Sweep Gas Used Patents (Class 95/122)
  • Patent number: 11951436
    Abstract: An adsorption system is placed in an air passage used to supply air to a room. The adsorption system includes an adsorption section that adsorbs a target substance except water, and a reduction section that reduces accumulation of moisture in the adsorption section. An adsorbent used in the adsorption section contains a metal-organic framework. The reduction section includes a heating element that heats the adsorption section and evaporates moisture in air that has flowed into the adsorption section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Maeda, Shuji Ikegami
  • Patent number: 11904292
    Abstract: An adsorbent system including an enclosure having a cavity defining a humidity-controlled environment and a body having or defining a channel therein. The body is coupled to the enclosure such that a first end of the channel is in selective fluid communication with an ambient environment and a second end of the channel is in fluid communication with the humidity-controlled environment. The system further includes an adsorbent material in the channel, wherein the channel and adsorbent material are configured such that inlet fluid flowing from the first end to the second end through the channel is flowable over at least a portion of the adsorbent material, and such that outlet fluid flowing from the second end to the first end is directly flowable over a majority of the portion of the adsorbent material that is flowable over by the inlet fluid, The system further includes a valve system positioned at or adjacent to or in fluid communication with the first end of the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: FLOW DRY TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: David V. Flaugher, Jason K. Ward, Charles E. Dinkler, II
  • Patent number: 11892192
    Abstract: A system and method for separating humidity control from temperature control and utilizing multiple energy storage sub-systems to reduce overall energy consumption, and more generally to cool and dehumidify ambient air using such a multitude of energy storage mediums, including electricity, water, moisture and thermal storage The system uses a primary cooling sub-system such as a vapor compressor in combination with one or more energy storage sub-systems to store energy during one period of operation for later use during another period of operation based on an algorithm that determines the most cost efficient or energy efficient usage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Transaera, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew H. Dorson, Ross Bonner, Sorin Grama, Alexander MacFarlane
  • Patent number: 11857917
    Abstract: Method for drying compressed gas by means of a drying device with an inlet for the compressed gas to be dried and an outlet for the dried compressed gas. The drying device includes at least two vessels filled with a regenerable desiccant and an adjustable valve system including a first valve block and a second valve block that connects the inlet, respectively outlet, to the vessels. The adjustable valve system is being regulated as such that at least one vessel will dry compressed gas, while the other vessel will be regenerated and cooled successively, wherein by regulation of the valve system the vessels will each in turn dry compressed gas. The method includes calculating the time period (tads) during which a vessel (2) dries compressed gas, calculated on the basis of a (tads) formula tads=A*B.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: ATLAS COPCO AIRPOWER, NAAMLOZE VENNOOTSCHAP
    Inventor: Hans Maria Karel Hermans
  • Patent number: 11840990
    Abstract: A fuel vapor treatment apparatus includes a controller configured to detect an abnormality in at least one of a first check valve, a second check valve, a second purge passage, a charging passage, and an ejector based on pressure detected by a pressure detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tatsuhiko Akita
  • Patent number: 11786689
    Abstract: A portable oxygen concentrator designed for medical use where the adsorbent beds, are designed to be replaced by a patient. The concentrator is designed so that the power supply and adsorbent bed mount is one module and the compressor and air filter are part of another module configured to provide a unitary cooling and air supply system. Replacement beds may be installed easily by patients, and all gas seals will function properly after installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Inogen, Inc.
    Inventors: Brenton Alan Taylor, Peter Hansen, John Russell Stump, Patrick Fitzlindon Burgess, Daniel Wayne Chin
  • Patent number: 11717786
    Abstract: The current disclosure provides systems and methods for multiple beds undergoing a feed step at the same time with the same feed flow rate and multiple beds undergoing a light reflux step at the same time with the same light reflux flow rate to process a gas stream in a multi-bed, multi-unit vacuum swing adsorption (VSA) process using reasonably sized beds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: University of South Carolina
    Inventors: James A. Ritter, Armin D. Ebner, Charles E. Holland
  • Patent number: 11708277
    Abstract: A method is described for the synthesis of aluminosilicate CHA framework type molecular sieves at ambient pressure via interzeolite conversion from FAU framework type zeolites.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.
    Inventor: Stacey Ian Zones
  • Patent number: 11679357
    Abstract: Disclosed is a mutual switching type compressed air purification apparatus, comprising a main intake pipe, a main exhaust pipe, two vent valve assemblies, two drying cylinders and a solenoid valve. The main intake pipe is connected to the two vent valve assemblies of which inlet holes are communicated with the corresponding drying cylinders respectively, and air outlets of the drying cylinders are respectively connected to the main exhaust pipe. The solenoid valve is connected to a first pilot air hole of the first vent valve assembly, and also connected to a second pilot air hole of the second vent valve assembly to control the opening and closing of the vent valves, and valve cores of the solenoid valve are switched between a first valve position and a second valve position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: ZHUHAI HECA PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
    Inventor: Yu Zhang
  • Patent number: 11395986
    Abstract: Drying compressed air while utilizing a method for preemptive overload avoidance of moisture to a desiccant bed, including a recovery control process. The method may include a purge means, an initialization period for pre-learning to develop usage-profile log performance summary to compare against real-time data and a protocol for a normal state, a recovery state and a supplemental purge state and means to reestablish normal operations. A procedure for standby and overload alarm alerting states are also described. The purge means may be fixed rate or modulating. The system may have cycle times decrementing or incrementing stepwise in a predetermined or varying time frame to respond to on-going trending data in order to correct imbalance loading conditions by adjusting drying and regenerating cycle times, thus affording a stable delivery of quality dewpoint compressed air to the dryer output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Browne, David R. Arno, John A. Carlin, Jeffrey G. Ewers, William G. Schultz, III
  • Patent number: 10118122
    Abstract: Methods and systems of collecting carbon dioxide are disclosed. In one example, a method includes removing water from atmospheric air with a condenser and a desiccant material to produce dry air, adsorbing carbon dioxide to a material from the dry air, releasing the adsorbed carbon dioxide to a vacuum chamber, and transitioning the released carbon dioxide from a gas to a solid in the vacuum chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Anthony M. DiCenzo, Joseph P. Bruschi, James G. Parlett, Douglas Anthony Galasso, Tab Hunter Crooks
  • Patent number: 10046371
    Abstract: The substrate treating apparatus includes a process chamber in which an organic solvent remaining on a substrate is dissolved by using a fluid, that is provided as a supercritical fluid, to dry the substrate and a recycling unit including a recycler separating the organic solvent from the fluid discharged from the process chamber to recycle the fluid. The recycler includes a column having a space in which an absorbent for absorbing the organic solvent is stored, a supply tube supplying the fluid discharged from the process chamber into the space of the column, a discharge tube discharging the fluid from which the organic solvent is separated in the column, a gas supply tube supplying a purge gas into the column so that the organic solvent is separated from the absorbent, and an exhaust tube exhausting the purge gas containing the organic solvent to the outside of the column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Semes Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eun-Sun Jung, Woo-Young Kim, Chan-youn Heo
  • Patent number: 10017257
    Abstract: An environmental control system (ECS) includes an air conditioning pack that receives outside air; a regenerative treatment subsystem, wherein the treatment subsystem includes a treatment bed configured to cycle between an adsorption phase and a desorption phase; and a fan that receives recirculated air from the environment and moves the recirculated air to a mixing manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Jan Ludvik, Peter M Michalakos
  • Patent number: 9932234
    Abstract: A membrane-based air separation module includes an inlet configured to receive supply air, a first hollow fiber membrane configured to substantially remove water from the supply air to form an anhydrous air stream, and a permeate port configured to exhaust the water removed by the first hollow fiber membrane from the air separation module. The air separation module also includes a second hollow fiber membrane positioned downstream of the first hollow fiber membrane configured to receive the anhydrous air stream and substantially remove oxygen from the anhydrous air stream, an oxygen-enriched air outlet configured to exhaust the oxygen removed by the second hollow fiber membrane from the air separation module, and a nitrogen-enriched air outlet configured to supply a stream of nitrogen-enriched air to a fuel tank of an aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Robert Daniello
  • Patent number: 9803778
    Abstract: An air dryer having a heater element associated with its valves to prevent freezing at cold temperatures. The air dryer includes a temperature sensor and an electronic controller that reads the temperature sensor and inhibits actuation of the valves whenever the temperature of valves is below freezing or a predetermined temperature that indicates a risk for freezing until the valves have been sufficiently warmed by the heater to avoid freezing during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: NEW YORK AIR BRAKE, LLC
    Inventor: Eric C. Wright
  • Patent number: 9744496
    Abstract: A method for controlling an adsorption dryer for the treatment of compressed gas includes vessels therein and a valve arrangement for selectively feeding upstream compressed gas to, and outputting dried downstream compressed gas from, the vessels. Compressed gas is fed to at least one of the vessels in a process phase for drying the compressed gas through liquid adsorption by the desiccant bed and removing the adsorbed liquid from the bed in the vessels in a regeneration phase. An ambient value occurring outside both the vessels and downstream compressed gas output is measured. Additional steps include determining a characteristic value based on the measured ambient value, matching the value to criteria associated with stored regeneration phase parameter settings, determining a regeneration phase parameter setting based on the matching of the value, and applying the parameter setting to the regeneration phase for setting a parameter of the regeneration phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: BEKO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Cullen Guy Chrivia, Tilo Fruth, John Saunders
  • Patent number: 9718022
    Abstract: A device for producing purified oxygen, has a feed (1, 1?) of a mixture of oxygen and argon, and has at least one bed (2, 2A, 2B) of oxygen adsorption material, a purge (3, 3?) for discharging the separated argon and a circuit (4, 4?) for injecting a portion of the purified oxygen produced, into the feed (1, 1?). The device has a programmable logic controller (PLC) for treating the degree of purity and/or the production flow rate that can be set by the user and a control of said purge (3, 3?) as a function of the degree of purity of the purified oxygen and/or of the production flow rate which are desired by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Inventors: Bernard Zenou, Laurent Zenou
  • Patent number: 9644893
    Abstract: A control system for an air dryer that switches the flow and counter flow of air through each of two desiccant towers in response to a drying cycle period that is proportional to the saturation partial pressure of water vapor in the inlet air stream as determined by the temperature of the stream of air in the inlet of the air dryer. The system may also include a proximity sensor positioned in the back flow check valve between the first main reservoir and the second main reservoir to further adjust the regeneration cycle period according to the flow rate through the air dryer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: NEW YORK AIR BRAKE, LLC
    Inventors: Eric C. Wright, Richard Kohar
  • Patent number: 9518239
    Abstract: A process for the removal of sulfur compounds from a feed stream. A first separation zone removes sulfur compounds and produces a partially cleaned stream. A first adsorption zone adsorbs the remaining organic sulfur compounds on a regenerable adsorbent a produces a treated gas stream. A portion of the treated gas stream may regenerate the adsorbent in the first adsorption zone by removing organic sulfur compounds. The organic sulfur compound rich stream can be passed to a non-regenerable adsorption zone. The non-regenerable adsorption zone will separate out the organic sulfur compounds and provide a re-treated gas stream which may be recycled to a portion of the process. The non-regenerable adsorption zone may include regenerable adsorbent, but the zone is not operated to regenerate the adsorbent while it is in the non-regenerable adsorption zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Shain-Jer Doong, Jayant Kumar Gorawara, Lubo Zhou
  • Patent number: 9504953
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of separating oxygen from an oxygen comprising gas, the method comprising the steps of: performing at least a first and a second period of oxygen separation, the first and the second period of oxygen separation each comprising the steps of guiding an oxygen comprising gas to the primary side of an oxygen separation device (12, 14), the oxygen separation device (12, 14) comprising an oxygen separation sorbent (16, 18), and generating a flow of oxygen enriched gas out of the oxygen separation device (12, 14) by creating a pressure difference between the primary side and the secondary side of the oxygen separation device (12, 14), and performing a cooling period between the first and the second period of oxygen separation, wherein the cooling period comprises the steps of guiding a flushing sorbate through the oxygen separation device (12, 14), the flushing sorbate having an adsorption energy e1 with respect to the oxygen separation sorbent (16, 18), and guiding a cooling sorbat
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Rainer Hilbig, Achim Gerhard Rolf Koerber, Paul Van Der Sluis, Mareike Klee, Wilhelmus Cornelis Keur
  • Patent number: 9463413
    Abstract: A hollow fiber adsorbent compressed dry air system including an intake unit, a first adsorption/regeneration unit, a second adsorption/regeneration unit, a switch unit and an exhaust unit is disclosed. The first adsorption/regeneration unit has a hollow fiber adsorbent housing and a heating device disposed in the surrounding of the adsorbent housing. The second adsorption/regeneration unit has another hollow fiber adsorbent housing and another heating device disposed in the surrounding of the another adsorbent housing. One of the hollow fiber adsorbent housings performs drying procedure to the compressed air in the room temperature, and the other hollow fiber adsorbent housing, when heated by the heating device thereof, performs a desorption regeneration procedure in a high temperature condition. The switch unit alternately switches the drying procedure and the desorption regeneration procedure to the first adsorption/regeneration unit and the second adsorption/regeneration unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Chin-Chih Tai, Chien-Hung Chen, Yun-Hsin Wang
  • Patent number: 9429359
    Abstract: A method for drying a wet CO2 rich gas stream from an oxy-combustion process that includes: compressing the wet CO2 rich gas stream to a drying process operating pressure, cooling the wet CO2 rich gas stream in at least one cooler, alternately drying the wet CO2 rich gas stream in at least one dryer which contains at least one desiccant bed and regenerating the desiccant bed by conducting a heated regenerating gas through the dryer in opposite direction to the flow direction of the wet CO2 rich gas stream, separating the dried CO2 rich gas stream in a purification process to a purified CO2 gas stream and a waste gas stream rich in nitrogen and oxygen, whereby the waste gas stream rich in nitrogen and oxygen is used as regenerating gas, and subsequently to the regeneration the dryer is purged at least once by a pressurized CO2 rich gas stream conducted from the compressor, and whereby the dryer is charged up to the drying process operating pressure with a pressurized CO2 rich gas stream conducted from the comp
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Olaf Stallmann, Markus Joerg Weitzel
  • Patent number: 9403116
    Abstract: A regenerative scrubber system is provided for removing a selected gas from an atmosphere within a closed environment. The scrubber system includes a scrubber module having a first scrubber and a second scrubber, each housing a porous mass of regenerative adsorbent material for adsorbing the selected gas, a first flow diversion device disposed upstream of the scrubber module with respect to the gaseous flow from the closed environment, a second flow diversion device disposed downstream of the scrubber with respect to the gaseous flow from the closed environment, and a single actuator operatively associated with each of the first flow diversion device and the second flow diversion device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventor: Malcolm N. Fleming, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9375673
    Abstract: A CO2 separation unit for recovering CO2 from a CO2-containing gas by using a solid CO2 capturing material, in which the amount of used steam is decreased: the unit comprising a capturing material container, a first pipeline for allowing the CO2-containing gas to flow therethrough into the capturing material container, a second pipeline for allowing a gas from which CO2 has been removed to be discharged therethrough, a third pipeline for introducing a steam-containing gas to the inside of the capturing material container, a fourth pipeline for allowing a desorbed CO2-containing gas to be discharged therethrough, wherein the unit further includes a compressor for compressing steam, a fifth pipeline for connecting the capturing material container with a suction port of the compressor, and a sixth pipeline for connecting a discharge port of the compressor with the third pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kohei Yoshikawa, Hiroki Sato, Masato Kaneeda, Shuichi Kanno, Hisayuki Orita
  • Patent number: 8986433
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and process for effectively purging desiccant air dryer systems from moisture load, by a ‘deep cooling’ regeneration means with the use of a primary high heating and a secondary low heating blower purge air flows, a heater discharge temperature set point, and a bottom area bed temperature of a vessel containing desiccant. The system of an improved heat regenerating desiccant compressed air dryer having means to terminate heating operations as well as cooling and dry purge operations allowing for the newly regenerated tower vessel to come back on-line for a compressed air drying cycle without negative effects of dew point bumps and outlet heat spike. Such dryer system delivers a high confidence of dried compressed air while saving energy, unnecessary cycling of heater and contactors and time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Inventor: John A. Carlin
  • 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: 8888893
    Abstract: A method is provided for reclaiming an evaporated liquid from an air stream including transferring the evaporated liquid from a first quantity of air into a second quantity of air, wherein the second quantity of air is smaller than the first quantity of air. A device for performing the method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Karlsruher Institut für Technologie
    Inventor: Bernhard Lenz
  • Publication number: 20140260978
    Abstract: Provided is an air drying system that includes a desiccant container including desiccant material for removing moisture from a pressurized air stream directed through the container in a first direction, a heater coupled to the container for selectively providing heated air to the container in a second direction opposite the first direction, and an air source coupled to the container for selectively providing cooled air to the container in the first direction. By introducing the cooled air in the opposite direction as the heated air, the duration of the cooling can be extended to allow for further removal of adsorbed moisture from the desiccant, thereby lowering the dew point. The extended duration of cooling also allows for additional removal of heat from the desiccant container to minimize heat spikes when the desiccant container is switched to the adsorbing cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: PARKER-HANNIFIN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Daniel Blaszkowiak
  • Patent number: 8753429
    Abstract: An aircraft fuel tank ventilation system includes a dehumidifying device disposed in flow communication between a vent open to the atmosphere and a fuel tank. A method of dehumidifying air introduced into an aircraft fuel tank via a ventilation system includes directing atmospheric air through a dehumidifying device disposed in flow communication between a vent of the ventilation system and the fuel tank, which removes water vapor from the air flowing from the vent towards the fuel tank. A method of regenerating a desiccant medium used to dehumidify air introduced into an aircraft fuel tank via a ventilation system includes directing air through the desiccant medium so as to dry the desiccant medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Operations Limited
    Inventors: Joseph K-W Lam, David Parmenter, Simon Masters
  • Patent number: 8734570
    Abstract: A pressure or vacuum swing adsorption process for separating water from solvent utilizing molecular sieves and regenerating the molecular sieve by passing non-condensable recycled gas along the molecular sieve, capturing the recycled gas and using the recycled gas again to repeat regeneration of the molecular sieve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Wintek Corporation
    Inventor: Paul M. Winter
  • Publication number: 20130305922
    Abstract: A gas-dehumidification method can include passing a humid gas stream through a water-sorbing sorbent comprising a microporous coordination polymer or derivative thereof, wherein the sorbent sorbs water from the passing humid gas stream to produce a water-sorbed sorbent and a dehumidified gas stream. The method can further include passing a drying gas through the water-sorbed sorbent under conditions sufficient to desorb the water and to regenerate the water-sorbing sorbent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Adam J. MATZGER, Antek G. Wong-Foy, Ping Guo
  • Patent number: 8580013
    Abstract: An air dryer cartridge is provided for a compressed air supply system, in particular a compressed air supply system of a commercial vehicle, with a drying agent box which is filled with a drying agent. The drying agent box can be coupled in an axial direction to a connecting flange of the compressed air supply system. A seal, which is designed as a non-return valve and, in the fitted state of the air dryer cartridge, acts in a sealing manner between the drying agent box and the connecting flange, is arranged on the drying agent box. A method for operating the air dryer cartridge on the compressed air supply system is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: KNORR-BREMSE Systeme fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventor: Eduard Hilberer
  • Patent number: 8460434
    Abstract: A process is provided for recovering methane from landfill feed gas and other anaerobic digestors. The process comprising the following steps: firstly treating the feed gas to remove H2S; subsequently compressing the gas; and then treating the gas to remove further impurities. Additionally, there is provided a chiller for reducing the temperature of a gas flow. The chiller comprising: a shell arranged to be chilled, a plurality of bores through the shell and through which the gas flows, in use, and forming, together with the shell, a heat exchanger, a tangential inlet to each bore for creating a spiral flow of the gas through the bore, in use. Furthermore, a process is provided for purifying a gas feed using a reversible gas absorber unit comprising two hollow fiber gas/liquid contactors, each of which is arranged to provide a counter-current flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Gasrec Limited
    Inventors: Andrew Derek Turner, George Cutts, Richard John Lilleystone
  • Patent number: 8453474
    Abstract: A vehicle air handling system includes an air handler, a desiccant assembly and a regeneration mechanism. The air handler has an air inlet configured to receive airflow into the air handler and an air outlet configured to direct the airflow from the air handler to a passenger compartment of a vehicle. The desiccant assembly is installed in a fixed non-movable orientation within the air handler. The desiccant assembly is configured to absorb moisture from the airflow and is disposed between the air inlet and the air outlet. The desiccant assembly includes a first flow path and a second flow path separated from one another such that the airflow passes through the first flow path. The regeneration mechanism is in fluid communication with the second air flow path of the desiccant assembly and is configured to remove moisture from the airflow passing through the desiccant assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald S. Eisenhour
  • 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: 8211211
    Abstract: Methane product gas is produced from landfill gas and gob gas either by a three-stage process of PSA-TSA-PSA or PSA-PSA-PSA, or a two-stage process of PSA-PSA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Kent S. Knaebel & Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: Kent S. Knaebel
  • Patent number: 8070854
    Abstract: In a method for removing moisture from an optical system at high altitude, the improvement comprises using the difference in flow resistance between the desiccant path and the optical cavity path to enable airflow through the desiccant unit and not through the optical path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventors: Kazimierz T. Grzeslak, Jason Stockwell
  • Patent number: 7927402
    Abstract: In a method for removing moisture from an optical system at high altitude, the improvement comprises using the difference in flow resistance between the desiccant path and the optical cavity path to enable airflow through the desiccant unit and not through the optical path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventors: Kazimierz T. Grzeslak, Jason Stockwell
  • Patent number: 7922790
    Abstract: Compressor device having a compressor (2) with an inlet (3) and an outlet (4); a compressed air line (5) which connects the outlet (4) of the compressor (2) to a user network (6); a drier (7) which is incorporated in the compressed air line (5) and which includes at least two air receivers (13-16) which are each provided with an inlet (14) and an outlet (15) and which are filled with desiccant or drying agent, which air receivers (13-16) work alternately, such that while one air receiver (13) is drying the compressed gas, the other air receiver (16) is regenerated; and a blow-off device (28) for blowing off at least a part of the gas compressed by the compressor when the compressor (2) works in no-load or in partial load, characterized in that mechanisms are provided which make it possible to guide the part of the compressed gas which is blown off via the blow-off device (28) through the regenerating air receiver (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Atlas Copco Airpower Naamloze Vennootschap
    Inventor: Danny Etienne Andrée Vertriest
  • Publication number: 20110017061
    Abstract: The invention provides a process for the regeneration of at least one adsorbent bed, comprising at least the steps of: (a) contacting a first adsorbent bed (B1) with a gaseous stream (10) such that at least a portion of adsorbed species in said first adsorbent bed (B1) are released; (b) cooling a second adsorbent bed (B2); wherein a bypass (20) is provided around the second adsorbent bed (B2) and the gaseous stream (10), before contact with the first adsorbent bed (B1), is directed to at least one of (i) the second adsorbent bed (B2), and (ii) the bypass (20) around the second adsorbent bed (B2), wherein the proportion of gaseous stream (10) flowing through the bypass (20) is controlled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Inventor: Anders Carlsson
  • Patent number: 7789942
    Abstract: Method for drying gas coming from a compressor (2), which is directed through a drier (5) of the type which consists of an air receiver (6) and a drying element (9) in the form of a rotor in which has been provided an adsorption and/or absorption medium (10) which is alternately guided through a drying zone (7) and a regeneration zone (8) of the air receiver (6), whereby during periods of standstill or of idle running of the compressor (2) a gas flow is guided counterflow through the adsorption and/or absorption medium (10) in the drying zone (7), i.e. in a flow direction (P) from the outlet (22) to the inlet (15) of the drying zone (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: ATLAS COPCO AIRPOWER, naamloze vennootschap
    Inventors: Bart Etienne Agnes Vanderstraeten, Reinoud Luk Herwig Neefs
  • Patent number: 7452406
    Abstract: A pressure swing adsorption (PSA) dryer for separating water and carbon dioxide from a gas stream includes two compound adsorbent columns [32, 42]. Each column comprises a primary adsorption material for adsorbing water and a secondary adsorbent that adsorbs carbon dioxide. The secondary adsorbent comprises a solid amine. The secondary adsorbent may be, for example, a highly porous polystyrene matrix with amine groups bonded to the porous resin structure. Preferably, a mixture of the primary and secondary adsorbent materials forms an intermediate layer [38, 48] sandwiched between a top layer [34, 44] and bottom layer [36, 46] of pure water adsorbent material in each of the columns [32, 42].
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: MMR Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: William A. Little, Sam Spektor
  • Patent number: 7332017
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods useful for removal or reduction of moisture from fluids are described. In one embodiment the apparatus comprises a moisture separation unit comprising a thermally regenerable moisture adsorption material having feed and waste sides, and means for regenerating the thermally regenerable moisture adsorption material. The feed fluid contacts the feed side, while a dry, preferably heated purge gas flows past the waste side. The thermally regenerable moisture adsorption material is regenerated by contacting with the heated dry purge gas. The apparatus and methods are particularly useful in supplying dehydrated electronic specialty gases to semiconductor tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Ravi Jain
  • Patent number: 7311758
    Abstract: The raw natural gas is deacidized and dehydrated in units DA and DH. The treated gas is then purified by adsorption of the mercaptans in first enclosure A1. Part of the purified gas is heated in E1, then fed into second enclosure A2 so as to discharge the water adsorbed by the adsorbent material contained in this second enclosure. A water-laden purge gas is fed into third enclosure A3 containing a mercaptan-laden adsorbent material. In A3, the mercaptans are desorbed and replaced by the water. The gas from the third enclosure is washed in unit L, then recycled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Michel Thomas, Eszter Toth, Fabrice Lecomte, Géraldine Laborie, Chantal Rigaill
  • Patent number: 7179320
    Abstract: A method to desorb water from a desiccant of an air recharge system comprises the steps of a) filling a purge reservoir using an air compressor and a desiccant dryer to produce discharge air, b) stopping the air compressor; c) back purging the desiccant, and d) vent resetting the system, wherein the filling a purge reservoir step does not result in an addition of discharge air to an air storage tank in fluid communication with the purge reservoir and wherein the air storage tank is filled with an amount of the discharge air such that the air storage tank is at a full storage tank pressure prior to filling the purge reservoir. A method of filling an air storage tank of an air recharge system is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventors: Tom Iies, Mike S. Koerner
  • Patent number: 7179324
    Abstract: A three-bed pressure swing adsorption system providing a constant continuous supply gas, preferably containing a hydrogen component, in a multi-step and preferably in a twelve-step, process cycle that can produce a purified gas product, preferably hydrogen, on a constant flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Mohamed Safdar Allie Baksh, Andrew C. Rosinski
  • Patent number: 7000332
    Abstract: A gas drying apparatus is provided having at least two desiccant-containing towers which alternately receive moisture-saturated air from an inlet to be dried during a drying phase, and then receive dry air during a regeneration phase to regenerate the desiccant which had previously adsorbed moisture from saturated air during the drying phase. The apparatus diverts a portion of dry air flowing along one of two flow paths including a first flow path having a heater and a pulse purge regeneration control valve for selectively enabling delivery of heated dry air to the tower being regenerated, and a second flow path which bypasses the first flow path and includes a bypass valve for selectively permitting delivery of unheated dry air to the tower being generated so as to cool the desiccant therein. A temperature sensing arrangement is provided for monitoring and maintaining the internal temperature of heated dry air delivered into the tower being regenerated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Pneumatech, Inc.
    Inventors: Vincent P Fresch, Titus A. Mathews
  • Patent number: 6951581
    Abstract: An air dryer assembly for removing moisture and oil from a compressed air system includes a desiccant material received in a shell for adsorbing moisture as compressed air passes therethrough. A coalescing element is disposed between an inlet and outlet for removing oil aerosols from the compressed air. A check valve is disposed in parallel with the coalescing element and forces the compressed air to pass through the coalescing element as air flows from the inlet to the outlet. During a purge or reverse flow, compressed air bypasses the coalescing element and removes oil collected in the cartridge through the inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
    Inventors: William P. Fornof, James P. Koenig, Leonard Quinn
  • Patent number: 6936091
    Abstract: A valve assembly for use in a gas purification system having a plurality of vessels each having a first port opening and a second port opening. The gas purification system includes a first valve element having a first aperture to selectively connect a first port opening of a vessel to an outlet of the first valve element. The gas purification system also includes a second valve element having a second aperture to selectively connect a second port opening of a vessel to an input of the second valve element. Also provided are a motor adapted to rotate continuously and a converting mechanism that converts continuous movement of the motor into intermittent movement. The first and second valve elements are intermittently moved by the motor and the converting mechanism such that the intermittent movement changes the vessel connected to the second aperture and the vessel connected to the first aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Metso Automation USA, Inc.
    Inventor: David Bayreuther
  • Patent number: 6929680
    Abstract: A process for concentrating and recovering methane and carbon dioxide from landfill gas includes absorption of commonly occurring pollutants using a carbon dioxide absorbent which itself may be in situ recoverable constituent. Separated methane is concentrated into a high heating value fuel, and a carbon dioxide product may also be recovered. Process streams may be used to provide fuel for compression and refrigeration and to regenerate carbon dioxide absorbent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Consortium Services Management Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Tadeush Krushnevych, Olexander Piatnychko