Cryogenic Treatment Of Gas Or Gas Mixture Patents (Class 62/600)
  • Publication number: 20140366575
    Abstract: A low-temperature gas supply device is provided with a first heat exchanger, in which a mixed gas mixing a vaporization gas of a low-temperature-liquefied gas with a gas of a temperature higher than the low-temperature-liquefied gas and the low-temperature-liquefied gas are introduced and heat-exchanged with each other, and the mixed gas is discharged as a low-temperature gas refrigerant and the low-temperature-liquefied gas is discharged as the vaporization gas; a mixing unit, in which the gas and the vaporization gas discharged from the first heat exchanger are mixed and discharged as the mixed gas; and a first control unit, in which, based on the difference between a detected temperature of the low-temperature gas refrigerant and an intended temperature, respective amounts of the gas introduced to the mixing unit and the vaporization gas are adjusted to control the temperature of the low-temperature gas refrigerant to the intended temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Applicant: TAIYO NIPPON SANSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigemasa Yamazumi, Masahiro Yonekura, Masahiro Takeuchi
  • Publication number: 20140338395
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide methods and systems for generating a CO2 product stream. A method described includes generating a liquid acid gas stream including H2S and CO2. The liquid acid gas stream is flashed to form a first vapor stream and a bottom stream. The bottom stream is fractionated to form a second vapor stream and a liquid acid waste stream. The first vapor stream and the second vapor stream are combined to form a combined vapor stream. The combined vapor stream is treated in an absorption column to remove excess H2S, forming the CO2 product stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventors: Russell H. Oelfke, Tor Vestad
  • Publication number: 20140338393
    Abstract: A method for producing a blended mixture of liquefied natural gases to meet the particular requirements of an operator at a production facility, application site or a fueling station by blending together a lean liquefied natural gas and a rich liquefied natural gas. The operator can control through a device such as a heat exchange blending system the composition of the end product mixed liquefied natural gas for its intended end use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventors: Rustam H. Sethna, Bryan Luftglass
  • Publication number: 20140202204
    Abstract: A reactor liquid cool down method is provided. The method includes obtaining a warm recycle stream (102) from a reactor (101) and compressing the warm recycle stream (102), thereby producing a compressed warm recycle stream (104); mixing a compressed warm recycle stream (104) with a controlled liquid cryogen stream (110) in a stainless steel mixing zone (107), thereby producing a cool recycle stream (112), wherein the cool recycle stream has a mean fluid temperature, monitoring the mean fluid temperature and comparing the mean fluid temperature to a predetermined control valve set point, thereby defining a temperature deviation; modulating a temperature control valve (109) to vary the controlled liquid cryogen stream (110) in order to produce a temperature deviation that is less than a predetermined value, and returning the cool recycle stream (112) to the reactor (101).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: AIR LIQUIDE LARGE INDUSTRIES U.S. LP
    Inventor: Jeff HARRINGTON
  • Publication number: 20140202205
    Abstract: A reactor liquid cool down method is provided. The method includes obtaining a warm recycle stream (102) from a reactor (101) and compressing the warm recycle stream (102), thereby producing a compressed warm recycle stream (104) with a mean temperature; mixing a compressed warm recycle stream (104) with a controlled liquid nitrogen stream (110) in a stainless steel mixing zone (107), thereby producing a cool recycle stream (112), monitoring the mean fluid temperature and comparing the mean fluid temperature to a predetermined control valve set point, thereby defining a temperature deviation; modulating a temperature control valve (109) to vary the controlled liquid nitrogen stream (110) in order to produce a temperature deviation that is less than a predetermined value, and returning the cool recycle stream (112) to the reactor (101).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: AIR LIQUIDE LARGE INDUSTRIES U.S. LP
    Inventor: Jeff HARRINGTON
  • Patent number: 8783045
    Abstract: The present invention relates to valved cryogenic refrigerators, in particular, Gifford McMahon (GM) refrigerators, and GM type pulse tube refrigerators where gas is cycled between high and low pressures by a valve mechanism that connects to an expander. Input power is reduced by use of a buffer volume which stores gas that flows to and from the warm end of the regenerator through a valve that opens and closes during the periods when the main supply and return valves are closed and is closed when the main supply and return valves are open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignees: Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd., Shi-APD Cryogenics, Inc.
    Inventors: Mingyao Xu, Jin Lin Gao
  • Publication number: 20140123699
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for cooling, preferably liquefying a boil off gas (BOG) stream from a liquefied cargo in a floating transportation vessel, said liquefied cargo having a boiling point of greater than ?110° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: Babcock Integrated Technology
    Inventor: Alan Roderick Duckett
  • Patent number: 8713964
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cryogenic distillation apparatus for a gas mixture, including a purification apparatus for purifying a gas mixture in a system with a plurality of adsorbant bottles, a column system, a capacity, means for feeding a cryogenic liquid to the capacity, means for feeding a vaporized liquid from the capacity to a column of the system, a vaporizer in the capacity for vaporizing the contained liquid; means for feeding a calorigenic gas to the vaporizer, and means for drawing a liquid from the capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Nerve Le Bihan, Jean-Marc Peyron
  • Patent number: 8709135
    Abstract: An off gas extraction system cleans common sources of off gas, such as storage tanks and polluted soils. Off gas is extracted, followed by compression and condensation. Compression and condensation produce an off gas that can be reintroduced as a treated gas into the off gas source. Alternatively, a regenerative absorber cleans the treated gas by adsorbing residual chemical vapor and concentrates the removed chemical vapors and reprocesses them. If the treated gas is not reintroduced into the off gas source, conventional scrubbers may used on the back end of the system to produce a final exhaust as prescribed by environmental regulation. Methods of accomplishing the same are similarly provided, including novel methods for degassing storage tanks and treating polluted soils to meet current environmental regulations, as well as green technology and sustainability initiatives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Inventor: Carol Diane Krumbholz
  • Patent number: 8671698
    Abstract: A cryocooler for liquefying gas in which the neck of the dewar or cryostat includes a cold end of a cryocooler with the first stage cooling station, the first stage regenerator, the second stage cooling station, the second stage regenerator, and a condenser thermally coupled to the second cooling station. Radiation baffles are also present within the neck portion of the dewar between the storage portion for the dewar and the condenser, such that when the cryocooler is turned off, the radiation baffles reduce heat radiation on the cryogen in the storage section of the dewar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Cryomech, Inc.
    Inventor: Chao Wang
  • Patent number: 8640468
    Abstract: Embodiments of a pressurized gas supply are provided. In one embodiment, the pressurized gas supply includes a pressurized gas reservoir and a pressure reducer fluidly coupled to the pressurized gas reservoir. The pressure reducer is configured to reduce the pressure of gas received from the pressurized gas reservoir to a predetermined output pressure (PO). A gas mixture is held within the pressurized gas reservoir at a starting pressure (PS) and at a starting temperature (TS). The gas mixture includes: (i) a warming gas having a positive Joule-Thomson (JT) coefficient at TS and over the pressure range PS-PO, and (ii) a cooling gas having a negative JT coefficient at TS and over the pressure range PS-PO. The cooling of the cooling gas at least partially offsets the warming of the warming gas when the gas mixture is expelled by the isothermal gas supply to achieve a desired gas output temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Peter C. Lukens
  • Patent number: 8643367
    Abstract: A cryogenic system for a superconducting magnet comprises a closed-loop cooling path. The closed-loop cooling path comprises a magnet cooling tube thermally coupled to the superconducting magnet. The magnet cooling tube comprises a cryogen flow passage. The closed-loop cooling tube further comprises a re-condenser is fluidly coupled to the magnet cooling tube through tube sections and a liquid cryogen container fluidly coupled between the magnet cooling tube and the re-condenser. At least one gas tank is fluidly coupled to the magnet cooling tube through a connection tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Xianrui Huang, Yan Zhao, Tao Zhang, Anbo Wu, Evangelos Trifon Laskaris, Paul St. Mark Shadforth Thompson
  • Publication number: 20130340471
    Abstract: A cryogenic installation unit comprises at least one item of equipment to be thermally insulated, a structure for containing the at least one item of equipment, a main insulation contained in the structure and, associated with this main insulation, a secondary insulation of lower thermal conductivity than the main insulation, said secondary insulation consisting of a vacuum insulation panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Explotation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Denis CLODIC, Fabrice Delcorso, Jean-Pierre Tranier, Golo Zick
  • Patent number: 8590318
    Abstract: A pulse-tube refrigerating machine includes: a compressor that pressurizes a refrigerant gas; a regenerator tube accommodating a regenerator material therein; a pulse-tube having of a hollow cylinder through which the refrigerant gas flows; an intake valve and an exhaust valve provided between the compressor and the regenerator tube. A heat-shielding material is provided to at least a portion of at least one of a first wall forming a portion of the pulse-tube and a second wall contacting a portion of the pulse-tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Motokazu Saito, Mingyao Xu
  • Patent number: 8361407
    Abstract: Overhung axial compressor, chemical reactor and method for compressing a fluid. The overhung axial compressor includes a casing configured to be vertically split along a vertical axis for access to an inside of the casing and a removable cartridge. The removable cartridge is configured to fit inside the casing and to be detachably attached to the casing. The removable cartridge includes a shaft disposed along a horizontal axis, the shaft being configured to rotate about the horizontal axis, a bearing system attached to the removable cartridge and configured to rotationally support a first end of the shaft, and plural blades disposed toward a second end of the shaft such that the second end is overhung inside the casing. The compressor also includes a guide vane mechanism configured to connect to the removable cartridge, the guide vane mechanism being configured to adjust a flow of a fluid to the plural blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Nuovo Pignone S.p.A.
    Inventors: Joseph Cruickshank, Massimo Camatti, Ronald John DeGroot
  • Publication number: 20130008204
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a single cycle mixed refrigerant process for industrial cooling applications, for example, the liquefaction of natural gas. The present invention also relates to a refrigeration assembly configured to implement the processes defined herein and a mixed refrigerant composition usable in such processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER
    Inventors: Jin-Kuk Kim, Xuesong Zheng
  • Publication number: 20120240615
    Abstract: A process for chilling ethylene to required storage temperatures is disclosed, the process including: cooling an ethylene product from at least one of an ethylene production process and an ethylene recovery process via indirect heat exchange with a coolant at a temperature less than about ?100° C. to decrease the temperature of the ethylene product; mixing a portion of the cooled ethylene product with methane to form the coolant; expanding at least one of the coolant, the methane, and the portion of the cooled ethylene to reduce a temperature of the coolant to less than ?100° C. prior to the cooling; and feeding the heat exchanged coolant to at least one of the ethylene production process, the ethylene recovery process, and an open-loop refrigeration system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: LUMMUS TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventor: Stephen De Haan
  • Publication number: 20120198883
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for cooling a single-component or multi-component stream, in particular a hydrocarbon-rich fraction, by indirect heat exchange with the refrigerant mixture of a refrigerant mixture circuit. The refrigerant mixture is compressed in at least two stages and is separated into a lower-boiling refrigerant mixture fraction compressed to the ultimate pressure of the refrigerant mixture circuit and at least one higher-boiling refrigerant mixture fraction compressed to an intermediate pressure. The latter is pumped (P11) to the pressure of the former and the two fractions are combined before or immediately on commencement of indirect heat exchange.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: LINDE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Heinz BAUER, Andreas Bub
  • Publication number: 20120174622
    Abstract: A power plant for the generation of electrical energy with a system (1) for processing flue gases resulting from a combustion of fossil fuels comprises, according to the invention, an adiabatic compressor (5) for a first low-pressure compression of the flue gases and a second multi-stage, low-pressure flue gas compression system (14) and a multi-stage, high-pressure CO2 compression system (15), where both the low-pressure flue gas compression system and the high-pressure CO2 compression systems are combined in one single machine (C2) and are arranged on one common shaft (16) driven by one common driver (17). A heat exchanger (8) facilitates an improved recovery of heat resulting from the cooling of the adiabatically compressed flue gases. The invention allows an improvement of the overall power efficiency of a power plant integrated with this processing system as well as a reduction of investment cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2009
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD
    Inventor: Francois Granier
  • Publication number: 20120118008
    Abstract: First and second multi-phase streams are processed in first and second trains that are structurally different from each other such that the first and second trains have different operating conditions. The first and second trains produce first and second gaseous hydrocarbon streams and first and second liquid hydrocarbon component streams. The first and second gaseous hydrocarbon streams are combined downstream of the first and second trains to provide a combined gaseous hydrocarbon component stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2010
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Inventors: Willem Dam, Dirk Willem Van Der Mast, Johan Jan Barend Pek
  • Publication number: 20120103011
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for producing a cooled hydrocarbon stream (60). The method employs cooling, at at least two consecutive pressure levels, a first stream and a first mixed refrigerant stream, using portions of the first mixed refrigerant from the first mixed refrigerant stream in first and second heat exchangers (125, 145); first and second expansion devices (135, 165); and a first compressor (105) to provide the first mixed refrigerant stream. The cooling process is controlled using an advanced process controller based on model predictive control to determine simultaneously control actions for a set of manipulated variables in order to optimise at least one of a set of parameters whilst controlling at least one of a set of controlled variables. The set of manipulated variables comprises: the composition of the mixed first refrigerant, the setting of the first expansion device (135), and the setting of the second expansion device (165).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Inventors: Francois Chantant, Tolulope Bilikisu Longe
  • Publication number: 20120006051
    Abstract: A fast cooling equipment for organic or inorganic vapors that comprises a vertical double-truncated-cone body joined by the apex of both cones, provided with an external refrigeration jacket along its entire length; an upper coverlid placed at the base of the upper inverted truncated cone, provided with a central entrance for the vapors to be condensed with a thermal insulating layer; an annular chamber provided with two or more openings or nozzles from which a cold gas is blown; an annular chamber located below the cold gas chamber; an inner central cone located inside the lower section of the condenser body, provided in turn with an internal cooling system and deflecting baffles located at one or more cone levels and in mutually opposing directions between each successive level; and a lower accumulation section for liquids or other condensable materials, provided with a conventional drain system and a lateral exit for gases and liquids that are separated in a conventional cyclone system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: UNIVERSIDAD DE CONCEPCION
    Inventor: Igor Wilkomirsky Fuica
  • Patent number: 8080701
    Abstract: A method of treating a hydrocarbon stream such as natural gas comprising at least the steps of: (a) providing a hydrocarbon feed stream (10); (b) passing the feed stream (10) through a first separation vessel (12) to provide a first gaseous stream (20) and a first liquid stream (30); (c) passing the first gaseous stream (20) from step (b) through a high pressure separation vessel (14) to provide a second gaseous stream (40) and a second liquid stream (80); (d) maintaining the pressure of the first gaseous stream (20) between step (b) and step (c) within +10 bar; (e) passing the first liquid stream (30) of step (b) through a stabilizer column (16) to provide a third gaseous stream (60) and a stabilized condensate (70); and (f) feeding the second liquid stream (80) from step (c) into the stabilizer column (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Robert Klein Nagel Voort, Wouter Jan Meiring
  • Publication number: 20110277498
    Abstract: A method of controlling one or more refrigerant compressors (12) for one or more gaseous streams (10) at a normal operating temperature. At least one refrigerant compressor (12) has a vapour recirculation line (30). A compressor feed stream (10a) is provided from a combination of a vapour recirculation stream (30) from the vapour recirculation line (30) and an at least partly evaporated refrigerant stream (8). The compressor feed stream (10a) is passed through a suction drum (11) to provide a compressor gaseous stream (10), which is passed through the refrigerant compressor (s) (12). The inlet temperature T1 of the compressor gaseous stream (10) is determined, and cooling of a refrigerant stream is controlled in response to temperature T1 to provide the compressor gaseous stream (10) at the normal operating temperature of at least one refrigerant compressor (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Inventor: Sander Kaart
  • Publication number: 20090293503
    Abstract: Systems and methods for storing and releasing energy comprising directing inlet air into a vertical cold flue assembly having an air inlet at or near its top into which inlet air is directed and an exit at or near its bottom. The air is cooled within the cold flue assembly and a portion of moisture is removed from the air within the cold flue assembly. The air is directed out the exit of the cold flue assembly and compressed. The remaining moisture is substantially removed and the carbon dioxide is removed from the air by adsorption. The air is cooled in a main heat exchanger such that it is substantially liquefied using refrigerant loop air, the refrigerant loop air generated by a refrigerant loop process. The substantially liquefied air is directed to a storage apparatus. The refrigerant loop air is cooled by a mechanical chiller and by a plurality of refrigerant loop air expanders.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: Expansion Energy, LLC
    Inventor: David Vandor
  • Publication number: 20090165887
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing a hydrogen rich gas stream at a high pressure for use by hydrogen vehicles or other devices requiring hydrogen rich feed streams are disclosed in the present invention. As the pressure of gaseous hydrogen is increased, the temperature of the gaseous hydrogen also increases due to the heat of compression. The apparatus and method of the present invention utilize localized cooling via a vortex tube to cool the gaseous hydrogen caused by the increase in pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Glenn Casey, Bhaskar Balasubramanian
  • Patent number: 7514056
    Abstract: In order to reduce incoming atmospheric carbon dioxide levels in compressed air prior to cryogenic distillation, a water spray cooling tower equipped with biocatalytic packing, or fed with absorptive reagents, is used to convert gaseous carbon dioxide into bicarbonate ions which dissolve in the cooling water. The hydration reaction and refrigeration occur synergistically. The bicarbonate ions are subsequently removed from the solution using the heat from the compressed air in a regenerator re-boiler unit, and then fed to a percolation cooling tower for releasing CO2 and cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: CO2 Solution Inc.
    Inventors: Sylvie Fradette, Philippe Paelinck
  • Publication number: 20080314050
    Abstract: A hydrogen storage and delivery system is provided having an orifice pulse tube refrigerator and a liquid hydrogen storage vessel. A cooling system, coupled to the orifice pulse tube refrigerator, cools the vessel and abates ambient heat transfer thereto in order to maintain the liquid hydrogen in the vessel at or below its saturation temperature. Hydrogen boil-off, and the necessity to provide continuous venting of vaporized hydrogen are minimized or avoided. In a preferred embodiment, the hydrogen storage vessel has a toroidal shape, and the pulse tube refrigerator is a two stage pulse tube refrigerator and extends within a central void space defined at the geometric center of the toroidal storage vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: SIERRA LOBO, INC.
    Inventors: Mark S. Haberbusch, James Parkes, Adam John Culler
  • Publication number: 20080216510
    Abstract: A combined cycle power plant comprising: a first cycle comprising: a prime mover; a prime mover exhaust in fluid communication with the prime mover; a second cycle comprising: a liquid air supply; a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the liquid air supply and the prime over exhaust; a turbo expander in fluid communication with the heat exchanger; wherein liquid air is heated to gaseous air by the heat exchanger, and the gaseous air is expanded in the turbo expander thereby producing work. A liquid air combined cycle method comprising: providing pressurized liquid air; heating the pressurized liquid air to pressurized gaseous air; expanding the pressurized gaseous air with a turbo expander; using work from the expansion of the pressurized gaseous air to compress ambient air; heating the expanded pressurized gaseous air; sending the heated expanded air to a turbine combustion chamber; and using waste heat from a turbine to heat pressurized liquid air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Inventors: David Vandor, Ralph Greenberg
  • Patent number: 7392657
    Abstract: ozone is dissolved ozone in a liquid cryogen. A container containing a liquified cryogen is provided. A gaseous stream of ozone is allowed to flow into at least one adsorption unit containing an adsorbent material, thereby adsorbing ozone thereupon. The cryogen is allowed to flow from the container to the at least one adsorption unit and therethrough thereby extracting an amount of the ozone adsorbed upon the adsorbent material, wherein the cryogen is in either a liquid, gaseous or supercritical phase as it flows through the adsorption unit. ozone becomes dissolved in the cryogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: American Air Liquide, Inc.
    Inventor: Frederick W. Giacobbe
  • Patent number: 7337616
    Abstract: A system for sampling cryogenic liquids, and an air separation unit provided with at least one such system. The cryogenic liquid is introduced into a vaporizer, through heat exchange with the compressed air. The liquid passes through the vaporizer generally downwards. The walls of the vaporizer that are intended to come into contact with the cryogenic liquid are maintained at a temperature above the sublimation temperature or the boiling point of the least volatile impurity contained in this liquid. Downstream of the vaporizer, a gaseous phase coming from the vaporization of the cryogenic liquid is withdrawn and at least some of the gaseous phase is sent to an analyzer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme A Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: David Meneses, Jean-Yves Thonnelier, Jean-Yves Lehman
  • Patent number: 7264654
    Abstract: A process and system for condensing a multi-component fluid is disclosed, where the process and system are designed to provide a substantial increase in a heat transfer coefficient during condensation of multi-component fluids resulting in a drastic reduction in size and cost of heat exchangers need to condense such fluids. The system and method includes a plurality of heat exchangers and at least one scrubber and splitters and mixers supporting streams that allow a mixed stream to be supplied to each heat exchange unit having parameters designed to increase, optimize or maximize the heat transfer coefficient in each heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Kalex, LLC
    Inventor: Alexander I. Kalina
  • Patent number: 7067087
    Abstract: This invention is directed to a three-stage process for recovering and purifying a helium gas, and a system for using the three-stage process. The steps comprise a) introducing a gas from a cold spray forming chamber to a particulate removing apparatus to form a particulate-free helium gas, and recycling a first portion of the particulate-free helium gas back to the chamber; b) passing a second portion of the particulate-free helium gas to a first compressor prior to passing a helium gas purification membrane to form a purified helium gas and an exhaust gas, and passing the purified helium gas to mix with the first portion of particulate-free helium gas to the chamber; and c) passing a third portion of the particulate-free helium gas to a liquid separator apparatus to remove water and a receiver to dampen any pulsations to form a liquid-free helium gas, and recycling the liquid-free helium gas to said cold spray forming chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Scot Eric Jaynes
  • Patent number: 7004185
    Abstract: An improved method for loading propellants into separate tanks on a reusable launch vehicle (RLV) uses three innovative methods. The liquid loading provides three liquid transfer methods, integrated and coordinated to provide less complicated loading and unloading operations, transfers, and cools and controls the liquids to provide a safe, cost effective solution to reusable vehicle tanking and de-tanking under commercial conditions. To insure the density of the propellant is maximized by cooling in a quick liquid loading environment, pre-cooling may be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Kistler Aerospace Corporation
    Inventor: George E. Mueller
  • Patent number: 6995641
    Abstract: A compact portable transport unit for shipping hyperpolarized noble gases and shielding same from electromagnetic interference and/or external magnetic fields includes a means for shifting the resonance frequency of the hyperpolarized gas outside the bandwidth of typical frequencies associated with prevalent time-dependent fields produced by electrical sources. Preferably the transport unit includes a magnetic holding field which is generated from a solenoid in the transport unit. The solenoid includes a plurality of coil segments and is sized and configured to receive the gas chamber of a container. The gas container is configured with a valve, a spherical body, and an extending capillary stem between the valve and the body. The gas container or hyperpolarized product container can also be formed as a resilient bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Medi-Physics, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenton C. Hasson, Geri T. K. Zollinger, David L. Zollinger, Paul L. Bogorad, Bradley A. Wheeler
  • Patent number: 6735977
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for providing a magnetic holding field about a chamber for accumulating frozen 129Xe. The apparatus includes a magnetic field source and a yoke for supporting the magnetic field source about the chamber. The magnetic field source provides a magnetic holding field having a field strength of greater than 2 kiloGauss. The apparatus may further include yoke for coupling the magnetic holding field through a portion of the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Medi-Physics, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas N. Kuzma, Ian Nelson
  • Patent number: 6667008
    Abstract: Methods of extracting and removing hyperpolarized gas from a container include introducing an extraction fluid into the container to force the hyperpolarized gas out of an exit port. The hyperpolarized gas is forced out of the container separate and apart from the extraction fluid. Alternatively, if the fluid is a gas, a portion of the gas is mixed with the hyperpolarized gas to form a sterile mixed fluid product suitable for introduction to a patient. An additional method includes engaging a gas transfer source such as a syringe to a transport container and pulling a quantity of the hyperpolarized gas out of the container in a controlled manner. Another method includes introducing a quantity of liquid into a container and covering at least one predetermined internal surface or component with the liquid to mask the surfaces and keep the hyperpolarized gas away from the predetermined internal surface, thereby inhibiting any depolarizing affect from same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Medi-Physics, Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Zollinger, Kenton C. Hasson, Bastiaan Driehuys
  • Publication number: 20030177784
    Abstract: Water supplied from a bottle 1 is pre-chilled in a reservoir 3. A two-part water pump 11 transfers water under pressure through a jet nozzle 14 into an oxygen space 17 in a PET pressure vessel 12, which entrains oxygen into the water. The pressure vessel is received in a conductive holder 18 and is cooled by a peltier element 19 provided with cooling fins 20. The holder 18 forms a capacitive level sensor with a probe 32 inside the vessel, which starts the pump 11 when oxygenated water is drawn off via a draw tube 28 and discharge valve 31. When the water level in the oxygenating vessel is restored a solenoid valve 25 opens to restore the oxygen pressure in the vessel. For hygiene purposes the pumping body can be removed from the pump motor and replaced together with the reservoir 3 and oxygenating vessel 12 along with the associated tubing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Inventors: Philip Andrew Walton, Gary Squire, Robert Tansley, Andrew Gibbs
  • Patent number: 6333445
    Abstract: The olefin-hydrogen effluent vapor stream from a dehydrogenation process is separated by a cryogenic separation method utilizing a cryogenic separation system. The method does not require external refrigeration and reheats and portions an expander feed stream to extract energy and controls the warm end and cold end temperature differences in the primary heat exchanger to provide energy savings and economical operation and material use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Chart, Inc.
    Inventor: John V. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 6237363
    Abstract: Methods of extracting and removing hyperpolarized gas from a container include introducing an extraction fluid into the container to force the hyperpolarized gas out of an exit port. The hyperpolarized gas is forced out of the container separate and apart from the extraction fluid. Alternatively, if the fluid is a gas, a portion of the gas is mixed with the hyperpolarized gas to form a sterile mixed fluid product suitable for introduction to a patient. An additional method includes engaging a gas transfer source such as a syringe to a transport container and pulling a quantity of the hyperpolarized gas out of the container in a controlled manner. Another method includes introducing a quantity of liquid into a container and covering at least one predetermined internal surface or component with the liquid to mask the surfaces and keep the hyperpolarized gas away from the predetermined internal surface, thereby inhibiting any depolarizing affect from same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Medi-Physics, Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Zollinger, Geri T. K. Zollinger, Kenton C. Hasson, Paul L. Bogorad, Bastiaan Driehuys