Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Thomas Williamson, III
  • Patent number: 6764598
    Abstract: The invention discloses an apparatus for filtration of water from hydrocarbons comprised of a fresh-feed inlet, a first dead end filter, having a filter medium that is hydrophobic, a second cross-flow filter, having a membrane that is hydrophobic, a common housing to contain both the first and second filters, a system for the recirculation of the retentate, a chamber for water settling, and an outlet for clean fuel permeate. This invention takes advantage of the properties of the functional groups of a surfactant, by using the surfactant to allow a hydrophobic medium to attract water, attach the water molecules to the hydrophobic medium, and then allow for agglomeration of the water molecules, which finally become large enough to detach and be swept away by the cross-flow. The hydrocarbon may then pass through the second membrane filter uncontaminated by water and be used as clean fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Filtration Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Guanghua Yu, Chang-Wei Jen, Montfort Thierry