Patents Examined by Ignacio E Landeros
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Patent number: 9003829Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the separation of a hydrocarbon-rich, nitrogen-containing feed fraction (1, 101), preferably natural gas, wherein the feed fraction (1, 101) is at least in part liquefied (E1, E2) and divided by rectification (T1) into a nitrogen-enriched fraction (14, 110) and a hydrocarbon-rich, nitrogen-depleted fraction (11, 111) and wherein, in the upper region of the rectification (T1), a nitrogen-enriched stream (14) is taken off, cooled (E3) and applied (20) at least in part to the rectification (T1) as reflux and/or the nitrogen-enriched fraction (110) is cooled and partially condensed (E3), applied at least in part to the rectification (T1) as reflux (115) and the remaining stream (116) of the nitrogen-enriched fraction (110) is subjected to a double-column process (T3).Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2011Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignee: Linde AktiengesellschaftInventors: Heinz Bauer, Martin Gwinner, Daniel Garthe
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Patent number: 8991209Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing high pressure nitrogen is provided.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2010Date of Patent: March 31, 2015Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges ClaudeInventors: Shinji Tomita, Kouhei Nakamura, Kenji Hirose, Jerome Beauvisage, Bao Ha
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Patent number: 8959930Abstract: Disclosed are a method and an apparatus for treating boil-off gas generated in an LNG storage tank of an LNG carrier for transporting LNG in a cryogenic liquid state, the LNG carrier having a boil-off gas reliquefaction plant, wherein an amount of boil-off gas corresponding to a treatment capacity of the reliquefaction plant among the total amount of boil-off gas generated during the voyage of the LNG carrier is discharged from the LNG storage tank and reliquefied by the reliquefaction plant. The boil-off gas treating method and apparatus can maintain an amount of boil-off gas discharged from an LNG storage tank at a constant level by storing in the LNG storage tank, instead of discharging and burning, surplus boil-off gas which has not been returned to the LNG storage tank through the reliquefaction plant among the total amount of boil-off gas generated in the LNG storage tank, and can prevent waste of boil-off gas and save energy by allowing an internal pressure of the LNG storage tank to be increased.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2007Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co., Ltd.Inventors: Jung Han Lee, Jin Yul Yu, Dong Kyu Choi, Hyun Ki Park, Hyun Jin Kim
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Patent number: 8955354Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for treating hydrogen sulfide rich sour gas through a series of fractionation columns. The processes disclosed herein and the variations thereof provide optimized processes for the removal of hydrogen sulfide from sour gas through the introduction of innovative azeotrope breakers, novel configurations of process equipment, and optimized operating conditions. Advantages of certain embodiments of the present invention include reduced equipment requirements, improved process efficiencies, reduced operating costs, and reduced capital costs. Other advantages include better process suitability to certain environmental conditions such as the arctic cold when compared to conventional amine treatment processes.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2010Date of Patent: February 17, 2015Assignee: ConocoPhillips CompanyInventors: Shawn S. Huang, Douglas Elliot, Jame Yao, Wei Yan, Naushad A. Kassamali, Mark S. Elkins
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Patent number: 8950195Abstract: A thermodynamic pump for provides gaseous hydrogen employing a plurality of liquid hydrogen (LH2) tanks sequentially pressurized with gaseous hydrogen (GH2) from an accumulator. A heat exchanger receiving LH2 from each of the plurality of tanks as sequentially pressurized returns pressurized GH2 to the accumulator for supply to an engine.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2010Date of Patent: February 10, 2015Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventor: Daniel A. Watts
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Patent number: 8931287Abstract: A water-going liquefied carbon dioxide (LCD) transport vessel having a pressurized and refrigerated LCD container, a cargo discharge pump within the container for pumping LCD out of] the container along a conduit, a booster pump for pumping LCD along the conduit to a platform, a first backflow line downstream of the cargo pump to the container, a second backflow line from downstream of the booster pump to the container, and optionally a heater arranged to heat LCD flowing from the vessel along the conduit.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2005Date of Patent: January 13, 2015Inventors: Audun Aspelund, Henrik Krogstad, Tor Erling Sandvik, Jan Einar Fivelstad, Roar Frode Henningsen, Leif Roar Wongraven, Tor Erik Hilden, Narve Oma
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Patent number: 8919148Abstract: A process for the recovery of ethane, ethylene, propane, propylene, and heavier hydrocarbon components from a hydrocarbon gas stream is disclosed. The stream is cooled and divided into first and second streams. The first stream is further cooled to condense substantially all of it and is thereafter expanded to the fractionation tower pressure and supplied to the fractionation tower at a first mid-column feed position. The second stream is expanded to the tower pressure and is then supplied to the column at a second mid-column feed position. A vapor distillation stream is withdrawn from the column above the feed point of the second stream and is then directed into heat exchange relation with the tower overhead vapor stream to cool the vapor distillation stream and condense at least a part of it, forming a condensed stream. At least a portion of the condensed stream is directed to the fractionation tower as its top feed.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2008Date of Patent: December 30, 2014Assignee: Ortloff Engineers, Ltd.Inventors: John D. Wilkinson, Joe T. Lynch, Hank M. Hudson, Kyle T. Cuellar, Tony L. Martinez
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Patent number: 8904806Abstract: A method and an apparatus for increasing the temperature gradient of a magneto-calorific thermal generator comprising magneto-calorific elements subjected to a magnetic field variation. At least one of a pre-heating and pre-cooling of the magneto-calorific elements (60) is carried out to modify the initial temperature before and/or during the magnetic field variation before reaching the maximum and/or minimum field value. The method and apparatus may be employed in heating, tempering, air conditioning, refrigeration and other industrial or domestic applications.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2008Date of Patent: December 9, 2014Assignee: Cooltech Applications Societe Par Actions SimplifieeInventors: Nicolas Cramet, Jean-Louis Dupin, Jean-Claude Heitzler, Christian Muller
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Patent number: 8905122Abstract: The heat exchanger may include a pipe unit mounted on a refrigerant line connecting a compressor with an evaporator of an air conditioning and adapted to flow a refrigerant and a LPG fuel returned from the engine, a first connecting member mounted at an end of the pipe unit to connect the pipe unit with the refrigerant line where the refrigerant line is connected to the compressor, and a second connecting member mounted at the other end of the pipe unit to connect the pipe unit with the refrigerant line where the refrigerant line is connected to the evaporator. The heat exchanger is configured so that the high-temperature LPG fuel is capable of exchanging heat with the refrigerant.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2012Date of Patent: December 9, 2014Assignee: Hyundai Motor CompanyInventors: Myeong Hwan Kim, Jae Yeon Kim, Jungha Park, Yong Lee
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Patent number: 8899075Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating air in which an argon refining column of a distillation column system is reboiled with a liquid air stream. The argon refining column further refines crude argon produced by a crude argon column connected to a lower pressure column of the distillation column system. At least one intermediate reflux stream is formed, at least indirectly, from at least part of the liquid air stream, and is introduced into the lower pressure column at a level thereof above where a crude liquid oxygen column bottoms of a higher pressure column of such system is further refined to increase a liquid to vapor ratio below said level and therefore, argon recovery from the argon refining column.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2010Date of Patent: December 2, 2014Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.Inventor: Henry Edward Howard
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Patent number: 8893514Abstract: A cryogenic liquid storage system for a spacecraft comprising at least one liquid tank with an outer casing and an evacuated space arranged between the tank and the outer casing. The system further comprises a propellant management device made of material that is a good conductor of heat and that is cooled by a cryorefrigerator to localize the liquid inside the tank when in microgravity, a filler pipe situated in the portion of the tank that is at the bottom when the tank is on the ground, and that is surrounded by an evacuated insulating double wall and a purge pipe connecting the tank to the outer casing and presenting an internal length that is not less than half the diameter of the tank.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2009Date of Patent: November 25, 2014Assignee: SNECMAInventor: Dominique Valentian
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Patent number: 8850849Abstract: A process for recovering ethane and heavier hydrocarbons from LNG and a hydrocarbon gas stream is disclosed. The LNG feed stream is divided into two portions. The first is supplied to a fractionation column as a first upper mid-column feed. The second portion is heated while condensing a portion of a column distillation stream, thereby producing a “lean” LNG stream and a reflux stream. The reflux stream is supplied as top column feed. The second portion of LNG feed is heated further and supplied to the column as a first lower mid-column feed. The gas stream is divided into two portions. The second is expanded, then both portions are cooled while vaporizing the lean LNG stream and heating another portion of the distillation stream. The colder first portion is supplied to the column as a second upper mid-column feed, and the second is supplied as a second lower mid-column feed.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2012Date of Patent: October 7, 2014Assignee: Ortloff Engineers, Ltd.Inventors: Tony L. Martinez, John D. Wilkinson, Hank M. Hudson, Kyle T. Cuellar
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Patent number: 8839630Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a dehumidifier and a vent drain assembly to reduce moisture in an electrical enclosure. The dehumidifier can include a thermoelectric module, a drain pan, and a fitting to release the collected moisture from the drain pan. The vent drain assembly can receive the collected moisture from the drain pan and the fitting. The vent drain assembly can include a valve body, a float, and a cap.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2009Date of Patent: September 23, 2014Assignee: Hoffman Enclosures, Inc.Inventors: William J. Nepsha, Bruce W. Larson, Gregory A. Quick, Robert M. Kalstabakken
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Patent number: 8826686Abstract: There is disclosed a refrigeration apparatus including a cascade heat exchanger and capable of reducing the depth dimension of the apparatus itself without being influenced by the thickness dimension of an insulating material for covering the cascade heat exchanger, so that the apparatus can easily be carried indoors through a usual carrying entrance. In a refrigeration apparatus 1 including a high-temperature-side refrigerant circuit 25 and a low-temperature-side refrigerant-circuit 38, an evaporator 34 of the high-temperature-side refrigerant circuit 25 and a condensing pipe 42 of the low-temperature-side refrigerant circuit 25 constitute a cascade heat exchanger 43, and an evaporation pipe 62 of the low-temperature-side refrigerant circuit 38 is configured to cool a storage chamber 4 constituted in an insulating box body 2 to an extremely low temperature.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2007Date of Patent: September 9, 2014Assignee: Panasonic Healthcare Co., Ltd.Inventor: Katsuji Takasugi
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Patent number: 8806891Abstract: The present invention relates to a process plant and method for cooling and optionally liquefaction of a product gas, particularly for liquefaction of natural gas, based on a closed loop of multi-component refrigerant in heat exchange with the gas to be cooled and optionally condensed.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2007Date of Patent: August 19, 2014Assignee: Sinvent ASInventors: Einar Brendeng, Petter Nekså
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Patent number: 8794030Abstract: A process for recovering heavier hydrocarbons from a liquefied natural gas (LNG) stream and a hydrocarbon gas stream is disclosed. The LNG stream is heated to vaporize at least part of it, expanded, and supplied to a fractionation column at a first mid-column feed position. The gas stream is expanded, cooled, and supplied to the column at a second mid-column feed position. A distillation vapor stream is withdrawn from the column below the mid-column feed positions and cooled by the LNG stream sufficiently to condense at least a part of it, with at least a portion of the condensed stream directed to the column at an upper mid-column feed position. A portion of the column overhead stream is cooled by the LNG feed stream to condense it and form both a “lean” LNG stream and a reflux stream that is supplied to the column at a top column feed position.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2013Date of Patent: August 5, 2014Assignee: Ortloff Engineers, Ltd.Inventors: Tony L. Martinez, John D. Wilkinson, Hank M. Hudson, Kyle T. Cuellar
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Patent number: 8789379Abstract: A hydrogen pump comprises a pump housing and a heating mechanism. The pump housing receives liquid hydrogen through a housing inlet. The heating mechanism vaporizes the liquid hydrogen into gaseous hydrogen. The pump housing releases the gaseous hydrogen through a housing outlet at a predetermined pressure level of the gaseous hydrogen. The pump housing closes the housing outlet such as when the liquid hydrogen in the pump housing falls below a depletion level. The pump housing opens and additional liquid hydrogen enters the pump housing through the housing inlet.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2009Date of Patent: July 29, 2014Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventor: Daniel A. Watts
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Patent number: 8769985Abstract: A compressed air stream is cooled in an exchanger to form a compressed cooled air stream. The stream is then cryogenically compressed in a first compressor to form a first pressurized gas stream. The first pressurized gas stream is further cooled in the exchanger, cryogenically compressed in a second compressor, and then it is cooled and partially liquefied. The cooled and partially liquefied product is then fed to a system of distillation columns. A liquid product is removed from the system of distillation columns. This product is then pressurized, vaporized and warmed in the exchanger to yield pressurized gaseous product.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2005Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Société Anonyme à Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Étude et l'Exploitation des Procédés Georges ClaudeInventors: Jean-Renaud Brugerolle, Bao Ha
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Patent number: 8650906Abstract: A system and process to re-liquefy boil-off liquid natural gas in varied amounts by a process using a screw compressor having an effective compression range from about 10 to about 100 percent of its rated capacity.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2007Date of Patent: February 18, 2014Assignee: Black & Veatch CorporationInventors: Brian C. Price, Randal J. Winkler
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Patent number: 8631664Abstract: There are provided a first guide channel 240 for making a U-turn of a leading end of a filter 3 at a front side of a main unit cabinet 1 during forward movement of the filter 3 and a second guide channel 141 for drawing a rear end of the filter to a rear surface side of the main unit cabinet 1 during backward movement of the filter 3.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2009Date of Patent: January 21, 2014Assignee: Fujitsu General LimitedInventors: Makoto Shibuya, Shinji Sugiyama, Hideyuki Umenaka, Hideo Okamoto, Ritsushi Taira