Patents Examined by Jonathan Miller
  • Patent number: 12268980
    Abstract: Reusable filters for personal protective equipment (PPE) may prevent shortages of PPE and save fabrication time, resources, and money. Disclosed is a method and system for fabrication of nanofiber filter media for PPE. The method includes positioning a substrate to receive nanofibers thereon, providing a voltage gradient in a region of the substrate, and electrospinning nanofibers onto the substrate. The methods and associated systems allow autoclaving of the filter medium at temperatures of up to 300 degrees for sanitizing the filter medium. Additionally, the methods and associated system allow for the inclusion of an anti-pathogen agent in the nanofiber filter media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Yuepeng Zhang, Devon J. Powers, Krzysztof Pupek, John N. Hryn, Gregory K. Krumdick, Santanu Chaudhuri
  • Patent number: 12258519
    Abstract: A pyrolyser including (i) a pyrolysis chamber defining an interior compartment having an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the pyrolysis chamber includes a feed inlet, a product outlet, an exhaust gas outlet, and an operational length comprising a linear distance from the feed inlet to the product outlet; (ii) a trough located in the lower portion of the interior compartment and extending through the pyrolysis chamber along the operational length of the pyrolysis chamber; and (iii) a material handling system comprising an paddle auger located within the trough and configured to convey biomass from the feed inlet towards the product outlet; wherein the paddle auger comprises an auger shaft, a plurality of sets of paddles directly or indirectly connected to the auger shaft, and a plurality of flights interconnecting the plurality of paddles is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2024
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: APPLIED GAIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sheila Macdonald Kyger, Sebastian Burn
  • Patent number: 12257528
    Abstract: Methods and systems for separating a first metal from a metal-containing feed stream are provided. The method can include applying solar energy, for example, by focusing one or more mirrors in one or more heliostats, to heat a metal-containing feed stream in a heating zone to a first temperature to produce a first vapor including the first metal. The first vapor can be condensed in a condensation zone to produce a first liquid including the first metal, and the first liquid can be collected. The system can include a separation unit include a heating zone in fluid communication with a condensation zone and a means for applying solar energy to heat a metal-containing feed stream disposed in the heating zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: Nant Holdings IP, LLC
    Inventor: Patrick Soon-Shiong
  • Patent number: 12247487
    Abstract: A vapor collection system that can be used at an extra-terrestrial body is envisioned to collect target gaseous atoms and molecules (material) floating around in a shielded environment at a pressure at or less than a bar. The shielded environment is defined within a cover and skirt arrangement that rests atop granular soil, which in one embodiment is regolith. It is advantageous for the regolith under the cover to be essentially devoid of loose rocks that would reduce mining efficacy and/or the cover from sealing against the regolith surface. Accordingly, certain embodiments envision mining the regolith with a zero tailings arrangement that uses a front plow to clear away loose rocks from where the cover will rest on the regolith and a redeposition blade to collect and redeposit the cleared away loose rocks behind the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: LUNAR HELIUM-3 MINING, LLC
    Inventor: Chris Salvino
  • Patent number: 12240800
    Abstract: Embodiments pertain to a urea plant and to the operation of a urea plant in a reduced load mode. In embodiments, two evaporators in parallel are used, connected to a finishing section respectively to a melamine plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: Stamicarbon B.V.
    Inventors: Branislav Manic, Rahul Patil
  • Patent number: 12233363
    Abstract: Heat exchangers (also referred to as exchangers herein) are provided that fit within a bottom sump of a distillation column. These heat exchangers may be at least partially submerged in the bottoms fluid of the distillation column so that the exterior surface of the heat exchanger can contribute to the total area of the heat exchanger. The internal configuration of the exchanger allows for annular coaxial flow of the hot fluid (condensing vapor stream) and eliminates the need for top and bottom channel heads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Inventors: Raymond Tucker, Trung Pham, Stephanie Fuyue Li, Zhanping Xu, James Althoff
  • Patent number: 12233362
    Abstract: An energy saving and emission reduction system for chemical separation and purification process is disclosed. The chemical separation and purification process includes a synthesis section and/or a distillation section and/or a recovery section. The energy saving and emission reduction system includes an energy comprehensive utilization maximizing energy saving module. The energy comprehensive utilization maximizing energy saving module comprehensively evaluates the chemical separation and purification process, and acquires a lowest energy consumption value according to initial and final material flow parameters. Then energy integration optimization and energy saving technical modification are performed on the synthesis section and/or distillation section and/or recovery section according to the lowest energy consumption value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Inventor: Qunsheng Li
  • Patent number: 12234411
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of bio-oil-based renewable streams for composing a diesel or aviation kerosene (AVK) pool by combining the technologies of hydroprocessing esters and fatty acids (HEFA) and thermochemical conversion of lignocellulosic biomass for generating bio-oil. The integration of conventional raw material from the HEFA pathway with a bio-oil fraction has the advantages of the use of a stream originating from the conversion of lignocellulosic material, which is widely available on the market, and also the production of a renewable stream containing aromatics in its composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: Petróleo Brasileiro S.A.—Petrobras
    Inventors: Adriano Do Couto Fraga, Andrea De Rezende Pinho, Luiza Torres Abrantes, Jefferson Roberto Gomes, Jose Luiz Zotin, Iris Medeiros Junior, Vitor Loureiro Ximenes, Marlon Brando Bezerra de Almeida
  • Patent number: 12234417
    Abstract: A feed stream of cyclic paraffins may be separated to obtain an overhead of methylcyclopentane or cyclohexane and a bottoms stream cyclohexane or methylcyclohexane. The overhead stream may be subjected to separation of normal paraffins from non-normal paraffins with the former being isomerized or the entire overhead stream may be isomerized. In a further embodiment, the bottoms stream may be subjected to steam cracking. In an additional embodiment, the feed stream of cyclic paraffins may be formerly subjected to aromatic saturation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Ram Ganesh Rokkam, Amit Jain, Ashish Mathur, Nirlipt Mahapatra, Prasenjit Basu Sarkar, Sourabh Maithil
  • Patent number: 12221360
    Abstract: Systems and methods for treating a raw wastewater feed stream using a low energy ejector, which works as a heat pump to increase the pressure and temperature of a two-phase distillate stream used, in part, to heat the raw wastewater feed stream. The systems and methods utilize heat from a liquid distillate stream and a concentrated liquid wastewater stream to pre-heat the raw wastewater feed stream and produce a liquid distillate product stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: Bechtel Energy Technologies & Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Jorge T. Aguinaldo, Joseph P. Kanzleiter, David Ladd, Saurabh S. Tonapi, Baki E. Goktepe, Mukesh K. Shah
  • Patent number: 12215281
    Abstract: Reactor for recovery or recycling of hydrocarbon products from hydrocarbon-containing material by decomposing and gasifying the material in a reactor housing, comprising a gas/particle separator device arranged to separate solid particles accompanying the gas and to return these particles directly to the reactor housing in the opposite direction to axially flowing gasified hydrocarbon products, and/or comprising a rotor shaft with axially running channels which are in flow communication with a coolant, and/or comprising a radial play formed between the periphery of a rotor and the inside of the reactor housing and amounting to at least 3 cm and at most 6 cm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Inventor: Anders Olsson
  • Patent number: 12215042
    Abstract: Provided is a wastewater purification method, the method including: supplying a first mixed stream, in which an acid component and wastewater including water, a nitrile-based monomer, and ammonia are mixed, to a first column; recovering the nitrile-based monomer from an upper discharge stream from the first column; supplying a second mixed stream, in which a lower discharge stream from the first column and a base component are mixed, to a second column; and recovering the ammonia from an upper discharge stream from the second column and separating purified wastewater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Suk Yung Oh, Yong Heon Cho, Jung Su Han, Jun Seok Ko, Nam Young Yoon, Sung Hwan Kim
  • Patent number: 12201927
    Abstract: Provide is a distillation tower management system, a distillation tower state analysis method, and a distillation tower management method that are capable of predicting abnormality in distillation towers before the abnormality becomes apparent and capable of taking preventive actions. The distillation tower management system includes a measurement unit 10 that is at least one selected from the group consisting of a pressure measurement unit 11, a temperature measurement unit 12 and a chlorine measurement unit 13, an operation data unit 20 for producing operation data containing measurement data measured with the measurement unit 10, an analysis unit 30 for analyzing the state of a distillation tower 103 from the operation data and producing analysis data regarding the state of the distillation tower 103, and a control unit 40 for producing, based on the analysis data, control data regarding a differential pressure-eliminating agent that is added to the distillation tower 103.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: KURITA WATER INDUSTRIES LTD.
    Inventors: Keisuke Karaki, Kenta Emori, Hiroaki Minami
  • Patent number: 12201134
    Abstract: Disclosed is a spray drying system and process for encapsulating a core material, such as a volatile flavor oil, within a carrier or wall material. The process is achieved by atomizing a liquid emulsion comprising the core material, the wall material, and a liquid solvent, applying a high-voltage, low-current, high frequency alternating-current charge or a high-voltage, low-current, low frequency alternating-current charge at the site of atomization, and drying the atomized emulsion into an encapsulated, free-flowing powder. Applying a high-voltage, low current alternating-current at the site of atomization allows the spray drying to be accomplished at significantly reduced temperatures, in particular, at inlet temperatures in the range of 25° C. to 150° C., and outlet temperatures in the range of 25° C. to 110° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Inventors: Robert M. Sobel, Chin-Ping Su
  • Patent number: 12203032
    Abstract: Apparatus for the pyrolysis treatment of plastics includes a vertically developing reactor which includes: a first zone, a second zone and a third zone which are in direct communication with each other, the first zone being vertically superimposed on the second zone and the second zone being vertically superimposed on the third zone, an inlet for high temperature particles, the inlet being arranged so that the particles fall by gravity into the second zone first passing through the first zone, a plurality of nozzles which are mounted in correspondence with the second zone for introducing the plastics in the molten state into the second zone, and a mechanical mixing device which is positioned and acts inside the third zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: DELTAGIZERO S.R.L.
    Inventor: Giuseppe Falco
  • Patent number: 12195360
    Abstract: A high-efficiency solar multi-layer evaporative seawater desalination device includes a transparent housing. In the device, wedge-shaped recesses are formed on an outer wall of the transparent housing; during seawater desalination, seawater is injected into evaporation trays and sunlight is irradiated on the evaporation trays through the transparent housing; the transparent housing is made of a transparent plastic material, such that sunlight can directly enter the transparent housing and increase a temperature therein to speed up the evaporation; the wedge-shaped recesses are on a shady surface; during desalination, seawater in the evaporation trays absorbs heat and evaporates to form water vapor, such that there is a given temperature difference between the water vapor and the outside; and a lower part of the wedge-shaped recess can serve as a condensation surface, the water vapor condenses on the transparent housing or at the wedge-shaped recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research
    Inventors: Shan Jiang, Yongnan Zhu, Jiaqi Li, Jianhua Wang, Yong Zhao, Guohua He, Qingming Wang, Lizhen Wang, Jiaqi Zhai, Haihong Li, Fan He, Changhai Qin, Yong Wang
  • Patent number: 12195358
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to a method, apparatus and system for the evaporation of produced water and dirty water from oil and gas production and other dirty water sources. The evaporation system may consist of a portable pond embodied in an Above Ground Storage Tank (AST) system and a fluid projection system which may be controlled and employ optimized operating conditions to maximize the evaporation of produced water under varying meteorological and chemical condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: HEAT IP HOLDCO, LLC
    Inventors: James C. Juranitch, Alan C. Reynolds
  • Patent number: 12194398
    Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a screening assembly comprising a separating device connected to a conduit for an effluent stream comprising a polymer and a mixture of hydrocarbons, wherein the separating device is configured to separate the effluent stream into a polymer-rich stream and a polymer-lean vapor stream, wherein the first separation device comprises an inlet, a first outlet for withdrawing a polymer-rich stream, and a second outlet for withdrawing a polymer-lean vapor stream, a screening device connected to the separating device via a conduit for the polymer-lean vapor stream, wherein the screening device comprises a first inlet connected to the conduit for the polymer-lean vapor stream, a first outlet for withdrawing a cleaned vapor stream, a second outlet for withdrawing a polymer-comprising condensed vapor stream, and at least one second inlet for introducing a condensed vapor stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: BOREALIS AG
    Inventors: Henry Sleijster, Mohammad Al-Haj Ali, Mubashar Sattar, Noureddine Ajellal, Charlotta Weber
  • Patent number: 12195356
    Abstract: A system and process for decontaminating a bio-contaminated wastewater fluid as from a slaughterhouse or similar facility. The system and process recovers purified vapor/steam through a decontamination unit having a plurality of alternating rotating trays and fixed baffles in a processing vessel producing separate purified and contaminant streams. One or more filter/strainer units are disposed in parallel before the decontamination unit, and may be used alternately while the other is cleaned. A rotating shaft connected to the rotating trays may also connected to an electrical generator to provide electricity for circuits and controls in the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Verno Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: John D. Riley
  • Patent number: 12195361
    Abstract: Some implementations provide an integrated system that includes: a wastewater treatment system configured to process wastewater released by one or more furnaces at a steelmaking plant, and generates reused wastewater using the wastewater; a heat recovery apparatus configured to utilize exhaust gas from the one or more furnaces at the steelmaking plant, and heat the reused wastewater generated by the wastewater treatment system above a threshold temperature; and a generator configured to receive, through a water inlet, the reused wastewater heated above the threshold temperature; and an absorption system arranged in circulation with the generator, and wherein the reused water is supplied above a threshold amount such that the generator drives the absorption system and produces cooled air inside the steelmaking plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Faisal B. Almutairi, Ali Abdulaziz Al-Ugla