Patents by Inventor Kunlei Liu

Kunlei Liu 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: 20220017388
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for enhanced capacitive deionization of contaminated water. The apparatus includes a contaminated water source, a capacitive deionization reactor and a flushing fluid source that is used to flush concentrated contaminants from the capacitive deionization reactor while that reactor is isolated from the contaminated water source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2021
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Inventors: Ayokunle Omosebi, James Landon, Xin Gao, Kunlei Liu
  • Patent number: 11207634
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for recovering an amine solvent from an acid gas stream. The apparatus includes a water wash recovery column, a nozzle for spraying water wash and an amine nucleation agent into the water wash recovery column and an inlet port for introducing acid gas into the water wash recovery column adjacent the lower end thereof. The method includes the steps of treating the acid gas stream in the water wash recovery column with a counter-current flow of water wash in an amine nucleation agent, discharging treated acid gas from an upper end of the water wash recovery column and collecting water wash, amine nucleation agent and entrained amine solvent from the acid gas stream and a sump at a lower end of the water wash recovery column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: University of Kentucky Research Foundation
    Inventors: Bradley David Irvin, Amanda Warriner, Leland R. Widger, Kunlei Liu
  • Publication number: 20210245092
    Abstract: A hybrid post-combustion carbon dioxide capture system for capturing carbon dioxide from a flue gas includes a compressor adapted to produce a compressed flue gas stream, a membrane-based carbon dioxide separation unit configured to receive a first portion of the compressed flue gas stream from the compressor, and an aqueous-based carbon dioxide capture unit configured to receive a second portion of the compressed flue gas stream from the compressor whereby the compressed flue gas stream is processed in parallel by the membrane-based carbon dioxide separation unit and the aqueous-based carbon dioxide capture unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Inventor: Kunlei Liu
  • Publication number: 20210236985
    Abstract: An acid gas absorber includes a co-current flue gas-lean solution section and a packed counter-current flue gas-liquid phase section useful in a method of capturing an acid gas from flue gas in a more efficient and cost effective manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Inventors: Kunlei Liu, Heather Nikolic
  • Publication number: 20210229062
    Abstract: An apparatus for enhancing a yield and a transfer rate of a packed bed includes a packed bed, a vessel having a reaction chamber, a support frame and acoustic attenuator for holding the packed bed in the reaction chamber, at least one acoustic transducer adapted to transmit acoustic energy into the packed bed and an acoustic generator. The acoustic generator has impedance matching functionality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2021
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: Bradley David Irvin, Kunlei Liu, Roger S. Perrone
  • Publication number: 20210080104
    Abstract: An air preheater for a solid fuel-fired power plant includes a housing, a regenerative heating element received in the housing and adapted to transfer heat from the flue gas stream to the air stream, a plurality of flow control valves upstream of the regenerative heating element and a controller adapted to selectively open and close each valve of the plurality of flow control valves in order to provide an air flow shadow extending downstream over a selected portion of the regenerative heating element whereby ammonium bisulfate previously deposited on the selected portion is decomposed to loose dry ash. A method of decomposing and removing ammonium bisulfate from a regenerative heating element is also presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Inventors: Kunlei Liu, Heather Nikolic, Chenggua Ma
  • Publication number: 20200361792
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for removing EPA regulated chemical species from industrial wastewater using green rust. The apparatus includes a green rust generator having an iron anode and a carbon cathode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Inventors: Xin Gao, Kunlei Liu, James R. Landon, Jesse Thompson, Ayokunle O. Omosebi, Keemia Abad, Zilong Ma
  • Publication number: 20200346951
    Abstract: The invention is a capacitive, aka electrostatic, deionization apparatus and method that solves the problem of short lifetime of conventional capacitive deionization (CDI) and of membrane capacitive deionization (MCDI) devices and methods by shifting the Potential of Zero Charge of electrode surfaces through surface modifications. Such electrode surface modifications provide very long lifetime capacitive deionization devices and methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2020
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Inventors: Xin Gao, Ayokunle Omosebi, James Richardson Landon, Kunlei Liu
  • Patent number: 10793450
    Abstract: The invention is a capacitive, aka electrostatic, deionization apparatus and method that solves the problem of short lifetime of conventional capacitive deionization (CDI) and of membrane capacitive deionization (MCDI) devices and methods by shifting the Potential of Zero Charge of electrode surfaces through surface modifications. Such electrode surface modifications provide very long lifetime capacitive deionization devices and methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Xin Gao, Ayokunle Omosebi, James Richardson Landon, Kunlei Liu
  • Publication number: 20200299635
    Abstract: An algae cultivation medium includes a growth medium and at least one of an amine additive and a water-soluble biomimetic catalyst. A related method of increasing carbon shuttling in an algae cultivation medium includes adding at least one of the amine additive and the water-soluble biomimetic catalyst to the algae cultivation medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Inventors: Jesse Thompson, Leland Widger, Michael Wilson, Mark Crocker, Moushumi Sarma, Kunlei Liu
  • Patent number: 10702826
    Abstract: A method of removing and capturing an acid gas from a fluid stream includes exposing the fluid stream to an aqueous scrubbing solution in the presence of a packing element including alternating hydrophobic and hydrophilic features or zones. A related apparatus is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY RESEARCH FOUNDTION
    Inventors: Kunlei Liu, Leland R. Widger, Zhen Fan, Joshuah Stolaroff
  • Publication number: 20200188839
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an absorber having a first packing section, a second packing section and a third packing section. The first packing segment includes a first structured packing, having a first specific surface area SA1, the second packing segment includes a second structured packing, having a second specific surface area SA2, and the third packing segment includes a third structured packing, having a third specific surface area SA3 where SA1<SA2<SA3. The structured packing in the various packing segment may be periodically interrupted with one or more layers of random packing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Kunlei Liu, Heather Nikolic, Fan Zhen, Jesse Thompson, Amanda Warriner
  • Patent number: 10589214
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for improving carbon capture by providing particles within an amine solvent. The particles provide for increased turbulence at the interface between the counter-flowing gas and solvent, which allows for increased amine and carbamate salt diffusion between the liquid film and bulk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Leland R. Widger, Guojie Qi, Kun Liu, Jonathan Bryant, Cameron A. Lippert, Kunlei Liu
  • Publication number: 20200001227
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for recovering an amine solvent from an acid gas stream. The apparatus includes a water wash recovery column, a nozzle for spraying water wash and an amine nucleation agent into the water wash recovery column and an inlet port for introducing acid gas into the water wash recovery column adjacent the lower end thereof. The method includes the steps of treating the acid gas stream in the water wash recovery column with a counter-current flow of water wash in an amine nucleation agent, discharging treated acid gas from an upper end of the water wash recovery column and collecting water wash, amine nucleation agent and entrained amine solvent from the acid gas stream and a sump at a lower end of the water wash recovery column.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Inventors: Bradley David Irvin, Amanda Warriner, Leland R. Widger, Kunlei Liu
  • Publication number: 20200001231
    Abstract: An apparatus for capturing CO2 from flue gas includes (a) an absorber, (b) a stripper, (c) a heat exchanger, (d) an amine absorbent circulating through the absorber, the stripper and the heat exchanger, (e) a water washing unit downstream from the flue gas outlet of the absorber, and (f) an electrochemical cell. The electrochemical cell is connected to the water washing unit and is adapted to adsorb and decompose nitrosamine compounds present in liquid separated by the water washing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Inventors: Jesse G. Thompson, James Landon, Xin Gao, Kunlei Liu
  • Patent number: 10511061
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a molten metal battery of liquid bismuth and liquid tin electrodes and a eutectic electrolyte. The electrodes may be coaxial and coplanar. The eutectic electrolyte may be in contact with a surface of each electrode. The eutectic electrolyte may comprise ZnCl2:KCl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Cameron A. Lippert, Kunlei Liu, James Landon, Susan A. Odom, Nicolas E. Holubowitch
  • Patent number: 10322367
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for improving carbon capture using entrained catalytic-particles within an amine solvent. The particles are functionalized and appended with a CO2 hydration catalyst to enhance the kinetics of CO2 hydration and improve overall mass transfer of CO2 from an acid gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Leland R. Widger, Cameron A. Lippert, Kunlei Liu
  • Publication number: 20190176080
    Abstract: A method of removing and capturing an acid gas from a fluid stream includes exposing the fluid stream to an aqueous scrubbing solution in the presence of a packing element including alternating hydrophobic and hydrophilic features or zones. A related apparatus is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Inventors: Kunlei Liu, Leland R. Widger, Zhen Fan, Joshuah Stolaroff
  • Patent number: 10252216
    Abstract: The present invention includes a system and process to reduce amine mist emissions (or MEA) from carbon capture systems using colloidal gas aphrons (CGA), and includes a method for separating and recovering an amine solvent (e.g., in the form of entrained droplets/mist and/or fine aerosol particles) from a carbon dioxide scrubbed flue gas stream exiting a carbon capture system (e.g., oil-fired power plants, coal-fired power plants, and/or natural gas combined cycle plants).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Xiaobing Li, Jesse G. Thompson, Kunlei Liu
  • Patent number: 10213734
    Abstract: A method of increasing the overall mass transfer rate of acid gas scrubbing solids is disclosed. Various catalyst compounds for that purpose are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Joseph E. Remias, Cameron A. Lippert, Kunlei Liu