With Plural Indirect Heat Transfer Steps On Solid Sorbent Or Gaseous Fluid Mixture Or Constituent Thereof Patents (Class 95/114)
  • Patent number: 11378274
    Abstract: An integrated fuel combustion system with gas separation (adsorptive, absorptive, membrane or other suitable 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 a fuel combustor for combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Svante Inc.
    Inventor: Andre Boulet
  • Patent number: 11364464
    Abstract: A system for enhancing adsorption of contaminated vapors to increase treatment capacity of a regenerable, synthetic adsorptive media. The system includes an inlet configured to receive a flow of contaminated vapors. One or more vessels are coupled to the inlet, the one or more vessels each including a regenerable, synthetic adsorptive media therein, are configured to remove contaminants from the vapors by adsorption. A vapor cooling subsystem is coupled to the inlet, and configured to cool the flow of contaminated vapors, thereby increasing the treatment capacity of the regenerable synthetic adsorptive media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Emerging Compounds Treatment Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven E. Woodard, Andrew G. Bishop, Michael G. Nickelsen, John C. Berry
  • Patent number: 10730005
    Abstract: A method for continuous pressure swing adsorption separation of a pressurized feed gas stream, including separating hydrocarbons heavier than methane from the pressurized feed gas stream by applying an adsorbent porous material to produce at least two product streams, a first product stream being substantially pure methane suitable for transport by natural gas pipeline, and a second product stream being substantially comprised of components with a greater molecular weight than methane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: APACHE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jason G. S. Ho, J Calvin Cooper
  • Patent number: 10099202
    Abstract: The present invention provides a water-resistant composition for adsorbing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) derived from organic matter including: a) palladium doped hydrogen-ZSM-5, wherein the Si:AI ratio of the hydrogen-ZSM-5 is less than or equal to 200:1; and b) at least one water-soluble binder. The invention also provides a method for using the water-resistant composition for adsorbing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) derived from organic matter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: ANGLO PLATINUM MARKETING LIMITED
    Inventors: Andrew William John Smith, Elizabeth Rowsell, Stephen Poulston
  • Patent number: 9950305
    Abstract: A solar thermochemical processing system is disclosed. The system includes a first unit operation for receiving concentrated solar energy. Heat from the solar energy is used to drive the first unit operation. The first unit operation also receives a first set of reactants and produces a first set of products. A second unit operation receives the first set of products from the first unit operation and produces a second set of products. A third unit operation receives heat from the second unit operation to produce a portion of the first set of reactants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Robert S. Wegeng, Paul H. Humble, Shankar Krishnan, Steven D. Leith, Daniel R. Palo, Robert A. Dagle
  • Patent number: 9815022
    Abstract: A device for exhausting carbon dioxide includes: at least one carbon dioxide adsorber which is configured to be able to be electrically heated; and a heat radiating part of a heating device for heating an interior space. A carbon dioxide exhausting process is repeatedly performed. The carbon dioxide exhausting process includes: a first process of urging interior air to pass through the carbon dioxide adsorber and then to be introduced into an interior space; a second process of urging interior air to pass sequentially through the carbon dioxide adsorber and the heat radiating part in a state that the carbon dioxide adsorber is electrically heated and to be exhausted to an exterior space; and a third process of urging exterior air to pass sequentially through the heat radiating part and the carbon dioxide adsorber and then to be introduced into an interior space after the second process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: SOGANG UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Tae-Soo Lee, Jung-Hyuk Cho
  • Patent number: 9505683
    Abstract: A process for treatment of a natural gas stream, or other methane containing stream that passes through a guard bed for removal of mercury and hydrolysis of COS, followed by treatment with an absorbent unit containing an amine solvent for removal of carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide. The gas is then dried by a molecular sieve bed. The regeneration gas for the molecular sieve adsorbent bed is chilled to remove liquid hydrocarbons and sulfur compounds. The process is accomplished without the use of an absorbent unit to remove the sulfur compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
  • Patent number: 9240320
    Abstract: Provided are plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition methods of depositing smooth and conformal ashable hard mask films on substrates containing raised or recessed features. The methods involve using precursors having relatively high C:H ratios, such as acetylene (C:H ratio of 1), and plasmas having low ion energies and fluxes. According to various embodiments, the methods involve depositing smooth ashable hard mask films using high frequency radio frequency-generated plasmas with no low frequency component and/or relatively high pressures. Also provided are methods of depositing ashable hard mask films having good selectivity and improved side wall coverage and roughness. The methods involve depositing a first ashable hard mask film on a substrate having a feature using a process optimized for selectivity and/or optical properties and then depositing a smoothing layer on the first ashable hard mask film using an HF-only process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Novellus Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Pramod Subramonium, Zhiyuan Fang, Shawn Hancock, Mike Pierce, Jon Henri
  • Patent number: 9222727
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for removing oxygen from liquid argon using a TSA (temperature swing adsorption) cyclical process that includes cooling an adsorbent bed to sustain argon in a liquid phase; supplying the adsorbent bed with a liquid argon feed that is contaminated with oxygen and purifying the liquid argon thereby producing an argon product with less oxygen contaminant than is in the initial liquid argon feed; draining the purified residual liquid argon product and sending purified argon out of the adsorbent bed. Regeneration of specially prepared adsorbent allows the adsorbent bed to warm up to temperatures that preclude the use of requiring either vacuum or evacuation of adsorbent from the bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Persefoni E. Kechagia, Neil A. Stephenson, Philip A. Barrett, Hai Du, Steven J. Pontonio
  • Publication number: 20150135951
    Abstract: A structured adsorbent sheet, is provided including a nano-adsorbent powder, and a binder material, wherein the nano-adsorbent powder is combined with the binder material to form an adsorbent material, and a porous electrical heating substrate, wherein the adsorbent material is applied to the porous electrical heating substrate thereby forming a structured adsorbent sheet. A structured adsorbent module is provided, including a plurality of stacked structured adsorbent sheets, configured to produce a plurality of fluid passages, wherein the plurality of fluid passages have a cross-sectional shape in the direction of a fluid stream. The structured adsorbent module may have a cross-sectional shape that is trapezoidal, rectangle, square, triangular or sinusoidal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme Pour l'Etude et I'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Yudong CHEN, Christian Monereau, Edgar S. Sanders, JR., Pascal Tessier
  • Patent number: 8979980
    Abstract: A gas cleaning unit for cleaning a main raw gas stream from a plant comprises a plurality of gas cleaning chambers (34a-c), each gas cleaning chamber (34a-c) equipped with a cleaning chamber inlet (46a-c); an inlet manifold (32), for dividing said main raw gas stream flowing therethrough into a plurality of separate fractional raw gas streams for flow to said cleaning chamber inlets (46a-c); and a plurality of heat exchangers (40a-c), each heat exchanger (40a-c) being located downstream of the inlet manifold (32) for exchanging heat with a respective fractional raw gas stream entering a respective cleaning chamber (34a-c).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Anders Kenneth Sorhuus, Odd Edgar Bjarno
  • Publication number: 20150068397
    Abstract: A method of adsorption allows separation of a first fluid component from a fluid mixture comprising at least the first fluid component in an adsorptive separation system having a parallel passage adsorbent contactor with parallel flow passages having cell walls which include an adsorbent material. The method provides for transferring heat from the heat of adsorption in a countercurrent direction along at least a portion of the contactor during adsorption and transferring heat in either axial direction along the contactor to provide at least a portion of the heat of desorption during a desorption step. A carbon dioxide separation process to separate carbon dioxide from flue gas also includes steps transferring heat from adsorption or for desorption along the parallel passage adsorbent contactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Andre BOULET, Soheil KHIAVI
  • Patent number: 8900347
    Abstract: A method of temperature swing adsorption allows separation of a first fluid component from a fluid mixture comprising at least the first fluid component in an adsorptive separation system having a parallel passage adsorbent contactor with parallel flow passages having cell walls which include an adsorbent material and axial thermally conductive filaments in direct contact with the adsorbent material. The method provides for transferring heat from the heat of adsorption in a countercurrent direction along at least a portion of the filaments during adsorption and transferring heat in either axial direction along the filaments to provide at least a portion of the heat of desorption during a desorption step. A carbon dioxide TSA separation process to separate carbon dioxide from flue gas also includes steps transferring heat from adsorption or for desorption along axial thermally conductive filaments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Inventys Thermal Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Andre Boulet, Soheil Khiavi
  • Patent number: 8888895
    Abstract: A method for the removal of H2O and CO2 from a gaseous stream comprising H2O and CO2, such as a flue gas. The method initially utilizes an H2O removal sorbent to remove some portion of the H2O, producing a dry gaseous stream and a wet H2O removal sorbent. The dry gaseous stream is subsequently contacted with a CO2 removal sorbent to remove some portion of the CO2, generating a dry CO2 reduced stream and a loaded CO2 removal sorbent. The loaded CO2 removal sorbent is subsequently heated to produce a heated CO2 stream. The wet H2O removal sorbent and the dry CO2 reduced stream are contacted in a first regeneration stage, generating a partially regenerated H2O removal sorbent, and the partially regenerated H2O removal sorbent and the heated CO2 stream are subsequently contacted in a second regeneration stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: U.S. Department of Energy
    Inventors: James C. Fisher, Ranjani V. Siriwardane, David A. Berry, George A. Richards
  • Patent number: 8814986
    Abstract: A protected solid adsorbent is disclosed that includes a solid adsorbent substrate and a surface layer at least partially coating the solid adsorbent substrate, the surface layer being generally permeable to an active agent. Additionally, a process for protecting a solid adsorbent and an adsorption system that includes a vessel containing the protected solid adsorbent is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Egineering Company
    Inventors: Mohsen S Yeganeh, Bhupender S. Minhas, Tahmid I Mizan, Sufang Zhao, Richard W. Flynn
  • Publication number: 20140216254
    Abstract: Provided are apparatus and systems having a rotary valve assembly integrated with a reciprocating valve assembly to perform swing adsorption processes. The rotary valve assembly is utilized with the reciprocating valve assembly to manage the flow of streams through the system in an enhanced manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Inventors: Robert F. Tammera, Thomas N. Anderson
  • Patent number: 8794237
    Abstract: An oxygen concentrator may rely on a pressure swing adsorption process to produce an oxygen enriched gas stream from canisters filled with granules capable of separation of oxygen from an air stream. The adsorption process uses a cyclical pressurization and venting of the canisters to generate an oxygen enriched gas stream. The oxygen concentrator system may include one or more flow restrictors to allow controlled release of oxygen enriched gas between the canisters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Inova Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: William R. Wilkinson, Allan Sten Westersten, H. David Shockley, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8728207
    Abstract: In the method according to the invention for separating mercury from waste gases of a cement production process, the mercury is sorbed on a sorbent, the sorbent is subsequently discharged from the process and supplied to a discharge reactor which is operated with a carrier gas. The sorbent is heated there to temperatures of more than 250° C. so that the mercury is discharged from the sorbent and changed into the gas phase, the gas of the discharge reactor that has accumulated mercury subsequently having the dust removed from it in a preliminary dust removal device, and only a part-flow of the gas which has been enriched and had the dust removed from it in this manner being drawn off at high temperatures and cleaned in a subsequent sorption stage, whilst the remaining part-flow is brought to the temperature required for the discharge of the mercury in the discharge reactor in a heat transfer system and is again supplied as a carrier gas to the discharge reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Inventors: Dietmar Schulz, Ludger Brentrup, Karl Menzel, Reinhard Beilmann, Detlev Kupper, Mark Terry
  • Publication number: 20140083293
    Abstract: Adsorber for adsorbing a fluid, comprising a cylinder with at least two parallel-passage contactors disposed in series in the direction of flow of the fluid to be adsorbed, and characterised in that each contactor comprises an internal insulation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: l' Air Liquide, Société Anonyme pour I'Etude et I'Exploitation des Procédés Georges Claude
    Inventor: Benoit Davidian
  • Patent number: 8673056
    Abstract: The invention is directed to processes and apparatuses for gas treatment, in particular for the purification of methane rich gas streams, such as gas obtained from the conversion from organic matter (“biogas”). In accordance with the present invention there is provided an apparatus and a process for producing a purified methane comprising gas stream (P) from a methane containing gas stream (A), comprising the steps of: (a) pressurising said methane containing gas stream (A) and subsequently cooling it, whereby a stream comprising condensed contaminants (C) and a methane comprising stream (B) are obtained; (b) optionally feeding said methane comprising stream (B) to an adsorption unit and/or a catalytic conversion unit, whereby the concentration of contaminants in stream (B) is further decreased; and (c) cooling the methane comprising stream (B) to a temperature which is sufficient to condensate CO2 from said stream (B), whereby said purified methane comprising gas stream (P) is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Gastreatment Services B.V.
    Inventors: Mathieu André De Bas, Jacob Kuiper, Jeroen De Pater
  • Patent number: 8673059
    Abstract: Novel adsorbent contactors and methods are disclosed herein for use in temperature swing adsorption for gas separation applications, as well as for heat exchange applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Daniel P. Leta, Harry W. Deckman, Peter I. Ravikovitch, Bruce A. Derites
  • Publication number: 20140060326
    Abstract: The invention relates to an increased efficiency high-capacity pressure and/or temperature swing adsorption process comprising: contacting a feedstream at a rate of more than 75 MSCFD with an adsorbent material under conditions sufficient for the adsorbent material to selectively adsorb at least one of the component gases in the feedstream, so as to form a first effluent; and selectively desorbing the adsorbed gas from the adsorption material, so as to form a second effluent The adsorption module can contain rotary valves both on the feed end and on the product end and a rotational member defining a central rotational axis, with the adsorption bed(s) oriented circumferentially thereto. The adsorption bed walls can be angled, the feed end cross-sectional area of the adsorption bed(s) can be larger than the product end, and/or the feed end rotary valve diameter of the module(s) can be larger than the product end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventor: NARASIMHAN SUNDARAM
  • Patent number: 8658120
    Abstract: Disclosed is a non-thermofusible phenol resin powder having an average particle diameter of not more than 20 ?m and a single particle ratio of not less than 0.7. This non-thermofusible phenol resin powder preferably has a chlorine content of not more than 500 ppm. This non-thermofusible phenol resin powder is useful as an organic filler for sealing materials for semiconductors and adhesives for semiconductors. The non-thermofusible phenol resin powder is also useful as a precursor of functional carbon materials such as a molecular sieve carbon and a carbon electrode material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Air Water Inc.
    Inventors: Naoto Yoshinaga, Satoshi Ibaraki, Yoshinobu Kodani, Takaomi Ikeda
  • Publication number: 20140026750
    Abstract: For separating carbon dioxide (CO2) from a gas stream, a substantially moisture free gas stream is produced using a first temperature swing adsorption (TSA), a first pressure swing adsorption (PSA), a first vacuum swing adsorption (VSA), membrane separation, a first absorption, or any combination thereof. CO2 is captured from the substantially moisture free gas stream and substantially dry CO2 depleted stream is produced using a second TSA, a second PSA, a second VSA, or a second absorption with a non-aqueous solvent with or without a chemical reaction. Adsorbents and/or absorbents used during moisture removal are regenerated using the substantially dry CO2 depleted stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: Innosepra LLC
    Inventor: Ravi Jain
  • Patent number: 8591627
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and system for separating carbon dioxide (CO2) from a CO2 containing gas stream containing water vapor and additional impurities, for example, nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, and mercury. The CO2 is captured by subjecting the CO2 gas feed stream to a temperature swing adsorption step. The temperature swing adsorption step comprises an adsorption step for producing a substantially dry carbon dioxide-depleted stream, and an adsorbent regeneration step comprising heating the adsorbent bed to produce a substantially water vapor-free carbon dioxide stream. Moisture from the gas stream containing CO2 is optionally removed by pressure swing adsorption, temperature swing adsorption, membrane separation, or absorption prior to CO2 capture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Innosepra LLC
    Inventor: Ravi Jain
  • Patent number: 8574347
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a pressure swing adsorption process, also known as PSA process, which is modified with a view to utilizing the heat from the post-adsorption stream coming from the molecular sieves to heat/vaporize the pre-adsorption stream containing the hydrated product or the mixture component(s) to be adsorbed in said sieves. The present invention provides alternative arrangements for the heat exchanger system in order to use the thermal potential of the post-adsorption stream with the elimination or minimization of the risk of a slug flow regime in the exchangers, the so-called “gush,” which would be a natural result from the periodic oscillation characteristic of PSA processes. With this, the vapor consumption with the modified process according to the present invention is considerably reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignees: Siemens LTDA, Dedini S/A Industrias de Base
    Inventors: Adler Gomes Moura, Daniel Moozydlower
  • Patent number: 8535416
    Abstract: A method for the purification of a feed gas stream at a pressure ?3 bar, comprising at least 1% by volume of oxygen (O2) and at least 75% by volume of CO2 and mercury, enabling the mercury to be eliminated is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Philippe Court, Arthur Darde, Vladimir Hasanov, Christian Monereau, Serge Moreau, Jean-Pierre Tranier
  • Publication number: 20130206005
    Abstract: A gas cleaning unit for cleaning a main raw gas stream from a plant comprises a plurality of gas cleaning chambers (34a-c), each gas cleaning chamber (34a-c) equipped with a cleaning chamber inlet (46a-c); an inlet manifold (32), for dividing said main raw gas stream flowing therethrough into a plurality of separate fractional raw gas streams for flow to said cleaning chamber inlets (46a-c); and a plurality of heat exchangers (40a-c), each heat exchanger (40a-c) being located downstream of the inlet manifold (32) for exchanging heat with a respective fractional raw gas stream entering a respective cleaning chamber (34a-c).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD
    Inventors: Anders Kenneth Sorhuus, Odd Edgar Bjarno
  • Patent number: 8500887
    Abstract: The present application provides a protected solid adsorbent that includes a solid adsorbent substrate and a surface layer at least partially coating the solid adsorbent substrate, the surface layer being generally permeable to an active agent. Additionally, a process for protecting a solid adsorbent and an adsorption system that includes a vessel containing the protected solid adsorbent is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Mohsen S. Yeganeh, Bhupender S. Minhas, Sufang Zhao, Tahmid I. Mizan, Richard W. Flynn
  • Patent number: 8500852
    Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems, and devices for carrying out sorption (adsorption and absorption) for separating and/or purifying fluid mixtures are disclosed. Medical oxygen generators, dehumidifying units, sorptive heat pumps, ozone generators and Peltier devices are also disclosed. The sorption methods involve pressure swing operation of at least two sorption units. Energy from the desorbing and decompressing fluid is substantially recovered and used within the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Separation Design Group, LLC
    Inventor: S. Douglas Galbraith
  • Patent number: 8491705
    Abstract: A method for capturing CO2 from the ambient air by the use of solid tethered amine adsorbents, where the amine adsorbents are tethered to a substrate selected from the group of silica, metal oxides and polymer resins. The tethered amines are joined to the substrate by covalent bonding, achieved either by the ring-opening polymerization of aziridine on porous and non-porous supports, or by the reaction of mono-, di-, or tri-aminosilanes, with silica or a metal oxide having hydroxyl surface groups. The method includes the adsorption of CO2 from ambient air, the regeneration of the adsorbent at elevated temperatures not above 120° C. and the separation of purified CO2, followed by recycling of the regenerated tethered adsorbent for further adsorption of CO2 from the ambient atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Inventors: Sunho Choi, Jeffrey H. Drese, Ronald R. Chance, Peter M. Eisenberger, Christopher W. Jones
  • Publication number: 20130152787
    Abstract: A method of temperature swing adsorption allows separation of a first fluid component from a fluid mixture comprising at least the first fluid component in an adsorptive separation system having a parallel passage adsorbent contactor with parallel flow passages having cell walls which include an adsorbent material and axial thermally conductive filaments in direct contact with the adsorbent material. The method provides for transferring heat from the heat of adsorption in a countercurrent direction along at least a portion of the filaments during adsorption and transferring heat in either axial direction along the filaments to provide at least a portion of the heat of desorption during a desorption step. A carbon dioxide TSA separation process to separate carbon dioxide from flue gas also includes steps transferring heat from adsorption or for desorption along axial thermally conductive filaments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: INVENTYS THERMAL TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Andre Boulet, Soheil Khiavi
  • Patent number: 8449650
    Abstract: Gases are stored, separated, and/or concentrated. An electric field is applied across a porous dielectric adsorbent material. A gas component from a gas mixture may be selectively separated inside the energized dielectric. Gas is stored in the energized dielectric for as long as the dielectric is energized. The energized dielectric selectively separates, or concentrates, a gas component of the gas mixture. When the potential is removed, gas from inside the dielectric is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Los Alamos National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Robert P. Currier, Stephen J. Obrey, David J. Devlin, Jose Maria Sansinena
  • Patent number: 8425660
    Abstract: A method by which water may be extracted from the air even without a supply of electricity from a power source or even without a supply of fuel, as well as an apparatus therefor, is disclosed. The apparatus used for the method for extracting water from the air comprises at least a rotatably mounted hygroscopic moisture-absorbing rotor having at least one region through which air can pass in the direction of thickness thereof; a passage for regeneration through which air for regeneration is circulated, of which both ends are opened at the opposing two surfaces of a regeneration region, respectively, the regeneration region being a part of the moisture-absorbing rotor, at which the moisture-absorbing rotor that absorbed moisture is regenerated; and a drain hole for taking out condensed water from the passage for regeneration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Kankyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Ike, Nao Okuhata
  • Patent number: 8388732
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an integrated membrane/adsorbent process and system for removal of carbon dioxide from natural gas on a ship that houses natural gas purification equipment. Additional membrane units or adsorbent beds are used to reduce the amount of product gas that is lost in gas streams that are used to regenerate the adsorbent beds. These systems produce a product stream that meets the specifications of less than 50 parts per million carbon dioxide in natural gas for liquefaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Shain-Jer Doong, Lubo Zhou, Dennis J. Bellville, Mark E. Schott, Leonid Bresler, John M. Foresman
  • Patent number: 8361206
    Abstract: Dessicants employed in dehumidifying moisturized air present within a water-damaged building are themselves dehumidified to liberate collected moisture through the use of heated air vented from an on-site electric generator to be drawn over and about a heat exchanger fired by diesel fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Inventor: Spencer W. Hess
  • Patent number: 8317902
    Abstract: A process for removing polar components from a process stream in a refinery process without cooling the process stream. The process stream is fed to a first adsorber unit to remove contaminants containing sulfur at substantially the same elevated temperature by exposing the process stream to a metal oxide and/or a mixed metal oxide to remove the sulfur containing contaminants and produce a metal sulfide and a desulfurized process stream. The metal sulfide may be regenerated by exposing it to a stream of oxygen and the desulfurized process stream exposed to the regenerated metal/mixed metal oxide to remove moisture from the stream. The stream is then processed within a second adsorber unit to remove nitrogen containing contaminants at substantially the same elevated temperature by exposing the stream to a molecular sieve and/or zeolite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research & Engineering Company
    Inventors: Bhupender S Minhas, Frederick Y. Lo, Ian A Cody, Donald E Stratton
  • Patent number: 8282707
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an integrated membrane/absorbent/adsorbent process and system for removal of mercury and sulfur compounds from natural gas on a ship that houses natural gas purification equipment. First mercury and most of the sulfur compounds are removed by an adsorbent bed and then the natural gas stream passes through a membrane unit to produce a partially purified natural gas residue stream to be dried and then liquefied and a carbon dioxide permeate stream that can be used as a fuel gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Leonid Bresler, John M. Foresman, William I. Echt, Mark E. Schott
  • Patent number: 8282787
    Abstract: A system and process for gasification of a carbonaceous feedstock uses pyrolysis to produce a gas product, which may include methane, ethane, and other desirable hydrocarbon gases, and a solids product, which includes activated carbon or carbon. The gas product may then be filtered using at least a portion of the activated carbon from the solids product as a filtering medium. In an embodiment, at least some of the noxious chemicals are sequestered or removed from the gas product in one or more filtering steps using the activated carbon as a filtering medium. In a further embodiment, the filtering steps are performed in stages using activated carbon at different temperatures. A high-temperature pyrolysis system that produces activated carbon may be combined with another high-temperature pyrolysis system that does not produce activated carbon to provide filtering of noxious compounds using activated carbon from the first high-temperature pyrolysis system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Inventor: Richard D. Tucker
  • Patent number: 8262773
    Abstract: An improved method is provided for removing contaminants from a hydrocarbon stream, such as a stream of raw natural gas. The contaminated hydrocarbon stream is passed through a first adsorbent bed containing molecular sieves to adsorb contaminants on the molecular sieves, thereby removing at least some of the contaminants from the hydrocarbon stream. The contaminated hydrocarbon stream may optionally be passed through a second adsorbent bed containing a desiccant material other than molecular sieves. The molecular sieves are regenerated using a wet regeneration process in which both the water content and temperature of the regeneration fluid stream are staged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: P. Scott Northrop, Francis S. Wu, Margaret Wu, legal representative, Narasimhan Sundaram
  • Publication number: 20120222554
    Abstract: Novel adsorbent contactors and methods are disclosed herein for use in temperature swing adsorption for gas separation applications, as well as for heat exchange applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Daniel P. Leta, Harry W. Deckman, Peter I. Ravikovitch, Bruce A. Derites
  • Patent number: 8257474
    Abstract: The various embodiments of the present invention relate to compositions, apparatus, and methods comprising sorbent fibers. More particularly, various embodiments of the present invention are directed towards sorbent fiber compositions for temperature swing adsorption processes. Various embodiments of the present invention comprise sorbent fiber compositions, apparatus comprising a plurality of sorbent fibers, and methods of using the same for the capture of at least one component from a medium, for example CO2 from flue gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignees: Georgia Tech Research Corporation, ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Ryan Lively, Ronald R. Chance, William J. Koros, Harry W. Deckman, Bruce T. Kelley
  • Patent number: 8252089
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and device for compressing and drying a gas flow rich in carbon dioxide, for example containing more than 50 mol % of carbon dioxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Tranier, Arthur Darde, Jean-François Rauch, Dominique Antonio, Christophe Michel
  • Publication number: 20120210871
    Abstract: Systems and methods for processing methane and other gases are disclosed. A representative method in accordance with one embodiment includes directing a first portion of a gas stream through a first adsorbent while exchanging heat between a second adsorbent and a third adsorbent. The method can further include directing a second portion of the gas stream through the third adsorbent while exchanging heat between the first and second adsorbents. The method can still further include directing a third portion of the gas stream through the second adsorbent while exchanging heat between the first and third adsorbents. In further particular aspects, the adsorbent can be used to remove carbon dioxide from a flow of methane. In other particular aspects, a heat exchange fluid that is not in direct contact with the adsorbents is used to transfer heat among the adsorbents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: Prometheus Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John A. Barclay, Michael A. Barclay
  • Patent number: 8241399
    Abstract: A method of generating heat from a gas stream includes providing a first gas stream having a first temperature and a moisture content approximately saturating the gas stream, removing the moisture content from the first gas stream to form a second gas stream having a second temperature greater than the first temperature of the first gas stream, and heat exchanging the second gas stream having the second temperature greater than the first temperature of the first gas stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Inventor: Walter Albers
  • Patent number: 8226746
    Abstract: Systems and processes are provided that relate to the recovery of sorbates in processes utilizing temperature controlled adsorption. Sorbate recovery can include providing a temperature controlled adsorber that is undergoing a regeneration cycle after undergoing an adsorption cycle. The temperature controlled adsorber can have one or more adsorption flow passages and one or more heat transfer flow passages. The one or more adsorption flow passages can contain an adsorptive material coating with a sorbate adsorbed thereto. A heating fluid can be provided to the one or more heat transfer flow passages of the temperature controlled adsorber. A regeneration stream can be provided to the one or more adsorption flow passages of the temperature controlled adsorber. The adsorptive material coating can be regenerated by removing the sorbate from the temperature controlled adsorber to produce a regeneration effluent stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Stephen R. Dunne, David A. Wegerer
  • Patent number: 8221526
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for purifying or separating a supply gas flow containing at least one impurity, in which: a) said supply gas flow is contacted with a first adsorbent for the adsorption-removal of at least one said impurity; b) recovering said purified or separated gas; c) heating a regeneration gas containing at least hydrogen (H2) and carbon monoxide (CO) using a heater having a skin temperature (T1) of between 150° C. and 200° C. during the gas heating phase; and d) periodically regenerating the adsorbent of step a) with the regeneration gas heated during step c) at a regeneration temperature (T2) such that: T2=T1??T with 5° C.<?T<50° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Christian Monereau, Guillaume Rodrigues, Simon Jallais
  • Publication number: 20120118151
    Abstract: In the method according to the invention for separating mercury from waste gases of a cement production process, the mercury is sorbed on a sorbent, the sorbent is subsequently discharged from the process and supplied to a discharge reactor which is operated with a carrier gas. The sorbent is heated there to temperatures of more than 250° C. so that the mercury is discharged from the sorbent and changed into the gas phase, the gas of the discharge reactor that has accumulated mercury subsequently having the dust removed from it in a preliminary dust removal device, and only a part-flow of the gas which has been enriched and had the dust removed from it in this manner being drawn off at high temperatures and cleaned in a subsequent sorption stage, whilst the remaining part-flow is brought to the temperature required for the discharge of the mercury in the discharge reactor in a heat transfer system and is again supplied as a carrier gas to the discharge reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Inventors: Dietmar Schulz, Ludger Brentrup, Karl Menzel, Reinhard Beilmann, Detlev Kupper, Mark Terry
  • Patent number: 8157892
    Abstract: Systems and methods for circulating air in an enclosed environment are disclosed. An inlet can be provided to receive an outside air from outside of the enclosed environment and an air handling unit coupled to the inlet to receive the outside air through the inlet and configured to receive a circulated air from the enclosed environment. The air handling unit can be configured to affect a temperature of at least one of the received outside air and the received circulated air. Based on the received outside air and the received circulated air, the air handling unit can be further configured to generate air for supplying to the enclosed environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Enverid Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Udi Meirav
  • Publication number: 20120042689
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a process for purifying a natural gas by using first and second adsorbers. The process may include passing a feed including the natural gas through the first adsorber to obtain a purified natural gas product, regenerating the second adsorber in a heating stage, and regenerating the second adsorber in a cooling stage. The heating stage may include separating a portion of the feed comprised in a regeneration gas, passing the regeneration gas to a dryer for removing water, heating the regeneration gas with a heater after exiting the dryer, and passing the regeneration gas to the second adsorber to regenerate the second adsorber. The cooling stage may include expelling at initiation of cooling at least a part of a fluid present in the second adsorber to the dryer to desorb water from a molecular sieve in the dryer, and cooling the second adsorber by circulating the regeneration gas bypassing the heater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2010
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: UOP, LLC
    Inventors: Leonid Bresler, Cedric Freeman, Keith R. Clark