Patents Assigned to University of Regina
  • Patent number: 11708840
    Abstract: Various embodiments are provided herein for a system and method for air compression. In at least some embodiments provided herein, there is provided a compressor device having an annular chamber, at least one inlet port, at least one blade, at least one dynamic partition wall and at least one outlet, wherein when the at least one partition wall is in a closed position, the at least one blade approaching the at least one partition wall causes the air to compress and wherein when the at least one partition wall is in the open position, at least one blade moves from a first side to a second side of the at least one partition wall. The compressor device may contain a gearbox train configured to move the at least one partition wall from the closed position to the open position when the at least one blade is within a predetermined distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignees: University of Regina
    Inventor: Anwit Adhikari
  • Patent number: 9586175
    Abstract: A process for separating at least a portion of an acid gas from a gaseous mixture, said process comprising contacting the gaseous mixture with an absorption medium and/or adsorption medium, wherein said medium absorbs and/or adsorbs at least a portion of the acid gas to form a rich medium; and separating at least a portion of the acid gas from the rich medium to form a lean medium; wherein the separation step is performed in the presence of an acid catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF REGINA
    Inventors: Raphael Idem, Huancong Shi, Don Gelowitz, Paitoon Tontiwachwuthikul
  • Patent number: 9219985
    Abstract: Cooperative stochastic positioning in a mobile environment is provided. Position announcements transmitted wirelessly from objects in the immediate area are received at an object of interest or primary object. The position announcements provide the current position data of the respective object in relation to a common coordinate system. The received position announcements are discretizing to obtain a plurality of data groupings based upon a clustering criteria applied to the received position data. Clustering of the data groupings is performed to determine which clusters dataset from the data groupings provide sufficient and consistent position accuracy to determine a relative position of the primary object. A stochastic automata model is then applied to selected cluster dataset to evaluate relative cluster weights in order to determine the relative position of the object of interest. The accuracy of a current position of the object of interest can then be updated based upon determined relative position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: University of Regina
    Inventor: Yasser Morgan
  • Patent number: 9155998
    Abstract: A method for recovery of impurities and/or degradation products and/or heat-stable salts from amine-based solvents used for capture of CO2 from gas streams. The method comprises recovering CO2 from a CO2-enriched amine-based solvent thereby producing a lean amine-based solvent, contacting and mixing together the lean amine-based solvent with a reaction composition comprising a phase-change catalyst and a diluent, thereby producing a first organic phase comprising the impurities and/or degradation products and/or heat-stable salts and a first aqueous phase comprising the lean amine-based solvent, separating the first organic phase and the first aqueous phase; and separately recovering the first organic phase and the first aqueous phase. The organic phase can be regenerated by intermixing with a NaOH solution to form an organic phase comprising therein the reaction composition and and an aqueous phase comprising the NaOH solution with the impurities and/or degradation products and/or heat-stable salts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: University of Regina
    Inventors: Chintana Saiwan, Phattara Akkarachalanont, Teeradet Supap, Raphael Idem, Paitoon Tontiwachwuthikul
  • Patent number: 9056746
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed at an adaptable vehicle that includes a pair of primary rollers for rolling along a surface on which the vehicle is travelling. At least one of the rollers is rotatably powered. The adaptable vehicle also includes two sets of linking arms, one of which is coupled to one of the rollers and the other of which is coupled to the other of the rollers such that moving the sets of linking arms can shift the axes of rotation of the rollers without impeding rotation of the rollers. The sets of linking arms are connected to and rotatable about an actuatable hub. Actuation of the hub causes at least one set of the linking arms to rotate about the hub and shifts the axis of rotation of at least one of the rollers to allow the vehicle to adapt to its surroundings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: University of Regina
    Inventors: Mehran Mehrandezh, Amir Hossein Bazargan
  • Patent number: 9028593
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for recovering a gaseous component from an incoming gas stream is described. The incoming gas stream is contacted with a lean aqueous absorbing medium to absorb at least a portion of the gaseous component from the incoming gas stream to form a lean treated gas stream and a rich aqueous absorbing medium. At least a portion of the gaseous component is desorbed from the rich aqueous absorbing medium at a temperature to form an overhead gas stream and a regenerated aqueous absorbing medium. At least a portion of the overhead gas stream is treated to recover a condensate stream. At least a portion of the condensate stream is used to form a heated stream. At least a portion of the heated stream is recycled back to the desorbing step. Novel absorbing medium compositions to recover carbon dioxide and/or hydrogen sulfide are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: University of Regina
    Inventors: Don Gelowitz, Paitoon Tontiwachwuthikul, Raphael Idem
  • Publication number: 20140094360
    Abstract: A method for recovery of impurities and/or degradation products and/or heat-stable salts from amine-based solvents used for capture of C02 from gas streams. The method comprises recovering C02 from a C02-enriched amine-based solvent thereby producing a lean amine-based solvent, contacting and mixing together the lean amine-based solvent with a reaction composition comprising a phase-change catalyst and a diluent, thereby producing a first organic phase comprising the impurities and/or degradation products and/or heat-stable salts and a first aqueous phase comprising the lean amine-based solvent, separating the first organic phase and the first aqueous phase; and separately recovering the first organic phase and the first aqueous phase. The organic phase can be regenerated by intermixing with a NaOH solution to form an organic phase comprising therein the reaction composition and and an aqueous phase comprising the NaOH solution with the impurities and/or degradation products and/or heat-stable salts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF REGINA
    Inventors: Chintana Saiwan, Phattara Akkarachalanont, Teeradet Supap, Raphael Idem, Paitoon Tontiwachwuthikul
  • Patent number: 8534352
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems for controllably mobilizing, flowing and maneuvering the flow of hydrocarbon-containing materials within and about a subterranean reservoir. The system comprises selectively positioning at a ground surface level above a subterranean reservoir containing hydrocarbon-containing materials, at least three seismic apparatus spaced apart in a triangulated configuration. The system is provided with an electronic seismic control device configured to controllably communicate with and cooperate with each of the seismic apparatus to concurrently modulate the amplitudes and frequencies of the vibrational energies produced therefrom. The system is provided with a sensing apparatus configured to detect and monitor changes in the fluidity and movement of the hydrocarbon-containing materials about the subterranean reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: University of Regina
    Inventor: Liming Dai
  • Publication number: 20130193373
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for recovering a gaseous component from an incoming gas stream is described. The incoming gas stream is contacted with a lean aqueous absorbing medium to absorb at least a portion of the gaseous component from the incoming gas stream to form a lean treated gas stream and a rich aqueous absorbing medium. At least a portion of the gaseous component is desorbed from the rich aqueous absorbing medium at a temperature to form an overhead gas stream and a regenerated aqueous absorbing medium. At least a portion of the overhead gas stream is treated to recover a condensate stream. At least a portion of the condensate stream is used to form a heated stream. At least a portion of the heated stream is recycled back to the desorbing step. Novel absorbing medium compositions to recover carbon dioxide and/or hydrogen sulfide are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF REGINA
    Inventor: University of Regina
  • Publication number: 20130178231
    Abstract: Cooperative stochastic positioning in a mobile environment is provided. Position announcements transmitted wirelessly from objects in the immediate area are received at an object of interest or primary object. The position announcements provide the current position data of the respective object in relation to a common coordinate system. The received position announcements are discretizing to obtain a plurality of data groupings based upon a clustering criteria applied to the received position data. Clustering of the data groupings is performed to determine which clusters dataset from the data groupings provide sufficient and consistent position accuracy to determine a relative position of the primary object. A stochastic automata model is then applied to selected cluster dataset to evaluate relative cluster weights in order to determine the relative position of the object of interest. The accuracy of a current position of the object of interest can then be updated based upon determined relative position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF REGINA
    Inventor: Yasser Morgan
  • Publication number: 20130153493
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a moving bed membrane bioreactor. The moving bed membrane bioreactor package plant comprises a pre-treatment system, a moving bed membrane bioreactor, and a post-treatment system. This disclosure further relates to mechanical devices and operational processes for a moving bed membrane bioreactor package plant for greywater and wastewater reclamation and reuse. This disclosure further relates to a bioreactor for greywater reclamation that integrates biofilm carriers with a hollow fibre membrane module and dual aeration system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF REGINA
    Inventors: Stephanie Young, Alex Munoz
  • Publication number: 20130108532
    Abstract: A process for separating at least a portion of an acid gas from a gaseous mixture, said process comprising contacting the gaseous mixture with an absorption medium and/or adsorption medium, wherein said medium absorbs and/or adsorbs at least a portion of the acid gas to form a rich medium; and separating at least a portion of the acid gas from the rich medium to form a lean medium; wherein the separation step is performed in the presence of an acid catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF REGINA
    Inventors: Raphael Idem, Huancong Shi, Don Gelowitz, Paitoon Tontiwachwuthikul
  • Publication number: 20130058861
    Abstract: A series of ternary oxide and quaternary oxide catalysts were prepared and evaluated for various reforming processes. Representative examples of these catalysts were found to be active and stable for all the processes tested verifying the “feedstock and process flexible” nature of these catalysts. Thus, feedstock- and process-flexible reforming catalysts for hydrogen and/or syngas production have been developed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: University of Regina
    Inventors: Raphael Idem, Ataullah Khan Mohammed, Hussameldin Ibrahim, Paitoon Tontiwachwuthikul, Thitinat Sukonket, Mohammed Faysal Ahamed Khan, Protyai Sengupta, Mohammed Abu Zahid, Bappy Saha
  • Patent number: 8388737
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for recovering a gaseous component from an incoming gas stream is described. The incoming gas stream is contacted with a lean aqueous absorbing medium to absorb at least a portion of the gaseous component from the incoming gas stream to form a lean treated gas stream and a rich aqueous absorbing medium. At least a portion of the gaseous component is desorbed from the rich aqueous absorbing medium at a temperature to form an overhead gas stream and a regenerated aqueous absorbing medium. At least a portion of the overhead gas stream is treated to recover a condensate stream. At least a portion of the condensate stream is used to form a heated stream. At least a portion of the heated stream is recycled back to the desorbing step. Novel absorbing medium compositions to recover carbon dioxide and/or hydrogen sulfide are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: University of Regina
    Inventors: Don Gelowitz, Paitoon Tontiwachwuthikul, Raphael Idem
  • Publication number: 20130008310
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for stripping acid gases, exemplified by carbon dioxide, from absorption media and/Alcohol selected from those having a boiling point lower than the boiling point of the absorption medium and/or adsorption medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF REGINA
    Inventors: Adisorn Aroonwilas, Amornvadee Veawab
  • Patent number: 8275593
    Abstract: A method for providing a three-dimensional model of a reservoir includes: dividing the reservoir into grid elements, each of the grid elements being delimited by boundary surfaces, storing reservoir properties associated with each of the grid elements in a computer memory, dividing boundary surfaces of each of the grid elements into sub-surfaces, calculating fluxes across each of the sub-surfaces of each of the grid elements, the fluxes being calculated based on a reservoir type and applying the fluxes to each of the grid elements to provide pressure and production status throughout the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: University of Regina
    Inventor: Gang Zhao
  • Patent number: 8105420
    Abstract: The present application includes a method for inhibiting amine degradation during CO2 capture from flue gas streams. Particularly, the present disclosure relates to a method of inhibiting O2- and/or SO2-induced degradation of amines using sodium sulfite (Na2SO3), potassium sodium tartrate tetrahydrate (KNaC4H4O6.4H2O), ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) or hydroxylamine (NH2OH), or analogs or mixtures thereof during CO2 capture by amines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: The University of Regina
    Inventors: Raphael Idem, Paitoon Tontiwachwuthikul, Chintana Saiwan, Teeradet Supap, Purachet Pitipuech
  • Publication number: 20110300044
    Abstract: Corrosion inhibitors and processes, uses, methods, compositions, devices, and apparatus involving corrosion inhibitors are disclosed. In certain embodiments the use of specific corrosion inhibitors, specific concentrations of inhibitors, blends of inhibitors, processes utilizing such inhibitors, and compositions comprising such inhibitors, for example in acid gas separation systems such as aqueous amine- or ammonia-based CO2 separation systems (e.g., the post combustion capture of CO2 from flue gases using amines). According to some embodiments, corrosion inhibitors are used in a process for separating at least a portion of an acid gas from a gaseous mixture wherein the inhibitor is at least one selected from dodecylamine, sodium molybdate, morpholine, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: University of Regina
    Inventors: Paitoon Tontiwachwuthikul, Raphael Idem, Nattawan Kladkaew, Chintana Saiwan
  • Patent number: 7910078
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for removing carbon dioxide (CO2) from a gas stream. Particularly, the present invention relates to a method for removing CO2 from a gas stream by a liquid absorbent having an amino alcohol derived from 4-amino-2-butanol. In comparison to conventional amines, the amino alcohols of the present invention have been found to provide a higher CO2 absorption capacity and a higher cyclic capacity for CO2 removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: University of Regina
    Inventors: Paitoon Tontiwachwuthikul, Andrew G. H. Wee, Raphael Idem, Kreangkrai Maneeintr, Gao-jun Fan, Amornvadee Veawab, Amr Henni, Adisorn Aroonwilas, Amit Chakma
  • Patent number: 7906087
    Abstract: Apparatus comprising an absorber device provided with a plurality of sequentially adjacent sections for flowing a gas stream therethrough. A solvent reactable with components of the gas stream is ingressed into and egressed from each section of the absorber device by a conduit infrastructure. The conduit infrastructure has a plurality of heat exchange and cooling equipment, and communicates with solvent recovery and regeneration equipment. A process wherein a liquid solvent selected for reacting with gaseous components, is counter-flowed against the gas stream. The liquid solvent temperature is controllably manipulated between each section of the absorber device to provide: (a) thermodynamic-driven mass transfer at the front end of the absorber device, and (b) kinetic-driven mass transfer at the back end of the absorber device. Heat generated during recovery of gaseous components from the liquid solvent is recovered for use in regenerating the solvent system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: University of Regina
    Inventors: Adisorn Aroonwilas, Amornvadee Veawab