Patents by Inventor Richard W. Baker

Richard W. Baker 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: 11813566
    Abstract: Described herein are membrane processes for separating CO2 from flue gas. An exemplary process involves passing a fluid stream including the flue gas across a membrane permeable to CO2 and H2O, removing treated gas from a feed side of the membrane that has less CO2 than the flue gas, and removing permeate from a permeate side of the membrane comprising CO2 and H2O. Suitably, the permeate is removed at a sub-atmospheric vacuum pressure. The permeate is then cooled to remove at least some of the H2O from the permeate and form a smaller volume of H2O-depleted, CO2 enriched permeate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard W. Baker
  • Publication number: 20220134276
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a counterflow membrane module configured to separate a feed fluid into a permeate fluid and a residue fluid across one or more membrane sheet(s). The counterflow module comprises a second end offset from a first end along the first direction where an inlet is provided at the first end and an outlet is provided at the second end. The one or more membrane sheet(s) each have a first portion, a second portion and a permeate section. A conduit is adjacent to the permeate section of the membrane and is configured to receive and output the permeate fluid separated from the feed fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2021
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Applicant: MEMBRANE TECHNOLOGY AND RESEARCH, INC.
    Inventors: Richard W. BAKER, Johannes G. WIJMANS, Timothy C. MERKEL, Karl D. AMO
  • Publication number: 20220134284
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a crossflow membrane module configured to separate a feed fluid into a permeate fluid and a residue fluid across one or more membrane sheet(s). The crossflow module comprises a second end offset from a first end along the first direction where an inlet is provided at the first end and an outlet is provided at the second end. The one or more membrane sheet(s) each have a first portion and a second portion. A conduit is adjacent to the first side of each membrane sheet and is configured to receive and output the permeate fluid separated from the feed fluid. The second portion of the membrane sheet has a greater permeance for a major component than the first portion such that the second part of the permeate fluid, which is generated by separation across the second portion of the membrane sheet, has a higher concentration of the major component than the first part of the permeate fluid, which is generated by separation across the first portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2021
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Applicant: MEMBRANE TECHNOLOGY AND RESEARCH, INC.
    Inventors: Richard W. BAKER, Johannes G. WIJMANS, Timothy C. MERKEL, Karl D. AMO
  • Publication number: 20210354078
    Abstract: Described herein are membrane processes for separating CO2 from flue gas. An exemplary process involves passing a fluid stream including the flue gas across a membrane permeable to CO2 and H2O, removing treated gas from a feed side of the membrane that has less CO2 than the flue gas, and removing permeate from a permeate side of the membrane comprising CO2 and H2O. Suitably, the permeate is removed at a sub-atmospheric vacuum pressure. The permeate is then cooled to remove at least some of the H2O from the permeate and form a smaller volume of H2O-depleted, CO2 enriched permeate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Applicant: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard W. Baker
  • Publication number: 20200078729
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for concurrently removing CO2 and SO2 from flue gas produced by a combustion process, comprising: (a) performing a combustion process by combusting a fuel and air in a combustion apparatus, thereby creating an exhaust stream comprising CO2 and SO2; (b) compressing the exhaust stream in a first compression step, thereby producing a first compressed gas stream; (c) providing a first membrane having a feed side and a permeate side, and being selectively permeable to CO2 and SO2 over nitrogen and to CO2 and SO2 over oxygen; (d) passing at least a portion of the first compressed gas stream across the feed side; (e) withdrawing from the feed side a CO2- and SO2-depleted residue stream; (f) withdrawing from the permeate side at a lower pressure than the first compressed gas stream, a first permeate stream enriched in CO2 and SO2; (g) passing the first permeate stream to a separation process that produces a stream enriched in CO2 and a stream enriched in SO2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Applicant: MEMBRANE TECHNOLOGY AND RESEARCH, INC.
    Inventors: Yu Huang, Richard W. Baker, Timothy C. Merkel, Brice C. Freeman
  • Patent number: 10464014
    Abstract: Sweep-based gas separation processes for reducing carbon dioxide emissions from gas-fired power plants. The invention involves at least two compression steps, a combustion step, a carbon dioxide capture step, a power generate step, and a sweep-based membrane separation step. One of the compression steps is used to produce a low-pressure, low-temperature compressed stream that is sent for treatment in the carbon dioxide capture step, thereby avoiding the need to expend large amounts of energy to cool an otherwise hot compressed stream from a typical compressor that produces a high-pressure stream, usually at 20-30 bar or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard W Baker, Timothy C Merkel
  • Patent number: 10245551
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a power generation process in which a portion of the carbon dioxide generated by gaseous fuel combustion is recycled back to the power generation process, either pre-combustion, post-combustion, or both. The power generation process of the invention may be a combined cycle process or a traditional power generation process. The process utilizes sweep-based membrane separation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard W Baker, Timothy C Merkel, Johannes G Wijmans
  • Publication number: 20180133642
    Abstract: Sweep-based gas separation processes for reducing carbon dioxide emissions from gas-fired power plants. The invention involves at least two compression steps, a combustion step, a carbon dioxide capture step, a power generate step, and a sweep-based membrane separation step. One of the compression steps is used to produce a low-pressure, low-temperature compressed stream that is sent for treatment in the carbon dioxide capture step, thereby avoiding the need to expend large amounts of energy to cool an otherwise hot compressed stream from a typical compressor that produces a high-pressure stream, usually at 20-30 bar or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Applicant: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard W. Baker, Timothy C. Merkel
  • Publication number: 20180065091
    Abstract: Plate-and-frame membrane modules, assemblies and processes for separating components of a fluid mixture. The assemblies comprise of a pressure vessel filled with, and able to hold, pressurized fluid being processed. Lightweight membrane plate-and-frame modules are contained inside the vessel. Fluid directing conduits direct the fluid streams being processed into and out of the vessel and across the surface of the separating membrane. Because the modules are surrounded by high pressure fluid, the forces acting on the module are small. This means the modules can be made of lightweight, inexpensive materials, such as plastic. The design of the assemblies is such that it allows for modules to be easily replaced as needed. The assemblies are also designed for pressurized feed fluid separations and separation using a sweep fluid on the permeate side of the membrane. The pressure vessel can contain one or several membrane modules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Applicant: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc
    Inventors: Yu Huang, Jay Kniep, Pingjiao Hao, Richard W Baker, Chi Cheng Chan, Vincent Nguyen, Vincent Batoon, Donald A Fulton
  • Patent number: 9856769
    Abstract: A gas separation process for treating exhaust gases from combustion processes. The invention involves routing a first portion of the exhaust stream to a carbon dioxide capture step, while simultaneously flowing a second portion of the exhaust gas stream across the feed side of a membrane, flowing a sweep gas stream, usually air, across the permeate side, then passing the permeate/sweep gas back to the combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, inc.
    Inventors: Richard W Baker, Timothy C Merkel, Johannes G Wijmans
  • Patent number: 9782718
    Abstract: Sweep-based gas separation processes for reducing carbon dioxide emissions from gas-fired power plants. The invention involves at least two compression steps, a combustion step, a carbon dioxide capture step, a power generate step, and a sweep-based membrane separation step. One of the compression steps is used to produce a low-pressure, low-temperature compressed stream that is sent for treatment in the carbon dioxide capture step, thereby avoiding the need to expend large amounts of energy to cool an otherwise hot compressed stream from a typical compressor that produces a high-pressure stream, usually at 20-30 bar or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Inventors: Richard W Baker, Timothy C Merkel
  • Publication number: 20170183996
    Abstract: A gas separation process for treating exhaust gases from combustion processes. The invention involves routing a first portion of the exhaust stream to a carbon dioxide capture step, while simultaneously flowing a second portion of the exhaust gas stream across the feed side of a membrane, flowing a sweep gas stream, usually air, across the permeate side, then passing the permeate/sweep gas back to the combustor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Applicant: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard W. Baker, Timothy C. Merkel, Johannes G. Wijmans
  • Patent number: 9546785
    Abstract: A gas separation process for treating exhaust gases from multiple combustion sources. The invention involves directing an exhaust gas stream from one combustion step to a carbon capture step. An off-gas stream depleted in carbon dioxide from the carbon capture step is mixed with a second exhaust stream from a second combustion step to form a mixed gas stream. The mixed gas stream is passed as a feed stream across the feed side of a membrane that is selectively permeable to carbon dioxide over nitrogen and carbon dioxide over oxygen. A sweep gas stream, usually air, flows across the permeate side, and picks up the preferentially permeating carbon dioxide. The permeate stream withdrawn from the permeate side of the membrane is then recycled back to the combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard W Baker, Timothy C. Merkel
  • Patent number: 9457313
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a power generation process in which a portion of the carbon dioxide generated by gaseous fuel combustion is recycled back to the power generation process, either pre-combustion, post-combustion, or both. The power generation process of the invention may be a combined cycle process or a traditional power generation process. The process utilizes sweep-based membrane separation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard W. Baker, Timothy C. Merkel, Johannes G. Wijmans
  • Patent number: 9433887
    Abstract: The invention is a process involving membrane-based gas separation for separating and recovering carbon dioxide emissions from combustion processes in partially concentrated form, and then transporting the carbon dioxide and using or storing it in a confined manner without concentrating it to high purity. The process of the invention involves building up the concentration of carbon dioxide in a gas flow loop between the combustion step and a membrane separation step. A portion of the carbon dioxide-enriched gas can then be withdrawn from this loop and transported, without the need to liquefy the gas or otherwise create a high-purity stream, to a destination where it is used or confined, preferably in an environmentally benign manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: MEMBRANE TECHNOLOGY AND RESEARCH, INC.
    Inventors: Johannes G Wijmans, Richard W Baker, Timothy C Merkel
  • Publication number: 20160195014
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a power generation process in which a portion of the carbon dioxide generated by gaseous fuel combustion is recycled back to the power generation process, either pre-combustion, post-combustion, or both. The power generation process of the invention may be a combined cycle process or a traditional power generation process. The process utilizes sweep-based membrane separation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Applicant: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard W. Baker, Timothy C. Merkel, Johannes G. Wijmans
  • Patent number: 9138678
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are processes for removing water from organic solvents, such as ethanol. The processes include distillation in two columns operated at sequentially higher pressure, followed by treatment of the overhead vapor by one or two membrane separation steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignees: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc., Algenol Biofuels, Inc.
    Inventors: Yu Huang, Richard W. Baker, Benjamin McCool, Rong Dong
  • Patent number: 9140186
    Abstract: A process involving membrane-based gas separation and power generation, specifically for controlling carbon dioxide emissions from gas-fired power plants. The process includes a compression step, a combustion step, and an expansion/electricity generation step, as in traditional power plants. The process also includes a sweep-driven membrane separation step and a carbon dioxide removal or capture step. The carbon dioxide removal step is carried out on a portion of gas from the compression step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc
    Inventors: Xiaotong Wei, Richard W Baker, Timothy C Merkel, Brice C. Freeman
  • Patent number: 9061252
    Abstract: Processes for removing water from organic compounds, especially polar compounds such as alcohols. The processes include a membrane-based dehydration step, using a membrane that has a dioxole-based polymer selective layer or the like and a hydrophilic selective layer, and can operate even when the stream to be treated has a high water content, such as 10 wt % or more. The processes are particularly useful for dehydrating ethanol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Yu Huang, Richard W. Baker, Tiem Aldajani, Jennifer Ly
  • Publication number: 20150129413
    Abstract: A gas separation process for treating a gas stream containing vapors of condensable components. The process includes two membrane separation steps, the second step using membranes of lower selectivity than the first step. Advantageously, the first membrane separation step may be carried out outside the pressure-ratio-limited region and the second membrane separation step may be carried out within the pressure-ratio-limited region. The second residue stream is a desired product of the process, and the process is particularly useful for applications where the target concentration of component A in this product is low, such as below 1-2 vol %.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: MEMBRANE TECHNOLOGY AND RESEARCH, INC.
    Inventors: Yu Huang, Richard W. Baker