Patents by Inventor Virginia Andrade
Virginia Andrade 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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Publication number: 20240140893Abstract: The present disclosure provides high-grade ethanol production systems and methods that increase energy efficiency as compared to typical systems and methods by minimizing undesired acetal formation. The provided ethanol production method may include a low boilers removal distillation column and/or a stripper column constructed to simultaneously remove at least a portion of the acetaldehyde and at least a portion of the acetal from a feed stream in the presence of water. In some aspects, a low boilers removal process may be followed by a water removal process, which may be followed by a high boilers removal process. Acidity (e.g., carbon dioxide) may also be removed from a feed stream prior to or during the low boilers removal process. By minimizing acetal production, the provided method minimizes the amount of energy that is required to remove acetal when producing high-grade ethanol.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 7, 2023Publication date: May 2, 2024Applicant: Whitefox Technologies LimitedInventors: Virginia Andrade, Stephan Blum, Thiago Righi, Jin Ming Zhou
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Publication number: 20240033652Abstract: The present disclosure provides processes and systems for ethanol production. In one embodiment, a first beer column receives a first portion of a feed mixture including ethanol and water to form a first beer column bottom stream and a first beer column vaporous overhead stream. A beer column receives a second portion of the feed mixture. A first portion of the first beer column bottom stream is forwarded to a first beer column reboiler. A second portion of the first beer column bottom stream is forwarded to a plurality of evaporators. A condensed portion of the first beer column vaporous overhead stream is forwarded to a stripper column. The stripper column forms a feed stream, which is contacted with a separation system, thereby forming a permeate and a retentate. The permeate is forwarded directly to at least one selected from the first beer column and the stripper column.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2023Publication date: February 1, 2024Applicant: Whitefox Technologies LimitedInventors: Virginia Andrade, Jin Ming ZHOU, Stephan Rudiger BLUM
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Publication number: 20230322652Abstract: The present disclosure provides for organic solvent production via distillation and dehydration by: directing portions of a feed stream to a first and second distillation columns operating at a different pressures from each other, wherein the organic solvent is preferably an alcohol and more preferably ethanol; generating, in the first distillation column, a vaporous first overhead stream; directing the vaporous first overhead stream directly to a rectification system; generating, in the second distillation column, a vaporous second overhead stream; forming a condensed second overhead stream from the vaporous second overhead stream; directing, at least a portion of the condensed second overhead stream to the rectification system; generating, via the rectification system, a third overhead stream; directing at least a portion of the third overhead stream to a separation system; and generating, in the separation system, an enriched solvent stream.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 13, 2023Publication date: October 12, 2023Applicant: WHITEFOX TECHNOLOGIES LIMITEDInventors: Thiago Righi, Chenxu Shi, Virginia Andrade, Stephan Blum
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Patent number: 11779858Abstract: The present disclosure provides processes and systems for ethanol production. In one embodiment, a first beer column receives a first portion of a feed mixture including ethanol and water to form a first beer column bottom stream and a first beer column vaporous overhead stream. A beer column receives a second portion of the feed mixture. A first portion of the first beer column bottom stream is forwarded to a first beer column reboiler. A second portion of the first beer column bottom stream is forwarded to a plurality of evaporators. A condensed portion of the first beer column vaporous overhead stream is forwarded to a stripper column. The stripper column forms a feed stream, which is contacted with a separation system, thereby forming a permeate and a retentate. The permeate is forwarded directly to at least one selected from the first beer column and the stripper column.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2020Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: WHITEFOX TECHNOLOGIES LIMITEDInventors: Virginia Andrade, Jin Ming Zhou, Stephan Rudiger Blum
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Patent number: 11697630Abstract: The present disclosure provides high-grade ethanol production systems and methods that increase energy efficiency as compared to typical systems and methods by minimizing undesired acetal formation. The provided ethanol production method may include a low boilers removal distillation column and/or a stripper column constructed to simultaneously remove at least a portion of the acetaldehyde and at least a portion of the acetal from a feed stream in the presence of water. In some aspects, a low boilers removal process may be followed by a water removal process, which may be followed by a high boilers removal process. Acidity (e.g., carbon dioxide) may also be removed from a feed stream prior to or during the low boilers removal process. By minimizing acetal production, the provided method minimizes the amount of energy that is required to remove acetal when producing high-grade ethanol.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2021Date of Patent: July 11, 2023Assignee: WHITEFOX TECHNOLOGIES LIMITEDInventors: Virginia Andrade, Stephan Blum, Thiago Righi, Zhou Jin Ming
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Publication number: 20230123549Abstract: A distillation and dehydration system is provided that produces an anhydrous organic solvent. The provided system includes vapor recompression (e.g., a mechanical or thermal vapor recompression unit) to recover heat from a rectification-distillation section (e.g., a rectifier/stripper column). The addition of vapor recompression enables further heat recovery within a stream by increasing the condensation temperature and pressure of that stream and later using its latent heat by condensing it.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2022Publication date: April 20, 2023Applicant: WHITEFOX TECHNOLOGIES LIMITEDInventors: Jin Ming ZHOU, Thiago Righi, Chenxu Shi, Stephan BLUM, Virginia Andrade
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Publication number: 20230010850Abstract: The present disclosure provides for organic solvent production via distillation and dehydration by: directing portions of a feed stream to a first and second distillation columns operating at a different pressures from each other, wherein the organic solvent is preferably an alcohol and more preferably ethanol; generating, in the first distillation column, a vaporous first overhead stream; directing the vaporous first overhead stream directly to a rectification system; generating, in the second distillation column, a vaporous second overhead stream; forming a condensed second overhead stream from the vaporous second overhead stream; directing, at least a portion of the condensed second overhead stream to the rectification system; generating, via the rectification system, a third overhead stream; directing at least a portion of the third overhead stream to a separation system; and generating, in the separation system, an enriched solvent stream.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2022Publication date: January 12, 2023Applicant: WHITEFOX TECHNOLOGIES LIMITEDInventors: Thiago Righi, Chenxu Shi, Virginia Andrade, Stephan BLUM
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Publication number: 20220410028Abstract: The present disclosure provides processes and systems for heat integration in ethanol production. In one embodiment, a feed mixture is distilled with one or more distillation units to remove at least a portion of the water, and form a distillation unit bottom stream, a vaporous overhead stream, and a fusel oil stream. Molecular sieve units are regenerated by vacuum or a combination of vacuum and optionally a portion of the product stream to form one or more regenerate streams. A feed tank is configured to receive at least one selected from a condensed portion of the regenerate streams and a portion of a vaporous depressure stream, to form a feed stream. The energy contained in the depressure vapor is recovered by the depressure vapor contacting the feed tank and heating up at least one stream forwarded into the feed tank.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2022Publication date: December 29, 2022Applicant: Whitefox Technologies LimitedInventors: Virginia ANDRADE, Jin Ming ZHOU, Stephan Rüdiger BLUM
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Patent number: 11426675Abstract: The present disclosure provides processes and systems for heat integration in ethanol production. In one embodiment, a feed mixture is distilled with one or more distillation units to remove at least a portion of the water, and form a distillation unit bottom stream, a vaporous overhead stream, and a fusel oil stream. Molecular sieve units are regenerated by vacuum or a combination of vacuum and optionally a portion of the product stream to form one or more regenerate streams. A feed tank is configured to receive at least one selected from a condensed portion of the regenerate streams and a portion of a vaporous depressure stream, to form a feed stream. The energy contained in the depressure vapor is recovered by the depressure vapor contacting the feed tank and heating up at least one stream forwarded into the feed tank.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2020Date of Patent: August 30, 2022Assignee: WHITEFOX TECHNOLOGIES LIMITEDInventors: Virginia Andrade, Jin Ming Zhou, Stephan Rüdiger Blum
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Publication number: 20220048841Abstract: The present disclosure provides high-grade ethanol production systems and methods that increase energy efficiency as compared to typical systems and methods by minimizing undesired acetal formation. The provided ethanol production method may include a low boilers removal distillation column and/or a stripper column constructed to simultaneously remove at least a portion of the acetaldehyde and at least a portion of the acetal from a feed stream in the presence of water. In some aspects, a low boilers removal process may be followed by a water removal process, which may be followed by a high boilers removal process. Acidity (e.g., carbon dioxide) may also be removed from a feed stream prior to or during the low boilers removal process. By minimizing acetal production, the provided method minimizes the amount of energy that is required to remove acetal when producing high-grade ethanol.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2021Publication date: February 17, 2022Applicant: WHITEFOX TECHNOLOGIES LIMITEDInventors: Virginia Andrade, Stephan Blum, Thiago Righi, Zhou Jin Ming
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Patent number: 11007452Abstract: The present disclosure provides processes and systems for dehydrating a byproduct stream in ethanol production. In one embodiment, a feed mixture is distilled with one or more distillation units to remove at least a portion of the water, and form a first byproduct stream. The first byproduct stream is contacted with a molecular sieve unit, thereby forming a product stream. The molecular sieve unit is cyclically contacted with at least a portion of the product stream to regenerate the molecular sieve unit and form one or more regenerate streams. A second byproduct stream including at least one of (1) the regenerate streams and (2) at least a portion of the fusel oil stream is contacted with a separation system, thereby forming a permeate and a retentate. At least a portion of the retentate is forwarded into the product stream.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2019Date of Patent: May 18, 2021Assignee: WHITEFOX TECHNOLOGIES LIMITEDInventors: Stephan Rüdiger Blum, Virginia Andrade
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Publication number: 20210113937Abstract: The present disclosure provides processes and systems for ethanol production. In one embodiment, a first beer column receives a first portion of a feed mixture including ethanol and water to form a first beer column bottom stream and a first beer column vaporous overhead stream. A beer column receives a second portion of the feed mixture. A first portion of the first beer column bottom stream is forwarded to a first beer column reboiler. A second portion of the first beer column bottom stream is forwarded to a plurality of evaporators. A condensed portion of the first beer column vaporous overhead stream is forwarded to a stripper column. The stripper column forms a feed stream, which is contacted with a separation system, thereby forming a permeate and a retentate. The permeate is forwarded directly to at least one selected from the first beer column and the stripper column.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2020Publication date: April 22, 2021Applicant: WHITEFOX TECHNOLOGIES LIMITEDInventors: Virginia ANDRADE, Jin Ming ZHOU, Stephan Rudiger BLUM
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Patent number: 10874956Abstract: The present disclosure provides processes and systems for ethanol production. In one embodiment, a first beer column receives a first portion of a feed mixture including ethanol and water to form a first beer column bottom stream and a first beer column vaporous overhead stream. A beer column receives a second portion of the feed mixture. A first portion of the first beer column bottom stream is forwarded to a first beer column reboiler. A second portion of the first beer column bottom stream is forwarded to a plurality of evaporators. A condensed portion of the first beer column vaporous overhead stream is forwarded to a stripper column. The stripper column forms a feed stream, which is contacted with a separation system, thereby forming a permeate and a retentate. The permeate is forwarded directly to at least one selected from the first beer column and the stripper column.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2019Date of Patent: December 29, 2020Assignee: WHITEFOX TECHNOLOGIES LIMITEDInventors: Virginia Andrade, Jin Ming Zhou, Stephan Rudiger Blum
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Publication number: 20200360833Abstract: The present disclosure provides processes and systems for heat integration in ethanol production. In one embodiment, a feed mixture is distilled with one or more distillation units to remove at least a portion of the water, and form a distillation unit bottom stream, a vaporous overhead stream, and a fusel oil stream. Molecular sieve units are regenerated by vacuum or a combination of vacuum and optionally a portion of the product stream to form one or more regenerate streams. A feed tank is configured to receive at least one selected from a condensed portion of the regenerate streams and a portion of a vaporous depressure stream, to form a feed stream. The energy contained in the depressure vapor is recovered by the depressure vapor contacting the feed tank and heating up at least one stream forwarded into the feed tank.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 3, 2020Publication date: November 19, 2020Applicant: WHITEFOX TECHNOLOGIES LIMITEDInventors: Virginia Andrade, Jin Ming Zhou, Stephan Rüdiger Blum
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Patent number: 10729987Abstract: The present disclosure provides processes and systems for heat integration in ethanol production. In one embodiment, a feed mixture is distilled with one or more distillation units to remove at least a portion of the water, and form a distillation unit bottom stream, a vaporous overhead stream, and a fusel oil stream. Molecular sieve units are regenerated by vacuum or a combination of vacuum and optionally a portion of the product stream to form one or more regenerate streams. A feed tank is configured to receive at least one selected from a condensed portion of the regenerate streams and a portion of a vaporous depressure stream, to form a feed stream. The energy contained in the depressure vapor is recovered by the depressure vapor contacting the feed tank and heating up at least one stream forwarded into the feed tank.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2017Date of Patent: August 4, 2020Assignee: WHITEFOX TECHNOLOGIES LIMITEDInventors: Virginia Andrade, Jin Ming Zhou, Stephan Rüdiger Blum
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Publication number: 20200086227Abstract: The present disclosure provides processes and systems for dehydrating a byproduct stream in ethanol production. In one embodiment, a feed mixture is distilled with one or more distillation units to remove at least a portion of the water, and form a first byproduct stream. The first byproduct stream is contacted with a molecular sieve unit, thereby forming a product stream. The molecular sieve unit is cyclically contacted with at least a portion of the product stream to regenerate the molecular sieve unit and form one or more regenerate streams. A second byproduct stream including at least one of (1) the regenerate streams and (2) at least a portion of the fusel oil stream is contacted with a separation system, thereby forming a permeate and a retentate. At least a portion of the retentate is forwarded into the product stream.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 25, 2019Publication date: March 19, 2020Applicant: WHITEFOX TECHNOLOGIES LIMITEDInventors: Stephan Rüdiger Blum, Virginia Andrade
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Patent number: 10486079Abstract: The present disclosure provides processes and systems for dehydrating a byproduct stream in ethanol production. In one embodiment, a feed mixture is distilled with one or more distillation units to remove at least a portion of the water, and form a first byproduct stream. The first byproduct stream is contacted with a molecular sieve unit, thereby forming a product stream. The molecular sieve unit is cyclically contacted with at least a portion of the product stream to regenerate the molecular sieve unit and form one or more regenerate streams. A second byproduct stream including at least one of (1) the regenerate streams and (2) at least a portion of the fusel oil stream is contacted with a separation system, thereby forming a permeate and a retentate. At least a portion of the retentate is forwarded into the product stream.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2017Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Assignee: WHITEFOX TECHNOLOGIES LIMITEDInventors: Stephan Rüdiger Blum, Virginia Andrade
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Publication number: 20190336882Abstract: The present disclosure provides processes and systems for ethanol production. In one embodiment, a first beer column receives a first portion of a feed mixture including ethanol and water to form a first beer column bottom stream and a first beer column vaporous overhead stream. A beer column receives a second portion of the feed mixture. A first portion of the first beer column bottom stream is forwarded to a first beer column reboiler. A second portion of the first beer column bottom stream is forwarded to a plurality of evaporators. A condensed portion of the first beer column vaporous overhead stream is forwarded to a stripper column. The stripper column forms a feed stream, which is contacted with a separation system, thereby forming a permeate and a retentate. The permeate is forwarded directly to at least one selected from the first beer column and the stripper column.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 7, 2019Publication date: November 7, 2019Inventors: Virginia Andrade, James Zhou, Stephan Rudiger Blum