Patents Examined by Pankti Patel
  • Patent number: 8702839
    Abstract: Provided are a CO2 absorber that reduces CO2 contained in flue gas; a regenerator that reduces CO2 contained in rich solvent absorbing CO2 to regenerate the rich solvent, so that lean solvent having the CO2 reduced in the regenerator is reused in the CO2 absorber; a heat exchanger that allows the rich solvent to exchange heat with the lean solvent; and a controller that controls to extract rich solvent portion that is part of the rich solvent, to allow the rich solvent portion to bypass the heat exchanger, and to be supplied into the top of the regenerator without exchanging heat so as to minimize a sum of an enthalpy that is taken out of the regenerator as CO2 gas accompanying steam and an enthalpy of the lean solvent after heat exchange with the rich solvent in the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., The Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Masaki Iijima, Kouki Ogura, Masahiko Tatsumi, Yasuyuki Yagi
  • Patent number: 8696791
    Abstract: Methods for removing sulfur from a gas stream prior to sending the gas stream to a gas separation membrane system are provided. Two schemes are available. When the sulfur content is high or flow is relatively high, a scheme including two columns where one tower is regenerated if the sulfur concentration exceeds a preset value can be used. When the sulfur content is low or flow is relatively low, a scheme including one column and an absorption bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Milind M. Vaidya, Jean-Pierre R. Ballaguet, Sebastien A. Duval, Anwar H. Khawajah
  • Patent number: 8690993
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for the treatment of process gas from an anaerobic digestion system or a landfill gas system. In one embodiment, the system comprises a caustic scrubber including a vertical column having a top and a bottom and including a counter current flow system, wherein a process gas stream flows up vertically through the column in counter current flow to a caustic liquid solution that flows downward through the column. The caustic liquid solution removes at least one acid from the process gas stream, wherein treated gas that is substantially free of acids bubbles out through an opening at the top of the vertical column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Clean Energy Renewable Fuels, LLC
    Inventor: Jeffrey J. Grill
  • Patent number: 8690992
    Abstract: Processes for operating an ammonia stripper at a low pressure in a gas purification system include providing a first side-draw stream from the ammonia stripper; heating the first side-draw stream with a second side-draw stream from a regenerator; providing a stripper offgas stream from the ammonia stripper to a stripper overhead condenser; and utilizing the stripper offgas stream as a heat source for a regenerating system fluidly coupled to the stripper overhead condenser. Also disclosed are systems for implementing the processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Sanjay Kumar Dube, Daniel Nicolaus Secundus Mattstedt, Joseph P. Naumovitz
  • Patent number: 8685147
    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: August 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Kaneka Corporation
    Inventors: Yusaku Ariki, Hironobu Ibaraki
  • Patent number: 8685141
    Abstract: A wet scrubber (1) and a method of using the wet scrubber to clean a process gas containing sulphur dioxide comprising at least one spray level system (20) with atomizing nozzles (38) to which an absorption liquid is supplied for atomization by the nozzles (38). The method comprises operating the spray level system (20) in at least a first operating mode with an active nozzle density of at least 0.7 nozzles/m2, an absorption liquid flow of at least 10 m3/hour per nozzle and a Total Flow of at least 30 m3/hour/m2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventor: Rikard Hakansson
  • Patent number: 8673056
    Abstract: The invention is directed to processes and apparatuses for gas treatment, in particular for the purification of methane rich gas streams, such as gas obtained from the conversion from organic matter (“biogas”). In accordance with the present invention there is provided an apparatus and a process for producing a purified methane comprising gas stream (P) from a methane containing gas stream (A), comprising the steps of: (a) pressurising said methane containing gas stream (A) and subsequently cooling it, whereby a stream comprising condensed contaminants (C) and a methane comprising stream (B) are obtained; (b) optionally feeding said methane comprising stream (B) to an adsorption unit and/or a catalytic conversion unit, whereby the concentration of contaminants in stream (B) is further decreased; and (c) cooling the methane comprising stream (B) to a temperature which is sufficient to condensate CO2 from said stream (B), whereby said purified methane comprising gas stream (P) is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Gastreatment Services B.V.
    Inventors: Mathieu André De Bas, Jacob Kuiper, Jeroen De Pater
  • Patent number: 8657925
    Abstract: A method of scrubbing flue gas includes introducing flue gas comprising an acidic gas through an inlet into a tower; spraying an acid-absorptive fluid into the tower such that the acid-absorptive fluid contacts the flue gas; accumulating the acid-absorptive fluid in a recycle tank portion of the tower; and introducing an oxygen-containing gas into the acid-absorptive fluid in the recycle tank portion of the tower, wherein the oxygen-containing gas is introduced through at least one opening of an aerator, each of the at least one openings are positioned to release the oxygen-containing gas at least at a distance greater than or equal to a predetermined radial distance from the flue gas inlet, the predetermined radial distance being equal to at least 10% of a diameter of the recycle tank portion of the tower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventor: Dennis James Laslo
  • Patent number: 8652236
    Abstract: The present invention describes a method for recovery of high purity carbon dioxide, which is substantially free of nitrogen oxides. This high purity carbon dioxide is obtained by introducing into the method a step in which carbon dioxide absorbed in an absorbing agent is flashed. The present invention also discloses a plant for recovery of said high purity carbon dioxide comprising an absorption column, a flash column, a stripper column, and a down stream purification unit comprising a washing column, a dehydrator, a condenser and a distillation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Union Engineering A/S
    Inventors: Rasmus Find, Svend Geleff, Maj Toft Andersen
  • Patent number: 8647413
    Abstract: A method for recovering carbon dioxide (CO2) from a gas stream is disclosed. The method includes the step of reacting CO2 in the gas stream with fine droplets of a liquid absorbent, so as to form a solid material in which the CO2 is bound. The solid material is then transported to a desorption site, where it is heated, to release substantially pure CO2 gas. The CO2 gas can then be collected and used or transported in any desired way. A related apparatus for recovering carbon dioxide (CO2) from a gas stream is also described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Grigorii Lev Soloveichik, Robert James Perry, Benjamin Rue Wood, Sarah Elizabeth Genovese
  • Patent number: 8647421
    Abstract: [Problem to be solved] A CO2 recovery apparatus which can significantly reduce the amount of steam and provide further improved energy efficiency is provided. [Solution] The apparatus includes: a flue gas cooling apparatus 14 for allowing cooling water 13 to cool a CO2 and O2 containing flue gas 12 that is emitted from an industrial combustion facility 11 such as a boiler or gas turbine; a CO2 absorber 16 having a CO2 recovery section 16A for bringing the cooled CO2 containing flue gas 12 and a CO2 absorbing CO2 absorbent 15 into contact with each other to remove CO2 from the flue gas 12; and an absorbent regenerator 18 for releasing CO2 from a CO2 absorbed CO2 absorbent 17 to regenerate the CO2 absorbent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takahito Yonekawa
  • Patent number: 8628604
    Abstract: The invention provides systems and methods for the pre-concentration of a target molecule from feed solution comprising a low concentration of the target molecule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Algenol Biofuels Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Moll, Edwin Malkiel, Rong Dong
  • Patent number: 8623119
    Abstract: A system and method for reclaiming compressor lubricants wherein a gas stream containing a lubricant contaminant is compressed to produce a compressed gas stream containing lubricant, the compressed gas stream being separated to produce a lubricant stream containing contaminant, the lubricant/contaminant stream being sent through a separator wherein the contaminant is separated from the lubricant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Inventors: Daryl W. Hanson, David R. McCaslin, Robert M. Kranz
  • Patent number: 8613784
    Abstract: A filter element has a reinforcement band or ring along at least a portion of the perimeter thereof and performing a support function thereat preventing or minimizing damage upon attempted percussive cleaning of the filter element by service personnel striking the perimeter against an impact surface. Alternatively, a failure band or ring is provided along at least a portion of the perimeter and performs a designated failure function to a failure condition thereat upon attempted percussive cleaning, with the failure condition providing at least one of: a) an indication to service personnel that the filter element has been damaged and should not be re-installed; and b) a deformed condition preventing re-installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Cummins Filtration IP Inc.
    Inventors: Scott P. Heckel, Roger L. Zoch, Kelly Ann Detra, Guillermo Alberto Smith, Matthew T. VandenBush, Pathikrit T. Banerjee, Caryn J. Kindkeppel
  • Patent number: 8613794
    Abstract: A process for producing a pressurized CO2 stream in a power plant integrated with a CO2 capture unit, wherein the power plant comprises at least one gas turbine (1) coupled to a heat recovery steam generator unit (2) and the CO2 capture unit comprises an absorber (18) and a regenerator (21), the process comprising the steps of: (a) introducing hot exhaust gas exiting a gas turbine into a heat recovery steam generator unit to produce a first amount of steam and a flue gas stream (17) comprising CO2; (b) removing CO2 from the flue gas stream comprising CO2 by contacting the flue gas stream with absorbing liquid in an absorber (18) to obtain absorbing liquid enriched in CO2 (20) and a purified flue gas stream; (c) contacting the absorbing liquid enriched in CO2 with a stripping gas at elevated temperature in a regenerator (21) to obtain regenerated absorbing liquid and a gas stream enriched in CO2 (23); (d) pressurizing the gas stream enriched in CO2 using a CO2 compressor (24) to obtain the pressurized CO2 stre
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Kuei-Jung Li, Georgios Protopapas
  • Patent number: 8613865
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a carbon dioxide absorbent, an ionic liquid obtained by reacting amide and an organic acid and a method of using the same. The amidium-based ionic liquid of the present invention has excellent CO2 absorption capability, which is hardly reduced even with repeated use, is easy to synthesize and has low manufacturing cost thus being useful as a CO2 absorbent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Seok Jin Choi, Jelliarko Palgunadi, Je Eun Kang, Hoon Sik Kim, Sung Yeup Chung
  • Patent number: 8608833
    Abstract: Methods are disclosed for the selective absorption of gas components based on differences in their gas phase and liquid phase resistances to mass transfer. The methods advantageously utilize a gas-liquid contacting apparatus having contacting stages with co-current flow channels that can provide contacting with increased liquid phase resistance to mass transfer, for example in the spray regime such that the liquid is effectively dispersed as small droplets into the gas phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Zhanping Xu
  • Patent number: 8603219
    Abstract: A gas separation unit 102, 200, 300 for permeating a gas out from a pressurized feed mixture includes an input manifold 104, 204, an exhaust manifold, 106, 206 and a permeate assembly 108, 208, 303. The permeate assembly supports one or more permselective foils 130, 132, 218, 232, 318 over a hollow cavity 134, 272, 306 supported by a microscreen element 142, 144, 228, 230, 326. The microscreen element includes non-porous perimeter walls 190, 192, 278 supported on a frame surface and a porous central area 194, 280 supported over the hollow cavity. A porous spacer 138, 140, 174, 234 disposed inside the hollow cavity structurally supports the entire microscreen surface spanning the hollow cavity while also providing a void volume for receiving fluid passing through the porous central area and for conveying the fluid through the hollow cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Protonex Technology Corporation
    Inventors: David Edlund, Paul Osenar, Nathan Palumbo, Ronald Rezac, Matthew P. Steinbroner
  • Patent number: 8597413
    Abstract: A scrubber removes matter (e.g., particulate, gaseous, or liquid) from a gas stream in order to recover the matter and/or to clean the gas. In particular aspects, the scrubber contains multiple venturis that may provide additional flexibility and increased efficiency. The invention also pertains to related methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Andritz Inc.
    Inventors: Kimmo Peltonen, Todd S. Grace
  • Patent number: 8585810
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for regenerating a carbon dioxide absorption solution that regenerates an absorption solution for absorbing carbon dioxide contained in a combustion exhaust gas emitted during a combustion process of a vehicle, thereby reducing energy costs while simplifying its configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Yoon Ji Lee