Abstract: Systems and methods for processing food products. One aspect is a system for processing food products including a base member, a vessel member defining a vessel volume, an opening formed through the vessel member, a vessel lip surrounding the opening; a vessel lid connected to the vessel member to substantially seal the opening; a motor shaft, at least one mixing member connected to the motor shaft and within the vessel volume; a motor connected to the motor shaft; and grinding media within the vessel volume for grinding and mixing food products, where energizing the motor urges the motor shaft and the at least one mixing member to rotate within the vessel volume to agitate the grinding media; and where the grinding media includes first grinding media and second grinding media.

Abstract: An atmospheric water harvesting material includes a deliquescent salt, a photothermal agent, and a polymeric hydrogel matrix containing the deliquescent salt and photothermal agent.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a filter and an exhaust duct. The filter filters and ejects an air. The exhaust duct flows and ejects the air to the filter. The exhaust duct also includes a plurality of partition plates alternately arranged along an exhaust direction on one side inner face and another side inner face facing to each other. The plurality of the partition plates has the partition plate formed so as to incline in an opposite direction to the exhaust direction.

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.

Abstract: A process for removing heavy hydrocarbons from a natural gas stream comprises passing the natural gas stream thought a TSA adsorbent unit to adsorb heavy hydrocarbons, regenerating the TSA adsorbent by heating to form a contaminant-containing gas phase, cooling the contaminated gas phase to separate water and heavy hydrocarbon liquids to form a third gas phase and directing the third gas phase to a PSA unit to adsorb heavy hydrocarbons from the third gas phase. The product from the PSA unit can be sent to pipeline or recycled to the TSA unit for further hydrocarbon removal and recovery.

Abstract: The invention includes a process which eliminates or reduces the CO2 emissions from a steam methane reforming and autothermal reforming plant. The process preferentially uses temperature swing adsorption units which are employed to purify the hydrogen stream instead of more conventional solvent based aMDEA plants to remove the CO2 from the gas stream when creating a higher purity hydrogen stream.

Abstract: In a method for adsorptively drying purified biogas and regenerating laden absorbents, foreign matter is not allowed to enter the purified biogas, the content of methane in the gas remains virtually unchanged and the effort involved in regenerating the laden adsorbent is reduced. Drying and regeneration are effected in a closed biogas cycle, wherein separate layers based on silica gel and molecular sieves are used as the adsorbent. The biogas to be dried first flows through the silica gel layer. The adsorbent is regenerated with exclusively heated, dried biomethane having a temperature of up to 150° C. which, after contact with adsorbent, is recirculated to the outflow of purified biogas. After regeneration, the bed is cooled by biomethane, which is subsequently recirculated to the outflow of purified biogas. Methane-containing water accumulating during drying and regeneration is recirculated to the biogas generation and/or purification.

Abstract: Device for compressing and drying gas includes a compressor and a dryer using a drying agent for drying gas connected thereto. The compressor includes two or more compressor elements with an inlet and an outlet which are connected together in series to form a first low-pressure stage. One or more subsequent high-pressure stages are each connected with their inlet to the outlet of a previous compressor element via a pressure pipe and an outlet pipe in which an after cooler is incorporated. The dryer has a drying section and a regeneration section. The drying section is filled with a drying agent for drying the gas and has an inlet connected to the outlet pipe of the compressor device, and an outlet that supplies compressed and dried gas. The regeneration section dries moist drying agent by a regeneration gas which is guided there via an inlet and an outlet with a regeneration pipe connected to the inlet.

Abstract: A dew point temperature sensor detects and sends the dew point temperature of the supply air to a dry area, as a supply air dew point temperature, to a controller. The controller has a speed of rotation of the regenerating side fan (the regenerating air flow rate) to control, and determines a control value (the regenerating air flow rate) that causes the supply air dew point temperature to go to a target dew point temperature, and determines a supply air processing pre-cooling coil exit temperature setting value in accordance with this control value (where if the control value is in the direction of reducing the regenerating air flow rate, the supply air processing pre-cooling coil exit temperature setting value is increased). Note that what is controlled is the speed of rotation of the desiccant rotors, or the exit temperatures of the air heated by the hot water coils.

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.

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.

Abstract: An adsorption drying apparatus, in particular for drying a compressed gas, includes an adsorption chamber (11) having a plurality of adsorption conduits (101) containing an adsorption material (123), a first feeding line (106) and a first discharging line (109) disposed at a first end (111) of the adsorption chamber (11), and a second feeding line (108) and a second discharging line (107) disposed at a second end (112) of the adsorption chamber (11). The adsorption chamber (11) is rotatable with respect to the feeding and discharging lines (106, 107, 108, 109) so that the adsorption conduits may be fluidically connected in temporal alternation, wherein the gas is dried in a drying sector (102), and the adsorption material (123) is regenerated in the regeneration sector (103). The first feeding line (106) is configured such that the gas stream to be dried may be fed to the regeneration sector (103) as a full flow.

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.

Abstract: A method of purifying or separating a gas using a number of adsorbers on phase-shifted cycles, and more particularly to the purification of atmospheric air, prior to cryogenic separation of the said air by cryogenic distillation is provided. More specifically still, it relates to the purification of air with a TSA cycle using radial adsorbers.

Abstract: The invention provides wind energy use. One application provides wind energy use for water harvesting from natural humid air. The method is based on changing thermodynamic state parameters of ambient wind air portions passed through a device comprising convergent-divergent and wing-like components. Those components transform the ambient wind portions into fast and cooled outflowing air portions. A decrease in static pressure and temperature triggers condensation of water-vapor into water-aerosols. Another application of the method provides an effective mechanism for harvesting electrical energy from naturally warm air using renewable wind energy, including the wind inertia, internal heat, and potential energy stored in the air mass in the Earth's gravitational field. The electrical energy harvesting mechanism is also applicable to use of natural renewable energy of streaming water.

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.

Abstract: Method for drying the compressed gas of a compressor device (1) having at least two pressure stages (4-5), whereby a dryer (3) is used with at least two pressure vessels (9-12) which are filled with a desiccant and which work alternately, such that when one pressure vessel (12) is in action to dry the compressed gas, the other pressure vessel (9) is being regenerated, whereby, in order to regenerate the other pressure vessel (9), at least a part of this compressed gas is guided through the regenerating pressure vessel (9), and at least at the end of the regeneration cycle, this part of the compressed gas, after its passage through the regenerating pressure vessel, is guided to the pressure pipe (6) between two pressure stages (4-5).

Abstract: An autonomous water source (AWS) for extracting water from ambient air and delivering it to a plant to support growth. The system is based on an adsorption-desorption-condensation (ADC) cycle using a sorption material to extract moisture from ambient air and condensing the water vapor driven off from the sorption material by subsequent heating and followed by condensation. Liquid condensate produced in this process on the condenser is collected and delivered by gravity to a plant to reduce thermal stress and to support growth. The invention provides a sustainable source of irrigation water for agriculture and forestry, including areas where no water resources exist or are not economically viable. It can be tailored in size, and therefore, output capacity, reflecting the desired water requirements of a particular application, and can be used to replace most agricultural situations now reliant on surface water drip feed systems.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing hydrogen. The apparatus includes a fuel processor, a purification unit and a system controller. The controller determines a calculated flow of reformate from the fuel processor and operates the purification unit based on the calculated flow. The calculated flow is derived from a process model of the fuel processor and known feed(s) to the fuel processor. The calculated flow of reformate is used to control the flow of reformate to adsorbent beds within the purification unit and can be used to control other materials flows within the apparatus. Means for reducing fluctuations in the pressure and/or flow rate of reformate flowing from the fuel processor to the purification unit are also disclosed. The purity of the hydrogen produced can be maintained by adjusting the operation of the purification unit in response to changes in reformate composition, pressure and/or flow rate.

Abstract: An ammonia purification system includes a hydrocarbon removal station that removes hydrocarbons from gaseous ammonia via adsorption, a moisture removal station that removes water from gaseous ammonia via adsorption, and a distillation station including a distillation column connected with a condenser to facilitate removal of impurities from ammonia and condensation of gaseous ammonia to form a purified liquid ammonia product. The system further includes a storage tank to receive purified ammonia, a remote station connected with the storage tank, and a vaporizer connected with the storage tank. The vaporizer is configured to receive and vaporize liquid ammonia from the storage tank and deliver gaseous ammonia back to the storage tank so as to facilitate pumping of the ammonia to the remote station based upon a vapor pressure established within the storage tank.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for treating a gas by adsorption. A gas is compressed and then treated by being circulated in an adsorber. A regenerating fluid is indirectly heated by the gas coming from the compressor. In a second regeneration phase, the regenerating fluid is sent directly to the adsorber, while the treated gas is refrigerated by an auxiliary refrigerator.

Abstract: A method to control the performance of desiccant dryers is disclosed that senses multiple variables and optimizes the regeneration cycle to deliver the gas at the desired dew point. The length of the stripping step is reduced or eliminated depending on the desired set point and the operating conditions of the compression system. The control system has the capability to switch to high efficiency mode of operation should the dew point set point be changed. The savings come from not purging as much or any gas during stripping should the system requirements be only to meet the ISA standards for instrument air, despite the system capability of delivering far dryer air.

Abstract: A method of preparing an adsorbent which contains a medium, which medium may comprise water. The medium is removed from the adsorbent by a hot regeneration gas, and the adsorbent is then cooled, wherein heat recovered during said cooling is used to heat the regeneration gas in a heat accumulator/exchanger. In order to improve the dewpoint characteristics of the dried gas, the adsorbent is passed successively through the following zones:an adsorption zone in which the adsorbent adsorbs the given medium;a regeneration zone in which the regeneration gas is passed through the adsorbent; anda cooling zone in which heat is withdrawn from the adsorbent, to be transferred to the heat accumulator/exchanger. An apparatus suitable for carrying out the described method is also described.

Abstract: A method and system for separating one or more components from gas mixtures uses a moving bed of adsorption material particles under continuous and substantially isobaric pressure conditions. Contaminated gases are likewise purified by removing one or more contaminants therefrom using such a moving bed of adsorption material particles under continuous and substantially isobaric pressure conditions.

Abstract: A method for collecting volatile organic substances from an off-gas containing moisture and volatile organic substances. The organic substances are removed from the gas containing the organic substances and the moisture by introducing the gas into an adsorbing tower filled with the adsorbents and being in the adsorbing process under a relatively low temperature condition. The gas is discharged outside the system as the gas containing the moisture but from which the organic substances have been removed. The organic substances are desorbed under a relatively high temperature condition in the regenerating process for the regeneration. The moisture is removed from the desorbed gas discharged from the adsorbent regenerating process in a dehumidifying tower filled with the moisture absorbent by the temperature swing method or pressure swing method.

Abstract: Apparatus for recovering high-boiling point solvents which comprises: a honeycomb-structured rotor 1 having an adsorbent supported thereon; a separator 3 for partitioning the neighborhood of each end face of the rotor into two regions, adsorption zone 5 and desorption zone 4; fan means F.sub.1 that supplies the adsorption zone 5 with air containing a solvent boiling at 150.degree. to 300.degree. C. and which causes part of the clean gas effluent a from the opposite end face of the rotor to be released into the air atmosphere while the remainder is supplied into the desorption zone 4; heating means H for heating the clean gas; cooling means C for separating a solvent enriched gas S into a liquefied product L to be recovered and a cooled lean gas V; and return means F.sub.2 for turning the cooled lean gas V back to the feed gas.

Abstract: A method for collecting volatile organic substances from off-gas containing moisture and volatile organic substances. After the moisture has been removed by a dehumidifying tower filled with moisture absorbent for selectively adsorbing the moisture from the gas containing the organic substances and the moisture, the organic substances are adsorbed and removed under a relatively low temperature condition. The organic substances is desorbed under a relatively high temperature condition from the adsorbing tower which is saturated with the organic substances. The desorbed organic substances are liquefied and collected under a low temperature and/or pressurizing condition. The dry gas from which the organic substances have been removed and made harmless is heated if necessary.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus are described for drying moist gas, in particular air, in which the moisture is removed from the gas by a desiccant and the desiccant is freed of the absorbed moisture by a hot regeneration gas. In order to improve the energy balance in the drying of moist gas, in particular air, it is provided that the throughput of regeneration gas through the desiccant is controlled as a function of the temperature of the regeneration gas leaving the desiccant. An apparatus suitable for carrying out the process contains a temperature sensor arranged in the regeneration exhaust gas stream, which temperature sensor controls a device determining the regeneration gas throughput through the desiccant.

Abstract: A regenerative desiccant air dryer system. Dry air is alternately drawn from approximately the center of two desiccant housings which are open at the top and bottom. A reclamation assembly directs dry air into the housing being purged to assist in the purging of moisture from the desiccant, and subsequently cooling the desiccant. The system is portable and operated by a programmable controller.

Abstract: A cyclic process is provided for drying a compressed gas using at least two shell and tube adsorber heat exchangers each having a shell-side passage and a tube-side passage wherein the tubes have an interior surface which is uniformly coated with a solid adsorbent. In the operation of the process, a feed gas at ambient conditions is passed to the shell-side passage of the first adsorber to cool the adsorber and heat the feed gas stream to provide a first exchanged stream. The first exchanged stream is compressed and passed to the shell-side passage of another adsorber heat exchanger to provide a second exchanged stream. The second exchanged stream is returned to the tube-side passage of the first adsorber heat exchanger wherein the second exchanged stream is contacted with the adsorbent to adsorb moisture and thereby produce a dry compressed gas stream. A portion of the dry compressed gas stream is employed to purge the tube-side passage of other adsorber heat exchangers.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the dehumidification and VOC odor remediation of an air stream withdrawn from the passenger compartment of a transportation vehicle is disclosed which employs a continuously rotating wheel support and adsorbent selective for the adsorption of water and VOCs. The wheel is coated with a zeolite adsorbent selected from the low cerium rare earth exchanged zeolite Y-84, a rare earth exchanged zeolite LZ-210, a low cerium rare earth exchanged zeolite Y-64, and mixtures thereof. It was discovered that faujasites which have a zeolite structure including .beta.-cages within which are located tri-valent cations exhibit a Type 1M adsorption isotherm for water which provides a good driving force for adsorption at low partial pressures and a heat of adsorption which is slightly greater than the heat of vaporization/condensation of water.

Abstract: An improved three-bed nonimmobilized rapid pressure-swing adsorber for use in a gas separation system. The three beds are connected in parallel and actuated so that at any one time, at least one of the beds is on-line, purifying the gas stream. The sequence of operation is such that during a full cycle of operation, two of the beds will be purging for at least some of the cycle to reduce the purge gas volume flow requirements, and thus increase the efficiency of the system. When a primary adsorber bed is on-line, another bed may be depressurizing from an on-line condition to a purge condition while the third bed is being purged. At a certain time, both the off-line beds are being purged until the third bed is repressurized in preparation for going on-line. Prior to the first bed going off-line and being depressurized, the third bed is placed on-line to ensure an uninterrupted supply of process gas to the system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preparing and regenerating an adsorbent material which material contains a medium (particularly moisture). The medium is removed from the adsorbent material by a hot regeneration gas, following which the adsorbent material is cooled. In order to improve the energy efficiency ("energy balance") in a process for drying a humid gas, particularly humid air, it is proposed that regeneration offgas be passed through the adsorbent material immediately before the adsorbent material is subjected to (final) regeneration, the regeneration offgas having a lower temperature than the hot regeneration gas.

Abstract: An adsorption process in which high and low pressure feed streams are introduced into a plurality of beds to produce product streams by adsorbing one or more preferentially adsorbed components within the beds. Each bed is subjected to a low pressure feed stage to produce a low pressure product stream followed by a high or higher pressure feeding stages to produce one or more high pressure product streams. Thereafter the beds are regenerated through depressurization and purge stages. The cycle is conducted out of phase so that one of the beds is producing the high pressure product stream while another bed is producing a low pressure product stream.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the dehumidification and VOC odor remediation of an air stream withdrawn from the passenger compartment of a transportation vehicle is disclosed which employs a continuously rotating wheel support and adsorbent selective for the adsorption of water and VOCs. The wheel is coated with zeolite adsorbent selected from the group consisting of zeolite Y-74, zeolite Y-84, zeolite Y-85, a low cerium rare earth exchanged zeolite Y-84, a rare earth exchanged zeolite LZ-210 and mixtures thereof. A surprisingly significant increase in the thermal efficiency is possible as a result of the lower regeneration temperature of the adsorbent and the use of novel process steps.

Abstract: A process is set forth for purifying and liquefying a feed gas mixture with respect to its less strongly adsorbed component of lower volatility which integrates temperature swing adsorption (TSA), pressure swing adsorption (PSA) and cryogenic distillation to optimize overall performance. The TSA portion of the process is used to remove the strongly adsorbed component from the feed; the PSA portion of the process is used to remove the moderately strongly adsorbed component from the feed; and the cryogenic distillation portion of the process is used to remove the less strongly adsorbed component of higher volatility from the feed while also providing for the liquefaction of the product. A key to the present invention is the use of the PSA and distillation waste streams in the regeneration of the TSA and PSA adsorbents. An important application of the present invention is the purification and liquefaction of a natural gas feed stream with respect to its methane/C.sub.2 hydrocarbon component.

Abstract: In the purification of natural gas streams to remove mercury by adsorption procedures, environmental pollution is avoided by using a condenser in conjunction with the adsorption beds in a manner such that the mercury vapor contained in the purge gas used to regenerate the adsorption beds is covered entirely as a liquid rather than being vented from the purification system as mercury vapor.