Vacuum Applied Patents (Class 95/101)
  • Patent number: 11369915
    Abstract: A pressure swing adsorption type hydrogen manufacturing apparatus includes a process control unit that controls operation of adsorption towers that generate a product gas by adsorbing, using adsorbents, adsorption target components other than hydrogen components from a source gas, in a state where an adsorption process, a pressure-equalization discharge process, a desorption process, and a pressure-restoration process are successively repeated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Osaka Gas Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidaka Asonuma, Tsubasa Shimizu
  • Patent number: 11260341
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a gas-filtering system (1000, 3000, 4000, 5000, 6000) comprising: an input (1100) for the gas, a reactor (1301, 1302, 1303) for filtering the gas at the input (1100) and thus obtaining a filtered gas, an output (1200) for the filtered gas, a vacuum generator (1401, 1402) for generating a vacuum inside the reactor (1301, 1302, 1303), where the vacuum generator (1401, 1402) is configured so as to apply a first predetermined vacuum value (VI) in a first vacuum phase (T2) and so as to apply a second predetermined vacuum value (V2) in a second vacuum phase (T3); the filtering system (1000, 3000, 4000) further comprising a flow controller (1501, 1502, 1503) connected at the output to the reactor (1301, 1302, 1303), where the flow controller (1501, 1502, 1503) is configured so as to block the introduction of the filtered gas into the reactor (1301, 1302, 1303) during the first vacuum phase (T2), and where the flow controller (1501, 1502, 1503) is configured so as to allow the introdu
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: ECOSPRAY TECHNOLOGIES S.R.L.
    Inventors: Maurizio Archetti, Leandro Galanti Occulti
  • Patent number: 11180526
    Abstract: A cyclic chromatographic purification method for the isolation of a product from a feed mixture consisting of the product and at least one further component representing impurities, which impurities bind stronger to the chromatographic stationary phase than the product is given. The method uses at least two chromatographic adsorbers as chromatographic stationary phase, grouped into only one first adsorber section (1) and one second adsorber section (2), wherein if an adsorber section comprises more than one chromatographic adsorber these are permanently connected in series, wherein the first adsorber section (1) has a first adsorber section inlet and a first adsorber section outlet, and the second adsorber section (1) has a second adsorber section inlet and a second adsorber section outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: ChromaCon AG
    Inventors: Thomas Müller-Späth, Lars Aumann, Michael Bavand
  • Patent number: 11111847
    Abstract: An improved method and system of carbon sequestration of a pyrolysis piston engine power system is provided. The system includes a pyrolysis piston engine for generating power and exhaust gas and a water cooling and separation unit which receives the exhaust gas and cools and removes water from the exhaust gas to create C02 gas supply. The system also includes a mixing pressure vessel which receives at least a portion of the C02 gas supply from the water cooling and separation unit and mixes the C02 gas supply with oxygen to create a working fluid to be provided to the piston engine and an oxygen generator for providing oxygen to the mixing pressure vessel. The system also includes a pyrolysis interface for inputting byproducts from a pyrolysis system, wherein the pyrolysis interface comprises a pyrolysis gas interface and a pyrolysis gas/oil interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Enhanced Energy Group, LLC
    Inventor: Paul M Dunn
  • Patent number: 11020703
    Abstract: A temperature swing adsorption process for removing a target component from a gaseous mixture containing at least one side component besides the target component, said process being carried out in at least one reactor performing the following steps: an adsorption step (a), wherein an input stream of said gaseous mixture is contacted with a solid adsorbent selective for said target component, producing a first waste stream depleted of the target component; a heating step (b) for regeneration of the loaded adsorbent providing a first output stream containing the target component; a cooling step (c) of the regenerated adsorbent, said process also comprising: i) a preliminary heating step (a2) before said heating step (b), wherein a gaseous product containing said at least one side component is released from the adsorbent; ii) recycle of said gaseous product to a further adsorption step (a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: CASALE SA
    Inventors: Matteo Gazzani, Lisa Joss, Stefano Zanco, Marco Mazzotti
  • Patent number: 10340535
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, an oxidant gas supply piping, an oxidant gas discharge piping, an air compressor, a turbine, a pressure regulating valve, and a check valve. The fuel cell generates electric power through an electrochemical reaction between a fuel gas and an oxidant gas. The oxidant gas supply piping is connected to the fuel cell. The oxidant gas discharge piping is connected to the fuel cell. The air compressor is connected to the oxidant gas supply piping and is rotatable around a rotational shaft. The turbine is connected to the oxidant gas discharge piping and is rotatable around the rotational shaft. The pressure regulating valve is disposed in the oxidant gas discharge piping between the fuel cell and the turbine. The check valve is connected to the oxidant gas discharge piping between the turbine and the pressure regulating valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Seiji Honda
  • Patent number: 10143960
    Abstract: A staged complementary pressure swing adsorption system and method for low energy fractionation of a mixed fluid. Two beds in a four-column PSA system are selective for component A, and another two columns are selective for component B. The cycle creates an intermittent A and B product, using the purge effluent from the complementary product fed at an intermediate pressure. This intermittent product is used as purge gas for low-pressure purged elsewhere in the cycle using appropriate storage tanks. The use of an intermediate pressure in this cycle enables continuous production of purified component A and B without the use of compressors. Columns may also be configured to enable pressure to equalize between complementary columns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Narasimhan Sundaram, Hans Thomann, Edward W. Corcoran, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10124287
    Abstract: Provided herein is a method for improving a gas recovery rate during generation of a high-purity gas. The method includes providing three or more adsorption towers filled with an adsorbent that adsorbs an adsorption target gas. Performing a pressure lowering equalization process in a first adsorption tower in which an adsorption process has been finished, and in a source gas supply state in which a source gas is supplied to at least a second adsorption tower in which a pressure increasing equalization process has been finished and the adsorption process is to be subsequently performed; and transferring a non-adsorbed gas from an upper portion of the first adsorption tower to the upper portion of the second adsorption tower, thereby performing an adsorption and pressure lowering equalization process in the first adsorption tower and an adsorption and pressure increasing equalization process in the second adsorption tower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Osaka Gas Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Tanaka, Yukio Fujiwara, Tamotsu Kotani
  • Patent number: 10082041
    Abstract: A sump pressurization system comprising an off-board source of pressurized air is provided to supplement pressurized air to a bearing sump arrangement when the operating conditions of the gas turbine engine are such that the on-board pressurized air source, e.g. the compressor of the gas generator, are such that the air pressure generated thereby is insufficient to pressurize a sump pressurization cavity. A gas turbine engine comprising such a sump pressurization system is also provided, as is a corresponding method for operating a gas turbine engine to facilitate reducing leakage of lubrication oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Nuovo Pignone Srl
    Inventors: Simone Bei, Daniele Marcucci, Maciej Hofman, Marco Lazzeri
  • Patent number: 10065857
    Abstract: Processes that generate syngas or reformed gas that have the desired H2/CO ratio, such that they can be used directly for producing higher value liquids, such as using a FT GTL process. The systems and methods of the present invention are simpler and more cost effective than conventional systems and methods. The systems and methods of the present invention generate the required CO2 in a reforming furnace by combusting natural gas with a mixture of O2 from an external source and CO2 that is recirculated from a reforming furnace. A second application of the natural gas combustion with external O2 mixed with recirculated CO2 in the reformer burners can be utilized in a DR process. The reformed gas or syngas containing H2 and CO is used to reduce iron oxide to metallic iron in a shaft furnace, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Midrex Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David C. Meissner, Matthew C. Stubbing, Gary E. Metius
  • Patent number: 10036590
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for recovering helium from a feed comprising helium, carbon dioxide, and at least one of nitrogen and methane. The feed is separated in a first separator to form helium-enriched stream and a CO2-enriched stream. The helium-enriched stream is separated in a pressure swing adsorption unit to form a helium-rich product stream and a helium-lean stream. At least a portion of the helium-lean stream is recycled to the first separator with the feed. In some embodiments, a membrane separation unit is used to enhance helium recovery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Michael Ploeger, Jin Cao, Paul Higginbotham
  • Patent number: 10018413
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for increasing argon recovery in which an impure argon stream is separated from air within a cryogenic air separation unit and purified within an integrated, multi-stage pressure swing adsorption system to produce product grade argon with high argon recovery levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: PRAXAIR TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Hai Du, Neil A. Stephenson, Neil M. Prosser
  • Patent number: 9994452
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for treating a hydrocarbon feed gas stream containing CO2 and H2S to recover a purified CO2 gas stream (vii), comprising: a. Separating said feed gas stream into a sweetened gas stream (i), and an acid gas stream (ii); b. Introducing stream (ii) into a Claus unit wherein an oxygen-rich stream is used as a combustive agent in the Claus furnace, thereby recovering a liquid stream of elemental sulfur (iii) and a tail gas stream (iv); c. Introducing the stream (iv) into a Tail Gas Treatment Unit (TGTU) thereby separating said tail gas stream into a CO2 enriched gas stream (v), and a stream enriched in sulfur compounds (vi); d. Compressing stream (v) exiting the TGTU; e. Passing the compressed CO2 enriched gas through a CO2 purification unit thereby recovering a purified CO2 gas stream (vii), and the device for carrying out said method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignees: TOTAL SA, L'AIR LIQUIDE SOCIETE ANONYME POUR L'ETUDE ET L'EXPLOITATION DES PROCEDES GEORGES CLAUDE
    Inventors: Claire Weiss, Kamlesh Ghodasara, Frederic Pousse, Wolfgang Nehb, Eckhard Jungst, Stefan Fraenkle, Sandeep Karode, Sylvain Gerard, Nicolas Chambron
  • Patent number: 9675927
    Abstract: A method for hydrogen production by pressure swing adsorption that can increase the recovery efficiency of an adsorption target component while enabling an off-gas to be appropriately supplied to a combustion device is provided that can achieve a cost reduction and an increase in the efficiency of the combustion operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Osaka Gas Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsubasa Shimizu, Koichiro Ikeda, Shota Kawashima, Yukio Hiranaka, Satoshi Mori
  • Patent number: 9656202
    Abstract: Method for separating a gas mixture according to a pressure swing adsorption process (PSA process), and apparatus for performing this method, the apparatus comprising a plurality of vessels, wherein each vessel has at least one inlet and one outlet, an adsorbent mass is provided in each of said vessels for adsorbing at least one gas component, and the inlet of each of said vessels is connected to a storage vessel for an off-gas, and the inlet of each of said vessels and the storage vessel are further connected to an off-gas consuming device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Green Vision Holding B.V.
    Inventors: Anton Scholten, Gerard Westendorp
  • Patent number: 9659733
    Abstract: Method for preparing a molybdenum disulfide film used in a field emission device, including: providing a sulfur vapor; blowing the sulfur vapor into a reaction chamber having a substrate and MoO3 powder to generate a gaseous MoOx; feeding the sulfur vapor into the reaction chamber sequentially, heating the reaction chamber to a predetermined reaction temperature and maintaining for a predetermined reaction time, and then cooling the reaction chamber to a room temperature and maintaining for a second reaction time to form a molybdenum disulfide film on the surface of the substrate, in which the molybdenum disulfide film grows horizontally and then grows vertically. The method according to the present disclosure is simple and easy, and the field emission property of the MoS2 film obtained is good.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Tsinghua University
    Inventors: Huaqiang Wu, Shuoguo Yuan, Han Li, He Qian
  • Patent number: 9630138
    Abstract: The invention involves a process for treating a gas stream from a hydroprocessor that contains hydrogen, methane and C2+ hydrocarbons. In embodiments of the invention, the gas stream is sent through at least two pressure swing adsorption units to produce a high quality hydrogen stream, a fuel gas stream containing most of the methane and a tail gas stream that is sent to a steam cracker. Lean gas from a gas plant and other refinery off gases may also be processed together with the gas stream from the hydroprocessor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Robert E. Tsai, Xin X. Zhu, Joel J. Kaye, Eleftherios Adamopoulos
  • Patent number: 9610532
    Abstract: A multi-unit system combines multiple single bed reversing blower vacuum swing adsorption air separation units together. The units feed a common O2 supply such as a system buffer tank. Demand is monitored and a number of individual units are brought online sufficient to meet demand. If demand exceeds supply, a further unit is brought online. If demand drops below supply by an amount greater than output of a single unit, then a longest operating unit is taken offline. The multi-unit system thus meets demand through utilization of multiple separate units in a highly redundant and highly reliable and scalable fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Pacific Consolidated Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Wimmer, Jason Burns, William K. Goshay, Tarik Naheiri
  • Patent number: 9403118
    Abstract: A nitrogen-enriched gas manufacturing method and a nitrogen-enriched gas manufacturing apparatus which minimize variations in the compressor load in order to ensure satisfactory utilization of the performance of the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: TAIYO NIPPON SANSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hidehisa Sakamoto, Makiya Kokubu
  • Patent number: 9108891
    Abstract: A process for component separation in a polymer production system comprising: (a) separating a polymerization product into a gas stream and a polymer stream; (b) processing the gas stream in distillation columns to yield a light hydrocarbon stream (LHS) comprising ethylene and ethane; (c) contacting LHS with a purged hydrocarbon adsorber to yield a loaded hydrocarbon adsorber and a non-adsorbed gas stream, wherein ethane is adsorbed by the purged hydrocarbon adsorber at a first pressure to yield adsorbed ethane, and wherein the non-adsorbed gas stream comprises recovered ethylene; (d) contacting the loaded hydrocarbon adsorber with a sweeping gas stream at a second pressure to yield an unloaded hydrocarbon adsorber and a recovered adsorbed gas stream comprising the sweeping gas stream and desorbed ethane; and (e) contacting the unloaded hydrocarbon adsorber with the sweeping gas stream at the first pressure to yield the purged hydrocarbon adsorber and a spent sweeping gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company
    Inventors: Lei Ji, Ai-Fu Chang
  • Patent number: 8940084
    Abstract: A gas adsorbing device (5a) according to the present invention includes a gas adsorbing material (9) that adsorbs at least nitrogen and a housing container (11) that has a long, thin, flat, tubular shape and is made of metal and in which both sides of a housing portion (10) configured to house the gas adsorbing material (9) under reduced pressure are sealed. A contact portion (13) where opposing inner surfaces of the housing container (11) are in close contact with each other is located between at least one of seal portions (12a and 12b) of the housing container (11) and the housing portion (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Shinya Kojima, Masahiro Koshiyama, Masamichi Hashida, Asaaki Yasuda
  • Patent number: 8821618
    Abstract: A gas-adsorbing member is charged in low gas-permeable container (7) through its opening portion, wherein low gas-permeable container (7) is constituted by a hollow cylindrical metal member which is opened at its one end and is sealed at its other end and, also, has body portion (9) extending from the one end to the other end thereof such that the length of the body portion is equal to or larger than the maximum width of the end portions. Then, a sealing member is installed within the opening portion and near the opening portion. Then, the sealing member is molten by being heated. Thereafter, the sealing member within the opening portion is cooled to be solidified, thereby attaining sealing of the opening portion. Thus, it is possible to provide a gas-adsorbing-device fabricating method capable of suppressing degradations of the gas-adsorbing member and capable of reducing the fabrication costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Masamichi Hashida
  • Patent number: 8778057
    Abstract: Includes gas adsorption device (1) in which gas adsorbent (3) is decompression-sealed by first package (4) with poor gas permeability, and second package (2) with poor gas permeability. Second package (2) is at least partially flexible. Air that is a gas that gas adsorbent (3) can adsorb is filled between gas adsorption device (1) and second package (2). In this configuration, gas adsorbent (3) adsorbs air when first package (4) is damaged, and thus a pressure inside second package (2) reduces. Due to this pressure reduction, the shape or dimension of second package (2) changes. Any damage to first package (4), i.e., any degradation in adsorption capacity of gas adsorption device (1), can thus be determined by confirming this change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Masamichi Hashida
  • Patent number: 8623279
    Abstract: Ionic liquid (IL)-mediated sol-gel hybrid organic-inorganic materials present enormous potential for effective use in analytical microextraction. One obstacle to materializing this prospect arises from high viscosity of ILs significantly slowing down sol-gel reactions. A method was developed which provides phosphonium-based, pyridinium-based, and imidazolium-based IL-mediated advanced sol-gel organic-inorganic hybrid materials for capillary microextraction. Scanning electron microscopy results demonstrate that ILs can serve as porogenic agents in sol-gel reactions. IL-mediated sol-gel coatings prepared with silanol-terminated polymers provided up to 28 times higher extractions compared to analogous sol-gel coatings prepared without any IL in the sol solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: University of South Florida
    Inventors: Abdul Malik, Anne M. Shearrow
  • Patent number: 8409520
    Abstract: Provided is an ozone concentrator including an ozone generator (3), adsorption/desorption columns (4) in which silica gel (6) cooled with a certain-temperature refrigerant (25) for concentrating ozone generated by the ozone generator (3) is packed, a refrigerating machine (23) for cooling the refrigerant (25), a vacuum pump (20) for enhancing a concentration of the ozone in one of the adsorption/desorption columns (4) by discharging mainly oxygen from the silica gel (6) adsorbing the ozone, a plurality of valves (8) to (13) for air pressure operations, for switching passages of gas that is allowed to flow in or flow out with respect to the adsorption/desorption columns (4), and ozone concentration meters (28, 29) for measuring the concentration of the ozone enhanced by the vacuum pump (20), in which a discharge line of the vacuum pump (20) is connected to another one of the adsorption/desorption columns (4), whereby the ozone is allowed to pass through another one of the adsorption/desorption columns again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Toshiba Mitsubishi-Electric Industrial Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Ota, Yasuhiro Tanimura, Yoichiro Tabata, Yujiro Okihara, Tetsuya Saitsu, Noriyuki Nakamura, Ryohei Ueda
  • Publication number: 20130036910
    Abstract: An apparatus for separation of gases from ambient air that has at least one separation column with an inlet at a first end and an outlet at a second end, a buffer column having a single inlet at a first end, a vacuum pump, and a valve system that connects the vacuum pump to the outlet at the first end of the separation column, and that connects the outlet at the second end of separation column to the single inlet at the first end of the buffer column.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: VBOX, INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Vbox, Incorporated
  • Patent number: 8226744
    Abstract: A method for purifying or separating a gas mixture comprising at least one fuel, using a unit having at least one adsorber subjected to a pressure cycle comprising at least one step of placing under vacuum by means of a vacuum pump, wherein at least one adsorber and/or the vacuum pump, depressurized during the cycle, is repressurized at least partly by an external gas to said unit and not containing a sufficient quantity of oxidizer to create an inflammable mixture during this repressurization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Christian Monereau, Natacha Haik-Beraud, Vincent Gueret, Anne Berthelemot
  • Patent number: 8152901
    Abstract: A jacket material into which a gas adsorbing device and core material are inserted is decompressed in a vacuum chamber, the opening is sealed, and then the jacket material is exposed to the atmosphere. In the atmospheric pressure, a pressure of about 1 atm which is equivalent to the pressure difference between the inside and outside is applied to the jacket material of the heat insulator. The jacket material is made of a plastic laminated film and is deformed by pressure. A protruding portion is plunged into a container to drill through holes, and a gas adsorbent in the container communicates with the inside of the jacket material. Thus, both during holding and in applying to the vacuum heat insulator, the gas adsorbent can be applied to the vacuum heat insulator without degradation, and the high degree of vacuum can be kept for a long time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Masamichi Hashida, Kazutaka Uekado, Akiko Yuasa
  • Patent number: 8105481
    Abstract: A method for reducing halide concentration in a hydrocarbon product having an organic halide content from 50 to 4000 ppm which is made by a hydrocarbon conversion process using an ionic liquid catalyst comprising a halogen-containing acidic ionic liquid comprising contacting at least a portion of the hydrocarbon product with at least one molecular sieve having pore size from 4 to 16 Angstrom under organic halide absorption conditions to reduce the halogen concentration in the hydrocarbon product to less than 40 ppm is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Michael S. Driver, Howard S. Lacheen, Mitra A. Hosseini
  • Publication number: 20110315009
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a method utilizing adsorber bed(s) and reversible blower(s) operating in a vacuum pressure swing adsorption separation process to separate gases. The process is designed to provide a safer and more cost-effective adsorption system that captures and utilizes energy typically wasted during equipment transitions thereby achieving overall higher power efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: ADSORPTECH Inc.
    Inventors: JOHN R. AMBRIANO, APURVA MAHESHWARY, KRISHNAMURTI V. SUBRAMANIAN, JAMES J. FLAHERTY
  • Patent number: 8020553
    Abstract: An oxygen concentrator comprises an oxygen reservoir and adsorbent columns that each have an inlet, an outlet, and a bed of adsorbent material. The concentrator also comprises an air inlet, an exhaust outlet, and a vacuum pump for pumping nitrogen rich gas from one of the column inlets to the exhaust outlet. A product control pump pumps oxygen rich gas from one of the column outlets to the oxygen reservoir. A control valve controls flow in and out of the columns by selectively connecting the air inlet to one column inlet, connecting the vacuum pump to another column inlet, and connecting the product control pump to a column outlet. A motor drives the vacuum pump and control valve to produce vacuum swing adsorption (VSA) cycles in which oxygen-rich product gas is separated and accumulated in the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Vbox, Incorporated
    Inventors: Theodore W. Jagger, Nicholas P. Van Brunt, John A. Kivisto, Perry B. Lonnes
  • Patent number: 7988770
    Abstract: A jacket material into which a gas adsorbing device and core material are inserted is decompressed in a vacuum chamber, the opening is sealed, and then the jacket material is exposed to the atmosphere. In the atmospheric pressure, a pressure of about 1 atm which is equivalent to the pressure difference between the inside and outside is applied to the jacket material of the heat insulator. The jacket material is made of a plastic laminated film and is deformed by pressure. A protruding portion is plunged into a container to drill through holes, and a gas adsorbent in the container communicates with the inside of the jacket material. Thus, both during holding and in applying to the vacuum heat insulator, the gas adsorbent can be applied to the vacuum heat insulator without degradation, and the high degree of vacuum can be kept for a long time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Masamichi Hashida, Kazutaka Uekado, Akiko Yuasa
  • Patent number: 7954490
    Abstract: Concentrated oxygen product gas is produced and delivered to a patient. Product gas is produced by (a) introducing ambient air into a first end of a column containing an adsorbent material that preferentially adsorbs nitrogen and removes oxygen-rich product gas out a second end of the column; (b) evacuating the column through the first end to remove adsorbed gas from the column; (c) repressurizing the column by introducing ambient air into the first end of the column until the column is near 1.0 atmosphere; and (d) repeating steps (a)-(c). Product gas is delivered as needed to the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Vbox, Incorporated
    Inventors: Theodore W. Jagger, Nicholas P. Van Brunt, John A. Kivisto, Perry B. Lonnes
  • Publication number: 20110017063
    Abstract: An apparatus for separation of gases from ambient air that has at least one separation column with an inlet at a first end and an outlet at a second end, a buffer column having a single inlet at a first end, a vacuum pump, and a valve system that connects the vacuum pump to the outlet at the first end of the separation column, and that connects the outlet at the second end of separation column to the single inlet at the first end of the buffer column.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Inventors: Nicholas P. Van Brunt, Theodore W. Jagger, Perry B. Lonnes, John A. Kivisto
  • Patent number: 7819948
    Abstract: A rotary valve is disclosed having a rotor and stator that utilizes at least one compression spring to provide contact between the rotor and stator. The spring(s) is configured to oppose the pressure forces that urge the rotors and stators apart and reduce the amount of torque necessary to turn the rotors in the valve while preventing leakage from between the rotor and stator. The spring(s) may be positioned within the valve by a spring locating features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventor: Glenn Paul Wagner
  • Patent number: 7766010
    Abstract: A method of providing concentrated oxygen product gas to a patient. The method comprises producing product gas by a vacuum swing adsorption (VSA) process with an oxygen concentrator comprising a plurality of separation columns connected to a vacuum source driven by a motor. Separated product gas is then pumped to a product reservoir. The pressure of the reservoir is monitored and used to adjust the speed of the motor based on the reservoir pressure. The separated gas is then delivered to the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: VBOX, Incorporated
    Inventors: Theodore W. Jagger, Nicholas P. Van Brunt, John A. Kivisto, Perry B. Lonnes
  • Patent number: 7763100
    Abstract: Novel polybed VPSA process and system to achieve enhanced O2 recovery are disclosed. The VPSA process comprises using three or more adsorber beds; providing a continuous feed supply gas using a single feed blower to one bed, wherein at any instant during the process, two beds are in an evacuation step and only one bed is in a feed mode; and purging the adsorber beds using two purge gases of different purity. The VPSA cycle may further comprise utilizing a storage device (e.g., a packed or empty equalization tank) to capture void gases during co-current depressurization step of the VPSA cycle, which is used at a later stage for purging and repressurization of the bed. In addition, the VPSA process employs a single feed compressor and two vacuum pumps at 100% utilization. Furthermore, the use of the storage device minimizes the use of product quality gas for purging. About 10-20% improvement in O2 productivity is realized in the new VPSA process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Mohamed Safdar Allie Baksh, Andrew Chester Rosinski
  • Patent number: 7722702
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of expensive and highly selective adsorbents and catalysts for trace contaminant gas removal to generate products of high and ultra-high purity. Mixing such highly selective materials with other less expensive, less selective materials results in the ability to achieve higher purity, higher capacity and/or lower cost without adding additional expensive selective material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark William Ackley
  • Publication number: 20100098491
    Abstract: A method for purifying or separating a gas mixture comprising at least one fuel, using a unit having at least one adsorber subjected to a pressure cycle comprising at least one step of placing under vacuum by means of a vacuum pump, wherein at least one adsorber and/or the vacuum pump, depressurized during the cycle, is repressurized at least partly by an external gas to said unit and not containing a sufficient quantity of oxidizer to create an inflammable mixture during this repressurization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Applicant: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Christian Monereau, Natacha Haik-Beraud, Vincent Gueret, Anne Berthelemot
  • Patent number: 7694674
    Abstract: An electronic controller (16) controls the operation of an electrochemical oxygen generating system (14) producing a desired gas. The product gas is fed to a storage unit (12) or a regulator (28) and pulsing valve (28) controlling the gas flow to a user. A two-stage system (180) combines a low pressure 100 and a high pressure (150) gas generating subsystems. The low pressure subsystem (100) uses IMAT's (106) to pump oxygen from ambient air to generate a low-pressure. The high pressure subsystem (150) uses IMAT's (160) to pump oxygen to high-pressure oxygen storage devices (194).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Carleton Life Support Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Victor P. Crome, Gary N. Byrd, Russell F. Hart, Scott R. Sehlin, Tuan Q. Cao, Courtney Joseph Monzyk, Timothy P. Raleigh, Lyle J. Berkenbosch, Craig L. Schledewitz
  • Publication number: 20100077921
    Abstract: A system and method is presented for reducing a concentration of ambient air used in a feed stream to form an inerting gas in a pressure swing adsorption system. The method includes introducing ambient air into a pressure swing adsorption system to form an inerting gas, introducing the inerting gas to a large volume of atmosphere, thereby inerting at least a portion of the large volume of atmosphere to form an inerted atmosphere, and removing a portion of the inerted atmosphere and introducing the portion of inerted atmosphere to the pressure swing adsorption system to form the inerting gas, thereby reducing an amount of ambient air utilized to form the inerting gas in the pressure swing adsorption system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: On Site Gas Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean Haggerty, Guy Hatch, Sanh Phan
  • Publication number: 20090211443
    Abstract: An oxygen generating device includes a housing, an inlet formed in the housing, a compressor, and a sieve module. The device further includes a self-serviceable filter disposed between the compressor and the sieve module. The method for generating an oxygen-enriched gas includes introducing a feed gas into the oxygen generating device via the inlet, compressing the feed gas via the compressor, filtering the compressed feed gas by removing at least one contaminant from the feed gas via the self-serviceable filter, introducing the filtered feed gas into the sieve module, and generating the oxygen-enriched gas from the filtered feed gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2008
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Inventors: James H. Youngblood, Michael S. McClain
  • Patent number: 7550030
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to vacuum pressure swing adsorption (VPSA) processes and apparatus to recover carbon dioxide having a purity of approximately ?90 mole % from streams containing at least carbon dioxide and hydrogen (e.g., syngas). The feed to the CO2 VPSA unit can be at super ambient pressure. The CO2 VPSA unit produces three streams, a H2-enriched stream, a H2-depleted stream and a CO2 product stream. When the CO2 VPSA unit is installed between an SMR/shift reactor and a H2 PSA unit, hydrogen recovery is expected to be increased by extracting CO2, thereby increasing hydrogen partial pressure in the H2 PSA feed. The recovered CO2 can be further upgraded, sequestered or used in applications such as enhanced oil recovery (EOR).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Ravi Kumar
  • Publication number: 20090107332
    Abstract: A rotary valve is disclosed having a rotor and stator that utilizes at least one compression spring to provide contact between the rotor and stator. The spring(s) is configured to oppose the pressure forces that urge the rotors and stators apart and reduce the amount of torque necessary to turn the rotors in the valve while preventing leakage from between the rotor and stator. The spring(s) may be positioned within the valve by a spring locating features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC.
    Inventor: Glenn Paul Wagner
  • Publication number: 20090090242
    Abstract: A jacket material into which a gas adsorbing device and core material are inserted is decompressed in a vacuum chamber, the opening is sealed, and then the jacket material is exposed to the atmosphere. In the atmospheric pressure, a pressure of about 1 atm which is equivalent to the pressure difference between the inside and outside is applied to the jacket material of the heat insulator. The jacket material is made of a plastic laminated film and is deformed by pressure. A protruding portion is plunged into a container to drill through holes, and a gas adsorbent in the container communicates with the inside of the jacket material. Thus, both during holding and in applying to the vacuum heat insulator, the gas adsorbent can be applied to the vacuum heat insulator without degradation, and the high degree of vacuum can be kept for a long time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masamichi Hashida, Kazutaka Uekado, Akiko Yuasa
  • Publication number: 20080202337
    Abstract: A feed gas drying system is described for a PSA or VPSA oxygen concentrator. A membrane dryer is inserted into the feed gas path to the concentrator absorbent beds, such that the moisture in the feed gas is directed to a part of the dryer exposed to the concentrator exhaust, thus achieving efficient operation of the membrane dryer with no loss of concentrator feed gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Inventors: Brenton Taylor, Peter Hansen
  • Patent number: 7396387
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to large capacity (e.g., greater than 350 tons/day O2) vacuum pressure adsorption (VPSA) systems and processes that employ a single train including four beds, at least one feed compressor feeding two beds simultaneously at any given instant in time, and a single vacuum pump. The compressor(s) and the vacuum pump can be utilized 100% of the time. Use of product quality gas for purging is avoided, with about 10-20% improvement in O2 productivity and 5-10% reduction in capital cost expected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Mohamed Safdar Allie Baksh, Andrew Rosinski
  • Publication number: 20070169623
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and process of oxygen concentration system to make it possible to produce a highly purified concentrated oxygen,with modifying the structure of the adsorption bed and it achieves evenness of the first and second upper portions and controls to make simultaneous evenness of the first and second upper/lower portions together and thus increases purity of the oxygen produced and reduces mechanical energy and consumption of electricity of the air compressor, then it is about the oxygen concentration apparatus to make it possible to promote pure oxygen enrichment and its recovery rate and the oxygen concentration method to use it.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Publication date: July 26, 2007
    Inventors: Tae Soo Lee, Yoon Sun Choi, Yong Duck Kim
  • Patent number: 6955710
    Abstract: Method and system on board an aircraft for the production of an oxygen-enriched gas stream from an oxygen/nitrogen gas mixture, particularly air, comprising at least one adsorber containing at least one adsorbent for adsorbing at least some of the nitrogen molecules contained in the oxygen/nitrogen feed mixture, characterized in that the adsorbent comprises a faujasite-type zeolite, having a Si/Al ratio of 1 to 1.50, exchanged to at least 80% with lithium cations. Aircraft equipped with such a system, in particular an airliner, especially an airliner of the long-range, large-capacity type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et, l 'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Stéphane Lessi, Richard Zapata, Jean-Michel Cazenave, Jean Dehayes
  • Patent number: 6905535
    Abstract: A gas separation system for separating a feed gas mixture into a first gas component and a second gas component comprises a stator, and a rotor rotatably coupled to the stator. The stator includes a first stator valve face, a second stator valve surface, and a plurality of function compartments opening into the stator valve surfaces. The rotor includes a first rotor valve surface in communication with the first stator valve surface, and a second rotor valve surface in communication with the second stator valve surface. The rotor also includes a plurality of rotor flow paths for receiving gas adsorbent material therein for preferentially adsorbing the first gas component in response to increasing pressure in the rotor flow paths in comparison to the second gas component. Each rotor flow path includes a pair of opposite ends opening into the rotor valve faces for communication with the function compartments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: QuestAir Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Bowie G. Keefer, Kevin A. Kaupert