Patents by Inventor Ronan K. McGovern
Ronan K. McGovern 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: 9416800Abstract: A carrier-gas mixture is directed through a fluid flow path in a combined heat and mass transfer device, which can be operated at sub-atmospheric pressure. Heat and mass are transferred from or to the carrier-gas mixture via interaction with a liquid composition that includes a vaporizable component in a liquid state to substantially change the content of the vaporizable component in the carrier-gas mixture via evaporation or condensation. The mass flow rate of the carrier-gas mixture is varied by extracting or injecting the carrier-gas mixture from at least one intermediate location in the fluid flow path, and/or the mass flow rate of the liquid composition is varied by extracting or injecting the liquid composition from at least one intermediate location in the fluid flow path; and the flow of the carrier-gas mixture or the liquid composition is regulated to reduce the average local enthalpy pinch in the device.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2013Date of Patent: August 16, 2016Assignees: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, King Fahd University of Petroleum MineralsInventors: Prakash Narayan Govindan, Gregory P. Thiel, Ronan K. McGovern, John H. Lienhard, Sarit K. Das, Karim M. Chehayeb, Syed M. Zubair, Mohammed A. Antar
-
Patent number: 9403104Abstract: A multi-stage bubble-column vapor mixture condenser comprises at least a first stage and a second stage. Each stage includes a carrier-gas inlet and a carrier-gas outlet, as well as a condenser chamber containing a condensing bath in fluid communication with the carrier-gas inlet and the carrier-gas outlet. The carrier-gas inlet is positioned to bubble carrier gas from the carrier-gas inlet up through the condensing bath, overcoming a hydrostatic head of the condensing bath. The carrier-gas outlet is positioned with an opening for carrier-gas extraction above the condensing bath, wherein the first-stage carrier-gas outlet is in fluid communication with the carrier-gas inlet of the second stage to facilitate flow of the carrier gas through the condensing bath in the condenser chamber of the first stage and then through the condensing bath in the condenser chamber of the second stage.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2015Date of Patent: August 2, 2016Assignees: Massachusetts Institute Technology, King Fahd University of Petroleum and MineralsInventors: Prakash Narayan Govindan, Gregory P. Thiel, Ronan K. McGovern, John H. Lienhard, Mostafa H. Elsharqawy
-
Publication number: 20160136577Abstract: Concentration control in filtration systems and associated methods are generally described. Streams originating from upstream filters and having similar concentrations of a target minor component and/or similar osmotic pressures can be mixed and subsequently filtered within additional filters. Certain embodiments comprise recycling an output stream produced by a filter to a filter feed stream, wherein the output stream and the filter feed stream have similar concentrations of a target minor component and/or similar osmotic pressures. Such strategic mixing and/or recycling can reduce the amount of energy and/or the amount of filtration medium surface area required to achieve a desired concentration of the target minor component in a final product stream.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2015Publication date: May 19, 2016Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Ronan K. McGovern, John H. Lienhard, V
-
Publication number: 20160136578Abstract: Flow control in multi-step filtration systems and associated methods are generally described. Certain embodiments are related to methods in which a single filter is used to perform multiple, separate filtration steps. In some cases, a diluted permeate from a first filtration step can be recycled back through the filter, as part of a separate filtration step, to produce a second retentate and a second permeate. Subsequent filtration steps can also be performed. Systems configured to perform multiple, separate filtration steps using a single filter are also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2015Publication date: May 19, 2016Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Ronan K. McGovern, John H. Lienhard, V
-
Publication number: 20160136579Abstract: Filtration systems in which the ratios of minor components in mixtures can be balanced, and associated methods, are generally described. Certain embodiments are related to methods in which a portion of a retentate stream produced by filtering an initial liquid feed during a first filtration step is mixed with the permeate produced by filtering the permeate from the first filtration step. In some cases, the amount of the first retentate that is mixed with the second permeate is selected such that the ratios of the minor components within the final retentate and permeate streams produced by the filtration system are similar to the ratio of the minor components within the initial liquid. By maintaining similar ratios of minor components, according to certain embodiments, the flavor profile of the initial liquid mixture can be substantially maintained in the concentrated and diluted streams produced by the filtration system.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2015Publication date: May 19, 2016Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Ronan K. McGovern, John H. Lienhard, V
-
Patent number: 9320984Abstract: A humidification-dehumidification system comprises a source of liquid; a humidifier including carrier-gas and liquid inlets and outlets and a chamber in which the liquid can contact a carrier gas containing a condensable fluid in vapor phase that is introduced from the carrier-gas inlet in a counterflow arrangement and in which a portion of the liquid can vaporize into the carrier gas; a bubble-column vapor mixture condenser including at least first and second stages, each stage including a carrier-gas inlet and outlet and a chamber configured to contain a liquid bath in fluid communication with the carrier-gas inlet and the carrier-gas outlet; a conduit passing from the source of the liquid through the chamber of each stage of the bubble-column condenser; and an intermediate exchange conduit coupled with (a) the bubble-column vapor mixture condenser and (b) the humidifier chamber at intermediate stages of each for transfer of the carrier gas therebetween.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2015Date of Patent: April 26, 2016Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Prakash Narayan Govindan, Gregory P. Thiel, Ronan K. McGovern, John H. Lienhard, Mostafa H. Elsharqawy
-
Publication number: 20150290557Abstract: A multi-stage bubble-column vapor mixture condenser comprises at least a first stage and a second stage. Each stage includes a carrier-gas inlet and a carrier-gas outlet, as well as a condenser chamber containing a condensing bath in fluid communication with the carrier-gas inlet and the carrier-gas outlet. The carrier-gas inlet is positioned to bubble carrier gas from the carrier-gas inlet up through the condensing bath, overcoming a hydrostatic head of the condensing bath. The carrier-gas outlet is positioned with an opening for carrier-gas extraction above the condensing bath, wherein the first-stage carrier-gas outlet is in fluid communication with the carrier-gas inlet of the second stage to facilitate flow of the carrier gas through the condensing bath in the condenser chamber of the first stage and then through the condensing bath in the condenser chamber of the second stage.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2015Publication date: October 15, 2015Inventors: Prakash Narayan Govindan, Gregory P. Thiel, Ronan K. McGovern, John H. Lienhard, Mostafa H. Elsharqawy
-
Publication number: 20150260418Abstract: A humidification-dehumidification system comprises a source of liquid; a humidifier including carrier-gas and liquid inlets and outlets and a chamber in which the liquid can contact a carrier gas containing a condensable fluid in vapor phase that is introduced from the carrier-gas inlet in a counterflow arrangement and in which a portion of the liquid can vaporize into the carrier gas; a bubble-column vapor mixture condenser including at least first and second stages, each stage including a carrier-gas inlet and outlet and a chamber configured to contain a liquid bath in fluid communication with the carrier-gas inlet and the carrier-gas outlet; a conduit passing from the source of the liquid through the chamber of each stage of the bubble-column condenser; and an intermediate exchange conduit coupled with (a) the bubble-column vapor mixture condenser and (b) the humidifier chamber at intermediate stages of each for transfer of the carrier gas therebetween.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2015Publication date: September 17, 2015Inventors: Prakash Narayan Govindan, Gregory P. Thiel, Ronan K. McGovern, John H. Lienhard, Mostafa H. Elsharqawy
-
Patent number: 9072984Abstract: In a bubble-column vapor mixture condenser, a fluid source supplies a carrier-gas stream including a condensable fluid in vapor phase. The condensable fluid in liquid form is contained as a bath in a chamber in each stage of the condenser, and the carrier gas is bubbled through the bath to condense the fluid into the bath. The bubble-column vapor mixture condenser can be used, e.g., in a humidification-dehumidification system for purifying a liquid, such as water.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2011Date of Patent: July 7, 2015Assignees: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, King Fahd University of Petroleum and MineralsInventors: Prakash Narayan Govindan, Gregory P. Thiel, Ronan K. McGovern, John H. Lienhard, Mostafa H. Elsharqawy
-
Patent number: 8778065Abstract: In a bubble-column vapor mixture condenser, a fluid source supplies a carrier-gas stream including a condensable fluid in vapor phase. The condensable fluid in liquid form is contained as a bath in a chamber in each stage of the condenser, and the carrier gas is bubbled through the bath to condense the condensable fluid into the bath. Energy from condensation is recovered to a coolant in a conduit that passes through the liquid in the stages of the condenser. The bubble-column vapor mixture condenser can be used, e.g., in a humidification-dehumidification system for purifying a liquid, such as water.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2013Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignees: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, King Fahd University of Petroleum & MineralsInventors: Prakash Narayan Govindan, Gregory P. Thiel, Ronan K. McGovern, John H. Lienhard, Mostafa Hamed Elsharqawy
-
Publication number: 20140014212Abstract: A carrier-gas mixture is directed through a fluid flow path in a combined heat and mass transfer device, which can be operated at sub-atmospheric pressure. Heat and mass are transferred from or to the carrier-gas mixture via interaction with a liquid composition that includes a vaporizable component in a liquid state to substantially change the content of the vaporizable component in the carrier-gas mixture via evaporation or condensation. The mass flow rate of the carrier-gas mixture is varied by extracting or injecting the carrier-gas mixture from at least one intermediate location in the fluid flow path, and/or the mass flow rate of the liquid composition is varied by extracting or injecting the liquid composition from at least one intermediate location in the fluid flow path; and the flow of the carrier-gas mixture or the liquid composition is regulated to reduce the average local enthalpy pinch in the device.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2013Publication date: January 16, 2014Applicants: KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM AND MINERALS, MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGYInventors: Prakash Narayan Govindan, Gregory P. Thiel, Ronan K. McGovern, John H. Lienhard, Sarit K. Das, Karim M. Chehayeb, Syed M. Zubair, Mohammed A. Antar
-
Publication number: 20130341810Abstract: In a bubble-column vapor mixture condenser, a fluid source supplies a carrier-gas stream including a condensable fluid in vapor phase. The condensable fluid in liquid form is contained as a bath in a chamber in each stage of the condenser, and the carrier gas is bubbled through the bath to condense the condensable fluid into the bath. Energy from condensation is recovered to a coolant in a conduit that passes through the liquid in the stages of the condenser. The bubble-column vapor mixture condenser can be used, e.g., in a humidification-dehumidification system for purifying a liquid, such as water.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2013Publication date: December 26, 2013Applicants: KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM AND MINERALS, MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGYInventors: Prakash Narayan Govindan, Gregory P. Thiel, Ronan K. McGovern, John H. Lienhard, Mostafa Hamed Elsharqawy
-
Patent number: 8523985Abstract: In a bubble-column vapor mixture condenser, a fluid source supplies a carrier-gas stream including a condensable fluid in vapor phase. The condensable fluid in liquid form is contained as a bath in a chamber in each stage of the condenser, and the carrier gas is bubbled through the bath to condense the fluid into the bath. Energy from condensation is recovered to a liquid composition in a conduit that passes through the liquid in the stages of the condenser. The bubble-column vapor mixture condenser can be used, e.g., in a humidification-dehumidification system for purifying a liquid, such as water.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2012Date of Patent: September 3, 2013Assignees: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, King Fahd University of Petroleum and MineralsInventors: Prakash Narayan Govindan, Gregory P. Thiel, Ronan K. McGovern, John H. Lienhard, Mostafa H. Elsharqawy
-
Patent number: 8496234Abstract: A carrier-gas mixture is directed through a fluid flow path in a combined heat and mass transfer device operating at a sub-atmospheric pressure. Heat and mass are transferred from or to the carrier-gas mixture via interaction with a liquid composition that includes a vaporizable component in a liquid state to substantially change the content of the vaporizable component in the carrier-gas mixture via evaporation or condensation of the vaporizable component. The mass flow rate of the carrier-gas mixture is varied by extracting or injecting the carrier-gas mixture from at least one intermediate location in the fluid flow path, and/or the mass flow rate of the liquid composition is varied by extracting or injecting the liquid composition from at least one intermediate location in the fluid flow path; and the flow of the carrier-gas mixture or the liquid composition is regulated to reduce the average local enthalpy pinch in the device.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2012Date of Patent: July 30, 2013Assignees: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, King Fahd University of Petroleum and MineralsInventors: Prakash Narayan Govindan, Gregory P. Thiel, Ronan K. McGovern, John H. Lienhard, Sarit K. Das, Karim M. Chehayeb, Syed M. Zubair, Mohammed A. Antar
-
Publication number: 20130074694Abstract: In a bubble-column vapor mixture condenser, a fluid source supplies a carrier-gas stream including a condensable fluid in vapor phase. The condensable fluid in liquid form is contained as a bath in a chamber in each stage of the condenser, and the carrier gas is bubbled through the bath to condense the fluid into the bath. The bubble-column vapor mixture condenser can be used, e.g., in a humidification-dehumidification system for purifying a liquid, such as water.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2011Publication date: March 28, 2013Applicant: MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGYInventors: Prakash Narayan Govindan, Gregory P. Thiel, Ronan K. McGovern, John H. Lienhard, Mostafa H. Elsharqawy
-
Publication number: 20130075940Abstract: In a bubble-column vapor mixture condenser, a fluid source supplies a carrier-gas stream including a condensable fluid in vapor phase. The condensable fluid in liquid form is contained as a bath in a chamber in each stage of the condenser, and the carrier gas is bubbled through the bath to condense the fluid into the bath. Energy from condensation is recovered to a liquid composition in a conduit that passes through the liquid in the stages of the condenser. The bubble-column vapor mixture condenser can be used, e.g., in a humidification-dehumidification system for purifying a liquid, such as water.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2012Publication date: March 28, 2013Applicants: KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM AND MINERALS, MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGYInventors: Prakash Narayan Govindan, Gregory P. Thiel, Ronan K. McGovern, John H. Lienhard, Mostafa H. Elsharqawy