Vapor Or Gas Removal Patents (Class 210/180)
  • Publication number: 20120228225
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for contemporaneously recovering ammonia and carbon dioxide from an aqueous solution thereof, possibly comprising their condensates, in a synthesis process of urea, characterized in that it comprises a hydrophobic microporous membrane distillation phase of an aqueous solution comprising ammonia, carbon dioxide and their saline compounds or condensates, said distillation being carried out at a temperature ranging from 50 to 250° C. and a pressure ranging from 50 KPa to 20 MPa absolute, with the formation of a residual aqueous solution, possibly comprising urea, and a gaseous permeate stream, comprising ammonia, carbon dioxide and water. The present invention also relates to an apparatus for effecting the above method and a production process of urea which comprises the above method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: SAIPEM S.p.A.
    Inventors: Paolo Casara, Alessandro Gianazza
  • Patent number: 8257476
    Abstract: A first contaminant selected from oxygen and carbon monoxide is removed from impure liquid carbon dioxide using a mass transfer separation column system which is reboiled by indirect heat exchange against crude carbon dioxide fluid, the impure liquid carbon dioxide having a greater concentration of carbon dioxide than the crude carbon dioxide fluid. The invention has particular application in the recovery of carbon dioxide from flue gas generated in an oxyfuel combustion process or waste gas from a hydrogen PSA process. Advantages include reducing the level of the first contaminant to not more than 1000 ppm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Vincent White, Rodney John Allam
  • Patent number: 8246820
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for removing volatiles from fluid systems. The apparatuses and methods include evaporator sections. The apparatuses and methods may furthermore include a heater disposed at least in part in the evaporator section, which may have a ridge on its surface. The apparatuses and methods may furthermore include an evaporation tube positioned around the heater, which may have a conically shaped outer surface. The apparatuses and methods may also include an air inlet and an air outlet in the evaporator section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Next Generation Filtration Systems, LP
    Inventor: Kenneth L. Geiger
  • Patent number: 8216458
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and a device for dewatering a hydraulic fluid of a hydraulic system, in particular in the aerospace sector, comprising a container which has a sorbent, a feed which supplies the hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic system to the container for the hydraulic fluid to be passed through the sorbent such that it can be dewatered in a dewatering mode of the device, and a return which returns the dewatered hydraulic fluid from the container to the hydraulic system in the dewatering mode of the device. The hydraulic fluid can be dewatered continuously and very efficiently by the method and the device according to the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Ingo Scheel, Ralf Pohlmann, Wolfgang Erdmann
  • Publication number: 20120152517
    Abstract: A system for providing supplemental or auxiliary heat to a crude oil separator is provided. The system includes a primary circuit carrying a fluid heated by a solar panel and a secondary circuit carrying a fluid heated by heat exchangers engaged with the primary circuit. The secondary circuit includes heat exchangers engaging the separator to provide auxiliary heat. The system may also include a source of off-grid electrical energy, such as a wind turbine and/or photoelectric cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Inventors: Wallace Bruce, Richard Chacon, Mark Ray
  • Patent number: 8192618
    Abstract: In the present invention, dialysis tubing is placed in a chamber, where an ultrasonic or a other mist producer is present. The ultrasonic mist producer will produce mist and small water droplets will be attached to the surface of dialysis membrane (sheet or tubing) and will condense and the water drops will fall back in the solution tank, where the ultrasonic probe produces the mist. When the droplet is attached to the membrane surface, the dialysis will take place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Inventors: Ashok Kumar Shuklla, Mukta Misra Shukla, Kavita M. Shukla
  • Publication number: 20120132577
    Abstract: A device for separating fuel components comprises a separating membrane for separating high-octane fuel components from un-separated fuel, a heater for heating the un-separated fuel and a pressure apparatus for pressurizing the un-separated fuel. In the device, un-separated fuel is heated by the heater and is pressurized by the pressure apparatus such that the state of the un-separated fuel is changed to a mixed gas phase and liquid phase state of a gas weight ratio from 50% to 95% before coming into contact with the separating membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicants: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Exxon Mobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Randall D. Partridge, Kouseki Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 8177975
    Abstract: An apparatus removes air or debris from a flow of liquid. The apparatus includes a shell having an inlet, an outlet, and an elongate inner cavity in fluid communication with each of the inlet and the outlet. A plurality of elongate coalescing medium assemblies are disposed within the cavity of the shell such that the coalescing medium assemblies are oriented substantially parallel to each other. Each coalescing medium assembly includes a plurality of wire mesh tubes oriented substantially parallel to each other. A wire mesh retaining wall substantially surrounds the tubes and holds the tubes together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Thrush Co., Inc
    Inventor: Aaron Schipper
  • Patent number: 8177986
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for deodorising organic fluids or inorganic fluids, which comprises creating a continuous flow or semi continuous flow of the fluids throw a column having one or more trays, creating a plug flow of the fluids through a labyrinth of passages on each tray by regulating the flow through the passages by use of a regulating valve at an exit in the tray, introducing sparging gas on the bottom level of each tray, contacting the fluids with the sparging gas in the plug flow, removing volatiles from the fluids, and transferring the sparging gas and the volatiles in ducts inside the column or outside the column. The present invention relates also to a plug flow tray, a column, a deodorizing plant, and use thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: ALFA Laval Corporate AB
    Inventor: Bjarne Gullov-Rasmussen
  • Publication number: 20120111794
    Abstract: Sea water is not suitable for human consumption. Naturally present dissolved chemicals in sea water make it inconsumable. The precipitants and dissolved chemicals need to be separated from water to make it consumable. A combination of aeration system, filtration system, crystallizer, hydrophobic membrane carrying filter and pressure retarded osmosis system are used in various combination to desalinate the sea water. Pressure retarded osmosis process is also used to produce pressurized diluted brine which is further decompressed to by the turbine and used by the generators to produce electricity. Various heat exchange apparatus are used for energy conservation and efficient processing of water in a feasible way. The disclosure enables to purify water and provide an economical means for producing electricity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2012
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: King Abdulaziz City for Organization Name Science and Technology "KACST"
    Inventor: Saad A. Al-Jlil
  • Publication number: 20120103902
    Abstract: A dialysis machine includes a blood circuit, a dialysate circuit, and a dialyzer placed in communication with the blood circuit and the dialysate circuit. The dialysis machine includes a priming sequence in which dialysate is used to prime a first portion of the dialysate circuit and a physiologically compatible solution, other than dialysate, is used to prime a second portion of the dialysate circuit, the dialyzer and the blood circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicants: BAXTER HEALTHCARE S.A., BAXTER INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Robert W. Childers, Thomas D. Kelly, Rodolfo Roger
  • Publication number: 20120091062
    Abstract: An energy efficient desalination process that does not produce waste products involves the extraction of water from a first solution, such as seawater, by using a second concentrated solution to draw the water from the first solution across a semi-permeable membrane. By manipulating the equilibrium of the soluble and insoluble species of solute within the second solution in favor of the soluble species of the solute, a saturated second solution can be used to generate osmotic pressure on the first solution. Also, by adjusting the equilibrium in favor of the less soluble species after the water has been drawn from the first solution, a portion of the solute can easily be precipitated out. Heating the second solution decomposes the solute into its constituent gases. The constituent gases and precipitated solute may be recycled through the process to affect the changes in equilibrium and eliminate waste products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: Yale University
    Inventor: Robert L. McGinnis
  • Publication number: 20120085094
    Abstract: A photovoltaic-thermal (PV-T) system and a method of cooling photovoltaic (PV) cells in the system is described herein. Energy from an excitation source such as the sun hits the PV cells in the PV-T system causing heating that reduces PV efficiency. The PV cells are cooled by fluid in an intact heat-transfer system making a heated water byproduct while the PV cells release a form of energy. In addition, the PV-T system can be implemented in a desalination plant to harvest energy and heat for desalination processes. The present invention also includes methods for transferring heat from PV cells to the earth to improve PV performance and reduce thermal shock to the PV cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Applicant: BOARD OF REGENTS, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM
    Inventors: Thomas A. Davis, Malynda A. Cappelle
  • Patent number: 8097172
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for recovering organic compounds from plant waste water. A saturator (10) is coupled to a feed gas stream (70) and a heated makeup water stream (54) which includes recoverable organic compounds. The saturator provides a saturated feed gas stream (70) which includes feed gas, steam and recovered organic compounds. A pump (30) recycles saturator water (56) and the makeup water stream (50) is added to that recycle stream (54).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Aker Kvaerner, Inc.
    Inventors: Muhammad Nazrul Islam, Gwo-Jang Abraham Liou, Stephen D. York
  • Patent number: 8097128
    Abstract: An efficient flash evaporation water purification system located at a hydrocarbon well site. An internal combustion engine uses hydrocarbon fuel from the well and drives a pump to pressurize production water from the well. The engine also generates thermal energy used to preheat the production water. An electrical generator is also driven by the engine to produce electrical power for the water purification system, as well as produce AC power for off-site consumers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Inventor: Raymond C. Sherry
  • Publication number: 20110303607
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an integrated desalination and salt plant for the production of a salt or slurry product of high purity. The reject stream from the desalination plant is used as the feed stream for the salt plant. The salt plant feed stream is filtered to effectively remove sulfate, which prevents scale formation in the salt plant equipment. The filtering may also reduce the level of calcium, magnesium, bicarbonate, or other components of the feed which may also prevent scale formation in the salt plant equipment. The salt plant produces a high purity salt product without the use of chemical purification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Nishith Vora, Irving Elyanow, Giuseppe Chiappa, Giovanni Radice, Luca Mor
  • Publication number: 20110297598
    Abstract: A hemodialysis system includes (i) a dialyzer; (ii) a blood pump; (iii) a blood cassette operatively connected to the dialyzer and the blood pump; (iv) a dialysate heater; (v) first and second peristaltic dialysate pumps; and (vi) a dialysate cassette separate from the blood cassette, the dialysate cassette including an organizer configured to support a drain tube, a to-dialyzer tube and a from-dialyzer tube, the cassette further including a first pumping tube, a second pumping tube and an inline fluid heating pathway, the cassette when mounted for operation orienting (a) the first pumping tube for operation with the first peristaltic dialysate pump, (b) the second pumping tube for operation with the second peristaltic dialysate pump and (c) the fluid heating pathway for operation with the dialysate heater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicants: BAXTER HEALTHCARE S.A., BAXTER INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Ying-Cheng Lo, Robert W. Childers, Thomas D. Kelly, Justin Rohde
  • Publication number: 20110300231
    Abstract: Certain disclosed embodiments concern systems and methods of preparing dialysate for use in a home dialysis system that is compact and light-weight relative to existing systems and consumes relatively low amounts of energy. The method includes coupling a household water stream to a dialysis system; filtering the water stream; heating the water stream to at least about 138 degrees Celsius in a non-batch process to produce a heated water stream; maintaining the heated water stream at or above at least about 138 degrees Celsius for at least about two seconds; cooling the heated water stream to produce a cooled water stream; ultrafiltering the cooled water stream; and mixing dialysate components into the cooled water stream in a non-batch process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Inventors: Richard B. Peterson, James R. Curtis
  • Patent number: 8070865
    Abstract: A vacuum vessel for continuous or semi-continuous treatment of oils in connection with deodorization comprises spaces (12, 121, 122) through which oil to be treated is brought to pass and means to heat or cool the oil in the form of U-tubes. There are perforated pipes (26) arranged at the bottom of said spaces to lead stripping gas into said oil. The vessel has a connection to a vacuum source (7). The spaces in the vessel are arranged such that the oil to be treated in the vessel flows through the same by gravity. The heating or cooling medium passing the U-tubes is arranged to be pumped therethrough. The U-tubes for heating or cooling medium are arranged in such a way in said spaces that the flow of oil is counter-current to the flow of heating or cooling medium all through the vessel and a number of U-tubes are arranged in groups (13), parallel and in rows above each other in said spaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Alfa Laval Corporate AB
    Inventor: Bjarne Gullov-Rasmussen
  • Publication number: 20110290725
    Abstract: A water distillation system includes a membrane distillation unit which produces desalinated water from feed water comprising salt water. The system also includes a primary water heater which raises a temperature of the feed water upstream of the feed water entering the membrane distillation unit. The system additionally includes an evaporative cooler which lowers a temperature of a coolant upstream of the coolant entering the membrane distillation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology
    Inventors: Ibrahim A. AL-ARIFI, Hisham Taha Abdulla El-Dessouky
  • Publication number: 20110284444
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a condensing tube and a filtration module thereof. The condensing tube comprises a hollow body having a central hollow compartment; a porous covering layer having gas permeability but being liquid impermeable; and a condensation chamber, being a space formed between the hollow body and the porous covering layer wherein a plurality of separation members are provided radially along the hollow body in the condensation chamber to divide the condensation chamber into a plurality of condensation compartments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: CHUNG YUAN CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Jung Hui Chen, Yu Hung Lin
  • Publication number: 20110284443
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a condensing tube and a filtration module thereof. The condensing tube comprises a hollow body having a central hollow compartment; a porous covering layer having gas permeability but being liquid impermeable; and a condensation chamber, being a space formed between the hollow body and the porous covering layer wherein a plurality of fins are provided radially along the hollow body in the condensation chamber to divide the condensation chamber into a plurality of condensation compartments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: CHUNG YUAN CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Jung Hui Chen, Yu Hung Lin
  • Patent number: 8048311
    Abstract: Methods and systems for a zero discharge waste water treatment system are provided. The system includes a filtration train including filter media having successively smaller diameter filtration elements, a reverse osmosis apparatus including a pump and a membrane coupled in flow communication with said filtration train, a vapor compressor coupled in flow communication with said reverse osmosis apparatus, and a spray dryer coupled in flow communication with said vapor compressor, said spray dryer configured to separate moisture in a brine solution from particulate suspended in the brine solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Paul Steven Wallace, James Michael Storey, Aaron John Avagliano
  • Patent number: 8029668
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for treating raw water. The apparatus comprises a vessel having an inlet for the raw water and an outlet for the skimmed water, and wherein the vessel contains the raw water, and a rotor mechanism for creating a plurality of gas bubbles within the raw water. The apparatus further comprises a disperser device, operatively associated with the rotor mechanism, for dispersing the plurality of gas bubbles from the rotor mechanism within the vessel, and wherein the gas bubbles create an oily froth on the top of the raw water, and a skim tray, positioned about the rotor mechanism, is provided for removing the oily froth from the top of the raw water as well as a secondary skimmer positioned within the skim tray. In one preferred embodiment, an external skim tank that is configured to deliver a gas to the rotor mechanism and wherein the external skim tank is configured to receive the oily froth from the secondary skimmer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: CCS Energy Services, LLC
    Inventors: Melvin O. Stacy, Mark G. Arceneaux, Eric Wingate
  • Publication number: 20110226685
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for removing volatiles from fluid systems. The apparatuses and methods include evaporator sections. The apparatuses and methods may furthermore include a heater disposed at least in part in the evaporator section, which may have a ridge on its surface. The apparatuses and methods may furthermore include an evaporation tube positioned around the heater, which may have a conically shaped outer surface. The apparatuses and methods may also include an air inlet and an air outlet in the evaporator section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: Next Generation Filtration Systems, LP
    Inventor: Kenneth L. Geiger
  • Patent number: 8021542
    Abstract: A water recovery method and apparatus which uses a desiccant, such as lithium chloride, to recover water vapor from the engine exhaust of a vehicle. The apparatus uses liquid-contactor to transfer water vapor from the vehicle exhaust to the liquid desiccant. The desiccant is then transferred to a reverse osmosis system which separates the liquid desiccant into potable water and a concentrated desiccant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Richard Eugene Kirts
  • Patent number: 8016206
    Abstract: An air conditioning system for automobile having a heater core capable of heating the interior in good efficiency is to be provided. Such a heater core is supplied with the coolant having bubbles removed, and thereby the efficiency of heat exchange is enhanced and the noise is reduced. On the internal combustion engine is mounted a water outlet (bubble separating means) 3 having a receiving chamber 8 that the coolant after cooling the engine flows in. In the downstream position of the chamber 8 is formed a communicating portion 9 of narrowed sectional area and a feeding chamber 10 of increased sectional area in turn. The flowing velocity of the coolant is increased in the communicating portion 9 and decreased in the feeding chamber 10 and thereby it is possible to make bubbles in the coolant float up and separate out. As a result, the coolant without bubbles may be fed to the heater core 7 through a feeding portion 11.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignees: Aichi Machine Industry Co., Ltd., Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Norio Ito, Takayoshi Ichihara
  • Patent number: 7989510
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the purification of an aqueous stream coming from the Fischer-Tropsch reaction which comprises: feeding the aqueous stream containing organic by products of the reaction to a fractionating distillation column or to a stripping column; —condensation of the vaporized stream leaving the head of the column and the removal of a distillate enriched in the heaviest by-products; —feeding the partially purified aqueous stream leaving the bottom of the distillation column, at the head to one or more sensible contact exchangers; —sending a process gas in countercurrent to the tail of the exchanger at a temperature lower than that of the aqueous stream; —sending the process gas enriched in water and part of the residual organic product leaving the head of the exchanger to the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis plant of hydrocarbons; —sending the purified colder water leaving the exchanger directly to further treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: ENI S.p.A.
    Inventors: Lino Locatelli, Gabriele Clerici, Franca Pisani, legal representative
  • Patent number: 7988864
    Abstract: A process and a device implementing the process, for separating fluids in emulsion and/or in solution, and/or for low pressure distillation, in particular of water and/or gaseous hydrocarbons dissolved in crude petroleum, and/or for separation of crude petroleum droplets emulsified in water, to obtain water with necessary characteristics for its injection without pollution of underground aquifers, and/or when the mixture is dominant in crude petroleum, acceleration of settling of the water in the lower part of the mixture, and/or for low pressure distillation of crude petroleum. The method creates a localized zone of reduced pressure on part of the free surface of a liquid to be processed, within a closed processing tank, without the overall pressure inside the closed processing tank being affected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Partex Services Portugal-Servicos Para A Industria Petrolifera, S.A.
    Inventor: Antonio Jose Silva Valente
  • Publication number: 20110180479
    Abstract: A treatment system includes a feed source, a first treatment unit for separating a feed into a first product and a concentrated feed containing less than about 7% total dissolved solids, and a membrane distillation unit for separating the concentrated feed into a second product and a superconcentrated feed containing at least about 14% total dissolved solids. The membrane distillation unit includes hollow fiber membranes having inner bores for receiving the concentrated feed and membrane walls for allowing vapor transmission of distillate. A method includes delivering feed to a first treatment unit where it is separated into first product and concentrated feed streams; delivering the concentrated feed to internal bores of hollow fiber membranes where it is separated into second product and superconcentrated feed streams as vapor passes across the hollow fiber membranes; delivering the superconcentrated feed to a liquid removal unit; and collecting the first and second product streams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: MILTON ROY COMPANY
    Inventors: Haralambos Cordatos, James R. Irish, Zidu Ma, Timothy N. Sundel, Xiaomei Yu
  • Publication number: 20110168646
    Abstract: A method of evaporating waste water utilizing waste heat employs a forced air thermal evaporator system having an air heat exchanger with: a waste heat inlet, a waste heat outlet, a cold air inlet and a hot air outlet; a compressor connected with the cold air inlet to force air into the cold air inlet; and a distribution header having a hot air inlet connected with the hot air outlet, a waste water inlet connected to a waste water source, and air/water mixing nozzles connected with the hot air inlet and the waste water inlet. Engaging the compressor forces air through the heat exchanger and into the distribution header where the waste water is admixed with the hot air which then exits through spray nozzles as water vapor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2010
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Inventor: James Tafoya
  • Patent number: 7976702
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for filtering particulates and volatiles from fluid systems. The apparatuses and methods include particulate filter and evaporator sections. The apparatuses and methods may furthermore include a heater disposed at least in part in the evaporator section having a ridge on a surface of the heater. The apparatuses and methods may furthermore include an evaporation tube positioned around the heater having a conically shaped outer surface and a heater safety sensor. The apparatuses and methods may also include an air inlet and an air outlet in the evaporator section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Inventor: Kenneth L. Geiger
  • Patent number: 7972500
    Abstract: A wastewater purifying apparatus has plural treatment chambers for stepwise purifying wastewater discharged from a lavatory, a storage chamber for storing purified wastewater derived from the downstream-most treatment chamber, and a purified wastewater storage tank. A suction port is formed in the upstream-most treatment chamber for sucking the wastewater. Refluxing equipment refluxes wastewater from the treatment chambers downstream of the upstream-most treatment chamber into the upstream most treatment chamber. A purified wastewater supplier supplies the purified wastewater in the purified wastewater storage tank into the upstream-most treatment chamber. The above arrangement performs expedient and sophisticated purification treatment of the wastewater containing sludge components, such as sewage discharged from the lavatory, or miscellaneous effluents generated by pulverizing garbage by a disposer. The arrangement also simplifies washing of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Eiwa Land Environment Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Ryoichi Okamoto
  • Patent number: 7964411
    Abstract: A sample concentrator for concentrating analytes in a solvent-containing liquid sample stream, including concentrator housing having a sample stream flow channel and a gas stream flow channel having an inlet and an outlet, a heater for gas in the gas stream conduit, and a hydrophilic ion exchange or non-ionic membrane barrier separating said gas stream flow channel and said sample stream flow channel. Solvent is evaporated from the liquid sample stream in said sample stream flow channel in or at the interface with said membrane, when the gas stream is at an elevated temperature. A regeneration step is used to regenerate the ion exchange membrane barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignees: Dionex Corporation, Board of Regents, The University of Texas
    Inventors: Purnendu Dasgupta, Masaki Takeuchi, Kannan Srinivasan
  • Publication number: 20110139697
    Abstract: A total water desalination system is disclosed that includes a centrifugal separator, a feed-water device controlled by a relative humidity sensor, an air pump, an evaporator core, an air dryer, a non-particulate coalescent air filter, and an air flow/brine gravity separating tank. The evaporator core typically contains multiple conical processing chambers and introduces a physical dynamic that increases the surface area of the water, using low-level thermal energy to vaporize micron-size water particles into a gaseous state, suitable for reconstitution into desalinated (or lower salt content) water. The evaporator core operation principles are based on creating a highly dynamic environment that separates impurities from sea, brackish, river, or turbid water; evaporating the water into a residual clean vapor, and returning the vapor to water composition with high efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Inventor: Kelly P. Rock
  • Publication number: 20110127218
    Abstract: Steam for use as stripping medium in a regenerator is recovered from a portion of the regenerator bottom product using a pervaporation unit. In most preferred aspects, the portion is selected such as to maintain neutral water balance in the stripper for a desired regeneration level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Applicant: FLUOR TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satish Reddy, Jeffrey Scherffius
  • Publication number: 20110114547
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally disclose membrane-based systems and methods for the separation of propylene and propane that overcome certain issues associated with prior art devices and take advantage of a temperature drop across the associated separation membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Edgar S. Sanders, JR., Frederic P.C.M. Noel
  • Publication number: 20110042314
    Abstract: A method for producing clean water and electricity, in which water to be cleaned undergoes membrane distillation through one or several units (1) including a first wall (2) that is impermeable to water and has the form of a sheet, a membrane (3) through which water in the gaseous phase can pass, and through which water in fluid phase cannot pass, and a second wall (4) in the form of a sheet. The walls are located on different sides of and at a certain distance from the membrane (3), where water is led in between the first wall (2) and the membrane (3),and where the second wall is caused to be colder than the water. The first wall (2) acts as a solar cell panel (8) with electrically active layers (9) facing away from the membrane, and the solar cell panel is located such that it is illuminated by sunlight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: SCARAB DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventor: Aapo Saask
  • Patent number: 7871520
    Abstract: A membrane module comprising an outer casing having an interior region, a plurality of hollow fiber membranes extending through at least a portion of the interior region, and having exterior surfaces and inner hollow regions, where the inner hollow regions are configured to provide flow paths for a distillate fluid. The membrane module further comprises an opening extending through the outer casing for providing a feed solution to the interior region adjacent the exterior surfaces of the plurality of hollow fiber membranes, where the feed solution provided to the opening has an elevated temperature that is greater than an atmospheric-pressure boiling temperature of the feed solution, and an elevated pressure at which an effective boiling temperature of the feed solution is greater than the elevated temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Milton Roy Company
    Inventors: Zidu Ma, James R. Irish, Xiaohong Liao, Haralambos Cordatos, Xiaomei Yu
  • Publication number: 20110000835
    Abstract: A pump in fluid communication with the outlet of a fluid purification apparatus. A pump may furthermore provide fluid to the inlet of the fluid purification apparatus. An embodiment includes a fluid driven rotating inlet device in fluid communication with the inlet of the fluid purification apparatus and an outlet impeller in fluid communication with the outlet of the fluid purification apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2009
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: Next Generation Filtration Systems, LP
    Inventor: Kenneth L. Geiger
  • Patent number: 7862714
    Abstract: The present invention is a reclamation unit (1) for a liquid comprising a housing (4) with a detachable upper (2) and lower (3) part in which the lower part (3) is connected with a base part (13). The lower part (3) comprises at least one heating unit (17) and inlets (14) and outlets (15,34). The upper part (2) encloses at least one filter unit (8). The lower part (3) and the base part (13) form an evaporation chamber (27), wherein the connection between the lower part (3) and the base part (13) includes a separator plate (19) which guides the liquid from the filter unit (8) onto side walls (37) of the evaporator chamber (27). The heating unit (17) protrudes into the evaporator chamber (27) with no conductive contact to the side walls (37).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Greenoil Standard APS
    Inventors: Lars Brejnbjerg, Bjarne Egelind
  • Patent number: 7851211
    Abstract: An alga microbe photosynthetic reaction system is used to circularly cultivate alga microbes and a culture medium infused in the system. The system comprises a photosynthetic reaction unit, a communicating unit, a pressure liquid infusion unit, an injection and oxygen discharging device, and a regulation area. The photosynthetic reaction unit is a light permeable pipeline. The injection and oxygen discharging device is assembled with an oxygen discharge can and a liquid collection can. By the connection and the functioning of the photosynthetic reaction unit, the communicating unit, the pressure liquid infusion unit, the injection and oxygen discharging device, and the regulation area, the alga microbe culture solution can circularly cultivate good quality algae in the system. The system further comprises a heating unit, a watering unit, and a light complement unit to control the ambient temperature and the light source to suit all kinds of algae.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Inventor: Chao-Hui Lu
  • Patent number: 7842121
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for providing aqueous stream purification services. The system includes at least one separation unit. Each separation unit may include a mechanical vapor recompression separator, a steam stripper, and a secondary recovery heat exchanger. The system for wastewater purification may receive water from a waste water storage, purify the water, and return the purified water to a purified water storage. The system may include a controller. The controller may include an operating conditions module configured to interpret at least one operating condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Capital Corporation
    Inventors: Larry D. Sanderson, James W. Schleiffarth, Leslie D. Merrill, Bradford M. Rohwer
  • Patent number: 7837768
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for purifying a waste fluid stream. The system includes a recirculation pump having an inlet for a recirculation stream and an outlet to expel a pressurized stream. The system includes a compressor having an inlet for an evaporation stream and an outlet for a pressurized evaporation stream. A primary heat exchanger has inlets for the pressurized stream and the pressurized evaporation stream, an internal surface area for heat transfer from the evaporation stream to the pressurized stream, and outlets for a cooled product stream and a heated pressurized stream. The heated pressurized stream is formed by heating the pressurized stream and the cooled product stream is formed by cooling the evaporation stream. The system includes an evaporation unit having an inlet for the heated pressurized stream and outlets for an evaporation stream and the recycled liquid bottoms stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Capital Corporation as Administrative Agent
    Inventors: Larry D. Sanderson, James W. Schleiffarth, Leslie D. Merrill, Bradford M. Rohwer
  • Patent number: 7819951
    Abstract: A first contaminant selected from oxygen and carbon monoxide is removed from impure liquid carbon dioxide using a mass transfer separation column system which is reboiled by indirect heat exchange against crude carbon dioxide fluid, the impure liquid carbon dioxide having a greater concentration of carbon dioxide than the crude carbon dioxide fluid. The invention has particular application in the recovery of carbon dioxide from flue gas generated in an oxyfuel combustion process or waste gas from a hydrogen PSA process. Advantages include reducing the level of the first contaminant to not more than 1000 ppm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Vincent White, Rodney John Allam
  • Publication number: 20100243549
    Abstract: The invention is a pervaporation process and pervaporation equipment, using a series of membrane modules, and including inter-module reheating of the feed solution under treatment. The inter-module heating is achieved within the tube or vessel in which the modules are housed, thereby avoiding the need to repeatedly extract the feed solution from the membrane module train.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc
    Inventors: Nicholas P. Wynn, Yu Huang, Tiem Aldajani, Donald A. Fulton
  • Publication number: 20100237013
    Abstract: An autonomous filter device and a method for improving the filter life and performance is disclosed. The filter element is equipped with one or more sensors, adapted to measure one or more characteristics or parameters of the fluid, such as temperature, pressure, or flow rate. In response to the measured characteristic or parameter, the control logic within the filter element is able to determine an appropriate response. For example, the control logic may determine that a sudden, but temporary, blockage has occurred in the filter membrane. In response to this, the control logic may initiate a specific response designed to alleviate the blockage. This response may be a temperature change, a vibration, a change in fluid flow path, or some other action. The control logic will then determine the success of the response, based monitoring any change in the fluid characteristics. Based thereon, the control logic may alert the operator that the filter element must be replaced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicant: MILLIPORE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Aaron Burke, Anthony DiLeo, Timothy O'Brien
  • Patent number: 7794547
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an automatic washer system mounted within a maple sugar evaporator above the rear flue pan for removing niter and sediment built up during the boiling of sap. The evaporator comprises a furnace, a steam hood, a pan and a nozzle for washing the pan. The steam hood extends over the furnace. The pan is mounted to the furnace and under the steam hood. The nozzle is mounted over the pan. Cleaning fluid is sprayed from the nozzle to clean the pan by an automated process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Inventor: David Shrader Mann
  • Publication number: 20100213125
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a pervaporation processes as well as to apparatuses for carrying out such processes. More in particular, the present invention is directed to improvements in pervaporation processes by improving mass transfer. According to the present invention the feed stream for a pervaporation process contains vapour and liquid. An apparatus for carrying out the process according to the invention comprises a boiler for evaporating a fraction of a liquid stream whereby a vapour stream can be obtained, a duct for combining the remaining liquid stream and said vapour to a mixture and for feeding said mixture to a pervaporation unit, which pervaporation unit comprises a membrane and a vacuum pump which is connected to the room that is on the permeate side of the membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2006
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Inventors: Javier Fontalvo Alzate, Marius Anton Gijsbert Vorstman, Johannes Theodorus Faustinus Keurentjes, Johannes Gerardus Wijers
  • Patent number: 7771567
    Abstract: The salt water distillation system includes a sprinkler to form a mist of salt water over a distillation plate. The distillation plate is heated by applying electrical current to a heating coil. The steam is transferred to a condensation chamber and condensed fresh water is collected. During the desalination process, salt impurities are deposited on the hot distillation plate. A sludge remover, i.e., a steam head and movable ram, is provided to clean the distillation plate of the salt impurities. An exhaust fan is provided to cool fresh water condensate and lower air pressure in the system. Heat transferred from the steam during condensation is used to pre-heat the salt water to increase efficiency of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Inventors: Michael L. Rives, James O. Riley