Patents by Inventor Herman Beckers

Herman Beckers has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20230055876
    Abstract: A method of obtaining a compound may include adding a substrate to a medium in a reactor, and reacting the substrate in the reactor to form the compound. A first stream is separated from the reaction liquid through a first membrane. A second stream is separated from the reaction liquid through a second membrane. The first membrane is a filtration membrane and the second membrane is configured for liquid-gas or liquid-liquid extraction The first membrane and the second membrane are at least partially immersed in the medium and are moved relative to the reactor during the separation steps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2022
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Inventors: Wouter VAN HECKE, Helmut ELSLANDER, Karolien VANBROEKHOVEN, Helene DE WEVER, Herman BECKERS
  • Patent number: 11484842
    Abstract: A method of obtaining a compound may include adding a substrate to a medium in a reactor, and reacting the substrate in the reactor to form the compound. A first stream is separated from the reaction liquid through a first membrane. A second stream is separated from the reaction liquid through a second membrane. The first membrane is a filtration membrane and the second membrane is configured for liquid-gas or liquid-liquid extraction The first membrane and the second membrane are at least partially immersed in the medium and are moved relative to the reactor during the separation steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: VITO NV
    Inventors: Wouter Van Hecke, Helmut Elslander, Karolien Vanbroekhoven, Helene De Wever, Herman Beckers
  • Publication number: 20200197871
    Abstract: A method of obtaining a compound may include adding a substrate to a medium in a reactor, and reacting the substrate in the reactor to form the compound. A first stream is separated from the reaction liquid through a first membrane. A second stream is separated from the reaction liquid through a second membrane. The first membrane is a filtration membrane and the second membrane is configured for liquid-gas or liquid-liquid extraction The first membrane and the second membrane are at least partially immersed in the medium and are moved relative to the reactor during the separation steps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Applicant: VITO NV
    Inventors: Wouter VAN HECKE, Helmut ELSLANDER, Karolien VANBROEKHOVEN, Helene DE WEVER, Herman BECKERS
  • Patent number: 8993081
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a reinforced tubular membrane comprises the steps of manufacturing the tubular support from monofilament thread, impregnating the support with membrane dope and adjusting the inner and the outer diameter of the membrane. A coating apparatus comprises a casting bob and an orifice to adjust respectively the inner and outer diameter of the membrane. A tubular reinforced polymeric membrane comprises a tubular support and membrane substance. The tubular support is made of monofilament thread and has a sufficiently open structure (openings larger than 0.1 mm). Touching and/or engaging parts of the thread may be linked prior to impregnating the support with membrane dope. The support may comprise loops of the monofilament thread, which are also linked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Vlaamse Instelling Voor Technologish Onderzoek N.V. (VITO)
    Inventors: Wim Doyen, Marc Verbeke, Herman Beckers, Bart Molenberghs, Rob Muyshondt
  • Patent number: 7862718
    Abstract: A membrane has a permeate channel including a 3D spacer fabric having an upper and a lower fabric surface (2,3) spaced apart by monofilament thread (4) at a predefined distance, the permeate channel being interposed between two membrane layers (12, 13), wherein the membrane layers are linked at a multitude of points with the upper and lower fabric surfaces to form an integral structure with a high bonding strength suitable for backflush operations. A method provides an integrated permeate channel membrane, including the steps of: —Providing a 3D spacer fabric having an upper and lower surface fabric (2,3) spaced apart by monofilament thread (4) at a predefined distance; and—Applying a membrane layer to both the upper and the lower surface fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Vlaamse Instelling Voor Technologisch Onderzoek (VITO)
    Inventors: Wim Doyen, Herman Beckers, Walter Adriansens, Chris Dotremont
  • Patent number: 7861869
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing asymmetric braid reinforced capillary ultra- or micro-filtration membranes (1), including the subsequent steps of pulling a tubular braid (5) through a spinneret (7) and coating the braid with a dope. Prior to the coating step, the braid is impregnated with a non-coagulation liquid, being a liquid which does not cause coagulation of the dope, when brought in contact with the dope. The result is a membrane with an outer skin, i.e. smaller pores near the outside diameter than near the inside diameter, and a coating which is closely arranged around the outside diameter of the braid, without any substantial penetration of the coating into the braid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Vlaamse Instelling Voor Technologisch Onderzoek (VITO)
    Inventors: Herman Beckers, Willy Doyen, Chris Dotremont
  • Publication number: 20090321332
    Abstract: A filtration device removes particles from a liquid. The filtration device includes a collector header and a plurality of planar membrane assemblies having an upper side and a lower side, the lower side being operatively linked to the collector header. Each planar membrane assembly is formed as a single row of a plurality of capillary membranes and is linked to an individual upper header.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: Vlaamse Instelliing Voor Technologisch Onderzoek N .V. (VITO)
    Inventors: Herman Beckers, Wim Doyen
  • Publication number: 20090304963
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a reinforced tubular membrane comprises the steps of manufacturing the tubular support from monofilament thread, impregnating the support with membrane dope and adjusting the inner and the outer diameter of the membrane. A coating apparatus comprises a casting bob and an orifice to adjust respectively the inner and outer diameter of the membrane. A tubular reinforced polymeric membrane comprises a tubular support and membrane substance. The tubular support is made of monofilament thread and has a sufficiently open structure (openings larger than 0.1 mm). Touching and/or engaging parts of the thread may be linked prior to impregnating the support with membrane dope. The support may comprise loops of the monofilament thread, which are also linked.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2007
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: Vlaamse Instelling Voor Technogisch Onderzoek N.V. (VITO)
    Inventors: Wim Doyen, Marc Verbeke, Herman Beckers, Bart Molenberghs, Rob Muyshondt
  • Publication number: 20080241451
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing asymmetric braid reinforced capillary ultra- or micro-filtration membranes (1), including the subsequent steps of pulling a tubular braid (5) through a spinneret (7) and coating the braid with a dope. Prior to the coating step, the braid is impregnated with a non-coagulation liquid, being a liquid which does not cause coagulation of the dope, when brought in contact with the dope. The result is a membrane with an outer skin, i.e. smaller pores near the outside diameter than near the inside diameter, and a coating which is closely arranged around the outside diameter of the braid, without any substantial penetration of the coating into the braid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: Herman Beckers, Willy Doyen, Chris Dotremont
  • Publication number: 20080164208
    Abstract: A membrane has a permeate channel including a 3D spacer fabric having an upper and a lower fabric surface (2,3) spaced apart by monofilament thread (4) at a predefined distance, the permeate channel being interposed between two membrane layers (12, 13), wherein the membrane layers are linked at a multitude of points with the upper and lower fabric surfaces to form an integral structure with a high bonding strength suitable for backflush operations. A method provides an integrated permeate channel membrane, including the steps of:—Providing a 3D spacer fabric having an upper and lower surface fabric (2,3) spaced apart by monofilament thread (4) at a predefined distance; and—Applying a membrane layer to both the upper and the lower surface fabric.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2005
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventors: Wim Doyen, Herman Beckers, Walter Adriansens, Chris Dotremont