Patents Represented by Attorney A. H. Fritschler

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  • Broad liquid level gas-liquid mixing operations
    Patent number: 5009816
    Abstract: A gas-liquid mixing process and apparatus employing two or more stacked impeller-draft tube assemblies adapted to enable effective gas ingestion into a recirculating body of liquid by vortex development to be continued upon an appreciable variation in liquid level during the course of the mixing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1991
    Assignee: Union Carbide Industrial Gases Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Mark K. Weise, Jeffery P. Kingsley, Lawrence M. Litz
  • Liquid level control in gas-liquid mixing operations
    Patent number: 5004571
    Abstract: A gas-liquid mixing vessel utilizes an axial flow, down-pumping impeller in a draft tube to create vortex development so as to draw gas from the overhead in a body of recirculating liquid. A surge tank is used to accommodate volume changes in the vessel, and a liquid level control feature, in which the gas phase pressures in the mixing vessel and the surge tank are adjusted, is used to maintain the liquid level in the mixing vessel at a desired level for proper vortex development.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1991
    Assignee: Union Carbide Industrial Gases Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence M. Litz, Mark K. Weise, David A. Haid
  • Production of dry, high purity nitrogen
    Patent number: 5004482
    Abstract: Wet feed air to, or high purity nitrogen from, a pressure swing adsorption system is dried in a dryer membrane system preferably operated with a countercurrent flow path. Drying is enhanced by the use of a purge gas on the permeate side of the membrane, with waste gas from the pressure swing adsorption system or a portion of the dry, high purity nitrogen product gas being used as purge gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1991
    Assignee: Union Carbide Corporation
    Inventors: Oscar W. Haas, Ravi Prasad, James Smolarek
  • Apparatus for holding and refining of molten aluminum
    Patent number: 4998710
    Abstract: The incorporation of a small amount of metal fluoride or fluosilicate into the refractory fibrous insulating board lining of an aluminum refining vessel prevents the infiltration of the internal voids of said lining by molten aluminum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1991
    Assignee: Union Carbide Industrial Gases Technology Corporation
    Inventor: John F. Pelton
  • Semipermeable membranes based on specific 4,4'-(1H-alkylidene)bis[2,3,6-trialkylphenol]type polyesters
    Patent number: 4994095
    Abstract: Permeable membranes comprised predominantly of specifically defined polyester of 4,4'-(1H-alkylidene)bis[2,3,6-trialkylphenol] and aromatic dicarboxylic acids. The invention also pertains to the novel permeation processes for recovery of an oxygen/nitrogen or carbon dioxide/methane or helium/methane component from a mixture of said component with other components in the mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1991
    Assignee: Union Carbide Industrial Gases Technology Corporation
    Inventors: James H. Kawakami, Natarajan Muruganandam, George L. Brode
  • Permeable membranes for enhanced gas separation
    Patent number: 4990165
    Abstract: Composite membranes are prepared by depositing a separation layer on an asymmetric support layer. The separation layer has a selectivity equal to or greater than that of the material of the asymmetric support layer for a desired gas separation. The support layer is desirable produced in non-asymmetric form, and exposed to an elevated temperature approaching the glass transition temperature of the support layer material under non-swelling conditions to modify the structure thereof to create asymmetry therein, before or after the deposition of the separation layer, and to increase its compaction resistance and collapse pressure. Such desirable properties are conveniently achieved on a repeatable basis, enhancing the uniformity and reliability of the treated support layer and of composite membranes produced therefrom, for use in gas separation operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1991
    Assignee: Union Carbide Industrial Gases Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin Bikson, James E. Miller, Joyce K. Nelson
  • Process for dehydration of gases and composite permeable membranes therefor
    Patent number: 4981498
    Abstract: Process for the dehydration of gases using composite permeable membranes, preferably hollow fiber composite membranes comprised of a porous support coated with an ultrathin layer of a defined sulfonated polysulfone or sulfonated polyether ketone. The processes also contemplate the use of a sweep or purge gas on the water-enriched permeate side of the composite membrane to increase the efficiency of the dehydration process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1991
    Assignee: Union Carbide Industrial Gases Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin Bikson, Salvatore Giglia, Joyce K. Nelson
  • High gas flow rate production
    Patent number: 4977921
    Abstract: High gas flow requirements of large size lines are conveniently provided by a series of high pressure tubes connected to header means adapted to control the storage and distribution of gas to the lines at desired flow rates for relatively short periods of time. Gas thus supplied can conveniently be used as a propelling gas stream for the in-situ cleaning of large size lines under high exit velocity conditions requiring the supply of gas at a high flow rate not conveniently supplied by conventional pumpers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1990
    Assignee: Union Carbide Corporation
    Inventors: Larry F. Knight, Daniel K. Ogilvie, Ronny W. Worsham
  • Sulfonated hexafluoro bis-a polysulfone membranes and process for fluid separations
    Patent number: 4971695
    Abstract: Sulfonated hexafluoro bis-A-polysulfone membranes of polymers and copolymers having the repeat unit of the structure; ##STR1## in the polymer molecule that exhibit improved permeation and separation characteristics and processes for the use thereof for separation of a component from a fluid mixture of said component in admixture with other components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1990
    Assignee: Union Carbide Industrial Gases Technology Corporation
    Inventors: James H. Kawakami, Benjamin Bikson, Gertrud Gotz, Yurdagul Ozcayir
  • Process for dissolving a gas in a liquid
    Patent number: 4965022
    Abstract: The pump energy requirements for the dissolving of a gas in a liquid are significantly reduced by injecting gas bubbles into a stream of said liquid at a relatively low pressure, utilizing a pressure head of liquid to increase the solubility of the gas in the liquid, and employing liquid stream velocities and gas-liquid contractor diameters and lengths, gas dispersion means and residence times such as to obtain a desired level of gas concentration in the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 23, 1990
    Assignee: Union Carbide Industrial Gases Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Lawrence M. Litz
  • Membrane process and system for nitrogen production
    Patent number: 4960579
    Abstract: On-site membrane systems are used for air separation to produce a low purity nitrogen stream and for purifying impure hydrogen, the nitrogen and hydrogen being passed to a catalytic combustion system in which the oxygen content of the nitrogen stream is reacted with said hydrogen to reduce the residual oxygen content of the nitrogen in a final purification operation to produce high purity nitrogen. Pressure swing adsorption systems can be employed in place of the membrane systems for particular applications, and a cryogenic system can be employed for said hydrogen purification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 2, 1990
    Assignee: Union Carbide Corporation
    Inventor: Michael J. Campbell
  • Protective lining for aluminum refining vessel
    Patent number: 4941647
    Abstract: A refractory sheet member is positioned in a cut-out portion of graphite side and end plates of an aluminum holding and refining vessel to create an effective barrier to the flow of molten aluminum through the channel formed upon the pulling of the plates apart when the vessel is heated to operating temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 17, 1990
    Assignee: Union Carbide Corporation
    Inventor: John F. Pelton
  • Dry, high purity nitrogen production process and system
    Patent number: 4934148
    Abstract: Feed air to a prepurifier adsorption system/cryogenic air separation system for dry, high purity nitrogen and/or oxygen production is dried in a membrane dryer preferably characterized by a countercurrent flow path. Drying is enhanced by the use of purge gas on the permeate side of the membrane dryer, which adsorption system or cryogenic air separation system product or waste gas, dried feed air or ambient air being used as purge gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1990
    Assignee: Union Carbide Corporation
    Inventors: Ravi Prasad, Oscar W. Haas, Harry Cheung
  • Process and system for the production of dry, high purity nitrogen
    Patent number: 4931070
    Abstract: High purity nitrogen from an air separation membrane/deoxo system is dried in a membrane dryer unit preferably operated with a countercurrent flow path in the membrane bundle. Drying is enhanced by the use of purge gas on the permeate side of the membrane dryer unit, with feed air, product nitrogen or waste gas from the air separation membrane system being used as purge gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 5, 1990
    Assignee: Union Carbide Corporation
    Inventor: Ravi Prasad
  • Method and apparatus for controlling flow bias in a multiple zone process
    Patent number: 4920998
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for controlling the fluid flow bias of continuous, multiple zone processes having gas or vapor comprising atmospheres that are in immediate access to each other. Active control of the fluid flow bias in at least one process zone or control of the overall process fluid flow bias is achieved by applying force to at least one of the zones of the process in a manner which enables such control. A physical or chemical property or a change thereof in at least one process atmosphere is monitored and an appropriate amount of force is applied in response to the monitored property. The monitored property is related to the furnace flow bias by an algorithm, so that the flow bias can be controlled by controlling the at least one chemical or physical property monitored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1990
    Assignee: Union Carbide Industrial Gases Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Bernard E. Deitrick, Patrick J. Murzyn, Mark S. Nowotarski, Raymond P. Roberge
  • Gas-liquid mixing process and apparatus
    Patent number: 4919849
    Abstract: A gas-liquid mixing process and apparatus having a vessel with an axial flow down-pumping impeller in a draft tube has gas ingestion tubes extending into a body of liquid from a hollow portion of the impeller shaft or other fluid communication means with the overhead gas in the vessel. Upon gas-liquid mixing at liquid levels that interfere with vortex development by the impeller, gas is drawn from the overhead through the ingestion tubes into the body of liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1990
    Assignee: Union Carbide Industrial Gases Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence M. Litz, John J. Santalone, Jr.
  • Composite membranes of poly (methyl methacrylate) blends, their manufacture and their use
    Patent number: 4919865
    Abstract: Composite membranes are disclosed having a separation layer comprised of a mixture of poly(methy methacrylate) or a copolymer thereof and at least one cellulosic derivative resulting in enhanced separation and permeating characteristics of the overall composite membrane. Processes for making these composite membranes and the methods of using them are also disclosed. The membranes are particularly useful in gas separation applications and are most suited for the separation of hydrogen from a hydrogen containing stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1990
    Assignee: Union Carbide Industrial Gases Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Joyce K. Nelson
  • Gas-liquid mixing
    Patent number: 4900480
    Abstract: A feed gas stream is introduced directly into a recirculating liquid stream so as to facilitate formation and maintenance of gas bubbles in a dispersed form in a recirculating gas bubble-liquid mixture. By the maintaining of a gas-liquid interface and overhead gas phase in conjunction with a quiescent zone of liquid apart from the portion of liquid in which said mixture is maintained in a recirculating flow condition, the loss of appreciable amounts of gas to the overhead gas phase is avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1990
    Assignee: Union Carbide Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence M. Litz, Mark K. Weise, Mitchell Adis
  • Reactor analysis system
    Patent number: 4891186
    Abstract: Gas samples withdrawn from within a reactor vessel, as well as from the feed gas thereto, are passed to gas analyzers for particular components or impurities desired to be measured. The response time of the reactor analysis system employed is advantageously minimized by the elimination of dead gas space upon the closing of control valves and the provisions for rapid purging of the system or of individual gas analyzer feed lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1990
    Assignee: Union Carbide Corporation
    Inventors: Raymond P. Roberge, Arthur W. Francis, Jr., Thomas G. Wolfe
  • Permeable membranes for enhanced gas separation
    Patent number: 4881954
    Abstract: Composite membranes are prepared by depositing a separation layer on an asymmetric support layer. The separation layer has a selectivity equal to or greater than that of the material of the asymmetric support layer for a desired gas separation. The support layer is desirably produced in non-asymmetric form, and exposed to an elevated temperature approaching the glass transition temperature of the support layer material under non-swelling conditions to modify the structure thereof to create asymmetry therein, before or after the deposition of the separation layer, and to increase its compaction resistance and collapse pressure. Such desirable properties are conveniently achieved on a repeatable basis, enhancing the uniformity and reliability of the treated support layer and of composite membranes produced therefrom, for use in gas separation operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1989
    Assignee: Union Carbide Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin Bikson, James E. Miller, Joyce K. Nelson