Patents Represented by Attorney Willard Jones
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Patent number: 7947118Abstract: Containerized gas separation system comprising (a) a container having an interior, an exterior, and an exterior volume defined by the exterior dimensions of the container and (b) a pressure swing adsorption system installed in the interior of the container and adapted to recover a product gas from a feed gas mixture, the pressure swing adsorption system being adapted to deliver the product gas at a product gas flow rate, wherein the ratio of the exterior volume of the container to the product gas flow rate is less than about 2000 ft3/(ton per day).Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2008Date of Patent: May 24, 2011Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: David Lester Rarig, Roger Dean Whitley, Matthew James LaBuda, James Michael Occhialini, Kevin Alan Lievre, Michael S. Yankovoy
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Patent number: 7909898Abstract: Hydrogen (H2) gas and crude carbon dioxide (CO2) gas are separated from a gaseous mixture thereof. Combustible gas(es) in the crude CO2 gas are combusted to produce heat, at least a portion of which is recovered by indirect heat exchange with at least a portion of the separated H2 gas or a gas derived therefrom. The invention may be integrated with coal-fired power stations to reduce or eliminate emission of harmful components into the atmosphere.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2006Date of Patent: March 22, 2011Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Vincent White, Rodney John Allam
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Patent number: 7909913Abstract: Hydrogen sulfide is removed from a hydrogen rich gas stream using adsorbents having a low loss of carbon dioxide adsorption capacity upon sulfur loading including high purity silica gels, titania or highly cross-linked, non-chemically reactive resins. The adsorbents may be used to adsorb both carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide, or may be used as a guard bed upstream of a separate carbon dioxide adsorbent.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2008Date of Patent: March 22, 2011Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey Raymond Hufton, Timothy Christopher Golden, Robin Joyce Maliszewskyj, Edward Landis Weist, Jr., Robert Quinn, Erin Marie Sorensen
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Patent number: 7854793Abstract: Pressure swing adsorption system comprising two or more vessels, each having a feed end, a product end, and adsorbent material adapted to adsorb one or more components from a multi-component feed gas mixture; piping adapted to (1) introduce the feed gas mixture into the feed ends, withdraw a product gas from the product ends, and withdraw a waste gas from the feed ends of the vessels, and (2) place the product ends of any pair of vessels in flow communication; a feed pipe adapted to supply the feed gas mixture to the system; a product pipe adapted to withdraw the product gas from the system; and a waste gas pipe adapted to withdraw the waste gas from the system. An indexed rotatable multi-port valve is adapted to place the product end of each vessel in sequential flow communication with the product end of each of the other vessels.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2007Date of Patent: December 21, 2010Inventors: David Lester Rarig, Roger Dean Whitley, Matthew James LaBuda
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Patent number: 7850763Abstract: Impure carbon dioxide (“CO2”) comprising a first contaminant selected from the group consisting of oxygen (“O2”) and carbon monoxide (“CO”) is purified by separating expanded impure carbon dioxide liquid in a mass transfer separation column system. The impure carbon dioxide may be derived from, for example, flue gas from an oxyfuel combustion process or waste gas from a hydrogen (“H2”) PSA system.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2007Date of Patent: December 14, 2010Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Vincent White, Rodney John Allam
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Patent number: 7846237Abstract: The concentration of adsorbate in the feed gas to an on-stream bed of a cyclical swing adsorption process is monitored and the data processed to predict the time required to complete the on-stream mode of that bed and the purge flow rate and/or other regeneration mode operating condition of the concurrently off-stream bed is modified in response to changes in said predicted time whereby the regeneration mode of the off-steam bed is completed at the same time as the on-stream mode of the concurrent on-stream bed.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2008Date of Patent: December 7, 2010Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Andrew David Wright, Mohammad Ali Kalbassi, Timothy Christopher Golden, Christopher James Raiswell
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Patent number: 7819951Abstract: A first contaminant selected from oxygen and carbon monoxide is removed from impure liquid carbon dioxide using a mass transfer separation column system which is reboiled by indirect heat exchange against crude carbon dioxide fluid, the impure liquid carbon dioxide having a greater concentration of carbon dioxide than the crude carbon dioxide fluid. The invention has particular application in the recovery of carbon dioxide from flue gas generated in an oxyfuel combustion process or waste gas from a hydrogen PSA process. Advantages include reducing the level of the first contaminant to not more than 1000 ppm.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2007Date of Patent: October 26, 2010Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Vincent White, Rodney John Allam
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Patent number: 7759288Abstract: Base treated aluminas exhibit improved CO2 capacity over untreated aluminas. Base treated aluminas prepared by physically mixing alumina and base during forming have (1) a higher surface area, (2) less hydrothermal aging, (3) improved CO2 capacity and (4) lower cost than base treated aluminas produced by aqueous impregnation. A method for removing at least CO2 and water from a gas stream includes providing an adsorbent formed from a process comprising physically mixing activated alumina solids and solid salts of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals or ammonium ion; and contacting the gas stream with the adsorbent.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2005Date of Patent: July 20, 2010Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Derek Alan Prichett, Roy Adolph Meikle, Timothy Christopher Golden, Mohammad Ali Kalbassi, Fred William Taylor, Christopher James Raiswell, Jon Louis Mogan
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Patent number: 7754067Abstract: Heavy hydrocarbons are upgraded more efficiently to lighter, more valuable, hydrocarbons with lower amounts of solid carbonaceous by-products in supercritical water using two heating stages, the first stage at a temperature up to about 775K and the second stage at a temperature from about 870K to about 1075K. The temperature is preferably raised from the first temperature to the second temperature by internal combustion using oxygen.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2008Date of Patent: July 13, 2010Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventor: Rodney John Allam
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Patent number: 7712331Abstract: A system is set forth to increase the capacity of an LNG-based liquefier in a cryogenic air separation unit wherein, in a low production mode, the nitrogen that is fed to the LNG-based liquefier consists only of at least a portion of the high pressure nitrogen from the distillation column system while in a high production mode, a supplemental compressor is used to boost the pressure of at least a portion of the low pressure nitrogen from the distillation column system to create additional (or replacement) feed to the LNG-based liquefier. A key to the present invention is the supplemental compressor and the associated heat exchange equipment is separate and distinct from the LNG-based liquefier. This allows its purchase to be delayed until a capacity increase is actually needed and thus avoid building an oversized liquefier based on a speculative increase in liquid product demand.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2006Date of Patent: May 11, 2010Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Douglas Paul Dee, Jung Soo Choe, Donn Michael Herron
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Patent number: 7691321Abstract: The present invention relates to use of a thermic lance as a firework. Frictional or electrical ignition of a thermic lance is more convenient and safer than conventional methods. In addition, when used as a firework, the lance is safer and provides less pollution than conventional fireworks.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2007Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventor: Neil Downie
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Patent number: 7669594Abstract: A volume flow controller (1) for controlling the flow of a gas mixture of variable proportions through a conduit (3) has a valve means (5) for regulating the flow of gas through the conduit, a drive means (9) for driving the valve means, a volumetric flow meter (7), such as a Pelton wheel, for measuring the flow of gas through the conduit, which provides a feedback signal (29) for comparison with a setpoint signal (17) in an amplifier (15) which generates an adjustment signal (11) which is fed to the drive means.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2003Date of Patent: March 2, 2010Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventor: Neil Alexander Downie
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Patent number: 7604222Abstract: A divided wall exchange column includes a dividing wall strengthened by stiffening members and/or a double wall design to better withstand pressure differentials and minimize temperature differentials. When a double wall is used, cost of manufacture and installation is minimized by reducing the manufacturing tolerances required while providing a design robust in construction, installation, and operation. When structured packing is used, the stiffening members, combined with positioning the layers of packing at preferred angles relative to the dividing wall, result in minimal interference with the heat and/or mass transfer process while minimizing the complexity of manufacture and construction of the packing. Further, by positioning the top layer of structured packing at other preferred angles relative to the dividing wall, a simplified liquid distributor design may be used in the divided wall exchange column while the layers below may still be orientated as described above with all the associated benefits.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2007Date of Patent: October 20, 2009Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Ian Robert Zone, Clive Chalk, Kenneth William Kovak, Swaminathan Sunder
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Patent number: 7606681Abstract: Systems and methods are provided that allow a user to monitor, diagnose, and configure a process. A user interface may be presented that displays data received from process monitors, sensors, and multivariate models. The user interface may be interactive, allowing a user to select which composite and multivariate models are displayed. The user interface and multivariate model may be constructed and updated in real time. The user interface may present various data and interfaces, such as a representation of a composite variable in a multivariate model, a representation of the contribution of process variables to the composite variable, and a representation of a subset of the process variables. The user may select a point of the composite variable for analysis, and the interface may indicate the contribution and values of process variables at the selected point. The interface may be transmitted to a remote user.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2007Date of Patent: October 20, 2009Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Ali Esmaili, Sanjay Mehta, Debashis Neogi, Carlos A. Valenzuela
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Patent number: 7581405Abstract: A storage vessel comprises a condenser for condensing boil-off vapor by direct heat exchange with cryogenic liquid feed to the vessel. The condenser comprises a packed arrangement of vapor-liquid contact packing that comprises a top end portion and a bottom end portion. At least said top end portion is open to the vapor space to allow entry of boil-off vapor into the arrangement. The bottom end portion is in fluid flow communication with the lower portion of the storage vessel. One advantage of the invention is that the condenser is open to the vapor space of the storage vessel thereby allowing boil-off vapor to be drawn into the condenser by the condensation action of the vapor.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2006Date of Patent: September 1, 2009Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Paul Higginbotham, Kelvin Graham Hayes, Declan Patrick O'Connor
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Patent number: 7552599Abstract: A cryogenic air separation process is set forth wherein, in order to provide the refrigeration necessary when at least a portion of the oxygen product is desired as liquid oxygen, LNG-derived refrigeration is used to liquefy a nitrogen stream in the process. A key to the present invention is that, instead of feeding the liquefied nitrogen to the distillation column, the liquefied nitrogen is heat exchanged against the air feed to the distillation column system.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2006Date of Patent: June 30, 2009Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Donn Michael Herron, Jung Soo Choe, Douglas Paul Dee
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Patent number: 7526961Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring the pressure of a fluid within a rigid vessel are disclosed. A preferred method comprises monitoring the capacitance of a capacitor comprising a deformable resilient solid dielectric separating first and second conductive elements, the capacitor being exposed to said pressurised fluid such that the distance between the conductive elements and thus the capacitance of the capacitor changes with compression or relaxation of the dielectric in response to changes in fluid pressure.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2007Date of Patent: May 5, 2009Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Neil Downie, Mathilde Pradier
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Patent number: 7520143Abstract: Nitrogen is removed from a liquefied natural gas feed (41) by a two stage separation in which the liquefied natural gas (41) is first fractionated (23) to provide a first nitrogen-enriched overhead vapour stream (46) and a nitrogen-containing bottoms liquid stream (19) and then at least a portion of said bottoms liquid stream (19) is fractionated (25) to provide a second nitrogen-enriched overhead vapour stream (36) that is of lower purity than said first overhead vapour stream (46) and a purified liquefied natural gas stream (50). The first fractionation is conducted in a distillation column (23) refluxed (45) with nitrogen overhead (43) condensed in a condenser (24) located in a flash drum (25) in which the second fractionation is conducted. The second nitrogen-enriched overhead vapour stream (36) provides fuel gas for use in the natural gas liquefaction plant.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2006Date of Patent: April 21, 2009Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventor: Christopher Geoffrey Spilsbury
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Patent number: 7458807Abstract: The invention provides a gas heater for connection to a heat source and a pressurized gas source, the gas heater comprising: a jacket having an inlet and an outlet and defining a cavity there between; a porous heat exchanger extender within said cavity, and means for providing heat to said heat exchanger along the length thereof. The invention also provides a gas supply apparatus and a method of providing gas.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2005Date of Patent: December 2, 2008Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Csaba Alfoldi, Lieve De Paepe
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Patent number: 7437889Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and apparatus for producing crude helium, liquefied natural gas product, and synthesis gas from natural gas. A natural gas comprising helium and methane is cooled to produce cooled natural gas. At least a portion of the helium and methane from the cooled natural gas is separated into a vapor comprising helium, from which crude helium is derived, and a liquid comprising methane. At least a portion of the methane from this liquid is separated into a vapor, which is reacted to produce synthesis gas, and a liquid, from which liquefied natural gas is derived. Additional heat exchange and separation steps may be included.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2006Date of Patent: October 21, 2008Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Mark Julian Roberts, John Michael Repasky