Particulate Media, Fibrous Media, Or Packing Elements Patents (Class 95/211)
  • Publication number: 20040237782
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided of adding ozone and ozone and oxygen and ozone and another oxidizer such as chlorine dioxide or an acidifying agent to contaminated environments including high pressure work sites such as wells and sewage pipes and into high temperature solutions such as scrubber water. An apparatus is provided for on-site generation of oxygen and the generation of high pressure oxygen for use in contaminant remediation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Inventor: Scott Decker
  • Publication number: 20040237781
    Abstract: A method of cleaning air, comprising a humidifying step for humidifying the air containing chemical contaminants by a humidifying means and taking a part of the gaseous contaminants in the air into excessive moisture to remove the contaminants from the air and a dehumidifying step for dehumidifying the humidified air by a condensing means and taking the gaseous chemical contaminants remaining, without being removed, in the humidifying step into condensed water for removal, wherein, by using a oblique honeycomb having both front and rear faces and both upper and lower faces disposedin open state, air is led from the front opening part of the oblique honeycomb and water is fed from the upper opening part thereof to one or both of the humidifying and condensing means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2004
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Applicants: Nichias Co., Ltd, TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED, TAISEI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Isao Terada, Minoru Tanaka, Yuji Matumura, Sadao Kobayashi, Naoki Mori, Hiromu Itoh, Yoshihide Wakayama, Osamu Suenaga
  • Publication number: 20040231512
    Abstract: A method, and systems for implementing such method, for purifying and conditioning air of weaponized contaminants. The method includes wetting a filter packing media with a salt-based liquid desiccant, such as water with a high concentration of lithium chloride. Air is passed through the wetted filter packing media and the contaminants in are captured with the liquid desiccant while the liquid desiccant dehumidifies the air. The captured contaminants are then deactivated in the liquid desiccant, which may include heating the liquid desiccant. The liquid desiccant is regenerated by applying heat to the liquid desiccant and then removing moisture. The method includes repeating the wetting with the regenerated liquid desiccant which provides a regenerable filtering process that captures and deactivates contaminants on an ongoing basis while also conditioning the air. The method may include filtration effectiveness enhancement by electrostatic or inertial means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2003
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventors: Steven J. Slayzak, Ren S. Anderson, Ronald D. Judkoff, Daniel M. Blake, Todd B. Vinzant, Joseph P. Ryan
  • Patent number: 6821317
    Abstract: In a wet-process gas treatment method of treating an acid gas by using at least two treating columns connected in series, a ratio of the concentration of an acid gas at an outlet to a concentration of the acid gas at an inlet of a first treating column is set higher than a ratio of the concentration of the acid gas at an outlet to the concentration of acid gas at an inlet of at least one of the other treating columns, thereby preventing deposits from forming in the interior of connecting pipes between the columns and in the interiors of the treating columns, to prevent the connecting pipes from being blocked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Echizen, Hiroshi Izawa
  • Publication number: 20040200353
    Abstract: Process for removing natural gas liquids from a gaseous natural gas stream at elevated pressure to obtain a gaseous product stream having a reduced content of natural gas liquids is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2004
    Publication date: October 14, 2004
    Inventors: Eduard Coenraad Bras, Paramasivam Senthil Kumar
  • Publication number: 20040194622
    Abstract: In a washer for cleaning gases that contain particulate and/or gaseous impurities, the gases are conveyed through an absorption column that is sprayed with washing fluid. An additionally provided jet pump (7) operates with the washing fluid, wherein said jet pump is arranged in the gas flow serially with the absorption column and generates a negative pressure. The jet pump is preferably arranged in the gas flow upstream of the absorption column. The negative pressure generated in the gas flow by the jet pump should be at least so high that it compensates the pressure loss in the absorption column.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2004
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Inventor: Gunter H. Kiss
  • Publication number: 20040182241
    Abstract: A process is proposed for reducing the aerosol-related discharge from a separation column (1) in which one or more components are separated off from a gaseous or liquid starting mixture (G) at actively separating internals (2), aerosols being present or formed in a gas phase, which comprises the actively separating internals (2) being segmented at one or more separation points, which are determined in such a manner that the aerosols have at least 50% of their maximum particle size at the separation point or separation points, and an internal (3) being provided at each separation point, which internal is operated under at least partially flooded conditions, a continuous liquid phase being formed at least in partial regions of the internal (3), to which region the aerosols are bound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2004
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Inventors: Gunther Huber, Karl Holemann, Jan-Martin Loning, Bernd Sachweh
  • Patent number: 6726749
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for wet filtering machine exhaust is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Dexwet USA, LLC
    Inventor: Erich Peteln
  • Patent number: 6706092
    Abstract: Modification, neutralization and/or decontamination of airborne biological and/or chemical contaminants from a breathable atmosphere by subjecting the breathable atmosphere to a filter which is formed from a plurality of polymeric multilobal fibers. These fibers include a central core with T-shaped lobes projecting therefrom, wherein each T-shaped lobe has a leg and a cap. The lobes define a longitudinally extending internal cavity between two adjacent legs that extends the entire length of the fiber. The filter is impregnated with a biological and/or chemical decontamination reagent for chemically modifying, neutralizing and/or decontaminating airborne biological and/or chemical contaminants from a breathable atmosphere. A filter projection preferably extends into an external reservoir containing a supply of biological and/or chemical decontamination reagent. This configuration increases the capacity and efficiency of the filter, and causes a lower pressure differential across the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: AlliedSignal Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald P. Rohrbach, Daniel E. Bause, Gordon W. Jones, Peter D. Unger
  • Patent number: 6645447
    Abstract: A gas contaminant is filtered using fibers having internal cavities containing a chemically reactive oxidizing agent, an acid or base, a coordinating agent, a complexing agent, or a deliquescing agent. Where the contaminant is basic, the reagent is preferably an oxidizing agent. Where the contaminant is acidic, the reagent is preferably basic, and more preferably comprises a group 1 or group 2 metal cation. The reagent may also advantageously comprise a phosphate, chitosan, hypochlorite, borate, carbonate, hydroxide, or oxide. Where the contaminant is neutral, the reagent is preferably an oxidizing agent, complexing agent, coordinating agent, or deliquescing agent. The reagent is preferably impregnated into an adsorptive solid, including, for example, carbon powder, zeolite, aluminum oxide, or silica. The fibers are preferably multilobal, and most preferably either trilobal or quadrilobal. It is also preferred that the fibers contain a plurality of T shaped lobes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Ron Rohrbach, Dan Bause, Peter Unger
  • Patent number: 6645273
    Abstract: A method for removing impurity substances in air flowing in a flow passage includes filtering the air in a first filter for removing solid substances; cooling the air in a first cooler to not higher than its dew-point temperature; capturing gaseous substances in the air in a wet-type impurity removing apparatus; cooling the air in a second cooler; and filtering in a second filter. The wet-type impurity removing apparatus includes a first liquid atomizer having two pluralities of nozzle ports for spraying, arranged mutually spaced apart and facing each other in the direction of the air flow passage; first and second condensing and capturing assemblies located across the first atomizer and spaced apart from each other, with the first assembly being upstream and the second assembly being downstream from the first atomizer; a second atomizer for capturing any remaining gaseous substances in the air; and a third condensing and capturing assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Oki Electric Industry Co, LTD
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Wakamatsu, Mikio Matsuki, Norio Tanaka, Hiroshi Ogata
  • Patent number: 6631890
    Abstract: Column packing elements comprise and preferably consist of two individual components, namely a strong and rigid “outside” cage, and an “inside” variable component preferably formed of a monofilament and/or mono-multi-filament fibers, which can be varied to produce a significant increase in surface area of the known art in random packings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Apollo Separation Technologies, Inc
    Inventor: Philip Y. Lau
  • Patent number: 6623715
    Abstract: An ultra-efficient multilobal cross-sectioned fiber filter for chemical contaminant filtering applications is described. An absorptive chemically reactive reagent, preferably an acid or base and in liquid or an adsorptive chemically reactive reagent (an acid or base) in solid form, is disposed within longitudinal slots in each length of fiber. The reagent may be used alone or in conjunction with solid adsorptive particles which may also be utilized with the reagents in the longitudinal slots within the fibers. Reagents within the fibers remain exposed to a base-contaminated airstream passing through the filter. Base contaminants in the airstream, chemicals such as ammonium and amines (as well as particles), react with the acid reagent within the longitudinal slots of the fibers. As the contaminant and reagent react, the ammonium or amine becomes irreversibly absorbed (or adsorbed if reagent is a solid acid) to the liquid acid reagent and multilobal fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc
    Inventors: Neil H. Hendricks, Jeff Miller, Ron P. Rohrbach, Dan E. Bause, Peter D. Unger, Adel G. Tannous, Randy R. LeClaire, William E. McGeever
  • Patent number: 6623547
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for removing sulfuric acid mist wherein a gas containing sulfuric acid mist is bubbled into an absorbing solution through a gas diffuser having pores with an average pore diameter of about 1,000 &mgr;m or less. This method allows simple and highly effective removal of sulfuric acid mist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Sumitomo Chmical Company, Limited
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Mori, Tetsuya Suzuta
  • Publication number: 20030145730
    Abstract: Particularly in the case of a fuel cell, the waste gas contains, in essence, carbon dioxide and methanol. According to the invention, the carbon dioxide/methanol gas mixture is directed through a porous material and is scrubbed out in the counter-current flow using water. The device utilizes a gas scrubber to separate out the fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2003
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Inventor: Walter Preidel
  • Publication number: 20030116018
    Abstract: In a wet-process gas treatment method of treating an acid gas by means of at least two treating columns connected in series, ratio of concentration of acid gas at an outlet to concentration of acid gas at an inlet, of a first treating column is set higher than ratio of concentration of acid gas at an outlet to concentration of acid gas at an inlet, of at least one of other treating columns, thereby preventing deposits from forming in the interior of connecting pipes between the columns and in the interiors of the treating columns, to prevent the connecting pipes from their blockage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Inventors: Hiroshi Echizen, Hiroshi Izawa
  • Patent number: 6582498
    Abstract: In a method of separating carbon dioxide from a gas mixture, a liquid solvent flows down an array of vertical wires with the gas mixture flowing over the liquid. Once on the wire, the liquid quickly breaks up into drops of varying sizes, with each size moving down the wire at a different velocity. Large, faster moving drops overtake the small, slower moving drops to form even larger drops. As the drops fall, new drops are created behind the falling drops. Consequently, drops of a large range of sizes are forming, colliding, and mixing as they travel down the wire. During this process, gas molecules that have adsorbed onto the liquid surface are mixed into the interior of the solvent, resulting in highly effective mass transfer and gas absorption. This enhanced mass transfer allows greater flexibility in the choice of solvent and in the system design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Bruce M. Sass, James H. Saunders, Bruce F. Monzyk, Russell H. Barnes, Jr., Neeraj Gupta, Paul R. Webb
  • Publication number: 20030106431
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a gas compressor system capable of delivering dry clean compressed gas, the system including a driven compressor unit (8) typically including a rotary compressor (10) driven by a motor 11 with the compressed gas being separated from any entrained liquid lubricant in a separator vessel (13), the compressed gas being thereafter passed through a moisture absorber column (22) in moisture absorbing relationship with a fluid capable of removing moisture from said compressed gas, said fluid either also acting as said liquid lubricant or being maintained in a separate closed circuit relative to said liquid lubricant, and a moisture stripping device (32) preferably provided to receive a portion of the dry compressed gas discharged from the absorber column (22) and being passed in moisture exchange relationship with the fluid prior to the fluid being introduced into said absorber column (22), the moisture absorber column (22) having an outer housing (36) defining a vertically disposed ab
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventor: Anthony John Kitchener
  • Patent number: 6565629
    Abstract: In an vapor-liquid contactor 4a for flowing down a liquid along the surface of a packing and contacting said liquid with the vapor while ascending the vapor, the improvement being characterized in that said packing is a non-promoting-fluid-dispersion type structured packing A1, A2 in which various types of thin sheets or tubes for determining the flow direction of the above liquid or vapor is laminated and arranged in the perpendicular direction, and said contactor includes at least one fluid distribution unit E1, E2 formed of a rough distribution part C1, C2 to distribute the liquid roughly and a minute distribution part B1, B2 to distribute the liquid minutely and equally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Nippon Sanso Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeru Hayashida, Hitoshi Kihara, Hiroshi Kawakami
  • Publication number: 20030070552
    Abstract: A waste gas treating device includes two cleansing towers, a plurality of ceramic (or porcelain) balls fully filled in the two towers, and a specific liquid filled in the two towers for waste gas pumped in firstly in the first tower to flow upward through gaps among the ceramic balls and contact with the liquid. Then toxic substances in waste gas react with the liquid to produce byproducts, which sink down out of the first tower and then into a sediment pool. Partial waste gas flowing up to a top end of the first tower is pumped into the second tower for cleansing once again in the same process in the first one to let waste gas cleansed completely and flow out of an upper end of the second tower into atmosphere.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2001
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Inventors: Chih-ming Lee, Chih-hua Lee, Chun-hung Lee, Nan-ping Lee
  • Patent number: 6524843
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for the extraction, production and purification of carbon dioxide gas. The process may also be employed for the production of aqueous and/or organic solutions of bicarbonate ions using a precursor feed stream of gas containing carbon dioxide. The process consists of the countercurrent flushing of a packed tower-type bioreactor with gas containing carbon dioxide and a liquid solvent. The bioreactor contains carbonic anhydrase covalently bound to an inert inorganic support. The carbon dioxide of the gaseous phase diffuses into the liquid phase. The immobilized carbonic anhydrase catalyses the hydration of the carbon dioxide which forms hydrogen and bicarbonate ions. The solution of ions may be employed directly or, alternatively, subjected to an ion-exchange resin to immobilize the bicarbonate ions. The aqueous solution of hydrogen and bicarbonate ions may also be recirculated into a second identical bioreactor, wherein they are catalytically converted to water and carbon dioxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: CO2 Solution Inc.
    Inventors: Réjean Blais, Peter Rogers
  • Patent number: 6514306
    Abstract: A fibrous element is described. The fibrous element includes a container member and an anti-microbial agent, wherein the anti-microbial agent is disposed within the container member. The container member can include structures such as an elongated fiber having multiple lobes with a longitudinally extending internal cavity including an opening from the internal cavity to the outer fiber formed between adjacent lobes, an elongated fiber having an internal longitudinally extending cavity having a longitudinally extending opening, and a particulate. The anti-microbial agent is capable of diffusing out of the container member and throughout the fibrous element in response to elevated relative humidity levels in order to contact and kill a microbial population.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald P. Rohrbach, Peter D. Unger, Gordon William Jones
  • Publication number: 20020157537
    Abstract: In an vapor-liquid contactor 4a for flowing down a liquid along the surface of a packing and contacting said liquid with the vapor while ascending the vapor, the improvement being characterized in that said packing is a non-promoting-fluid-dispersion type structured packing A1, A2 in which various types of thin sheets or tubes for determining the flow direction of the above liquid or vapor is laminated and arranged in the perpendicular direction, and said contactor includes at least one fluid distribution unit E1, E2 formed of a rough distribution part C1, C2 to distribute the liquid roughly and a minute distribution part B1, B2 to distribute the liquid minutely and equally.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2002
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Applicant: NIPPON SANSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigeru Hayashida, Hitoshi Kihara, Hiroshi Kawakami
  • Patent number: 6467758
    Abstract: A process for effecting mass transfer between liquid phase and a gaseous phase in a filled-type column having an external shell which accommodates at least one filler-containing basket wherethrough the phases are caused to flow in countercurrent relationship. The process advantageously includes the step of feeding the gaseous phase to the at least one basket through a gas-permeable surface thereof which is larger than the basket cross-section, preferably in a prevailing radial flow direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Ammonia Casale SA
    Inventor: Ermanno Filippi
  • Publication number: 20020104437
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for wet filtering machine exhaust is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2002
    Publication date: August 8, 2002
    Inventor: Erich Peteln
  • Patent number: 6398849
    Abstract: A process deals with gaseous by-products and tarry materials during formation of sol-gel bodies. Gaseous products from a dehydroxylation reactor pass into a gas-fluid contactor. During the early stages of heat treatment, an aqueous acid solution is recirculated through the contactor to trap basic and/or water soluble organic gaseous materials. The resultant solution and non-condensing gases pass into a reservoir. Volatile, undissolved organics exit from the reservoir with non-condensing reactor gases and are treated. Once the organics have burned out of the sol-gel body, recirculation of the aqueous acid solution is ceased, and the gas-fluid contactor is flushed. The water flow is then ceased and dry nitrogen is provided to the contactor. During the next stage of the sol-gel heat treatment, gaseous products from the dehydroxylation reactor pass through the contactor into the caustic scrubber. Once the heat treatment is complete, the contactor is flushed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Lisa Carol Green, David A Mixon, Eric M Monberg
  • Patent number: 6398039
    Abstract: An unique filtration device (10) which removes acidic contaminants such as H2S and SO2 from a fluid stream through the use of partially hollow wicking fibers (20) impregnated with an effective amount of alkaline-generating chemical compounds, preferably also containing an effective amount of a compound with elements from Group II and Group 6-12 in +2 oxidation state, and most preferably also containing an effective amount of solid fine particles (18). A nonwoven filter mat (12) is formed from a plurality of the elongated fibers (20) each having at least one internal channel (22) connected to the fiber outer surface via an elongated opening (24). The fluid stream containing the acidic gas phase contaminants is directed over the nonwoven filter mat (12) whereby said plurality of small solid particles (18) and reservoir of active chemical reagents disposed in the open channels (22) communicate through the elongated opening (24) with the fluid flow path and absorbs the acidic gas phase contaminants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: AlliedSignal Inc.
    Inventors: Lixin Xue, Ronald Rohrbach, Daniel Bause, Peter Unger, Russell Dondero, Gordon Jones
  • Patent number: 6391621
    Abstract: To provide a process for treating gas for decomposing organic solvent and/or other organic gas contained in exhaust gas effectively and simply at low costs to remove the decomposition product of organic gas by applying other process. The gas can be treated very effectively by decomposing or removing a target gas component dissolved in liquid capable of treating the gas, preferably, by applying microbial treatment, after bringing the gas rising into contact with the liquid falling in a gas treatment tower wherein part of the gas (branched gas ) is admixed with the liquid before feeding the liquid into the tower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuhito Naruse
  • Patent number: 6375717
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for wet filtering machine exhaust with a desirable scented oil mixture is disclosed. Preferably, the machine exhaust filtered is the exhaust from office machines, such as printers, photocopiers, and facsimile machines, which expel ozone, particulate matter, and toner pollution into the ambient air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: PDH International Incorporated Georgia corporation
    Inventor: Erich Peteln
  • Patent number: 6372022
    Abstract: Provided are ionic purifiers and methods that are suitable for providing an ultra-high-purity chemical to a semiconductor manufacturing process. The ionic purifiers include a vapor inlet introducing a chemical vapor to be purified into a column. A high-purity water inlet continuously introduces high-purity water into the column. The high-purity water contacts the chemical vapor to be purified, thereby forming a purified chemical vapor and contaminated water. A vapor outlet removes the purified chemical vapor from the column. A liquid outlet removes the contaminated water from the column. The invention has particular applicability in the semiconductor manufacturing industry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Air Liquide America Corporation
    Inventors: Joe G. Hoffman, Wallace I. Yuan
  • Patent number: 6361586
    Abstract: A process for cooling, demonomerizing and dedusting gas from a thermoplastic polymer drier includes directing the gas, containing thermoplastic polymer dust, monomers and water, into a packed column with a packing and washing the gas with a solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignees: BASF Corporation, BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Kasimir Von Dziembowski, Howard G. Perryman, Leonard H. Moore
  • Patent number: 6352575
    Abstract: An appartus for removing VOC from a plurality of remotely located sources of VOC contaminated gas streams includes a plurality of liquid absorbers, each located near and communicating with a source of a VOC contaminated gas stream, the liquid absorbers associating the VOC with a scrubbing liquid. A conduit is connected to each liquid absorber for conveying VOC laden scrubbing liquid from the liquid absorber to a separating apparatus in fluid communication with each of the conduits. The separating apparatus receives the VOC laden scrubbing liquid from the plurality of liquid absorbers and separates the VOC from the scrubbing liquid. A conduit recycles the scrubbing liquid from the separating apparatus to at least one of the plurality of liquid absorbers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Assignee: CH2M Hill, Inc.
    Inventors: Mitchell H. Lindsay, James D. Mavis, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6312503
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for quenching and scrubbing a hot gas using a liquid in a single packed column while controlling mist formation. Hot gas is introduced at the bottom of the column and drawn upward countercurrent to the scrubbing liquid. The column has three stages, each packed and fed liquid from above. The first stage is a quench region wherein the gas flow rate, liquid flow rate and liquid temperature are controlled such that the quench rate does not exceed 5.4° C./ft2 of packing to prevent formation of an aerosol mist. The second and third stages for scrubbing employ packed regions separately supplied with increasingly cooler and purer liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Arteva North America S.A.R.L.
    Inventors: Lawrence Robert Fike, Torsten Schmidt, Stephen Jonathan Freeman, Miguel Angel Osornio, Jörg Bartels
  • Patent number: 6248155
    Abstract: A humidifier/air purifier including a housing defining a water reservoir, an air inlet opening and an air outlet opening; a generally V-shaped wicking element in fluid communication with the reservoir; an air filter with a generally V-shaped air filter medium and a frame supporting the air filter medium mounted above the wicking element; and a blower for causing air flow through the air inlet opening, through the wicking element, through the air filter, and through the air outlet opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Bemis Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: John W. Seaman
  • Patent number: 6245133
    Abstract: A gas condensing and cooling system for cooling hot vaporous emissions from a hot vaporous emissions source to a level below prescribed regulatory limits that includes a cooling unit that operates using a readily available pressurized natural gas as the refrigerant element within the cooling unit and includes a multi-chamber condenser unit having a number of chambers each containing a volume of porous rock suspended above a liquid barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Inventor: Reed L. Bourgeois
  • Patent number: 6221133
    Abstract: The invention provides a cellular packing including a vapor/liquid separation device that can be stacked vertically with minimum wasted space. The packing uses static vanes in each cell to direct the liquid component of a vapor/liquid mixture to exit slots in a first cell and a recirculation path for the liquid to be contacted with vapor again in a second cell located below the first.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Norton Chemical Process Products Corporation
    Inventor: Frank D. Moore
  • Patent number: 6197093
    Abstract: The exhaust gas enters via an exhaust gas line into a washing apparatus. In the washing apparatus solid matter particles are predominantly separated. The pre-washed exhaust gas flows from the washing apparatus through a droplet removing conduit to a trickling filter device in order to be subjected to an activated sludge treatment for the separating of gaseous contaminants. In order to reduce the point of condensation and accordingly the absolute humidity of the exhaust gas for the activated sludge treatment either fresh air is added through a feed line to the pre-washed exhaust gas or the washing water which is led in a closed circuit through the washing water line of the washing apparatus is cooled in a heat exchanger in a cooling tower. A portion of the washing water of the washing apparatus is led through a first solid matter removing apparatus of which a portion of the filtrate is led to an activated sludge basin located under the trickling filter device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Alois Sceuch GmbH
    Inventor: Emil A. J. Wieser-Linhart
  • Patent number: 6197094
    Abstract: A device for improving the quality of indoor air comprising a casing (2) with an air inlet (3) and an air outlet (5), a member (7) arranged to cause air in a room, in which the casing is placed, to flow in through the inlet and inside the casing to the outlet and therefrom out into the room again, and leaf surfaces and water nozzles (9, 11) adapted to influence the quality of the air passing through the casing. The casing also contains leaf plants (9) and the member (7) is provided in order to cause the air to flow past the leaf surfaces of the plants in order to remove contaminations and particles from the air by absorption thereof by the leaves of the plants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Inventor: Lars Thofelt
  • Patent number: 6174498
    Abstract: An odor control system and method for removing unwanted odorous airborne constituents in which the gas stream is flowed through a compact, boxlike housing having a plurality of sequentially communicating treatment chambers. Gas stream pretreatment is accomplished in a first chamber, in fluid communication with a sump, as the gas flows through a packed bed wetted by suitable chemical reagents. After pretreatment, the gas stream is passed through downstream chambers, also utilizing wetted packed beds. These chambers are in fluid communication with a second, separate sump. Because of the first chamber/separate sump combination, influent gas treatment, by stages, can be accomplished. In this manner, different, contemporaneous chemical treatments are possible, within the single housing, with different chemical reagents utilized as needed. Such treatments are possible even in cases where otherwise incompatible chemical reagents are used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: US Filter/RJ Environmental, Inc.
    Inventors: Roop C. Jain, Martin Scanlan
  • Patent number: 6156102
    Abstract: A process of separating water from ambient air involves a liquid desiccant to first withdraw water from air and treatment of the liquid desiccant to produce water and regenerated desiccant. Water lean air is released to the atmosphere. Heat generated in the process is recycled. The drying capacity, or volume of water produced, of the system for a given energy input is favored over the production of dried air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Fantom Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne Ernest Conrad, Helmut Gerhard Conrad
  • Patent number: 6063170
    Abstract: This invention relates to an air filtration system including four principle segments interconnected in series as one unit through which contaminated air is passed. The first segment includes a prefilter for the removal of dust particles; the second segment is provided with germicidal UV lamps for bacteria removal; the third segment contains a medicated wet filtration system for virus removal, and the fourth segment contains a final carbon filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Air-A-Medic Corporation
    Inventor: Ronald H. Deibert
  • Patent number: 6019817
    Abstract: A system for capturing HAPs/VOCs from an existing or planned air stream and destroying the contaminants in the air stream by microbial degradation is disclosed. In general, the system is composed of a reservoir with a filter structure positioned above it. The filter structure contains a capture or filtration media through which contaminated air or vapors must pass. HAPs/VOCs in the air or vapors are filtered out and absorbed by the capture media. The reservoir contains a tank water bath that is inoculated with microorganisms that are selected to degrade the hazardous materials or pollutants removed by the capture media. Sprinkler heads above the filter structure spray the filter structure with a sprayed water bath also inoculated with the microorganisms, whereby contaminants caught in the filter structure are leached out and bioremediated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: Agri Microbe Sales, L.C.
    Inventor: Edward D. Seagle
  • Patent number: 6019818
    Abstract: Quenching and scrubbing are accomplished simultaneously in a single downflow apparatus which functions both as an adiabatic quencher and a packed bed scrubber. A special feature of the quencher/scrubber is a hot-cool interface which is effective in controlling corrosion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: G.F.K. Consulting, Ltd.
    Inventor: Gerhard F. Knapp
  • Patent number: 6015494
    Abstract: Polyolefin oil/water separator. An oil/water mist separator for use with exhausts from air compressors, air separators, air receivers, and air dryers, as examples, is described. The separator utilizes fibrous polyolefin strips placed in a hollow receptacle therefor to separate the oil from the water in the mist, the oil being retained on the polyolefin, while the water, now having sufficient purity, may be discharged in conventional sanitary drains. The separator may also be used to separate oil from water from other sources thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2000
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Todd D. Siverling, William Anthony Chroninger, William Andrew Chroninger, Kreg T. Gauss, William S. Radzinski
  • Patent number: 6004381
    Abstract: A filter device and technique are described which rely on absorption rather than adsorption for the removal of gas phase contaminants. A filter media is composed of wicking fibers which are impregnated with any of a variety of liquid phase absorbing systems made from the combination of a carrier liquid and soluble complexing/degrading agent or agents. The wicking fibers may be connected to an external reservoir which can be used to supply fresh absorbing fluid to the filter media giving them a potentially inexhaustible capacity. The filter media may be made from any of a variety of fibers which can rapidly transport a liquid phase by the nature of either their geometry or their chemical composition. Geometries may include multilobal cross-sectional configurations, porous hollow fibers, porous or striated fibers or tightly bundled microfibers, all of which exhibit the property of wicking fluid from an external source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: AlliedSignal Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald P. Rohrbach, Peter D. Unger, Richard M. Sturgeon, Gordon W. Jones, Bijan Kheradi
  • Patent number: 5954861
    Abstract: A process for separating a gaseous mixture comprising C.sub.1 chlocarbons and noncondensible gases into a liquid component comprising the C.sub.1 chlorocarbons and a component comprising the noncondensible gases. The method employs a liquid hydrocarbon having an average molecular weight within a range of about 142 to 422 to adsorb the C.sub.1 chlorocarbons from the gaseous mixture. The present process is especially useful for separating methyl chloride from a gaseous mixture resulting from an oxychlorination process where the gaseous mixture further comprises, methane, water vapor, and hydrogen chloride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Dow Corning Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce Robert Crum, Corey Grant Knutson, Brian Michael Naasz, Jeffrey Scott Smith
  • Patent number: 5951744
    Abstract: A unique filtration device (10) which continuously removes gas phase contaminants from an air stream through the use of partially hollow wicking fibers (20) impregnated with a fine solid carbon powder (18) or zeolites and formed into a fiber filter (12) with a selected chemisorptive liquid applied to one side of the fiber filter (12) and large carbon particles (19) applied to the other side of the fiber filter (12). The air stream to be cleaned is directed through filter element (12) which can capture the gas phase contaminants. The wicking fibers (20) include internal longitudinal cavities (22) filled with the fine carbon powder (18) and each having a relatively small longitudinal extending opening (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: AlliedSignal Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald P. Rohrbach, Gordon W. Jones, Peter D. Unger, Daniel E. Bause, Lixin Xue, Russell A. Dondero
  • Patent number: 5925158
    Abstract: A method for cleaning and recycling protective atmosphere for a float glass facility wherein contaminated protective atmosphere is cooled, preferably while scrubbing out particulates, compressed, and then purified by passage through a bed comprising water selective and hydrogen sulfide selective adsorbents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Alfred Weber, Theodore Fringelin Fisher, Dante Patrick Bonaquist
  • Patent number: 5897689
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for binding emulsified resin and tar substances in circulating water of a wet-cleaning and wet precipitation system for waste gas produced in the wood industry. Wood dust is metered into the circulating water and receives the emulsified substances adsorptively. The wood dust is removed from the water circulation path and sedimented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Assignee: BWT Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Emil Wieser-Linhart
  • Patent number: 5891221
    Abstract: A unique odor filtration device (10) which continuously removes odor causing gas phase contaminants from an air stream through the use of partially hollow wicking fibers (20) impregnated with a selected liquid (18) which can capture odor causing gas phase contaminants. The odor removing liquid (18) is a chemical composition including sodium permanganate in combination with either sodium carbonate or sodium phosphate. The odor absorbing liquid (18) can include specialized additives such as transition metal salts and other agents such as sodium iodide for additional and broader odor removal coverage. The wicking fibers (20) are formed into a filter element (12) which extends from a chamber (16) through which the air stream to be cleaned is directed into a stripping chamber (19). The odor causing contaminants are conveyed to from chamber (16) to chamber (19) by a concentration factor induced molecular migration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: AlliedSignal Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Rohrbach, Peter Unger, Daniel Bause, Lixin Xue, Gordon Jones, Russell Dondero