Patents Examined by Ives Wu
  • Patent number: 8152903
    Abstract: Hindered cyclic polyamines and their salts are absorbents useful in acid gas treatment processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: ExxonMobile Research & Engineering Company
    Inventors: Michael Siskin, Alan R Katritzky, Edmund J. Mozeleski, Frank Cheng-Yu Wang
  • Patent number: 8133300
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a chamber may be configured to separate oil and gas. For example, the oil and gas may be separated as they exit a compressor, an oil storage tank, etc. In some embodiments, the gas may be a heavy gas and the oil may be compressor oil. One or more heated baffles may interact with the oil and gas to increase the velocity of the gas flow to inhibit the gas from absorbing into the oil. In some embodiments, when the compressor feeding the chamber is operating at a decreased compression rate, the chamber may continue to heat the oil to vaporize impurities out of the oil. The impurities may then be vented out of the chamber through the bleed valve to a gas inlet scrubber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: S&R Compression, LLC
    Inventors: Louis C. Gonsalves, III, George Alan Sweetman
  • Patent number: 8123843
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus comprising a co-current absorbing unit, a countercurrent absorbing unit, at least one absorbing liquid reservoir, and at least one liquid transferring means. The invention also relates to a method of absorbing a reactive gas and a method of preparing a solution by contacting a reactive gas to a solvent and allowing the reactive gas to react with the solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Inventors: Patrick H. Au-Yeung, Dennis W. Jewell, John G. Pendergast, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8118915
    Abstract: Produced natural gas containing carbon dioxide is dehydrated and chilled to liquefy the carbon dioxide and then fractionated to produce a waste stream of liquid carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide. Natural gas liquids may be first separated and removed before fractionation. After fractionation, the waste stream is pressurized and transmitted to a remote injection well for injection either for disposal of the waste stream and preferably to urge hydrocarbons toward the producing well. A hydrocarbon stream proceeds from fractionation to a methanol absorber system which removes carbon dioxide gas. The hydrocarbon stream is thereafter separated into at least hydrocarbon gas, nitrogen and helium. Some of the nitrogen is reintroduced into a fractionation tower to enhance the recovery of hydrocarbons. A methanol recovery system is provided to recover and reuse the methanol. The hydrocarbons are sold as natural gas and the helium is recovered and sold. Excess nitrogen is vented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Inventor: Donald Leo Stinson
  • Patent number: 8114183
    Abstract: A coalescer is provided minimizing trade-offs among high removal efficiency, low pressure drop, long service life, and small size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Cummins Filtration IP Inc.
    Inventors: Brian W. Schwandt, Barry M. Verdegan, Roger L. Zoch, Jeffrey A. Fedorowicz, Kurt M. A. Badeau, Robert E. Muse, Peter K. Herman
  • Patent number: 8101089
    Abstract: Water decontamination systems including aerator modules are described herein. Such systems are capable of removing contaminants, including volatile organic compounds, from the water. Certain volatile organic contaminants can be removed at high efficiencies. The systems may be automated to remove the contaminants and produce cleaned water on a continuous basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Liquid Separation Technologies and Equipment, LLC
    Inventor: David S. Drewelow
  • Patent number: 8097068
    Abstract: A diamine absorbent that contains heat stable salts is regenerated using an ion exchange process wherein the concentration of heat stable salts in the feed stream provided to the cation exchange unit is limited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Cansolv Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Campbell, John Sarlis, Vijay Bhambhani Godhwani, Melina Infantino
  • Patent number: 8092582
    Abstract: An absorbing tower provided with plural spray headers (3) which each have a plurality of spray nozzles (5) and are arranged in a multi-stage state in the flow direction of exhaust gas, in which an absorption liquid containing a slurry of limestone or lime is sprayed through the nozzles (5) to absorb and remove sulfur oxide contained in exhaust gas, wherein each spray nozzle (5) is of an annular spray type (a hollow cone type) and the spray nozzles (5) in the neighborhood of the tower wall have such a structure that the fluid is sprayed radially at spray angles of 50 to 80° with the direction counter to the flow of exhaust gas as the center, while the nozzles (5) in the central part of the tower have such a structure that the fluid is sprayed radially at spray angles of 80 to 130° with the direction counter to the flow thereof as the center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Babcock-Hitachi Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takuro Ueda, Atsushi Katagawa, Hiroshi Ishizaka
  • Patent number: 8088200
    Abstract: In a method for removing acid gases from a fluid stream, the fluid stream, which is in contact with an absorption medium within an absorber, is passed through a first absorption zone in the absorber to remove a majority of acid gases from the fluid stream. The fluid stream is susequently passed through a second absorption zone in the absorber to further remove acid gases from the fluid stream. The loaded absorption medium is passed into a first regeneration zone to obtain a partially regenerated absorption medium, and a part of the partially regenerated absorption medium is passed into the first absorption zone. The other part of the partially regenerated absorption medium is passed into a second regeneration zone to obtain a regenerated absorption medium. A part of the regenerated absorption medium is passed into the first absorption zone and the other part is passed into the second absorption zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Rupert Wagner, Randolf Hugo
  • Patent number: 8083837
    Abstract: A deputation process and corresponding apparatus for purification of the air of a closed environment characterized by indoor pollution, in which, in order to reduce the pollution, a water tank is provided that contains a multiplicity of active biomasses designed to absorb and metabolize the pollutant substances that are contained in the water and come from the air of the closed environment, and elements of water-air contact, designed precisely to transfer the pollutant substances from the closed environment into the water within the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Ingegneria Ambientale SRL
    Inventors: Uranio Mazzanti, Paolo De Filippis, Marco Scarsella
  • Patent number: 8083838
    Abstract: Systems and methods for the separation of a particulate-fluid suspension are provided. An apparatus for the separation of a particulate-fluid suspension can include an enclosed vessel having two or more sections disposed coaxially along a common longitudinal centerline, wherein a first section has a first cross sectional area, and a second section has a second cross sectional area. A plurality of apertures can be disposed about the second section. The apparatus can have a cylindrical surface, parallel to the longitudinal centerline of the apparatus, disposed within the first section. A fluid distribution channel having a plurality of apertures can be disposed either about an exterior surface or an interior of the apparatus. A plurality of fluid conduits can provide fluid communication between the fluid distribution channel and the plurality of apertures distributed about the second section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Kellogg Brown & Root LLC
    Inventors: Yong-Lin Yang, Eusebius Gbordzoe
  • Patent number: 8080087
    Abstract: A method of drying liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons by contacting a feed stream of the hydrocarbon with an aqueous solution of a salt drying agent prior to passing the stream through a salt dryer to remove part of the water in the stream. The aqueous solution of the salt drying agent is generated in the salt dryer when the partly dried stream comes into contact with the drying salt and forms the solution. The solution is circulated in a loop from the salt dryer to the incoming feed and then through a liquid/liquid coalescer which removes a portion of the water together with dissolved salt from the mixture before the mixture is passed on to the salt dryer where further removal of water occurs. The salt dryer is off-loaded by a substantial factor by the initial partial dehydration and does not require to remove such a large amount of water; the salt consumption is therefore reduced in proportion to the amount of water removed in the treatment steps which precede the dryer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research & Engineering Company
    Inventors: Robert J. Falkiner, Bal K. Kaul
  • Patent number: 8075668
    Abstract: A drainage system is for a compressor assembly that includes at least one separator with a chamber. The system includes a drain valve fluidly coupled with the separator chamber and adjustable between open and closed states. An actuator is operatively coupled with and adjusts the valve between the open and closed states or/and a sensor senses when the valve is open. A pressure sensor is configured to sense pressure within the chamber and a logic circuit is coupled with the pressure sensor and determines when the valve either has been or should have been adjusted to the open state. The logic circuit also generates an output signal or/and operates a device when the chamber pressure remains substantially constant or varies by less than a predetermined amount subsequent to the valve being opened and/or when the chamber pressure varies by at least the predetermined amount after the valve is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Dresser-Rand Company
    Inventors: Scott J. Delmotte, Jon T. Vine, Thomas D. O'Leary
  • Patent number: 8075673
    Abstract: A description is given of an absorption medium for removing carbon dioxide from gas streams which comprises aqueous solution of an amine of the formula I HNR2??(I) where one or both radicals R are and the other radical R is hydrogen. The absorption medium is distinguished by particular oxidation resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Joachim-Thierry Anders, Johann-Peter Melder, Norbert Asprion, Ole Brettschneider, Iven Clausen, Bernd Eck, Ute Lichtfers
  • Patent number: 8070944
    Abstract: A groundwater radon reduction apparatus is provided. The groundwater radon reduction apparatus includes: a housing in which groundwater falls down; a rotating member installed in the housing and rotated by a falling force of the groundwater to form the groundwater into water drops; a plurality of power transmission members connected to both ends of the rotating member to transmit power, and receiving the rotating force of the rotating member; and a plurality of ventilation units coupled to one ends of the power transmission members inside the housing, respectively, and rotated together with the power transmission members by the rotation force of the rotating member to discharge radon gases within the water drops to the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources
    Inventors: Kil Yong Lee, Yoon Yeol Yoon, Kyung Seok Ko
  • Patent number: 8066804
    Abstract: A scrubber for separation of liquid phase and any other constituents from a fluid now that in substance includes a gas. The scrubber is formed as a standing vessel with round cross section, with an outlet for liquid from the bottom and an outlet for gas from the top. The scrubber is distinguished in includes a fluid inlet that either is tangentially oriented relative to the inner wall of the scrubber or equipped with a deflection plate, such that introduced fluid is directed tangentially horizontal or with a small downward slope along the inner wall of the scrubber, into and through a fluid way arranged as a downwards directed spiral within the scrubber, along the inner wall, from a level over or at the inlet to a level at or close to the outlet for liquid, with an opening for gas escape inwards toward the center of the scrubber. The scrubber according to the invention results in very low liquid entrainment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Statoil ASA
    Inventors: Lars Henrick Gjertsen, Arne Olav Fredheim, Carl-Birger Jenssen, Bård Gjøen
  • Patent number: 8062408
    Abstract: Methods and systems for separating a targeted gas from a gas stream emitted from a power plant. The gas stream is brought into contact with an absorption solution to preferentially absorb the targeted gas to be separated from the gas stream so that an absorbed gas is present within the absorption solution. This provides a gas-rich solution, which is introduced into a stripper. Low pressure exhaust steam from a low pressure steam turbine of the power plant is injected into the stripper with the gas-rich solution. The absorbed gas from the gas-rich solution is stripped in the stripper using the injected low pressure steam to provide a gas stream containing the targeted gas. The stripper is at or near vacuum. Water vapor in a gas stream from the stripper is condensed in a condenser operating at a pressure lower than the stripper to concentrate the targeted gas. Condensed water is separated from the concentrated targeted gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
    Inventors: Shiaguo Chen, Yonggi Lu, Massoud Rostam-Abadi
  • Patent number: 8048208
    Abstract: A method and device for separation of chalcogens from waste gases in process installations are provided so that complete and reliable removal of chalcogens occurs continuously during nonstop operation of the process installation in the most effective manner possible. The process installation is connected via a pipeline to an input connector of the device for separation of chalcogens arranged outside of the process installation. The pipeline and the input connector have a heat connection to the process chamber. The device for separation of chalcogens is provided with an outlet connector as well as a gas outlet is equipped with a cooling device so that the input connector is excluded from cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Centrotherm Photovoltaics AG
    Inventors: Dieter Schmid, Hans-Peter Voelk, Robert Michael Hartung
  • Patent number: 8048203
    Abstract: It is intended to provide methods of producing a chlorine gas having a small bromine content, an aqueous sodium hypochlorite solution having a small bromic acid content, and liquid chlorine having a small bromine content. More specifically, a chlorine gas is produced by a method comprising the steps of: (A) washing a chlorine gas that contains bromine, in a gas washing unit composed of a packed column or a tray tower, wherein the chlorine gas introduced via a lower part of the gas washing unit is brought into counterflow gas/liquid contact with a liquid chlorine introduced via an upper part of the gas washing unit; and (B) taking out a purified chlorine gas thus washed, via the upper part of the gas washing unit, wherein a weight ratio of the chlorine gas and the liquid chlorine introduced in the step (A) is 1/1.0 to 1/0.3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Kaneka Corporation
    Inventors: Yusaku Ariki, Hironobu Ibaraki
  • Patent number: 8038779
    Abstract: A method of assembling a gas removal system for an integrated gasification combined cycle is provided. The method includes coupling a first rich solvent tank in flow communication with the integrated gasification combined cycle to store a first emissions-rich solvent discharged from the integrated gasification combined cycle and coupling a first stripper in flow communication with the first rich solvent tank to facilitate removing gases from the first emissions-rich solvent. The method also includes coupling an absorber in flow communication with the first stripper to receive gases from the first stripper and create a second emissions-rich solvent and coupling a second rich solvent tank in flow communication with the absorber to store the second emissions-rich solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Terry Hughes