Patents by Inventor Ian R. McGregor
Ian R. McGregor 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).
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Patent number: 9931582Abstract: Disclosed is a process for use with flue gas having a moisture content M. The flue gas is introduced to strong brine adapted to exothermically absorb moisture. Simultaneously, heat is withdrawn. This produces heat, water-enriched brine and a gas having a moisture concentration less than M. The strong brine can be recovered by distillation from enriched brine to produce water. The brine temperature throughout absorption can remain within 2° F. of a temperature T in the range 220° F.-300° F. The heat withdrawal can be associated with gas-liquid phase change of a working fluid. The terminus of the heat flow can be associated with gas-liquid phase change of the working fluid. The working fluid can: as liquid, flow only by gravity, convection or wicking; and, as gas, flow only by diffusion or convection. The heat flow can drive a boiler producing steam. M can be greater than 15 wt. % water.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2016Date of Patent: April 3, 2018Assignee: Drystill Holdings Inc.Inventors: Steve Furlong, Ian R. McGregor, Christopher H. Belchers
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Patent number: 9868076Abstract: In a process, a portion of a liquid mixture flow is vaporized to produce a vapor and a depleted flow of liquid. The vapor is introduced to a brine which is adapted to exothermically absorb one or more components therefrom, and heat is withdrawn, to produce at least a flow of heat and a flow of brine which is enriched in the one or more components. The heat previously withdrawn is transferred, to drive the vaporization. This transfer can be associated with the change of a working fluid from a gaseous into a liquid gate. In this case, the heat withdrawal involves the change of the working fluid from the liquid to the gaseous state. In the liquid state, the working thud flows only by one or more of gravity, convection and wicking. In the gaseous state, the working fluid flows only by one or more of diffusion and convection.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2016Date of Patent: January 16, 2018Assignee: Drystill Holdings Inc.Inventors: Ian R. McGregor, Christopher H. Belchers
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Publication number: 20160279560Abstract: Disclosed is a process for use with flue gas having a moisture content M. The flue gas is introduced to strong brine adapted to exothermically absorb moisture. Simultaneously, heat is withdrawn. This produces heat, water-enriched brine and a gas having a moisture concentration less than M. The strong brine can be recovered by distillation from enriched brine to produce water. The brine temperature throughout absorption can remain within 2° F. of a temperature T in the range 220° F.-300° F. The heat withdrawal can be associated with gas-liquid phase change of a working fluid. The terminus of the heat flow can be associated with gas-liquid phase change of the working fluid. The working fluid can: as liquid, flow only by gravity, convection or wicking; and, as gas, flow only by diffusion or convection. The heat flow can drive a boiler producing steam. M can be greater than 15 wt. % water.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2016Publication date: September 29, 2016Inventors: Steve Furlong, Ian R. McGregor, Christopher H. Belchers
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Publication number: 20160256796Abstract: In a process, a portion of a liquid mixture flow is vaporized to produce a vapor and a depleted flow of liquid. The vapor is introduced to a brine which is adapted to exothermically absorb one or more components therefrom, and heat is withdrawn, to produce at least a flow of heat and a flow of brine which is enriched in the one or more components. The heat previously withdrawn is transferred, to drive the vaporization. This transfer can be associated with the change of a working fluid from a gaseous into a liquid gate. In this ease, the heat withdrawal involves the change of the working fluid from the liquid to the gaseous state, in the liquid state, the working thud flows only by one or more of gravity, convection and wicking. In the gaseous state, the working fluid flows only by one or more of diffusion and convection.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2016Publication date: September 8, 2016Inventors: Ian R. McGregor, Christopher H. Belchers
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Patent number: 9360252Abstract: Disclosed is a process for use with flue gas having a moisture content M. The flue gas is introduced to strong brine adapted to exothermically absorb moisture. Simultaneously, heat is withdrawn. This produces heat, water-enriched brine and a gas having a moisture concentration less than M. The strong brine can be recovered by distillation from enriched brine to produce water. The brine temperature throughout absorption can remain within 2° F. of a temperature T in the range 220° F.-300° F. The heat withdrawal can be associated with gas-liquid phase change of a working fluid. The terminus of the heat flow can be associated with gas-liquid phase change of the working fluid. The working fluid can: as liquid, flow only by gravity, convection or wicking; and, as gas, flow only by diffusion or convection. The heat flow can drive a boiler producing steam. M can be greater than 15 wt. % water.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2012Date of Patent: June 7, 2016Assignee: Drystill Holdings Inc.Inventors: Steve Furlong, Ian R. McGregor, Christopher H. Belchers
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Patent number: 9345987Abstract: In a process, a portion of a liquid mixture flow is vaporized to produce a vapor and a depleted flow of liquid. The vapor is introduced to a brine which is adapted to exothermically absorb one or more components therefrom, and heat is withdrawn, to produce at least a flow of heat and a flow of brine which is enriched in the one or more components. The heat previously withdrawn is transferred, to drive the vaporization. This transfer can be associated with the change of a working fluid from a gaseous into a liquid state. In this case, the heat withdrawal involves the change of the working fluid from the liquid to the gaseous state. In the liquid state, the working fluid flows only by one or more of gravity, convection and wicking. In the gaseous state, the working fluid flows only by one or more of diffusion and convection.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2013Date of Patent: May 24, 2016Assignee: Drystill Holdings Inc.Inventors: Ian R. McGregor, Christopher H. Belchers
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Patent number: 8757599Abstract: In a process, a portion of a liquid mixture flow is vaporized to produce a vapor and a depleted flow of liquid. The vapor is introduced to a brine which is adapted to exothermically absorb one or more components from the vapor, and heat is withdrawn, to produce at least a flow of heat and a flow of brine which is enriched in the one or more components. The heat previously withdrawn is transferred, to drive the vaporization. This heat transfer is associated with the change of a working fluid from a gaseous into a liquid state. The heat withdrawal involves the change of the working fluid from the liquid to the gaseous state. In the liquid state, the working fluid flows only by one or more of gravity, convection and wicking. In the gaseous state, the working fluid flows only by one or more of diffusion and convection.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2011Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: Drystill Holdings Inc.Inventors: Ian R. McGregor, Christopher H. Belchers
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Publication number: 20140150493Abstract: Disclosed is a process for use with flue gas having a moisture content M. The flue gas is introduced to strong brine adapted to exothermically absorb moisture. Simultaneously, heat is withdrawn. This produces heat, water-enriched brine and a gas having a moisture concentration less than M. The strong brine can be recovered by distillation from enriched brine to produce water. The brine temperature throughout absorption can remain within 2° F. of a temperature T in the range 220° F.-300° F. The heat withdrawal can be associated with gas-liquid phase change of a working fluid. The terminus of the heat flow can be associated with gas-liquid phase change of the working fluid. The working fluid can: as liquid, flow only by gravity, convection or wicking; and, as gas, flow only by diffusion or convection. The heat flow can drive a boiler producing steam. M can be greater than 15 wt. % water.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2012Publication date: June 5, 2014Applicant: Drystill Holdings Inc.Inventors: Steve Furlong, Ian R. McGregor, Christopher H. Belchers
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Publication number: 20140073044Abstract: In a process, a portion of a liquid mixture flow is vaporized to produce a vapor and a depleted flow of liquid. The vapor is introduced to a brine which is adapted to exothermically absorb one or more components therefrom, and heat is withdrawn, to produce at least a flow of heat and a flow of brine which is enriched in the one or more components. The heat previously withdrawn is transferred, to drive the vaporization. This transfer can be associated with the change of a working fluid from a gaseous into a liquid state. In this case, the heat withdrawal involves the change of the working fluid from the liquid to the gaseous state. In the liquid state, the working fluid flows only by one or more of gravity, convection and wicking. In the gaseous state, the working fluid flows only by one or more of diffusion and convection.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2013Publication date: March 13, 2014Applicant: Drystill Holdings Inc.Inventors: Ian R. McGregor, Christopher H. Belchers
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Patent number: 8608841Abstract: In a process, a portion of a liquid mixture flow is vaporized to produce a vapor and a depleted flow of liquid. The vapor is introduced to a brine which is adapted to exothermically absorb one or more components therefrom, and heat is withdrawn, to produce at least a flow of heat and a flow of brine which is enriched in the one or more components. The heat previously withdrawn is transferred, to drive the vaporization. This transfer can be associated with the change of a working fluid from a gaseous into a liquid state. In this case, the heat withdrawal involves the change of the working fluid from the liquid to the gaseous state. In the liquid state, the working fluid flows only by one or more of gravity, convection and wicking. In the gaseous state, the working fluid flows only by one or more of diffusion and convection.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2010Date of Patent: December 17, 2013Assignee: Drystill Holdings Inc.Inventors: Ian R. McGregor, Christopher H. Belchers
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Publication number: 20120267079Abstract: In a process, a portion of a liquid mixture flow is vaporized to produce a vapor and a depleted flow of liquid. The vapor is introduced to a brine which is adapted to exothermically absorb one or more components from the vapor, and heat is withdrawn, to produce at least a flow of heat and a flow of brine which is enriched in the one or more components. The heat previously withdrawn is transferred, to drive the vaporization. This heat transfer is associated with the change of a working fluid from a gaseous into a liquid state. The heat withdrawal involves the change of the working fluid from the liquid to the gaseous state. In the liquid state, the working fluid flows only by one or more of gravity, convection and wicking. In the gaseous state, the working fluid flows only by one or more of diffusion and convection.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2011Publication date: October 25, 2012Applicant: Drystill Holdings Inc.Inventors: Ian R. McGregor, Christopher H. Belchers
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Publication number: 20110117633Abstract: In a process, a portion of a liquid mixture flow is vaporized to produce a vapor and a depleted flow of liquid. The vapor is introduced to a brine which is adapted to exothermically absorb one or more components therefrom, and heat is withdrawn, to produce at least a flow of heat and a flow of brine which is enriched in the one or more components. The heat previously withdrawn is transferred, to drive the vaporization. This transfer can be associated with the change of a working fluid from a gaseous into a liquid state. In this case, the heat withdrawal involves the change of the working fluid from the liquid to the gaseous state. In the liquid state, the working fluid flows only by one or more of gravity, convection and wicking. In the gaseous state, the working fluid flows only by one or more of diffusion and convection.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2010Publication date: May 19, 2011Inventors: Ian R. McGregor, Christopher H. Belchers
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Patent number: 6306307Abstract: Pervaporation or vapor permeation apparatus and method having a separator module located in an unpressurized tank. The module has a plurality of stacked, disk-like separator elements mounted on a central, axial permeate removal tube. The separator elements have a central permeate transport plate, a pervaporation membrane enveloping the permeate transport plate and annular sealing rings located between adjacent membranes, so that fluid has to pass through the membranes to enter the permeate removal tube. A vacuum applied to the permeate removal tube draws permeate through the pervaporation membranes and permeate transport plates into the permeate removal tube. The permeate can be condensed right in the permeate removal tube by direct contact condensation using chilled liquid permeate, however an external condenser can be used. Jets of solution or bubbles of permeate vapor passing between the separator elements reduce or prevent concentration polarization.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2000Date of Patent: October 23, 2001Assignee: Fielding Chemical Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Ian R. McGregor, John G. Wilson, Alia A. Hamza, Mark E. Nye
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Patent number: 4708775Abstract: Volatile matter especially solvents is recovered from waste material using a hot granular material such as sand, as a heat carrier to drive off the solvents, and as a carrier for the non-volatile resin content of the waste; the resins are thermally decomposed in reactions which provide heat to maintain the granular material hot and the granular material is continuously circulated; the exhaust gases from the thermal decomposition of the resins can be used as a source of heat outside the system.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 1985Date of Patent: November 24, 1987Assignee: Anachemia Solvents LimitedInventors: Ian R. McGregor, D. Keith Jackson, Walter F. M. Brown, Kenneth Burrell