Patents Assigned to Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.
  • LOW-ENERGY PROCESS TO PRODUCE OXYGEN-ENRICHED AIR USING MEMBRANE TECHNOLOGY
    Publication number: 20130263734
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a process for producing oxygen-enriched air that involves a membrane separation step that uses glassy polymer membranes that have a selectivity to oxygen over nitrogen of at least 2.4.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: MEMBRANE TECHNOLOGY AND RESEARCH, INC
    Inventors: Nicholas P. Wynn, Haiqing Lin, Meijuan Zhou, Jennifer H. Ly, Timothy C. Merkel
  • Membrane-Based Gas Separation Process Using Ejector-Driven Gas Recycle
    Publication number: 20130239804
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a gas separation process that utilizes ejector recycle with a membrane separation step in combination with a second separation step. The second separation step may be a second membrane separation step, or may involve a different type of separation process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: MEMBRANE TECHNOLOGY AND RESEARCH, INC.
    Inventor: Livia Serbanescu-Martin
  • Sweep-Based Membrane Gas Separation Integrated With Gas-Fired Power Production And CO2 Recovery
    Publication number: 20130200625
    Abstract: A process involving membrane-based gas separation and power generation, specifically for controlling carbon dioxide emissions from gas-fired power plants. The process includes a compression step, a combustion step, and an expansion/electricity generation step, as in traditional power plants. The process also includes a sweep-driven membrane separation step and a carbon dioxide removal or capture step. The carbon dioxide removal step is carried out on a portion of gas from the compression step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaotong Wei, Richard W Baker, Timothy C Merkel, Brice C. Freeman
  • Dehydration processes using membranes with hydrophobic coating
    Patent number: 8496831
    Abstract: Processes for removing water from organic compounds, especially polar compounds such as alcohols. The processes include a membrane-based dehydration step, using a membrane that has a dioxole-based polymer selective layer or the like and a hydrophilic selective layer, and can operate even when the stream to be treated has a high water content, such as 10 wt % or more. The processes are particularly useful for dehydrating ethanol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Yu Huang, Richard W. Baker, Tiem Aldajani, Jennifer Ly
  • Membrane Separation Apparatus for Fuel Gas Conditioning
    Publication number: 20130055897
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a membrane separation apparatus that includes an integrated filter element. The apparatus is useful in the conditioning of fuel gas to separate methane from C2+ hydrocarbons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: MEMBRANE TECHNOLOGY AND RESEARCH, INC
    Inventor: Kaaeid A. Lokhandwala
  • FUEL GAS CONDITIONING PROCESS USING GLASSY POLYMER MEMBRANES
    Publication number: 20130014643
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a process for conditioning natural gas containing C3+ hydrocarbons, so that it can be used as combustion fuel to run gas-powered equipment, including gas engines and turbine-driven compressors, in the gas field or the gas processing plant. The claimed process uses glassy polymeric membranes that are preferentially permeable to methane over C2+ hydrocarbons to produce a partially purified methane stream. Conditioned fuel gas has lower heating value, higher methane number, and will result in greatly reduced emissions from the engines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: MEMBRANE TECHNOLOGY AND RESEARCH, INC.
    Inventors: Kaaeid A. Lokhandwala, Maliha WIlliamson, Sachin Joshi
  • Process for the Production of Methanol Including Two Membrane Separation Steps
    Publication number: 20130005840
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a methanol production process that includes at least two membrane separation steps. Using the process of the invention, the efficiency of methanol production from syngas is increased by reducing the compression requirements of the process and/or improving the methanol product yield. As an additional advantage, the first membrane separation step generates a hydrogen-rich stream which can be sent for other uses. An additional benefit is that the process of the invention may debottleneck existing methanol plants if more syngas or carbon dioxide is available, allowing for feed of imported carbon dioxide into the synthesis loop. This is a way of sequestering carbon dioxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: MEMBRANE TECHNOLOGY AND RESEARCH, INC.
    Inventors: Nicolas P. Wynn, Sylvie Thomas-Droz, Meijuan Zhou, Zhenjie He, Haiqing Lin
  • MEMBRANE TECHNOLOGY FOR USE IN A POWER GENERATION PROCESS
    Publication number: 20120272657
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a power generation process in which a portion of the carbon dioxide generated by gaseous fuel combustion is recycled back to the power generation process, either pre-combustion, post-combustion, or both. The power generation process of the invention may be a combined cycle process or a traditional power generation process. The process utilizes sweep-based membrane separation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc
    Inventors: Richard W. Baker, Timothy C. Merkel, Johannes G. Wijmans
  • Membrane augmented distillation to separate solvents from water
    Patent number: 8263815
    Abstract: Processes for removing water from organic solvents, such as ethanol. The processes include distillation to form a rectified overhead vapor, compression of the rectified vapor, and treatment of the compressed vapor by two sequential membrane separation steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignees: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc., United States Environmental Protection Agency
    Inventors: Yu Huang, Richard W. Baker, Ramin Daniels, Tiem Aldajani, Jennifer H. Ly, Franklin R. Alvarez, Leland M. Vane
  • Process for separating carbon dioxide from flue gas using sweep-based membrane separation and absorption steps
    Patent number: 8246718
    Abstract: A gas separation process for treating flue gases from combustion processes, and combustion processes including such gas separation. The invention involves routing a first portion of the flue gas stream to be treated to an absorption-based carbon dioxide capture step, while simultaneously flowing a second portion of the flue gas across the feed side of a membrane, flowing a sweep gas stream, usually air, across the permeate side, then passing the permeate/sweep gas to the combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc
    Inventors: Johannes G. Wijmans, Richard W. Baker, Timothy C. Merkel
  • LIQUID-PHASE AND VAPOR-PHASE DEHYDRATION OF ORGANIC / WATER SOLUTIONS
    Publication number: 20120190091
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are processes for removing water from organic compounds, especially polar compounds such as alcohols. The processes include a membrane-based dehydration step, using a membrane that has a dioxole-based polymer selective layer or the like and a hydrophilic selective layer, and can operate even when the stream to be treated has a high water content, such as 10 wt % or more. The processes are particularly useful for dehydrating ethanol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: MEMBRANE TECHNOLOGY AND RESEARCH, INC.
    Inventors: Yu Huang, Jennifer Ly, Tiem Aldajani, Richard W. Baker
  • Power generation process with partial recycle of carbon dioxide
    Patent number: 8220247
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a power generation process in which a portion of the carbon dioxide generated by gaseous fuel combustion is recycled back to the power generation process, either pre-combustion, post-combustion, or both. The power generation process of the invention may be a combined cycle process or a traditional power generation process. The process utilizes sweep-based membrane separation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Johannes G. Wijmans, Timothy C. Merkel, Richard W. Baker, Xiaotong Wei
  • Power generation process with partial recycle of carbon dioxide
    Patent number: 8220248
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a power generation process in which a portion of the carbon dioxide generated by gaseous fuel combustion is recycled back to the power generation process, either pre-combustion, post-combustion, or both. The power generation process of the invention may be a combined cycle process or a traditional power generation process. The process utilizes sweep-based membrane separation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc
    Inventors: Johannes G. Wijmans, Timothy C. Merkel, Richard W. Baker, Xiaotong Wei
  • Membrane-Augmented Distillation with Compression and Condensation to Separate Solvents from Water
    Publication number: 20120137727
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are processes for removing water from organic solvents, such as ethanol. The processes include distillation in two columns operated at sequentially higher pressure, followed by treatment of the overhead vapor by one or two membrane separation steps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicants: ALGENOL BIOFUELS, INC., MEMBRANE TECHNOLOGY AND RESEARCH, INC.
    Inventors: Yu Huang, Richard W. Baker, Benjamin McCool, Rong Dong
  • GAS SEPARATION PROCESS FOR PRODUCTION OF HYDROGEN BY AUTOTHERMAL REFORMING OF NATURAL GAS, WITH CARBON DIOXIDE RECOVERY
    Publication number: 20120141367
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a process for the production of hydrogen by autothermal reforming of natural gas, with simultaneous recovery of carbon dioxide using carbon dioxide-selective membrane separation. Residual gas from the hydrogen and carbon dioxide recovery is recycled back to the autothermal reformer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: MEMBRANE TECHNOLOGY AND RESEARCH, INC
    Inventors: Nicholas P. Wynn, Douglas E. Gottschlich, Haiqing Lin
  • GAS-SEPARATION PROCESSES USING MEMBRANES WITH PERMEATE SWEEP TO RECOVER REACTION FEEDSTOCKS
    Publication number: 20120137878
    Abstract: A gas separation process for treating off-gas streams from reaction processes, and reaction processes including such gas separation. The invention involves flowing the off-gas across the feed side of a membrane, flowing a sweep gas stream, usually air, across the permeate side, and passing the permeate/sweep gas mixture to the reaction. The process recovers unreacted feedstock that would otherwise be lost in the waste gases in an energy-efficient manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: MEMBRANE TECHNOLOGY AND RESEARCH, INC.
    Inventors: Johannes G. Wijmans, Richard W. Baker, Timothy C. Merkel
  • Gas separation process using membranes with permeate sweep to remove COfrom gaseous fuel combustion exhaust
    Patent number: 8177885
    Abstract: A gas separation process for treating exhaust gases from the combustion of gaseous fuels, and gaseous fuel combustion processes including such gas separation. The invention involves routing a first portion of the exhaust stream to a carbon dioxide capture step, while simultaneously flowing a second portion of the exhaust gas stream across the feed side of a membrane, flowing a sweep gas stream, usually air, across the permeate side, then passing the permeate/sweep gas back to the combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc
    Inventors: Johannes G. Wijmans, Timothy C. Merkel, Richard W. Baker
  • Efficient gas-separation process to upgrade dilute methane stream for use as fuel
    Patent number: 8128733
    Abstract: A membrane-based gas separation process for treating gas streams that contain methane in low concentrations. The invention involves flowing the stream to be treated across the feed side of a membrane and flowing a sweep gas stream, usually air, across the permeate side. Carbon dioxide permeates the membrane preferentially and is picked up in the sweep air stream on the permeate side; oxygen permeates in the other direction and is picked up in the methane-containing stream. The resulting residue stream is enriched in methane as well as oxygen and has an EMC value enabling it to be either flared or combusted by mixing with ordinary air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Membrane Technology & Research, Inc
    Inventors: Johannes G. Wijmans, Timothy C. Merkel, Haiqing Lin, Scott Thompson, Ramin Daniels
  • Pervaporation assembly
    Patent number: 8123943
    Abstract: The invention is a pervaporation process and pervaporation equipment, using a series of membrane modules, and including inter-module reheating of the feed solution under treatment. The inter-module heating is achieved within the tube or vessel in which the modules are housed, thereby avoiding the need to repeatedly extract the feed solution from the membrane module train.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc
    Inventors: Nicholas P Wynn, Yu Huang, Tiem Aldajani, Donald A Fulton
  • Gas separation processes using membrane with permeate sweep to recover reaction feedstocks
    Patent number: 8114192
    Abstract: A gas separation process for treating off-gas streams from reaction processes, and reaction processes including such gas separation. The invention involves flowing the off-gas across the feed side of a membrane, flowing a sweep gas stream, usually air, across the permeate side, and passing the permeate/sweep gas mixture to the reaction. The process recovers unreacted feedstock that would otherwise be lost in the waste gases in an energy efficient manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Membrane Technology & Research, Inc
    Inventors: Richard W. Baker, Johannes G. Wijmans, Timothy C. Merkel