Contact Devices Patents (Class 261/75)
  • Patent number: 7025938
    Abstract: The partially condensed fluid recycle stream of a fluidized bed polyolefin reactor operating in the condensing mode is split into two portions by a stream splitter. In a preferred mode, the smaller stream from the splitter contains a higher ratio of liquid to gas than the larger stream. One portion of the split stream is injected below the fluidized bed and the other, preferably with enhanced liquid content, is injected into the fluidized bed at a level above the product withdrawal level. Regulation of liquid injection above the product withdrawal level, as a function of liquid in the product discharge tanks, reduces the liquid in the product discharge system, resulting in improved discharge cycle times and more efficient conservation of monomer and other materials which might otherwise be lost in the discharge process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Union Carbide Chemicals & Plastics Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Darrell Olson, Timothy Joseph Howley
  • Patent number: 6969495
    Abstract: For use in a separation column, a mat element or a beam element has at least: an upper part 2; at least one distributor-collector part (3) having one or more secondary orifices (7i) and at least one main orifice (6), whereby the passage sections of orifices (8) and (7i) are different; and a lower part (4). The distributor-collector part or parts (3) arranged between the upper part (2) and the lower part (4). A sealing element (5a) arranged between the distributor-collector part (3) and the upper part (2), and a sealing element (5b) arranged between the distributor-collector part (3) and the lower part (4). A separation element (8) arranged at distributor-collector part (3), thus delimiting two spaces (3a, 3b) for circulation of fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: GĂ©rard Hotier, Pierre Renard, Xavier Decoodt
  • Patent number: 6884359
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the resistivity of ultra pure water, including a housing to house a gas permeable membrane, an inlet for untreated ultra pure water which communicates with an ultra pure water path, and an outlet for resistivity-controlled ultra pure water which communicates with the ultra pure water path. The gas permeable membrane divides the interior of the housing into the ultra pure water path and a mixed gas path. A mixed gas is selected from the group consisting of a mixed gas including carbon dioxide and a gas having a lower resistivity controlling ability than carbon dioxide and a mixed gas including ammonia and a gas having a lower resistivity controlling ability than ammonia. The gas permeable membrane is capable of supplying carbon dioxide or ammonia to the untreated ultra pure water at a concentration equal to or more than 90% of the equilibrium concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Dainippon Ink and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Toshio Kambe, Kazunari Sakai, Kazumi Oi, Koji Kawase
  • Publication number: 20040213696
    Abstract: A method for disinfecting turbid liquids which includes reducing liquid opacity by diffusing the turbid liquid and exposing the liquid to a source of UV radiation for a time sufficient to disinfect and/or sterilize the liquid. The diffusion may be accomplished by aerating, agitation, misting or atomizing the turbid water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2004
    Publication date: October 28, 2004
    Inventor: Lewis J. Daly
  • Patent number: 6716340
    Abstract: A water treatment apparatus for treating water in a device using water as a circulating medium comprises an extractor line for removing water from the device and ozone generation means for producing and conveying a supply of ozone. A contactor/mixer member is provided and has an entry passage for receiving water from the extractor line and ozone from the ozone generation means. The contactor/mixer member has contacting passages for receiving a water and ozone mixture from the entry passage and is configured so as to create turbulence to intimately mix the water and ozone along at least a portion of its length. A return line is provided for receiving and transporting the water and ozone mixture from the contacting passages back to the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Inventor: Will Craig Meyer
  • Patent number: 6682633
    Abstract: A modular apparatus for fractional distillation and other forms of vapor-liquid contacting is presented. The apparatus performs cocurrent contacting of vapor and liquid in a number of identical structural units which are placed in horizontal layers in a column or other enclosure. The structural units, or modules, are horizontally spaced apart in each layer to provide spaces for the downcomers from the modules of the next higher layer. The downcomers deliver the liquid to one of two inclined contacting channels, with the contacting channels discharging the vapor and liquid into separation chambers at the top of the module. Vapor flows upward from the separation chambers to the contacting channel of the next higher module and liquid flows down through a single central downcomer to the next lower contacting channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Zhanping Xu, Dennis H. Bielinski
  • Patent number: 6565816
    Abstract: A hollow, saddle-shaped packing structure 14 includes a pair of porous outer and inner semi-cylindrical side walls 22, 34 that are spaced from one another to define an interior space 40, and a particulate catalyst component 20 retained in the interior space between the side walls. The packing structure may be formed by a pair of saddle-shaped shell elements 16, 18, each of which presents one of the side walls and a pair of radially opposed laterally extending flanges 26, 38. The flanges are connected together by tabs 30, 32, welding, or the like, and the interior space between axially spaced marginal edges 24, 36 of the outer and inner shell elements is closed off to retain the particulate catalyst component between the side walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Koch-Glitsch, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth J. McNully, Neil Yeoman, Matthew Buchholz
  • Publication number: 20030057576
    Abstract: A new method of silane abatement is achieved. The novel silane abatement system comprises a water-filled chamber within an outer chamber. An air intake is located in one upper portion of said outer chamber and an exhaust output is located in another upper portion of the outer chamber. A silane gas intake pipe runs into the outer chamber and has its output under water in the water-filled chamber. A drain is connected through a valve at a bottom portion of the water-filled chamber. Many safety features are built into the wet abatement system, including temperature and water level sensors, water sprinklers, and means for shutting off air supply, exhaust, and silane intake. Waste silane gas is bubbled into a water-filled chamber. The waste silane gas is reacted with oxygen in water in the water-filled chamber whereby SiO2 precipitates are formed and wherein the SiO2 precipitates settle to a bottom surface of the water-filled chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2001
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Applicant: Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing Ltd.
    Inventors: Lee Kok Tong, Chong Peng Chee
  • Patent number: 6503403
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for enhancing dissolution of gases in liquids by ejecting the gas-liquid mixture through nozzles in a reaction vessel. The nozzles are pressurized, sized and directed to produce micro-fine gas bubbles in the liquid and to initiate rotational flow of the gas-liquid mixture in the reaction vessel. The small bubble size and rotational flow maximizes the time the gas is in contact with the liquid. The apparatus and method are used to increase the dissolution of ozone gas into aqueous solutions to increase the decomposition of aqueous-based organic compounds, precipitation of heavy metals, and destruct and/or deactivate enteric viruses, enteric bacteria, and protozoans. An alternative embodiment mixes the gas with the liquid prior to ejection through the nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Inventors: Lawrence M. Green, Michael G. Nickelsen
  • Patent number: 6395175
    Abstract: The present invention is a pulse spilling self-aerator (PSSA) that has the potential to greatly lower the installation, operation, and maintenance cost associated with aerating and mixing aqueous solutions. Currently, large quantities of low-pressure air are required in aeration systems to support many biochemical production processes and wastewater treatment plants. Oxygen is traditionally supplied and mixed by a compressor or blower and a mechanical agitator. These systems have high-energy requirements and high installation and maintenance costs. The PSSA provides a mixing and aeration capability that can increase operational efficiency and reduce overall cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Johnway Gao, Rodney S. Skeen
  • Patent number: 6361688
    Abstract: An inner housing (38) is positioned within an outer housing (36). An gas/liquid mixture is caused to flow along a helical path upwardly through an outer chamber (70) that is formed by and between sidewalls (56, 64) of the outer and inner housings (36, 38). The gas/liquid mixture flows through a passageway (74) between a top end wall (62) and an upper end edge (66), from outer chamber (70) into an inner chamber (72). Residual gas is removed from the gas/liquid mixture by a gas-vent device that projects from top end wall (62) downwardly into the inner chamber (72). Liquid in the inner chamber (72) flows downwardly through an outlet opening (54) into an outlet conduit (44). The outlet conduit (44) has an effluent branch that removes liquid from the apparatus. It also includes a second branch conduit that delivers some of the liquid to the inlet of a re-circulating pump (34). The re-circulating pump (34) pumps the re-circulated liquid back into the lower end of the outer chamber (70).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Inventor: William R. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20010045673
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for dissolving oxygen in water is provided. The method comprises introducing a supply of oxygen containing gas into a pressurized stream of water to produce a two phase flow and reducing the gas bubble size in the flow allowing time for mass transfer between the bubbles and the water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2001
    Publication date: November 29, 2001
    Inventors: Mervyn R. Ogston, Ross Ellen
  • Patent number: 6287367
    Abstract: This concept concerns a vapor/liquid contacting tray which is useful in distillation and related mass transfer or heat transfer applications where liquid flows down and gas or vapor flows up through a vessel. In this device, the perforated area is relatively small, so the liquid is entrained upward. The liquid flow is then directed downward into a large disengaging area. The downward momentum of the liquid and the large disengaging allow for high liquid and vapor rates without overloading the vapor/liquid disengaging capacity of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: John Scott Buchanan, Berne Kim Stober
  • Patent number: 6098964
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus for producing a vapor which serves as a chemical processing material by delivering a carrier gas and a reactive liquid to a vaporizer in which the vapor is produced, the operating state of the vaporizer is monitored by measuring the pressure of the carrier gas being delivered to the vaporizer and producing a detectable indication when the measured pressure exceeds a given value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventor: John V. Schmitt
  • Patent number: 6074564
    Abstract: An apparatus for injecting ozone into water includes a riser leg, a down leg and a plurality of crossovers joining the riser and down legs. A partial side stream of water from a main under substantial hydraulic pressure is directed through the apparatus. A crossover is chosen in accordance with the hydraulic head pressure of the side stream such that the water flowing therethrough is at a substantially lower pressure than the water in the main. A source of ozone is connected by a manifold and valving to allow the ozone to be injected into the water in the selected crossover. After injection of ozone, the side stream is returned to the water main to allow mixing of the ozone containing water with the remainder of the water in the main. A pump is also alternatively used to provide additional head pressure to the water in the side stream where head losses cannot be overcome by diverting to a lower crossover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: Black & Veatch, L.L.P.
    Inventor: Steven N. Foellmi
  • Patent number: 6017022
    Abstract: Shear mixing apparatuses and associated methods are disclosed for producing small gas bubbles of a diameter of less than about 0.1 millimeters in a liquid, whereby mass transfer of the gas into the liquid is improved (as compared to the mass transfer achieved by conventional large bubble generators under the same circumstances) in applications benefiting by such improved mass transfer, involving injecting a gas under pressure via one or more orifices into a liquid that is flowing at a velocity sufficient to cause bubbles formed at the orifice(s) to subdivide to the desired small bubble size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventor: Robert Page Shirtum
  • Patent number: 6001220
    Abstract: A deodorisation plant for treatment of fatty oils comprises a vessel (1) connected to a vacuum source. In the vessel there is a distillation column filled with structured packing material through which column the oil which shall be deodorised is brought to flow under influence of gravity and to meet a deodorisation gas in counter-current. In the vessel there is also a number of trays for collection of oil provided with drainage outlets in their lower part. The oil is treated with deodorisation gas in a batchwise way in these trays. The vessel is provided with an inlet (7) for oil and a connection (2) to a vacuum source in its upper part. In its lower part there is an outlet (9) for oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Alfa Laval AB
    Inventors: Anders Hillstrom, Peter Sjoberg
  • Patent number: 5938982
    Abstract: A device for fining bubbles of gas contained in liquid includes at least two flow channel members confronting each other to form a flow channel therebetween. An inlet and an outlet are provided on one side and the other side of the flow channel members. A recess surface including a first recess and a second recess is formed on at least one of confronting surfaces of the flow channel members. The first recess and the second recess extend from the inlet to the outlet, respectively, and intersect each other at plural positions where the flow of the liquid premixed with gas in the first recess collides with that in the second recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Inventor: Eiichi Sugiura
  • Patent number: 5076243
    Abstract: Liquid gasoline introduced from a suitable source into a treatment tank of the system is transformed into a relatively dry vaporous state substantially free from large droplets or similar particles. Pellets within an outer chamber of the vessel are propelled by air streams into engagement with each other, and with walls of the vessel, and generate frictional heat. Baffle members in an inner chamber of the vessel reduce the size of droplets of gasoline in such chamber. Dry gas is conducted from the treatment vessel to a holding tank, from whence it is supplied to the intake manifold of the engine. Valves of the system are operated in response to actuation of an accelerator associated with the engine. Liquid gasoline from a lower portion of the vessel is supplied to the intake manifold of the engine during initial start-up, and at other times when no dry gasoline vapor is present within the holding tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1991
    Assignee: Kingsdale International, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas D. Dale
  • Patent number: 4904456
    Abstract: Apparatus for the treatment of fluids comprising a vessel containing a fixed bed of particulate material in which a plurality of fluid distribution baskets are suspended from the interior of the upper portion of the vessel and are partially submerged beneath the upper surface of the fixed bed of particulate material. Apparatus is disclosed for mutually securing the lower end portions of the fluid distribution baskets as well as preventing the flotation of the fluid distribution baskets on the surface of the particulate materials during charging of the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1990
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventor: Mark R. Anderson
  • Patent number: 4806171
    Abstract: Apparatus for removing small particles from a substrate comprising a source of fluid carbon dioxide, a first means for expanding a portion of the fluid carbon dioxide into a first mixture containing gaseous carbon dioxide and fine droplets of liquid carbon dioxide, coalescing means for converting the first mixture into a second mixture containing gaseous carbon dioxide and larger liquid droplets of carbon dioxide, second expansion means for converting said second mixture into a third mixture containing solid particles of carbon dioxide and gaseous carbon dioxide, and means for directing said third mixture toward the substrate. Also disclosed are methods for removing fine particles from substrates utilizing the subject apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1989
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter H. Whitlock, William R. Weltmer, Jr., James D. Clark
  • Patent number: 4750975
    Abstract: Vapor and liquid contact structure for distillation, fractionation, rectification, absorption, and the refining, in a column, of various liquid materials such as petroleum, chemical, and alcohol solutions. Provision is made for the inclusion of vertically-spaced bubble plate chambers, having respective liquid/vapor contact devices, to accommodate contact of counter-current flows of reflux liquid and vapors. Downcomer means including slanted ramps, disposed outside of the vapor conduit-defining interior, define elongate downcomer structure for liquid flow and thereby, i.e., by such slanted construction, reduce froth or foam passing to a next lower contact device, eliminating unwanted counter-current gas entrainment between contact devices. Liquid flow rates over exit weirs beyond 30 gpm/inch are obtained. Downcomer reflux reservoir depth can be adjusted by an adjustable gate proximate the slot opening to a given contact device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1988
    Assignee: Uni-Frac, Inc.
    Inventors: Trent J. Parker, Byron M. Parker
  • Patent number: 4557875
    Abstract: Phase-contacting plates are defined by a plurality of pivotable flow-blocking members arranged in alternating rows in which the respective blocking members thereof pivot in opposite direction to the respective blocking members of adjacent rows, the respective blocking members of each row overlapping successive members thereof, each blocking member being deflectable by the upward flow of the low-density phase and controlling the downward flow of the high-density phase, each flow-blocking member being formed by at least one elongated flow-blocking flap pivotable about a transverse axis at one end thereof, and at least one moment-equalizing element operatively connected with the flow-blocking flap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1985
    Assignee: Orszagos Koolaj es Gazipari Troszt
    Inventors: Zoltan Palfi, Sandor Krekacs
  • Patent number: 4548764
    Abstract: Described is the use of homopolymers of (epsilon caprolactone) defined according to the structure: ##STR1## and, optionally, ##STR2## as controlled release materials for physiological or psychological diagnostic compositions, pheremones, insect repellent compositions, animal repellent compositions, and/or aroma augmenting or enhancing media for use in perfume compositions or perfumed articles or colognes; wherein n represents an integer of from about 500 up to about 1,200 with the proviso that the average "n" varies from about 600 up to about 800. Also described are mixtures of such homopolymers with other polymers such as polyethylene, polypropylene, mixtures of polyethylene and polyvinyl acetate, copolymers of ethylene and vinyl acetate, and the like, useful for controlled release of such physiological or psychological diagnostic compositions, pheremones, insect repellents, animal repellents and perfume materials into a gaseous environment surrounding the polymer matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1985
    Assignee: International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.
    Inventors: Marina A. Munteanu, Edward S. Oltarzewski, Leon Shechter, Craig B. Warren
  • Patent number: 4148619
    Abstract: An aerator for use in the neck of a flask for increasing the flow of gas from the exterior to the interior of the flask. The aerator has a gas-impervious exterior wall a plurality of gas moving members are positioned within the wall and tend to urge gas through the aerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1977
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1979
    Inventor: Daniel H. Deutsch
  • Patent number: 4091056
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for delivering a controlled and metered amount of vapors of a vaporizable liquid in a carrier gas to a destination for use there (e.g., ether vapors to a mask for use in anesthesia during surgery). A feature of the apparatus is a metering device in which the height of a ball floating in the gas stream indicates the rate of flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1975
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1978
    Inventors: Veikko Hamalainen, Jaakko Aarnio