Patents by Inventor Michael Balfe

Michael Balfe 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).

  • Patent number: 12722115
    Abstract: A process of removing CO2 includes: contacting, in a first absorber stage, a CO2-containing gas stream with a solution mixture to generate a partially cleaned gas stream; contacting, in a second absorber stage, the partially cleaned gas stream with a CO2-lean solution to generate a further cleaned gas stream that contains ammonia and a CO2-partially-enriched solution; dividing the CO2-partially-enriched solution into a first portion and a second portion; removing the first portion of the CO2-partially-enriched solution from the second absorber stage; chilling the removed CO2-partially-enriched solution; contacting, in the third absorber stage, the chilled CO2-partially-enriched solution with the further cleaned gas stream that contains ammonia to generate a treated gas stream and a CO2-partially-enriched-solution containing recovered ammonia; and combining the solution containing the recovered ammonia removed from the third absorber stage with the second portion of the CO2-partially-enriched solution, forming
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2026
    Assignee: NUOVO PIGNONE TECNOLOGIE—S.R.L.
    Inventors: Michael Balfe, Giulia Chiavaroli
  • Publication number: 20260216636
    Abstract: The carbon dioxide recovery and conditioning system for an ammonia-based carbon dioxide capture process, wherein the system comprises a regenerator column, and a regenerator cooling system adapted to cool a gaseous flow comprising carbon dioxide, ammonia and moisture, which collects at the top of the regenerator column. A carbon dioxide chilling and drying arrangement is fluidly coupled to the regenerator cooling system and to a carbon dioxide recovery line. The system effectively removes moisture and ammonia upstream of the dryer. Disclosed herein is also a method for carbon dioxide recovery and conditioning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2024
    Publication date: July 30, 2026
    Inventor: Michael BALFE
  • Publication number: 20250332538
    Abstract: The method comprises a flue gas desulfurizing step using an ammonia-based desulfurizing scrubber to remove sulfur oxides from the flue gas A further step comprises processing the desulfurized flue gas through an ammonia-utilizing carbon dioxide capture unit, to remove carbon dioxide therefrom. The desulfurizing step comprises recycling desulfurized flue gas as an oxidant towards the desulfurizing scrubber. Also disclosed herein is a system for flue gas desulfurization and carbon dioxide removal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2023
    Publication date: October 30, 2025
    Inventors: Michael BALFE, Christoph WEINGÄRTNER, Thomas BECKER
  • Publication number: 20250153094
    Abstract: A process of removing CO2 includes: contacting, in a first absorber stage, a CO2-containing gas stream with a solution mixture to generate a partially cleaned gas stream; contacting, in a second absorber stage, the partially cleaned gas stream with a CO2-lean solution to generate a further cleaned gas stream that contains ammonia and a CO2-partially-enriched solution; dividing the CO2-partially-enriched solution into a first portion and a second portion; removing the first portion of the CO2-partially-enriched solution from the second absorber stage; chilling the removed CO2-partially-enriched solution; contacting, in the third absorber stage, the chilled CO2-partially-enriched solution with the further cleaned gas stream that contains ammonia to generate a treated gas stream and a CO2-partially-enriched-solution containing recovered ammonia; and combining the solution containing the recovered ammonia removed from the third absorber stage with the second portion of the CO2-partially-enriched solution, forming
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2023
    Publication date: May 15, 2025
    Inventors: Michael Balfe, Giulia Chiavaroli