Patents Examined by Amalia L. Santiago
  • Patent number: 5304356
    Abstract: An apparatus for reducing the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere by fixing and dumping carbon dioxide which is disposed in seawater or fresh water satisfying certain temperature and pressure conditions for the formation of carbon dioxide hydrate or its clathrate comprising:a) a transport pipeline equipped with a compressor;b) a carbon dioxide source connected to said transport pipeline upstream of said compressor;c) a plurality of ejector nozzles disposed at one end of the pipeline;d) a reaction housing which allows seawater or fresh water and carbon dioxide to react with each other and form the carbon dioxide hydrate or its clathrate;e) a dispersing propeller;wherein the reaction device is provided with the ejector nozzles and the dispersing propeller at the inlet portion of the device; the concentration of the carbon dioxide is supplied into the pipeline and is discharged by the compressor into the reaction housing from the ejector nozzles under pressure to form the carbon dioxide hydrate
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1994
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaki Iijima, Masakazu Yamada, Fumio Tomikawa, Masaaki Negoro, Masaki Minemoto, Hisao Haneda
  • Patent number: 5298226
    Abstract: The present invention relates, in general, to apparatus for providing uniform fluid flow in vessels having packing materials or particulates and, in particular, to apparatus for providing uniform gas flow in pressure swing adsorbent vessels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1994
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffert J. Nowobilski
  • Patent number: 5271809
    Abstract: In a pyrolytic furnace for the thermal cracking of hydrocarbons, cracking tubes are combined into uniformly arranged groups in the radiation zone of the pyrolytic furnace. The cracking tubes in the radiation zone consist of straight, vertically extending tube sections, manifold tube sections, and tube elbows. The cracking tubes of one group are joined, in the throughflow direction, via manifold tube sections and terminate in an outlet tube. The cracking tubes are arranged in the radiation zone in one plane, except for the juts of the tube elbows. The straight tube sections, subjected to a throughflow from the bottom toward the top and combined in the outlet tube, are located between the straight tube sections subjected to a throughflow from the top toward the bottom and leading into the tube elbows. The curvatures of respectively one-half of the tube elbows of one group extend in the same direction, the direction of curvature of the halves of the tube elbows being in opposition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1993
    Assignee: Selas-Kirchner GmbH
    Inventor: Hans-Joachim Holzhausen
  • Patent number: 5271905
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for achieving turbulent or fast fluidized bed regeneration of spent FCC catalyst in a bubbling bed regenerator having a stripper mounted over the regenerator and a stripped catalyst standpipe within the regenerator. A coke combustor vessel, which may be partially or totally open to the dilute phase above the bubbling bed, is added to the existing regenerator vessel Spent catalyst is discharged into the coke combustor, regenerated in a turbulent or fast fluidized bed, then discharged into the dilute phase region above the bubbling bed, either via a deflector or by simply overflowing the combustor. Regeneration of catalyst is completed in the bubbling dense bed, and/or an annular fast fluidized bed surrounding the coke combustor. Catalyst may be recycled from the dense bed to the coke combustor either by a flow line, or by adjusting relative heights of bubbling to fast fluidized bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1993
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Hartley Owen, Paul H. Schipper
  • Patent number: 5266281
    Abstract: An improved double tube reactor having a plurality of inner and outer tube assemblies each of the assemblies having a reaction annular volume between the inner tube and outer tube and a closed center plug within the inner tube forming an annular thermal exchange volume between the center plug and the inner tube to obtain desired temperature control of exothermic and endothermic catalytic chemical reactions. In one embodiment of the invention, the improved double tube reactor is used in a process for production of high purity methanol from process gas produced by steam reforming hydrocarbon feedstocks in a tube type reformer followed by removing substantially all CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 O from the process gas, adjusting the H.sub.2 /CO molar ratio to about 2 when necessary, and feeding the adjusted process gas to a methanol synthesis reactor contacting a methanol forming catalyst not requiring CO.sub.2 activation at about 200.degree. to about 300.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1993
    Assignee: Xytel Technologies Partnership
    Inventors: Richard L. Kao, Sarabjit S. Randhava, Surjit S. Randhava, Shaw-Yaw Kang
  • Patent number: 5244640
    Abstract: An gas generator is disclosed that generates gas from a pressure-producing reaction of reactant pieces and reactant fluid. The generator includes a pressure/reaction regulator for use with a reaction chamber. The regulator includes a reactant-fluid accumulator in communication with the reaction chamber via a reactant-fluid port for adjusting pressure in the chamber relative to a preselected threshold pressure. The regulator also includes at least one body extending substantially into the reaction chamber from the reactant-fluid port. The body is formed with holes for letting fluid under pressure into and out of the chamber. Also disclosed is such a regulator that is usable with a reaction chamber having plural reactant-fluid ports and includes plural bodies, one for each port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1993
    Inventor: J. Harvey Crawford
  • Patent number: 5190731
    Abstract: A cooled reactor for exothermic catalytic conversion of gaseous materials, e.g. for the oxo synthesis, for the conversion of hydrogen and nitrogen to form ammonia and for the reaction of carbon oxides with hydrogen to form methanol, comprises a cylindrical pressure shell (10), distributor means (34) for synthesis gas, at least one tube sheet (30) and one or more catalyst beds (20) provided with cooling tubes (38) for the indirect cooling of reacting gas. Each cooling tube (38) consists of an outer tube (4) provided with a heat exchanging outer wall (7); this outer tube surrounds and is coaxial with an inner tube (2) and hence defines an annular space the inner wall of which is provided with perforations (8) to direct the stream of cooling gas, which may consist of or contain components of the synthesis gas, to the annular space and along the heat exchanging wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1993
    Assignee: Haldor Topsoe A/S
    Inventor: Henrik O. Stahl
  • Patent number: 5190733
    Abstract: In its simplest sense, the present invention provides a method for improving the contacting of plural, distinct phases in a vertically disposed vessel containing distinct fluid phases by injecting a stream of dispersed distinct phases together into the phases contained in the vessel at a sufficient velocity to force the fluid in the vessel to circulate downwardly through a central region in the vessel and upwardly in the annular region surrounding the central region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1993
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Milind B. Ajinkya, Robert M. Koros, Barry L. Tarmy
  • Patent number: 5188805
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a process and apparatus for controlling reactor temperature and/or carbon and heat balance in a fluid hydrocarbon conversion and cracking unit. In particular, the invention is directed to a process wherein the introduction of feed into a conversion and cracking zone is effected by a feed injector which optimizes the atomization of the feed in order to achieve reactor temperature and/or carbon and heat balance control objectives. This invention is applicable to fluid coking, fluid coking with gasification, asphaltene residuum treating (ART), and other petroleum industry processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1993
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company
    Inventor: Craig Y. Sabottke
  • Patent number: 5180552
    Abstract: Treatment of room air so as to reduce its content of gaseous and particulate liquid and/or solid contaminants and then to return the air to the ambient atmosphere, with the aid of green plants in suitable apparatus. An open-top housing is divided into upper and lower portions by a foraminous plate adapted to support a potting soil layer. The housing has in its upper portion a water-retaining support for the root ball of a plant and has in its lower portion an air-pump to draw room air in via a bottom opening, to pass it upward through the potting soil and past the plant roots, through an overlying layer of charcoal or the like, out the open top and past the plant leaves, and finally back into the room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1993
    Assignee: Affiliated Innovation Management, Inc.
    Inventor: Don F. Saceman
  • Patent number: 5173258
    Abstract: A recirculation/drying unit is provided for connection to a sealable enclosure. The unit and the enclosure form a closed circuit through which the gaseous medium of the enclosure is circulated, filtered, dehumidified or optionally, humidified, and returned to the enclosure. A vapor decontaminant is carried into and through the enclosure by the gaseous medium for a predetermined period of time sufficient to sterilize, disinfect or sanitize the gaseous medium, the enclosure and its contents. The decontaminant is returned to the unit for conversion into a form suitable for release into the atmosphere. The unit preferably includes filters, an air pump, a drier, a reservoir of liquid decontaminant, a reservoir of water, an injection pump, at least one vaporizer and at least one converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1992
    Assignee: American Sterilizer Company
    Inventor: Robert W. Childers
  • Patent number: 5167932
    Abstract: A circulating fluid bed reactor comprises a reactor chamber having a circumscribing wall, a particle separator to receive a particle - gas suspension from the reactor chamber, and means for returning the particles separated by the particle separator to the reactor chamber. In order to eliminate problems due to heat expansion of the parts of the reactor and to provide a simple structure, the particle separator has at least one cyclone having a chamber with a cylindrical outer surface forming a part of the circumscribing wall of the reactor chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1992
    Assignee: Foster Wheeler Energy Corporation
    Inventor: Seppo Ruottu
  • Patent number: 5158755
    Abstract: A device for holding and controlling the temperature of a corrosive chemical processing bath. The device has a tank having a bottom intimately covering thermally conductive fins, a heat sink thermally connected to the fins and heaters, connected to the heat sink, for changing the temperature of the fins. Preferably the device is produced by rotationally molding the tank about the fins coated with a polymeric material thereby covering the fins and forming an integral seamless tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1992
    Assignee: RMB Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Higgins, Randy Gardiner
  • Patent number: 5154898
    Abstract: In its simplest sense, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for improving the contacting of plural, distinct phases in a circulatory reactor containing a liquid-immersed circulation tube by injecting a stream of dispersed distinct phases together into the circulation tube of the circulatory reactor. Sufficient fluid movement will force the fluid in the reactor to circulate downwardly through the circulation tube and upwardly in the annular space between the tube and the reactor wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1992
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Milind B. Ajinkya, Robert M. Koros, Barry L. Tarmy
  • Patent number: 5141708
    Abstract: A fluidized bed combustion system and method in which a recycle heat exchanger is located adjacent the furnace section of the combustion system. A mixture of flue gases and entrained particulate materials from a fluidized bed in the furnace section are separated and the flue gases are passed to a heat recovery section and the separated particulate material to the fluidized bed in the recycle heat exchanger. A first chamber and plurality of additional chambers are formed in the recycle heat exchanger. A particulate material is supported in all of the additional chambers and air is introduced to each of the additional chambers to fluidize the material. The separated particulate material from the fluidized bed in the furnace section is introduced into one of the chambers and the chambers communicate to permit the material to flow between the chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1992
    Assignee: Foster Wheeler Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Walter R. Campbell, Jr., Michael G. Alliston, Benjamin H. Sisson
  • Patent number: 5141706
    Abstract: An air purification unit including a housing of substantially rectangular solid configuration and having an inlet and an outlet, a diagonal partition in the housing dividing it into substantially equal inlet and outlet chambers, first filters in communication with the inlet chamber for removing gases and particulate matter entering the inlet chamber, second filters in communication with the outlet chamber for removing submicron particles, and a specialized motorized impeller mounted on the diagonal partition for moving air from the inlet chamber to the outlet chamber, the motorized impeller including a stationary inlet ring secured to the partition, a stationary motor housing portion fixed relative to the partition and a rotatable motor housing portion carrying a backwardly rotatable impeller wheel for drawing air through the center of the impeller wheel as it rotates and forcing it radially outwardly through the impeller wheel to thereby pressurize air in the outlet chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1992
    Inventor: Donald L. Clark
  • Patent number: 5139748
    Abstract: Hydrocarbon feedstock is dispersed in an FCC riser by directing jets of atomized feed droplets into a flowing stream of catalyst particles in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of the riser. By directing the feed into the riser in a substantially perpendicular direction feed is more quickly dispersed across the entire cross section of the riser. By quickly dispersing feed the mixture of hydrocarbons and catalyst particles is completely mixed after traveling only a short distance along the riser from the point of feed introduction. Reducing this contact zone length improves the quality of riser products by eliminating variations in the contact time between the feed and catalyst. In addition to the short contact zone length this invention also combines the desirable features of catalyst pre-acceleration and feed atomization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1992
    Assignee: UOP
    Inventors: David A. Lomas, Edward C. Haun
  • Patent number: 5133943
    Abstract: A fluidized bed combustion system and method in which a recycle heat exchanger is located adjacent the furnace section of the recycle heat exchanger. Heat exchange surfaces are provided in one compartment of the heat exchanger for removing heat from the solids, and a bypass compartment is provided through which the solids directly pass to the furnace during start-up and low load conditions. A separate cooling compartment for the separated solids is disposed in the recycle heat exchange and valves are provided to selectively control the flow of solids between compartments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1992
    Assignee: Foster Wheeler Energy Corporation
    Inventor: Igbal F. Abdulally
  • Patent number: 5128109
    Abstract: A fluidized catalytic cracking process and apparatus operates with a two stage hot stripper between the reactor and catalyst regenerator. Addition of hot, regenerated catalyst to spent catalyst from the reactor heats the spent catalyst in the first stripping stage, which preferably uses steam stripping gas. The second stage of stripping occurs about a heat removal stab-in heat exchanger tube bundle, which removes heat from the catalyst during the second stage of stripping. Steam or flue gas may be used in the second stripping stage to fluidize catalyst, improve heat transfer and simultaneously strip the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1992
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventor: Hartley Owen
  • Patent number: 5118471
    Abstract: Apparatus for sterilizing articles includes a sealed first enclosure made at least partially of a gas-permeable plastic film and a sealed container releasably containing a gaseous sterilant under pressure, the container being enclosed within the first enclosure. An openable second enclosure made at least partially of a gas-permeable plastic film is also provided and the first enclosure and the articles to be sterilized are disposed in the second enclosure. The sterilant which is characterized by toxicity and flammability when released from its container diffuses from the first enclosure into the second enclosure at a rate capable of establishing sterilization conditions in the second enclosure during a sterilization cycle to thereby effect sterilization of the articles in the second enclosure. A third enclosure is also provided in which the second enclosure containing the articles to be sterilized is disposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1992
    Assignee: H.W. Andersen Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Harold W. Andersen, William K. Andersen, Charles H. Harrison