Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm J. Farrant
-
Patent number: 6648944Abstract: A process and apparatus for separating carbon dioxide from gas, especially natural gas, that also contains C3+ hydrocarbons. The invention uses two or three membrane separation steps, optionally in conjunction with cooling/condensation under pressure, to yield a lighter, sweeter product natural gas stream, and/or a carbon dioxide stream of reinjection quality and/or a natural gas liquids (NGL) stream.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2003Date of Patent: November 18, 2003Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.Inventors: Richard W. Baker, Andre R. Da Costa, Kaaeid A. Lokhandwala
-
Patent number: 6630011Abstract: A process for treating natural gas or other methane-rich gas to remove excess nitrogen. The invention relies on two-stage membrane separation, using methane-selective membranes for the first stage and nitrogen-selective membranes for the second stage. The process enables the nitrogen content of the gas to be substantially reduced, without requiring the membranes to be operated at very low temperatures.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2002Date of Patent: October 7, 2003Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.Inventors: Richard W. Baker, Kaaeid A. Lokhandwala, Johannes G. Wijmans, Andre R. Da Costa
-
Patent number: 6592749Abstract: An improved process for separating hydrogen from hydrocarbons. The process includes a pressure swing adsorption step, a compression/cooling step and a membrane separation step. The membrane step uses a rubbery polymeric membrane selective for all C1-C6 hydrocarbons over hydrogen. The process can produce three products: a high-purity hydrogen stream, an LPG stream and a light hydrocarbon fuel gas stream.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2000Date of Patent: July 15, 2003Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.Inventors: Kaaeid A. Lokhandwala, Richard W. Baker
-
Patent number: 6592650Abstract: A process for separating a gas from a gas mixture containing an organic compound gas or vapor by a hybrid separation combining adsorption with membrane gas separation, using membranes selective for the gas over the organic compound. The membranes use a selective layer made from a polymer having repeating units of a fluorinated cyclic structure of an at least 5-member ring, and demonstrate good resistance to plasticization by the organic components in the gas mixture under treatment.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2002Date of Patent: July 15, 2003Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.Inventors: Ingo Pinnau, Zhenjie He, Andre R. Da Costa, Karl D. Amo, Ramin Daniels
-
Patent number: 6589303Abstract: An improved process and process train for hydrogen separation and production from gas streams containing hydrogen and light hydrocarbons. The process includes both recovery of hydrogen already in the stream by membrane separation and PSA, and production of additional hydrogen by steam reforming of the hydrocarbons.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 1999Date of Patent: July 8, 2003Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.Inventors: Kaaeid A. Lokhandwala, Richard W. Baker
-
Patent number: 6579341Abstract: A process for separating nitrogen from a multicomponent gas mixture containing nitrogen and a hydrocarbon, such as natural gas or associated gas, using gas-separation membranes selective for nitrogen over the hydrocarbon. The membranes use a selective layer made from a polymer having repeating units of a fluorinated polymer, and demonstrate good resistance to plasticization by the organic components in the gas mixture under treatment, and good recovery after exposure to liquid aromatic hydrocarbons.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2002Date of Patent: June 17, 2003Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.Inventors: Richard W. Baker, Ingo Pinnau, Zhenjie He, Karl D. Amo, Andre R. Da Costa, Ramin Daniels
-
Patent number: 6572680Abstract: A process for separating carbon dioxide from a multicomponent gas mixture containing carbon dioxide and a hydrocarbon, such as natural gas or associated gas, using gas-separation membranes selective for carbon dioxide over the hydrocarbon. The membranes use a selective layer made from a polymer having repeating units of a fluorinated polymer, and demonstrate good resistance to plasticization by the organic components in the gas mixture under treatment, and good recovery after exposure to liquid aromatic hydrocarbons.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2002Date of Patent: June 3, 2003Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.Inventors: Richard W. Baker, Ingo Pinnau, Zhenjie He, Karl D. Amo, Andre R. Da Costa, Ramin Daniels
-
Patent number: 6572678Abstract: A process for treating natural gas or other methane-rich gas to remove excess nitrogen and optionally excess carbon dioxide, water vapor or hydrogen sulfide. The invention relies on gas separation by membranes, using nitrogen/methane selective membranes. The membranes are characterized by having the capability to exhibit a nitrogen/methane selectivity between about 2 and 5 at a temperature higher than about −25° C. The gas may be brought to pipeline specification for nitrogen, and acid gases if present, without requiring the use of amine scrubbing or other acid gas removal technique.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2001Date of Patent: June 3, 2003Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.Inventors: Johannes Gerard Wijmans, Richard W. Baker, Zhenjie He, Ingo Pinnau
-
Patent number: 6572679Abstract: A process for treating a gas mixture containing at least an organic compound gas or vapor and a second gas, such as natural gas, refinery off-gas or air. The process uses two sequential membrane separation steps, one using membrane selective for the organic compound over the second gas, the other selective for the second gas over the organic vapor. The second-gas-selective membranes use a selective layer made from a polymer having repeating units of a fluorinated polymer, and demonstrate good resistance to plasticization by the organic components in the gas mixture under treatment, and good recovery after exposure to liquid aromatic hydrocarbons. The membrane steps can be combined in either order.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2002Date of Patent: June 3, 2003Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.Inventors: Richard W. Baker, Ingo Pinnau, Zhenjie He, Andre R. Da Costa, Ramin Daniels, Karl D. Amo, Johannes G. Wijmans
-
Patent number: 6565626Abstract: A process for treating natural gas or other methane-rich gas to remove excess nitrogen and carbon dioxide simultaneously. The invention relies on membrane separation using nitrogen/methane and carbon dioxide/methane selective membranes. The gas can typically be brought to pipeline specification for both components, without requiring the use of amine scrubbing or other acid gas removal technique. Where water vapor or hydrogen sulfide is present in the raw gas, these contaminants may also be removed to meet pipeline specification in a single operation.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2001Date of Patent: May 20, 2003Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.Inventors: Richard W. Baker, Johannes G. Wijmans, Zhenjie He, Ingo Pinnau
-
Patent number: 6544316Abstract: A process for separating hydrogen from a multicomponent gas mixture containing hydrogen and a hydrocarbon, using gas-separation membranes selective for hydrogen over the hydrocarbon. The membranes use a selective layer made from a polymer having repeating units of a fluorinated polymer, and demonstrate good resistance to plasticization by the organic components in the gas mixture under treatment, and good recovery after exposure to liquid aromatic hydrocarbons.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2001Date of Patent: April 8, 2003Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.Inventors: Richard W. Baker, Ingo Pinnau, Zhenjie He, Karl D. Amo, Andre R. Da Costa, Ramin Daniels
-
Patent number: 6525236Abstract: A process for manufacturing cumene by reacting propylene with benzene, including treating a vent stream from the reaction zone, to recover propylene for return to the reactor. The process involves using a gas separation membrane to separate propylene from propane in the reactor vent stream. The membrane separation step results in a residue stream typically containing as much as 30%, 40% or more propane, which is vented from the process, and a permeate stream containing 95% or less propylene, which is recirculated to the reactor.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2002Date of Patent: February 25, 2003Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.Inventors: Richard W. Baker, Andre R. Da Costa, Ramin Daniels
-
Patent number: 6428606Abstract: A process for treating a gas stream containing an organic component and a second gas. The process uses at least two compression stages, followed by membrane separation, with recirculation of the membrane permeate streams to different points in the compression train. The process provides particular benefits for separations characterized by modest membrane selectivity and a high concentration of the organic component in the remaining gas the compression steps.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2001Date of Patent: August 6, 2002Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.Inventors: Douglas Gottschlich, Matthew Ringer
-
Patent number: 6425267Abstract: A process for treating natural gas or other methane-rich gas to remove excess nitrogen. The invention relies on membrane separation using methane-selective membranes, but does not require the membranes to be operated at very low temperatures. We have found that, by using a two-step membrane system design, and controlling the operating pressures for the membrane steps within certain ranges, the capital and operating costs of the process can be kept within economically acceptable limits.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2001Date of Patent: July 30, 2002Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.Inventors: Richard W. Baker, Kaaeid A. Lokhandwala, Johannes G. Wijmans, Andre R. Da Costa
-
Patent number: 6414202Abstract: A process for manufacturing isopropyl alcohol by reacting propylene with a reagent, including treating a vent stream from the reaction zone, to recover propylene for return to the reactor. The process involves using a gas separation membrane to separate propylene from propane in the reactor vent stream. The membrane separation step results in a residue stream typically containing as much as 30% propane or more, which is vented from the process, and a permeate stream typically containing 95% or less propylene, which is recirculated to the reactor.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2000Date of Patent: July 2, 2002Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.Inventors: Richard W. Baker, Andre R. Da Costa, Ramin Daniels
-
Patent number: 6361582Abstract: A process for separating a gas from a gas mixture containing the gas and a C3+ hydrocarbon vapor, using gas-separation membranes selective for the gas over the C3+ hydrocarbon vapor. The membranes use a selective layer made from a polymer having repeating units of a fluorinated polymer, and demonstrate good resistance to plasticization by the organic components in the gas mixture under treatment, and good recovery after exposure to liquid aromatic hydrocarbons.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2000Date of Patent: March 26, 2002Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.Inventors: Ingo Pinnau, Zhenjie He, Andre R. Da Costa, Karl D. Amo, Ramin Daniels
-
Patent number: 6361583Abstract: A process for separating a gas from a gas mixture containing an organic compound gas or vapor, using gas-separation membranes selective for the gas over the organic compound. The membranes use a selective layer made from a polymer having repeating units of a fluorinated cyclic structure of an at least 5-member ring, and demonstrate good resistance to plasticization by the organic components in the gas mixture under treatment.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2000Date of Patent: March 26, 2002Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.Inventors: Ingo Pinnau, Zhenjie He, Andre R. Da Costa, Karl D. Amo, Ramin Daniels
-
Patent number: 6350371Abstract: An improved process and process train for catalytic reforming of hydrocarbons. In its most simple form, the invention includes four unit operations or steps: the reforming itself usually carried out in a series of reactors; one or more steps to separate the reformate liquid product from overhead gases, predominantly C1-C6 hydrocarbons and hydrogen; one or more treatment steps to recover hydrogen from the overhead gases, and one or more treatment steps, including a membrane gas separation step, for the waste gas from the hydrogen recovery step. The process provides improved recovery of hydrogen and LPG, and reduces the amount of gas sent to the fuel line.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 1999Date of Patent: February 26, 2002Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.Inventors: Kaaeid A. Lokhandwala, Richard W. Baker
-
Patent number: 6316684Abstract: A membrane and membrane separation process useful in gas, vapor and liquid separations. The membrane comprises a separating layer of a polymer that is characterized by a high glass transition temperature, Tg, such as at least about 100° C., and a high free volume within the polymer material itself, such as a fractional free volume of at least about 0.20. Within the polymer material are dispersed fine non-porous particles, such as silica or carbon black particles, having an average diameter no greater than about 1,000 Å. The membrane is particularly useful for separating C3+ hydrocarbons from other gases.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 1999Date of Patent: November 13, 2001Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.Inventors: Ingo Pinnau, Zhenjie He
-
Patent number: 6271319Abstract: A process for polypropylene manufacturing, including treating a vent stream from the polymerization reactor, to recover propylene for return to the reactor. The process involves using a gas separation membrane to separate propylene from propane in the reactor vent stream. The membrane separation step results in a residue stream typically containing as much as 30% propane or more, which is vented from the polymerization process, and a permeate stream containing 95% or less propylene, which is recirculated to the polymerization reactor.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2000Date of Patent: August 7, 2001Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.Inventors: Richard W. Baker, Andre R. Da Costa, Ramin Daniels, Ingo Pinnau, Zhenjie He