Stepped Pressure Reduction Patents (Class 95/103)
  • Patent number: 11859137
    Abstract: An integrated system for the conversion of biomass to renewable natural gas and then to methanol and other value-added products is provided. The integrated system includes a compressor that receives biomass gases from a biomass source and a series of purification stations that produce purified gas from the biomass gases. Characteristically, the purified gas has an enhanced amount of methane. A gas-to-liquids plant converts the purified gas to a product blend that includes methanol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Gas Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Walter Breidenstein, Randy D. Glad
  • Patent number: 11701612
    Abstract: A multi-stage process to remove contaminant gases from raw methane streams is provided. The present technology is an innovative solution to recover and purify biogas by use of a process having at least two pressure swing adsorption stages. Taking advantage of the presence of carbon dioxide in the raw biogas streams, nitrogen and oxygen are bulky removed in the first stage, using selective adsorbents, and a nitrogen and oxygen-depleted intermediate stream is yielded to the second stage. The second stage employs an adsorbent or adsorbents to selectively remove carbon dioxide and trace amounts of remaining nitrogen and oxygen, thus producing a purer methane stream that meets pipeline and natural gas specifications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: SYSADVANCE—SISTEMAS DE ENGENHARIA S.A.
    Inventors: Patrick Da Silva Barcia, Daniel Antonio Santos Silva Ferreira, Silvio Daniel Da Silva Carvalho Monteiro
  • Patent number: 11655147
    Abstract: A system for generating hydrogen includes an ammonia decomposition bed configured to introduce an ammonia gas, decompose the ammonia gas into a high-pressure first mixed gas including nitrogen and hydrogen, and discharge the high-pressure first mixed gas; an ammonia adsorption bed supplied with the high-pressure first mixed gas from the ammonia decomposition bed, and configured to adsorb ammonia of the first mixed gas, and discharge a high-pressure second mixed gas including nitrogen and hydrogen; and a nitrogen adsorption bed directly supplied with the high-pressure second mixed gas from the ammonia adsorption bed, and configured to adsorb the nitrogen, and discharge the hydrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Byeong Soo Shin, Kyung Moon Lee, Young Jin Cho, Hoon Mo Park, Dong Hoon Nam
  • Patent number: 11117092
    Abstract: Processes and systems for the energy efficient capture of CO2 from a flue gas stream such as produced or resulting from power plant operation, are provided. The processes and systems integrate the use of high CO2/N2 selectivity membranes and high CO2 flux membranes, to capture CO2. Useful membranes can desirably be graphene oxide-based membranes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: GAS TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Shiguang Li, Travis Pyrzynski
  • Patent number: 11091704
    Abstract: The invention provides a process for producing hydrogen for a hydrogen consuming process comprising obtaining a net gas stream containing hydrogen, compressing the gas stream to a pressure of 20.7 to 68.9 bar (300 to 1000 psig) to produce a compressed gas stream; sending the compressed gas stream to a pressure swing adsorption unit to be separated into a hydrogen stream and a fuel gas stream; purging the pressure swing adsorption unit with an external purge gas stream from a hydroprocessing unit off gas; treating the off gas with a thermal swing adsorption unit to remove water and other impurities prior to purging the pressure swing adsorption unit, and using a protective adsorbent layer in the pressure swing adsorption unit to adsorb impurities from the external purge gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: David A. Wegerer, Bradley P. Russell, Gautam Pandey, Wim F. Elseviers
  • Patent number: 11058986
    Abstract: A medical gas production system produces from air a gas composition having a concentration of oxygen greater than the air for subsequent respiration by patients. The system includes a pair of treatment tanks, each containing an adsorbent bed for adsorbing gases from the air and a receiver tank for receiving an oxygen enriched gas mixture from the treatment tanks. A pair of transfer valves connected between receiver tank and respective ones of the treatment tanks control flow of gas from each treatment tank to the receiver tank, as well as enabling backflow of the gas mixture from the receiver tank to the treatment tank if a measured quality of the gas exiting the receiver tank falls below a prescribed threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Bining Holdings Ltd.
    Inventors: Gursahib Bining, Steven Terichow
  • Patent number: 10780387
    Abstract: The invention provides a system and method that applies novel algorithms and compositions for efficiently adjusting compression, unit turn down, pressure and flows of a pressure swing adsorption unit. The present invention also reduces overall horsepower, increases unit's product gas recovery, maximizes product gas quality and allows for non-disturbance of upstream and downstream equipment in regard to pressure and flow oscillations. Raw gas streams addressed include methane (CH4), nitrogen (N2), oxygen (O2), carbon dioxide (CO2), water (H2O), Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) and non-methane organic compounds (NMOC) gases/vapors. The invention incorporates a CO2 and H2O trim units and provides a VPSA N2 and O2 rejection section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: ARC TECHNOLOGIES CORP.
    Inventor: Stanley Michael Siegel
  • Patent number: 10576410
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for producing hydrogen for a hydrogen consuming process comprising obtaining a gas stream containing hydrogen from a steam reforming hydrogen plant, sending the gas stream to a pressure swing adsorption unit to be separated into a hydrogen stream and a fuel gas stream; purging the pressure swing adsorption unit with an external purge gas stream from a hydroprocessing unit off gas; treating the off gas with a thermal swing adsorption unit to remove water and other impurities prior to purging the pressure swing adsorption unit; and using a protective adsorbent layer in the pressure swing adsorption unit at the product-hydrogen end of the bed to adsorb impurities from the external purge gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Inventors: Bradley P. Russell, Margaret A. Stine, David A. Wegerer, Gautam Pandey
  • Patent number: 10456729
    Abstract: A process for purification of a carbon dioxide feedstock that includes carbon dioxide and gaseous and liquid C1+ hydrocarbons. Specifically, a carbon dioxide feedstream is passed through one or more separation unit, each separation unit removing one or more C1+ hydrocarbon from the carbon dioxide feedstream to provide a richer carbon dioxide gas stream. The one or more separation unit employs an adsorption media and has an adsorption step and a media regeneration step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Scott T. Matteucci, Ajay N. Badhwar, H. Robert Goltz, Jonathan W. Leister, Nicholas J. Shurgott
  • Patent number: 10345014
    Abstract: Disclosed herein a technique for producing a gas mixture for controlling an oxygen concentration in the interior of a container while reducing the overall weight of the apparatus. For this purpose, a gas mixture supply device is provided for a container refrigeration apparatus. The gas mixture supply device is provided with adsorption columns. If one of the first and second adsorption columns is supplied with air, the adsorption columns are pressurized, and nitrogen in the air is adsorbed onto an adsorbent. If air is sucked from the other of the first and second adsorption columns, the adsorption columns are depressurized, and nitrogen adsorbed onto the adsorbent is desorbed. A gas mixture including the nitrogen desorbed from the adsorbent is supplied to the interior of a container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naohiro Tanaka, Atsushi Ozato, Makoto Ikemiya, Tetsuya Ukon, Noritaka Kamei, Kazuma Yokohara
  • Patent number: 10287173
    Abstract: An ammonia-producing system comprises a reactor that catalytically converts nitrogen and hydrogen feed gases to ammonia to form a reaction mixture of the ammonia, unreacted nitrogen gas, and unreacted hydrogen gas. A feed system feeds the nitrogen and hydrogen gases to the reactor at a reaction pressure of from about 9 to about 100 atmospheres. A reactor control system controls the temperature during conversion of the nitrogen and hydrogen to ammonia by maintaining a reaction temperature of from about 330° C. to about 550° C. An absorbent selectively absorbs at least a portion of the ammonia from the reaction mixture, and an absorbent control system controls one or both of a temperature and pressure at the absorbent during selective absorption of the ammonia from the reaction mixture. A recycle line downstream of the absorbent recycles the unreacted nitrogen and unreacted hydrogen to the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Regents of the University of Minnesota
    Inventors: Mohammadmahdi Malmali, Alon V. McCormick, Edward L. Cussler
  • Patent number: 9884282
    Abstract: An integrated fuel combustion system with adsorptive gas separation separates a portion of carbon dioxide from a combustion gas mixture and provides for recycle of separated carbon dioxide to the intake of the fuel combustor for combustion. A process for carbon dioxide separation and recycle includes: admitting combustion gas to an adsorptive gas separation system contactor containing adsorbent material; adsorbing a portion of carbon dioxide; recovering a first product gas depleted in carbon dioxide for release or use; desorbing carbon dioxide from the adsorbent material and recovering a desorbed second product gas enriched in carbon dioxide for sequestration or use; admitting a conditioning fluid into the contactor and desorbing a second portion of carbon dioxide to recover a carbon dioxide enriched conditioning stream; and recycling a portion of the carbon dioxide enriched conditioning stream to an inlet of fuel combustor to pass through the fuel combustor for combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Inventor: Andre Boulet
  • Patent number: 9844750
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cyclical method for producing a nitrogen fraction, the purity of which is greater than or equal to 95 mol %, and a hydrocarbon-enriched fraction from a filler containing nitrogen and a hydrocarbon, said method using a specific class of porous hybrid solids as an adsorbent in a pressure-swing adsorption (PSA) process. The invention also relates to equipment for implementing said method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignees: TOTAL PETROCHEMICALS FRANCE, UNIVERSIDADE DO PORTO. (UPORTO) FACULDADE DE ENGENHARIA, KOREA RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Francis Luck, Catherine Leroi, Alvaro Fernandez, Ana Mafalda Almeida Peixoto Ribeiro, Joao Carlos Godinho De Faria Dos Santos, Alirio Egidio Rodrigues, Jong-San Chang, U-Hwang Lee, Young Kyu Hwang, Jean-Patrick Bonne
  • Patent number: 9669347
    Abstract: An apparatus for recovering volatile liquid vapor from an air-volatile liquid vapor mixture includes a vapor blower unit having a first inlet and a first outlet. In addition the apparatus includes a vapor adsorption unit including a second inlet and a second outlet and a solid adsorbent adsorption unit including a third inlet and a third outlet. Further the apparatus includes a vapor regeneration unit including an intake port and a discharge port as well as a conduit system. The conduit system connects the first outlet to the second inlet, the second outlet to the third inlet, the third outlet to the intake port and the discharge port to the first inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: JORDAN TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Alex Gomez, Alex Daub, Daniel Nusbaum
  • Patent number: 9669348
    Abstract: Pressure shift adsorption (PSA) process for producing a gas stream enriched with compound X from a feed gas stream, using N adsorbers with N?5, each adsorber being subjected to a pressure cycle having a phase time corresponding to the duration of the pressure cycle divided by the number of adsorbers, and a series of active steps, characterized in that each adsorber n follows the pressure cycle with an offset of one phase time with respect to the pressure cycle of the adsorber n?1 with n?N, and during each phase time, only one active step or a part of active step takes place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Société Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procédés Georges Claude
    Inventors: Elise Renou, Christian Monereau, Celine Carriere
  • Patent number: 9604194
    Abstract: A methane microporous carbon adsorbent comprising a thermally-treated CVD carbon having a shape in the form of a negative replica of a crystalline zeolite has a BET specific surface area, a micropore volume, a micropore to mesopore volume ratio, a stored methane value and a methane delivered value and a sequential carbon synthesis method for forming the methane microporous carbon adsorbent. Introducing an organic precursor gas for a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) period to a crystalline zeolite that is maintained at a CVD temperature forms the carbon-zeolite composite. Introducing a non-reactive gas for a thermal treatment period to the carbon-zeolite composite maintained at a thermal treatment temperature forms the thermally-treated carbon-zeolite composite. Introducing an aqueous strong mineral acid mixture to the thermally-treated carbon-zeolite composite forms the methane microporous carbon adsorbent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignees: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY, KOREA ADVANCED INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Yuguo Wang, Cemal Ercan, Rashid M. Othman, Minkee Choi, Seokin Choi
  • Patent number: 9597656
    Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to materials for use in CO2 capture in high pressure environments. In some embodiments, the materials include a porous carbon material containing a plurality of pores for use in a high pressure environment. Additional embodiments pertain to methods of utilizing the materials of the present disclosure to capture CO2 from various environments. In some embodiments, the materials of the present disclosure selectively capture CO2 over hydrocarbon species in the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: WILLIAM MARSH RICE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: James M. Tour, Desmond E. Schipper, Chih-Chau Hwang, Josiah Tour, Almaz S. Jalilov, Gedeng Ruan, Yilun Li
  • Patent number: 9034079
    Abstract: A pressure swing adsorption process for removal of CO2 from natural gas streams through a combination of a selective adsorbent material containing an effective amount of a non-adsorbent filler, adsorbent contactor design, and adsorption cycle design. The removal of contaminants from gas streams, preferably natural gas streams, using rapid-cycle swing adsorption processes, such as rapid-cycle pressure swing adsorption (RC-PSA). Separations at high pressure with high product recovery and/or high product purity are provided through a combination of judicious choices of adsorbent material, gas-solid contactor, system configuration, and cycle designs. For example, cycle designs that include steps of purge and staged blow-down as well as the inclusion of a mesopore filler in the adsorbent material significantly improves product (e.g., methane) recovery. An RC-PSA product with less than 10 ppm H2S can be produced from a natural gas feed stream that contains less than 1 mole percent H2S.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Harry W. Deckman, Robert A. Johnson, Bruce T. Kelley, Peter I. Ravikovitch, Thomas N. Anderson
  • Patent number: 9017457
    Abstract: Provided are apparatus and systems having a poppet valve assembly and swing adsorption separation techniques related thereto. A poppet valve includes a valve body, a plurality of static valves fixedly secured to the valve body and a single dynamic poppet valve having a plurality of openings. The plurality of static valves align and mate with the plurality of openings. The single dynamic poppet valve reciprocates to selectively open and close the plurality of static valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventor: Robert F. Tammera
  • Patent number: 8974575
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for enriching combustible gas, which suppresses the deterioration and pulverization of an adsorbent without extending a period for pressure equalization. The pressure equalization is effected by opening a pressure equalization passage opening/closing valve incorporated in a pressure equalization passage, after completion of adsorption in a first adsorption tower and after completion of desorption in a second adsorption tower connected to the first adsorption tower via the pressure equalization passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Osaka Gas Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahisa Utaki, Tamotsu Kotani
  • Patent number: 8945278
    Abstract: A method of concentrating ozone gas including: causing ozone gas contained in ozone-oxygen mixture gas to be selectively adsorbed to adsorbents which are filled in a non-cooled state in at least two adsorbing cylinders arranged parallel to one another; desorbing the ozone gas from the adsorbents by subjecting a depressurizing process to each adsorbing cylinder during an ozone gas desorption operation; repeating an adsorption step and a desorption step alternately in the at least two adsorbing cylinders; and controlling the adsorbing cylinders, in such a way that one of the adsorbing cylinders is performing the adsorption step while another one of the adsorbing cylinders is performing the desorption step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Iwatani Corporation
    Inventors: Naohisa Makihira, Sadaki Nakamura, Goichi Inoue, Kunihiko Koike
  • Publication number: 20150007724
    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: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2012
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Applicant: TAIYO NIPPON SANSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hidehisa Sakamoto, Makiya Kokubu
  • Patent number: 8828118
    Abstract: A pressure swing adsorption (PSA) system using two or more valves for controlling the flow of gases entering or exiting a bed of adsorbents is disclosed, where the two or more valves are opened sequentially (i.e., in at least two actions separated by a delay in time). The sequential opening of the valves may increase the degree to which adsorbed species are purged from the bed, and also facilitates more rapid execution of certain time steps of the PSA cycle, thus increasing adsorbent productivity The sequential opening of the valves may also allow for verification of valve operation by measuring either the absolute value, the slope (derivative) or the rate of change of derivative of the pressure, either in the adsorbent bed, in the downstream manifold, or in a volume of gas held in a buffer vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Lummus Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Franklin D. Lomax, Richard S. Todd, Brian A. Zakrajsek
  • Patent number: 8778051
    Abstract: A process for separating a primary gas component from a feed gas mixture comprising the primary gas component and secondary gas components in four or more adsorption beds. The process comprises subjecting each of the four or more adsorption beds to a repetitive cycle. The repetitive cycle comprises, in sequence, a feed step, a pressure decreasing equalization step, a provide purge step, a blowdown step, a purge step, a pressure increasing equalization step, and a repressurization step. During the pressure decreasing equalization step, rinse gas is co-currently introduced simultaneous with the withdrawal of pressure equalization gas. Rinse gas is formed by compressing blowdown gas and/or purge gas effluent from the adsorption bed undergoing the purge step. The process is particularly suited for separating H2 from a reformate stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Landis Weist, Jr., Jianguo Xu
  • Patent number: 8709136
    Abstract: A process for separating a first gas, for example CO2, from a feed gas mixture comprising the first gas and a second gas, for example H2, in five or more adsorption beds each containing an adsorbent selective for the first gas. The process comprises subjecting each of the adsorption beds to a repetitive cycle comprising, in sequence, (a) a feed step, (b) a rinse step, (c) a pressure decreasing equalization step, (d) a blowdown step, (e) an evacuation step, (f) a pressure increasing equalization step, and (g) a repressurization step. The feed gas mixture may be a reformate from a steam-hydrocarbon reforming process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Kuo-Kuang Hsu, Jonathan James Berg, Jianguo Xu, Edward Landis Weist, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20140053728
    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 31, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: Vbox, Incorporated
    Inventors: Nicholas P. Van Brunt, Theodore W. Jagger, Perry B. Lonnes, John A. Kivisto
  • Patent number: 8597400
    Abstract: In a method and an apparatus for separating at least one gaseous component from a waste gas of an installation for producing liquid pig iron, liquid primary steel products or sponge iron, in a first step, a stream of the waste gas passes through at least one adsorption separator at a first pressure, whereby the gaseous component is largely separated from the waste gas and, in a second step, the gaseous component is largely removed from the adsorption separator at a second pressure, which is lower than the first pressure. The method and apparatus are maintenance-free, cause low investment and energy costs and has a lower space requirement by a method in which the second pressure or the desorption pressure is generated by at least one jet pump, which is fed a stream of a propellant gas at a third pressure, which is higher than the second pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Vai Metals Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Robert Millner, Norbert Rein, Gerald Rosenfellner
  • Patent number: 8557218
    Abstract: Systems and methods for hydrogen production with carbon capture are provided. A hydrogen containing stream can be divided so that a portion of the stream is processed for separation of CO2. A hydrogen enriched stream formed during separation of CO2 and another portion of the hydrogen containing stream can be processed in a cycling adsorber unit to form a hydrogen product stream. Optionally, the cycling adsorber unit can be operated to form a plurality of tail gas streams. The hydrogen containing stream can be a reformed hydrocarbon stream and/or an input stream previously exposed to a water gas shift catalyst. Optionally, a portion of the reformed hydrocarbon stream can be a reformed biocomponent stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Narasimhan Sundaram, John W. Viets
  • Patent number: 8545601
    Abstract: A two-stage complete recycle pressure-swing adsorption process for gas separation features that separating more adsorptable component and less adsorptable component from gas mixture, and the product is more adsorptable component or less adsorptable component or both of them. Serially-connected operation of two-stage pressure-swing adsorber is employed. The gas mixture is fed into the first stage pressure-swing adsorption gas separation system, and the more adsorptable component of the gas mixture is absorbed, then is abstracted into product. The semifinished gas mixture from the outlet of the first stage pressure-swing adsorption tower is fed into the second stage pressure-swing adsorption gas separation system. The more adsorptable component of the semifinished gas mixture is absorbed further, and the less adsorptable component is fed into next stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Inventor: Yuwen Song
  • Patent number: 8535417
    Abstract: Carbon dioxide-containing gas such as flue gas and a carbon dioxide-rich stream are compressed and the combined streams are then treated to desorb moisture onto adsorbent beds and then subjected to subambient-temperature processing to produce a carbon dioxide product stream and a vent stream. The vent stream is treated to produce a carbon dioxide-depleted stream which can be used to desorb moisture from the beds, and a carbon dioxide-rich stream which is combined with the carbon dioxide-containing gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Minish Mahendra Shah
  • Patent number: 8535414
    Abstract: The present invention discloses the improvements to a vacuum swing adsorption (VSA) process used for Xe recovery. By only collecting the recovered gas mixture after the initial evacuation of N2 from the adsorbent vessel and void space, the recovered Xe is not diluted by N2 contained in the adsorbent vessel and void space. The concentration of the recovered Xe can by increased (high purity), simultaneously little Xenon is lost. During the initial evacuation of N2, the vessel has been evacuated to a pressure less than 1 atmospheric pressure, for example, from 100 to 1 torr.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew David Johnson, Richard Vincent Pearce, Thomas Stephen Farris, Timothy Christopher Golden, Matthew John Bosco, Eugene Joseph Karwacki, Jr., David Charles Winchester, Jeffrey Raymond Hufton
  • Patent number: 8500850
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the separation of gases which comprises putting a mixture of gases in contact with a zeolite of the ESV type to obtain the selective adsorption of at least one of the gases forming the gaseous mixture. The present invention also relates to particular zeolitic compositions suitable as adsorbents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: ENI S.p.A.
    Inventors: Angela Carati, Caterina Rizzo, Marco Tagliabue, Luciano Cosimo Carluccio, Cristina Flego, Liberato Giampaolo Ciccarelli
  • Patent number: 8480770
    Abstract: A hydrogen manufacturing system for performing offgas flow control includes: a vaporizer (1) for heating a material mixture containing a hydrocarbon material; a reforming reactor (2) for generating hydrogen-containing reformed gas by reforming reactions of the material; a PSA separator (5) for repeating a cycle of adsorption and desorption, where in the adsorption PSA separation is performed with an adsorption tower loaded with an adsorbent to adsorb unnecessary components in the reformed gas and extract hydrogen-enriched gas out of the tower, and in the desorption the offgas containing the unnecessary components from the adsorbent and remaining hydrogen is discharged from the tower; and a buffer tank (6) for holding the offgas before supplying to the vaporizer. The offgas flow supply from the tank (6) to the vaporizer is changed continuously over time when the cycle time is changed according to load change on the separator (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Sumitomo Seika Chemicals Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiko Sumida, Masanori Miyake, Hidenori Minami, Yoshinori Ueda
  • Patent number: 8394171
    Abstract: Embodiments of methods for controlling impurity buildup on adsorbent for a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) process are provided. The method comprises the steps of operating the PSA process including performing (a) a first depressurizing equalization step, and (b) a providing purge step. Impurities are sensed in an effluent from the PSA process. If the impurities sensed in the effluent have reached a predetermined upper impurity level, then the PSA process is operated including performing (b) and not (a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Wim Frans Elseviers, Stephan Laux
  • Publication number: 20120288439
    Abstract: Systems and methods for hydrogen production with carbon capture are provided. A hydrogen containing stream can be divided so that a portion of the stream is processed for separation of CO2. A hydrogen enriched stream formed during separation of CO2 and another portion of the hydrogen containing stream can be processed in a cycling adsorber unit to form a hydrogen product stream. Optionally, the cycling adsorber unit can be operated to form a plurality of tail gas streams. The hydrogen containing stream can be a reformed hydrocarbon stream and/or an input stream previously exposed to a water gas shift catalyst. Optionally, a portion of the reformed hydrocarbon stream can be a reformed biocomponent stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Narasimhan Sundaram, John W. Viets
  • Patent number: 8298305
    Abstract: A hydrogen manufacturing system for performing offgas flow control includes: a vaporizer (1) for heating a material mixture containing a hydrocarbon material; a reforming reactor (2) for generating hydrogen-containing reformed gas by reforming reactions of the material; a PSA separator (5) for repeating a cycle of adsorption and desorption, where in the adsorption PSA separation is performed with an adsorption tower loaded with an adsorbent to adsorb unnecessary components in the reformed gas and extract hydrogen-enriched gas out of the tower, and in the desorption the offgas containing the unnecessary components from the adsorbent and remaining hydrogen is discharged from the tower; and a buffer tank (6) for holding the offgas before supplying to the vaporizer. The offgas flow supply from the tank (6) to the vaporizer is changed continuously over time when the cycle time is changed according to load change on the separator (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Sumitomo Seika Chemicals Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiko Sumida, Masanori Miyake, Hidenori Minami, Yoshinori Ueda
  • Publication number: 20120222553
    Abstract: A pressure-temperature swing adsorption process for the removal of a target species, such as an acid gas, from a gas mixture, such as a natural gas stream. Herein, a novel multi-step temperature swing/pressure swing adsorption is utilized to operate while maintaining very high purity levels of contaminant removal from a product stream. The present process is particularly effective and beneficial in removing contaminants such as CO2 and/or H2S from a natural gas at high adsorption pressures (e.g., at least 500 psig) to create product streams of very high purity (i.e., very low contaminant levels).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Preeti Kamakoti, Daniel P. Leta, Harry W. Deckman, Peter I. Ravikovitch, Thomas N. Anderson
  • Patent number: 8038771
    Abstract: Pressure swing adsorption (PSA) assemblies with purge control systems, and hydrogen-generation assemblies and/or fuel cell systems containing the same. The PSA assemblies are operated according to a PSA cycle to produce a product hydrogen stream and a byproduct stream from a mixed gas stream. The byproduct stream may be delivered as a fuel stream to a heating assembly, which may heat the hydrogen-producing region that produces the mixed gas stream. The PSA assemblies may be adapted to regulate the flow of purge gas utilized therein, such as according to a predetermined, non-constant profile. In some embodiments, the flow of purge gas is regulated to maintain the flow rate and/or fuel value of the byproduct stream at or within a determined range of a threshold value, and/or to regulate the flow of purge gas to limit the concentration of carbon monoxide in a heated exhaust stream produced from the byproduct stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Idatech, LLC
    Inventor: Travis A. Bizjak
  • 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: 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
  • Patent number: 7879138
    Abstract: Pressure swing adsorption process for the separation of a feed gas mixture comprising (a) providing a pressure swing adsorption system comprising one or more composite beds, each composite bed comprising adsorbent material disposed in two or more vessels in parallel flow configuration, each vessel having a feed end and a product end; (b) performing cyclic sequential steps comprising adsorption/make product, withdrawing gas at decreasing pressure from the composite bed, purging the composite bed, and introducing gas into the composite bed at increasing pressure; and (c) for any of the sequential steps, setting a flow rate or flow rates of one or more gases selected from the group consisting of gas introduced into or withdrawn from the feed end or ends of any of the two or more vessels and gas introduced into or withdrawn from the product end or ends of any of the two or more vessels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Sang Kook Lee, Justin David Bukowski, Carolyn Taylor Zelson, Mark Ephraim Levine
  • Publication number: 20110005392
    Abstract: A process for separation of carbon dioxide that is present in a gas mixture by pressure-modulated adsorption (PSA) that comprises at least the following stages is described: a) Bringing said mixture that is to be purified into contact with at least one adsorbent that is formed by a porous carbon material that comprises at least 70% by weight of carbon, whereby said material has a specific surface area that is larger than 1,500 m2/g, a micropore volume of between 0.5 and 2 cm3/g of adsorbent and between 0.5 and 0.8 cm3/cm3 of adsorbent, b) The adsorption of carbon dioxide on said adsorbent at a total pressure P1, c) The desorption of at least a portion of CO2 that is adsorbed in said stage b) so as to produce a CO2-enriched stream at a total pressure P2 that is less than P1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicants: CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE, IFP
    Inventors: Gerhard Pirngruber, Elsa Jolimaitre, Julien Parmentier, Claire Ducrot-Boisgontier, Joel Patarin
  • Patent number: 7833311
    Abstract: Pressure swing adsorption (PSA) assemblies with temperature-based breakthrough detection systems, as well as to hydrogen-generation assemblies and/or fuel cell systems containing the same, and to methods of operating the same. The detection systems are adapted to detect a measured temperature associated with adsorbent in an adsorbent bed of a PSA assembly and to control the operation of at least the PSA assembly responsive at least in part thereto, such as responsive to the relationship between the measured temperature and at least one reference temperature. The reference temperature may include a stored value, a previously measured temperature and/or a temperature measured elsewhere in the PSA assembly. In some embodiments, the reference temperature is associated with adsorbent downstream from the adsorbent from which the measured temperature is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Idatech, LLC
    Inventor: James A. Givens
  • Patent number: 7824472
    Abstract: In order to provide a new PSA method which can concentrate simultaneously a strong adsorbate such as xenon and a weak adsorbate such as nitrogen in a high concentration with a high recovery percentage when highly valuable gas such as xenon and krypton contained in the exhaust gas from a semiconductor manufacturing equipment, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation
    Inventor: Tatsushi Urakami
  • 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: 7763098
    Abstract: Embodiments of a rapid cycle PSA apparatus are described that are useful for producing a hydrogen enriched product gas comprising not more than about 50 ppm carbon monoxide by volume and with a hydrogen gas recovery of at least about 70% by adsorptive separation from a syngas feed gas mixture comprising at least about 50 percent hydrogen and at least about 1 percent carbon monoxide by volume. One disclosed embodiment of a rapid cycle PSA apparatus comprised at least 3 adsorber elements each having at least one thin adsorbent sheet material which comprises at least one adsorbent material therein, and a bed size factor less than about 4.0 seconds. Embodiments of a rapid cycle PSA process also are described that utilize disclosed embodiments of the rapid-cycle PSA device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Xebec Adsorption Inc.
    Inventors: Soheil Alizadeh-Khiavi, James A. Sawada, Andrea C. Gibbs, Jeffrey Alvaji
  • Patent number: 7740688
    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 stream from the CO2 VPSA unit, normally used as fuel, is recycled as feed to increase CO2 recovery. The recovered CO2 can be further upgraded, sequestered or used in applications such as enhanced oil recovery (EOR).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Ravi Kumar
  • Publication number: 20100139485
    Abstract: A method for concentrating a single gas component from a gas mixture is disclosed. The method utilizes concentration units and recovery units to concentrate the single gas component which is often at very low concentrations in the gas mixture. This method allows for the recovery of a valuable gas depending upon application such as oxygen and Ar-40.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventors: Alberto I. Lacava, Frank R. Fitch, Arthur I. Shirley
  • 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