventional methods such as brazing. Various metallurgical combinations and methods for achieving the seal are disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2009Publication date: October 21, 2010Inventor: Peter David DeVries
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Patent number: 7771519Abstract: Ion transport membrane system comprising (a) a pressure vessel comprising an interior, an exterior, an inlet, an inlet conduit, an outlet, and an outlet conduit; (b) a plurality of planar ion transport membrane modules disposed in the interior of the pressure vessel and arranged in series, each membrane module comprising mixed metal oxide ceramic material and having an interior region and an exterior region, wherein the inlet and the outlet of the pressure vessel are in flow communication with exterior regions of the membrane modules; (c) a gas manifold having an interior surface wherein the gas manifold is in flow communication with the interior region of each of the planar ion transport membrane modules and with the exterior of the pressure vessel; and (d) a liner disposed within any of the inlet conduit, the outlet conduit, and the interior surface of the gas manifold.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2007Date of Patent: August 10, 2010Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Michael Francis Carolan, Christopher Francis Miller
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Patent number: 7758670Abstract: A gas-separation membrane assembly, and a gas-separation process using the assembly. The assembly incorporates multiple gas-separation membranes in an array within a single vessel or housing, and is equipped with two permeate ports, enabling permeate gas to be withdrawn from both ends of the membrane module permeate pipes.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2006Date of Patent: July 20, 2010Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, IncInventors: Nicholas P. Wynn, Donald A. Fulton, Kaaeid A. Lokhandwala, Jurgen Kaschemekat
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Patent number: 7749312Abstract: An air conditioning system comprising a gas-impermeable wall defining a space for air conditioning, and a selective separating member disposed in the wall as a part of the wall, having a function of allowing preferential permeation of oxygen and carbon dioxide and at the same time, blocking the permeation of hydrocarbon, nitrogen oxide, sulfur oxide and a fine solid component, in which the selective separating member comprises an organic polymer and satisfies the relationship of P1/P2>10 wherein P1 is the permeation coefficient of oxygen and carbon dioxide and P2 is the permeation coefficient of hydrocarbon, nitrogen oxide, sulfur oxide and a fine solid component.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2007Date of Patent: July 6, 2010Assignee: Denso CorporationInventors: Kenji Takigawa, Tetsuo Toyama, Hitoshi Hayashi
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Publication number: 20100107877Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2009Publication date: May 6, 2010Inventors: Masataka Suzuki, Takashi Suefuji, Akio Muraishi, Katsuhiko Makino, Toshiyuki Iwasaki, Takashi Mani
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Publication number: 20100071550Abstract: An air filter for purging unwanted substances from air, the air filter comprising: an acid-purging stage, wherein the acid-purging stage comprises an air-permeable skeleton which has an acid-neutralizing substance mounted thereto, wherein the air-permeable skeleton comprises fiberglass fibers and the acid-neutralizing substance comprises sodium bicarbonate, and further wherein the sodium bicarbonate is secured to the fiberglass fibers using an adhesive; and a solvent-purging stage, wherein the solvent-purging stage comprises solvent-purging granules captured between two air-permeable screens, and further wherein the solvent-purging granules comprise activated carbon granules.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2009Publication date: March 25, 2010Inventor: Francois Hauville
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Patent number: 7682422Abstract: A method for separating and recovering oxygen-rich air from the air, comprising, using a gas separation membrane module where a laminate consisting of a permeate-side spacer for forming a permeate gas channel communicated with a hollow section in a core tube for collecting and discharging a permeate gas and two flat-film gas separation membranes sandwiching the spacer and a feed-side spacer for forming a feed gas channel are spirally wound around the core tube such that the laminate and the feed-side spacer are alternately superimposed, vacuuming the hollow section of the core tube to 95 kPaA (absolute pressure) or less by vacuuming means while feeding the air into the feed gas channel by air feed means such that a maximum feed-air flow rate and a maximum static pressure divided by an effective membrane area of the gas separation membrane are 100 m3/minĀ·m2 or less and 4000 Pa/m2 or less, respectively, to separate and recover oxygen-rich air from the hollow section of the core tube.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2005Date of Patent: March 23, 2010Assignee: UBE Industries, Ltd.Inventor: Nozomu Tanihara
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Publication number: 20100064887Abstract: A gas separation unit 102, 200, 300 for permeating a gas out from a pressurized feed mixture includes an input manifold 104, 204, an exhaust manifold, 106, 206 and a permeate assembly 108, 208, 303. The permeate assembly supports one or more permselective foils 130, 132, 218, 232, 318 over a hollow cavity 134, 272, 306 supported by a microscreen element 142, 144, 228, 230, 326. The microscreen element includes non-porous perimeter walls 190, 192, 278 supported on a frame surface and a porous central area 194, 280 supported over the hollow cavity. A porous spacer 138, 140, 174, 234 disposed inside the hollow cavity structurally supports the entire microscreen surface spanning the hollow cavity while also providing a void volume for receiving fluid passing through the porous central area and for conveying the fluid through the hollow cavity.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2008Publication date: March 18, 2010Applicant: Protonex Technology CorporationInventors: David Edlund, Paul Osenar, Nathan Palumbo, Ronald Rezac, Matt Steinbroner
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Publication number: 20100068132Abstract: A shared or common environment membrane reactor containing a plurality of planar membrane modules with top and bottom thin foil membranes supported by both an intermediary porous support plate and a central base which has both solid extended members and hollow regions or a hollow region whereby the two sides of the base are in fluid communication. The membrane reactor operates at elevate temperatures for generating hydrogen from hydrogen rich feed fuels.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2009Publication date: March 18, 2010Inventors: Thomas R. Vencill, Anand S. Chellappa, Shailendra B. Rathod
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Publication number: 20100050876Abstract: A vacuum cleaner bag filter with one or more filter walls forming a generally air permeable enclosure having a bag opening through it, and a flange attached to the one or more filter walls to cover the bag opening. The filter walls have a working surface area through which air can pass during use, and the flange is a relatively rigid structure having an air inlet passing into the air permeable enclosure. One or more deodorizing sheets are attached to an inner surface of the one or more filter walls. The deodorizing sheets include a first sheet layer, and sodium bicarbonate particles operatively associated with the first sheet layer. The deodorizing sheets may cover less than about 30% of the working surface area, a single deodorizing sheet may be provided, and the deodorizing sheets may be attached to the filter walls by an air impermeable adhesive that covers at least about 5% of the surface area of the deodorizing sheets.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2009Publication date: March 4, 2010Inventor: Arnold Sepke
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Publication number: 20100055532Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided, a gas diffusion layer, including, base materials integrated being including in the gas diffusion layer configured in an air electrode, wettability of a surface of each base material changing in an integrated direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2009Publication date: March 4, 2010Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBAInventors: Yuji Sasaki, Yasutada Nakagawa, Yuichi Yoshida
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Publication number: 20100043638Abstract: In an air filter unit (10) comprising at least one main air filter (1) and an auxiliary air filter (2) that is connected by an air conduit (3) to the main air filter (1) and has at least one auxiliary filter element, the auxiliary filter element is formed, at the unfiltered air side of the main air filter (1), by an at least partially porous wall of the air conduit (3) closed off at the intake side. In the reverse case, when installing at the filtered air side, the auxiliary filter element is arranged within the air conduit connected to the main air filter.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2007Publication date: February 25, 2010Applicant: MANN+HUMMEL GMBHInventor: Mario Rieger
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Patent number: 7658788Abstract: An ion transport membrane system comprising (a) a pressure vessel having an interior, an inlet adapted to introduce gas into the interior of the vessel, an outlet adapted to withdraw gas from the interior of the vessel, and an axis; (b) a plurality of planar ion transport membrane modules disposed in the interior of the pressure vessel and arranged in series, each membrane module comprising mixed metal oxide ceramic material and having an interior region and an exterior region; and (c) one or more gas flow control partitions disposed in the interior of the pressure vessel and adapted to change a direction of gas flow within the vessel.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2005Date of Patent: February 9, 2010Assignees: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., SOFCO-EFS Holdings LLCInventors: Michael Jerome Holmes, Theodore R. Ohrn, Christopher Ming-Poh Chen
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Publication number: 20100018397Abstract: A composite membrane material characterized by comprising a hydrogen-permeable membrane which is selectively permeable to hydrogen and is formed by rolling to a thickness of 30 ?m or less which is difficult for the membrane by itself to retain its shape, and a shape-retention mesh which is disposed on at least one side of the hydrogen-permeable membrane and is composed of a wire of a high-melting metal which does not cause thermal diffusion into the hydrogen-permeable membrane, wherein the hydrogen-permeable membrane and the shape-retention mesh are superposed and subjected to a pleat processing in a non-bonded state so that they are separable and the hydrogen-permeable membrane has a surface area increased at least 3 times per unit area. This material is used to constitute a hydrogen separation element.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2006Publication date: January 28, 2010Inventors: Hideomi Ishibe, Hiroyasu Taga
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Patent number: 7648566Abstract: An apparatus for producing hydrogen gas wherein the apparatus includes a reactor. In one embodiment, the reactor includes at least two conversion-removal portions. Each conversion-removal portion comprises a catalyst section configured to convert CO in the stream to CO2 and a membrane section located downstream of and in flow communication with the catalyst section. The membrane section is configured to selectively remove the CO2 from the stream and to be in flow communication with a sweep gas.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2006Date of Patent: January 19, 2010Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Wei Wei, James Anthony Ruud, Anthony Yu-Chung Ku, Vidya Ramaswamy, Ke Liu
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Publication number: 20100005960Abstract: A hydrogen separator (1) exhibits excellent hydrogen separation performance and durability and prevents scattering of an iron-containing substance that causes defects of a selective hydrogen permeable metal membrane (12) in a first passage (7) by covering an iron-containing metal surface (21) that is exposed in the first passage (7) and forms each of a member (9) that forms the first passage (7) and a member disposed in the first passage (7) with an iron component scattering prevention film (31) at least in an area positioned on an upstream side with respect to a downstream end of a permeable section (15) of the selective hydrogen permeable metal membrane (12) in a flow direction of a fluid that flows through the first passage (7).Type: ApplicationFiled: July 8, 2009Publication date: January 14, 2010Applicant: NGK Insulators, Ltd.Inventor: Kenichi NODA
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Publication number: 20090301307Abstract: A gas separation membrane has: a polymeric microporous membrane which has a polyolefin as a main component, and which is manufactured by wet phase separation process, and has a porosity of 20 to 80%, an average pore diameter of 1 to 100 nm and a piercing strength at 100Ā° C. of 2 to 50 N; and a gas-separating thin film, which is provided on at least one surface, and/or the interior of the polymeric microporous membrane, and which comprises a fluorine-containing gas-separating resin as a main component, and has an average thickness of 0.01 ?m to less than 0.4 ?m. The gas separation membrane having an oxygen-nitrogen separation factor not smaller than 1.4.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2007Publication date: December 10, 2009Inventors: Sho Sugiyama, Takuya Hasegawa, Takahiko Kondo, Hidetoshi Masugi, Takashi Nozaki
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Patent number: 7621983Abstract: A transduction-protection device for protecting medical apparatus from contamination by infectious agents comprises a containment body having an inlet destined to be set in fluid communication with an extracorporeal circuit of blood, and an outlet destined to be connected to a fluid line operatively connected to a pressure gauge of a medical apparatus. The inlet is in gas communication with the outlet across an internal cavity of the containment body. Two hydrophobic membranes are predisposed in the containment body between the inlet and the outlet. The membranes each define an anticontamination barrier which is gas-permeable. The device transmits the pressure of the extracorporeal circuit to the pressure gauge, with no relevant loss of head, while at the same time protecting, with a high degree of security, the medical apparatus from risks of contamination by pathogens originating in the extracorporeal circuit.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2006Date of Patent: November 24, 2009Assignee: Gambro Lundia ABInventor: Roberto Neri
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Publication number: 20090282981Abstract: A gas diluter which comprises: dilution chambers in which a first gas is mixed with a second gas to reduce the concentration of the first gas; connecting passages with which the dilution chambers are connected serially; branched passages through which the first gas is distributed to the dilution chambers, an introduction passage through which the second gas is introduced into the dilution chamber, which is located at one end of the serially connected dilution chambers; and a discharge opening through which the gas obtained by mixing the first gas with the second gas is discharged from the dilution chamber, which is located at the other end of the serially connected dilution chambers.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2006Publication date: November 19, 2009Inventor: Nobuyuki Kitamura
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Patent number: 7604681Abstract: A process for removing carbon dioxide or nitrogen from gas, especially natural gas. The process uses three membrane separation stages without compression between the second and third stages.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2006Date of Patent: October 20, 2009Assignees: Lummus Technology, Inc., Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.Inventors: Michael G. Malsam, Kaaeid A. Lokhandwala
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Patent number: 7601203Abstract: A fuel system for a gas turbine engine removes oxygen from fuel with a fuel stabilization unit (FSU). The FSU includes a first vacuum stage, where vacuum pressure is created by an ejector and a second vacuum stage where vacuum pressure is created by the ejector and a vacuum pump. The vacuum stream from the first vacuum stage and the second vacuum stage flow through the ejector. The vacuum stream from the second vacuum stage is all that passes through the vacuum pump.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2006Date of Patent: October 13, 2009Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Hayden M. Reeve, Thomas G. Tillman
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Patent number: 7601202Abstract: The invention relates to a method for reducing the carbon dioxide concentration in air of a closed or partially closed unit of space. The inventive method may comprise the steps of removing an air flow from the unit of space, guiding the air flow in a membrane system that may contain at least one membrane module having a CO2/O2 selectivity of greater than 2, removing the carbon dioxide permeated through the membrane, and returning the air flow that has been depleted of carbon dioxide in the membrane system to the unit of space. The inventive method may be optionally combined with an oxygen enrichment method. The invention also relates to corresponding devices for carrying out the inventive method.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2005Date of Patent: October 13, 2009Assignee: Blue Membranes GmbHInventors: Andreas Noack, JĆ¼rgen Kunstmann, Christian Gnabs, Norman Bischofberger, Norbert A. Paul, Jƶrg Rathenow
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Publication number: 20090249948Abstract: An air-separation system, useful in high-temperature environments, produces a superheated compressed air stream which is sufficiently cool to be applied to an air-separation membrane. Ambient air is compressed, and then cooled by a fan. The cooled compressed air, after being filtered, is passed through a heat exchanger where it is heated by thermal contact with incoming compressed air. The cooled compressed air thus becomes superheated, and can then be conveyed into a polymeric membrane module without damaging the polymer. A valve enables some of the compressed air to bypass the heat exchanger, thus controlling the degree to which the cooled compressed air stream is heated.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2009Publication date: October 8, 2009Applicant: Generon IGS, Inc.Inventor: Thomas J. Jeffers
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Publication number: 20090229459Abstract: An improved sieve bed design to manage breakthrough and the mass transfer zone by way of volumetric division. An empty space in the product end is separated from adsorbent-filled sieve space in the feed end by a mid-diffuser plate. The ratio of the empty product end void space to the adsorbent filled sieve space within a sieve bed may be determined by the relative percentages of the gasses to be separated and the bulk loading factor of the molecular sieve. In operation, pressure in the sieve bed empty space and sieve filled space may be equal at any instant. This contains breakthrough to the location of the mid-diffuser plate. The mass transfer zone may be static at the point of the mid-diffuser plate and as such, gas separation is a function of pressure within the bed.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2006Publication date: September 17, 2009Inventors: John Lee Warren, Anthony Shane Hiscock
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Patent number: 7585355Abstract: A temperature-humidity exchanger comprising: a moisture permeable membrane which transmits moisture therethrough; a dry gas separator in which low-temperature dry gas is caused to flow; and a wet gas separator in which high-temperature wet gas is caused to flow, in which the moisture permeable membrane, the dry gas separator, the moisture permeable membrane, and the wet gas separator are repeatedly stacked in the stated order, wherein in the dry gas separator and the wet gas separator: a plurality of channel grooves which are divided by half in the stacking direction, are open to a direction in which the channel grooves come into contact with the moisture permeable membrane, and are arrayed parallel to one another are provided; an aggregate communication groove which is made to communicate with both end portions of the plurality of channel grooves, for aggregating gas caused to flow through the channel grooves to at least one is provided; and a supply manifold and an exhaust manifold which are made to communiType: GrantFiled: January 24, 2005Date of Patent: September 8, 2009Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yoshihide Gonjo, Hideo Ichimura, Mitsuie Matsumura
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Publication number: 20090193974Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2009Publication date: August 6, 2009Inventors: Greg Montie, James Franklin Dean, Curtis Mullen, Robert Hill
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Patent number: 7569099Abstract: A fuel system for an energy conversion device includes a multiple of non-metallic fuel plates, gaskets, oxygen permeable membranes, porous substrate plates, and vacuum frame plates. Intricate 3-dimension fuel channel structures such as laminar flow impingement elements within the fuel channel dramatically enhance oxygen diffusivity in the FSU. The fuel plates are manufactured from a relatively soft non-metallic material. The non-metallic fuel plates and gasket arrangement provide an effective sealing interface between the fuel plate and oxygen permeable membrane, since compression may be applied to the plates without damaging the relatively delicate oxygen permeable membrane.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2006Date of Patent: August 4, 2009Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Charles C. Coffin, Thomas G. Tillman, He Huang, Brian M. Welch
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Patent number: 7556675Abstract: Ion transport membrane oxidation system comprising an enclosure having an interior and an interior surface, inlet piping having an internal surface and adapted to introduce a heated feed gas into the interior of the enclosure, and outlet piping adapted to withdraw a product gas from the interior of the enclosure; one or more planar ion transport membrane modules disposed in the interior of the enclosure, each membrane module comprising mixed metal oxide material; and a preheater adapted to heat a feed gas to provide the heated feed gas to the inlet piping, wherein the preheater comprises an interior surface. Any of the interior surfaces of the enclosure, the inlet piping, and the preheater may be lined with a copper-containing metal lining. Alternatively, any of the interior surfaces of the inlet piping and the preheater may be lined with a copper-containing metal lining and the enclosure may comprise copper.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2005Date of Patent: July 7, 2009Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Michael Francis Carolan, Eric Minford, William Emil Waldron
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Patent number: 7537646Abstract: A fuel system includes a fuel deoxygenator for removing oxygen from a liquid fuel. A vaporizer is in fluid communication with the fuel deoxygenator. The vaporizer vaporizes at least a portion of the liquid fuel to produce vaporized fuel. At least a portion of the vaporized fuel pre-mixes with oxidizer to reduce formation of undesirable emissions.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2005Date of Patent: May 26, 2009Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Alexander G Chen, Jeffrey M. Cohen
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Patent number: 7537641Abstract: A process and equipment for treating natural gas produced by a well that has recently been stimulated, and that contains an undesirably high concentration of the fracturing gas used to stimulate the well. The process involves treating the gas by membrane separation, and provides for control of treatment parameters to compensate for the changing concentration of fracturing gas in the produced gas, as well as changes in gas flow rate.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2005Date of Patent: May 26, 2009Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.Inventors: Kaaeid A. Lokhandwala, Ankur Jariwala
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Publication number: 20090126571Abstract: A particulate material processing apparatus has a vessel and a processing tank. The vessel has a charging port for charging a particulate material into the vessel. The processing tank receives the particulate material charged from the charging port. The processing tank is shaped so as to narrow towards the bottom. At least the lower part of the processing tank is made of a gas-permeable material that allows the process gas for processing the particulate material to pass through. The upper part of the processing tank has lower gas permeability than the lower part of the processing tank.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2008Publication date: May 21, 2009Applicant: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Tomohiro Isogai, Katsuya Nakai, Tatsuo Suzuki, Taku Hirakawa, Hiroyuki Shimada
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Publication number: 20090090242Abstract: A jacket material into which a gas adsorbing device and core material are inserted is decompressed in a vacuum chamber, the opening is sealed, and then the jacket material is exposed to the atmosphere. In the atmospheric pressure, a pressure of about 1 atm which is equivalent to the pressure difference between the inside and outside is applied to the jacket material of the heat insulator. The jacket material is made of a plastic laminated film and is deformed by pressure. A protruding portion is plunged into a container to drill through holes, and a gas adsorbent in the container communicates with the inside of the jacket material. Thus, both during holding and in applying to the vacuum heat insulator, the gas adsorbent can be applied to the vacuum heat insulator without degradation, and the high degree of vacuum can be kept for a long time.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2006Publication date: April 9, 2009Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.Inventors: Masamichi Hashida, Kazutaka Uekado, Akiko Yuasa
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Publication number: 20090084315Abstract: This disclosure pertains to a method and apparatus to permit changing a filter on the input line to a vacuum deposition chamber without breaking or reducing the vacuum for the deposition chamber and other components in the deposition system. Isolation valves are provided at the inlet and outlet of the filter so the filter can be isolated from the source of vacuum and the deposition chamber for removal and replacement of the filter.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2008Publication date: April 2, 2009Applicant: MSP CorporationInventors: Benjamin Y.H. Liu, Yamin Ma, Thuc M. Dinh
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Patent number: 7510594Abstract: A gas-separation membrane module assembly and a gas-separation process using the assembly. The assembly includes a set of tubes, each containing gas-separation membranes, arranged within a housing. The housing contains a tube sheet that divides the space within the housing into two gas-tight spaces. A permeate collection system within the housing gathers permeate gas from the tubes for discharge from the housing.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2005Date of Patent: March 31, 2009Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.Inventors: Nicholas P Wynn, Donald A. Fulton
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Patent number: 7497896Abstract: Methods for treating a gas mixture of at least propylene and propane, in order to separate the propylene from the propane. The gas mixture is brought into contact with a membrane enables the selective permeation of the propylene with respect to the propane. A propylene-enriched permeate and a propane-enriched retentate is formed. The propylene concentration of the permeate in the membrane is then reduced with a sweeping gas.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2004Date of Patent: March 3, 2009Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes George ClaudeInventors: Emmanuelle Bromet, Guillaume De Souza, Olivier Riu
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Patent number: 7497894Abstract: A portable system for air separation or air dehydration, or both, is carried on a truck or equivalent vehicle. The air separation system includes, at a minimum, a feed compressor and a gas separation membrane. The air dehydration system includes a feed compressor and an air dehydration membrane. The feed compressor receives power from the engine of the vehicle, only when the vehicle is not moving under its own power. Heat from the vehicle engine may also be used to heat the compressed air stream to prevent the formation of water. The system can also be used to perform air dehydration and air separation simultaneously. The system is substantially self-contained, and can be easily driven from one location to another, simply by driving the vehicle to another location. The invention is especially useful in providing air separation or air dehydration services, or both, for relatively brief periods, at multiple locations.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2006Date of Patent: March 3, 2009Assignee: Generon IGS, Inc.Inventors: Thomas J. Jeffers, Donald E. Newton, Tony Troiano
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Patent number: 7491329Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane module using a sheet-form hollow fiber membrane having excellent cleaning properties in which the pressure resistance of a hollow fiber membrane anchor section does not deteriorate, even when the membrane area increases; a hollow fiber membrane module unit using the module; a membrane filtration device using the unit; and an operation method therefore are provided. The hollow fiber membrane module comprises sheet-form hollow fiber membranes and an anchoring member which anchors the sheet-form hollow fiber membranes in a roughly parallel manner while maintaining in an open state at least one end portion of the sheet-form hollow fiber membranes. The shape of an end face of a side of the anchoring member from which the hollow fiber membranes are exposed is roughly rectangular, and the shape of an end face of a side of the anchoring member toward which the hollow fiber membranes open is roughly circular.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2006Date of Patent: February 17, 2009Assignee: Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd.Inventors: Satoshi Takeda, Masumi Kobayashi, Shinya Sueyoshi, Masatoshi Kamata, Ikuo Kinoshita, Yoshihito Nakahara
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Patent number: 7481869Abstract: A dry gas production system for supplying dry gas to a pressurized space, such as an underground conduit or an aerial cable. The dry gas production system may include a modular enclosure that has a removable support to which multiple dry gas production modules are mounted. The support may be a mobile rack wheeled inside the enclosure and likewise removed from the enclosure while supporting the dry gas production modules. The dry gas production system may include multiple dry gas production modules that are operated as required to meet the dry gas demand for the pressurized space. The module compressor may include a variable frequency drive for driving the compressor motor at different speeds and may optionally include a mount with vibration isolation.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2005Date of Patent: January 27, 2009Assignee: Andrew LLCInventors: Troy I. Vanderhoof, Brian Cross, Roger Hanson, Sandy B. Becker
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Patent number: 7452404Abstract: A process and system for separating a fuel stream containing a low concentration of sulfur compounds from a primary fuel stream is disclosed. The process includes isolating a stage-one permeate stream and a stage-one retentate stream from the primary fuel stream, evaporating the stage-one permeate stream at a vacuum, and isolating a stage-two permeate stream and a stage-two retentate stream from the stage-one permeate stream. The stage-two retentate stream is a fuel stream containing low concentrations of sulfur compounds. The system includes a fuel supply, a stage-one separator for separating a fuel stream into a stage-one permeate stream and a stage-one retentate stream, a stage-two separator, a first supply line connecting a portion of the fuel supply to the stage-one separator, and a second supply line connecting the stage-one separator permeate stream to the stage-two separator.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2006Date of Patent: November 18, 2008Assignee: Intelligent Energy, Inc.Inventors: Kandaswamy Duraiswamy, Richard Root Woods
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Patent number: 7452405Abstract: A system for producing an auxiliary fuel stream containing a low concentration of sulfur compounds from a primary fuel stream includes a first separation stage to separate a portion of a primary fuel stream into a first vapor permeate stream and a first retentate stream, a first separation stage partial condenser connected to the first vapor permeate stream condensing a portion of the first vapor permeate stream into a first liquid stage stream and a first vapor stage stream, and a second separation stage partial condenser condensing a portion of the first vapor stage stream into a second liquid stage. The first vapor permeate stream is preferable sent through a vapor phase reactive desulfurization catalyst reactor to condition any sulfur compounds present into species that can be easily separated from the fuel stream.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2006Date of Patent: November 18, 2008Assignee: Intelligent Energy, Inc.Inventors: Kandaswamy Duraiswamy, Richard Root Woods