Gaseous Fluid Mixture Discharged Against Or Beneath Surface Of Liquid Body Patents (Class 95/226)
  • Patent number: 6926759
    Abstract: An air filter baffle unit that works with large type canister wet/dry type vacuums. The baffle unit also can be used in large air filter systems and can be ganged to increase filtering. The baffle unit has two sections that are connected for use. An inlet pipe is connected to the inlet of the vacuum. This inlet pipe directs the incoming dirt into the baffle unit, where it encounters a number of baffles and a water reservoir before it is expelled as clean air. In this baffle unit, there is no need for paper or other types of filters that must be periodically replaced. In this way, the baffle unit provides a simple, effective mechanism for filtering air using the wet/dry vacuum. The baffle unit can be also placed in an air filtering system that has a housing, an inlet and an outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Inventors: Nam H Lee, Chin W. Lee
  • Patent number: 6899747
    Abstract: A separator for a wet vacuum device has a bottom and a sidewall connected to the bottom. The sidewall has stays defining slots between the stays. An air/gas stream, containing particles to be separated from the air/gas stream, enters the separator through the slots near the bottom, and the particles are separated from the air/gas stream by centrifugal force and are expelled from the separator at a spacing from the bottom through the slots. Between 3 and 45 slots are distributed about the circumference of the sidewall. The slots have a slot depth and a slot width, wherein the slot depth is substantially 0.2 up to 2.5 times as large as the slot width. The rotating separator is arranged above the liquid bath such that it agitates the surface of the liquid bath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Proair GmbH Gerätebau
    Inventors: Paul Roth, Helmut Grassinger, Anton Kreis
  • Patent number: 6895954
    Abstract: A ventilation system for removing cooking effluents and combustion products from an exhaust of a cooking appliance. The ventilation system includes a ventilation hood having an air inlet and an exhaust gas outlet disposed over the cooking appliance, a water bath disposed in the ventilation hood between the air inlet and the exhaust outlet, and an effluent removal assembly disposed above the water bath. The cooking effluents in contact with the effluent removal assembly are transferred to the surrounding water, and the clean airflow may be recirculated. Grease particles are also transferred to the surrounding water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Gas Research Institute
    Inventors: Richard T. Swierczyna, Joseph N. Knapp, Donald P. Fisher, David Rudzinski
  • Patent number: 6893484
    Abstract: Provided herein is an apparatus for scrubbing either acidic or alkaline impurities from gas streams, wherein the gas streams to be scrubbed exist at a pressure which is only slightly higher than ambient pressure. An apparatus according to a preferred form of the invention exists substantially in the shape of a rectangular or cubic solid, having an inlet pipe which is directed to an inner chamber having a wall portion which functions as a manifold, including a plurality of gas conduction tubes in fluid contact with the inner chamber, and into which tubes the gas to be scrubbed enters. The gas to be scrubbed passes through holes in the walls of the gas conduction tubes and contacts a liquid absorbent substance present in the interior confines of the apparatus, which liquid is capable of reacting with one or more impurities in the gas stream, thus eliminating the impurities from the gas stream. The gas stream so treated emerges from the apparatus through a gas outlet provision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Desert Energy LTD
    Inventor: Paul E. Thomas
  • Patent number: 6878187
    Abstract: A separation process, the steps that include: providing an expansion zone, flowing a gaseous fluid into and through the expansion zone, flowing a spray of liquid droplets into the expansion zone to mix with the gaseous fluid and produce nucleation sites, then expanding the flow of mixed gaseous fluid and liquid droplets to cause condensation of gas onto the liquid droplets, and then centrifuging liquid droplets into a separation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Energent Corporation
    Inventors: Lance Hays, Ross Brown, Ronald Franz
  • Patent number: 6872240
    Abstract: A method for urging contact between contaminants in an air stream and the wet surfaces of an aqueous-froth, and additional means of limiting the froth to a predetermined volume are provided. A wide spectrum of solution micro-droplet sizes (0.001 to 1000 micron) is introduced into a contaminated air stream. Micro-droplets suspended in the air stream remove contaminants by contact, collide and coalesce in the dynamics of the air stream and are removed by inertia. Smaller micro-droplets remain suspended in the air stream. The smallest micro-droplets evaporate, increasing the solution vapor pressure of the air stream. The humidified or saturated, contaminated air stream continuously expands the surface area of the solution reservoir exponentially into an aqueous froth of tiny bubbles. Airflow velocity drops in the micro-atmosphere inside each bubble of the froth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Peletex, Inc.
    Inventor: Roy J. Pellegrin
  • Patent number: 6869466
    Abstract: In accordance with the invention, there is provided a method of binding a gas or volatile compound in a cucurbituril, by contacting the gas or volatile compound with the cucurbituril to form a cucurbituril-gas/volatile complex. There is also provided a method of separating a gas or volatile compound from a mixture of compounds wherein the mixture is contacted with a cucurbituril and whereby at least some of the gas or volatile compound is bound to the cucurbituril to form a cucurbituril complex, followed by the release of at least some of the bound gas or volatile compound from that complex. The present invention is thus advantageous in that it allows use of cucurbiturils in binding gases and volatile compounds for storage, safety, delivery or other uses, such as the trapping of an unpleasant or toxic gas or volatile compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Unisearch Limited
    Inventors: Anthony Ivan Day, Alan Peter Arnold, Rodney John Blanch
  • Publication number: 20040255779
    Abstract: A scrubber for exhaust gases comprises a series of nested counter-flow passages including a hot plenum having a star-shaped section. Exhaust gases from the hot plenum surge through a liquid bath and flow in a reverse direction through an inclined array of flat, overlapping, spaced mixing vanes, causing turbulence in the exhaust gases and the formation of highly dispersed tiny bubbles, which enhance the solution of gaseous pollutants into the scrubbing liquid. Mist eliminator vanes strip entrained liquids from the exhaust gases. The hot plenum, reheats the exhaust gases to an unsaturated level. The scrubber is highly effective in reducing particulate matter, stripping sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide from exhaust gases, and reducing the heat signature and visual evidence thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2004
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Inventor: Andrew Trivett
  • Patent number: 6821318
    Abstract: An improved air filtration system is provided for a kitchen island so as to cleanse cooking vapors from the air. The system includes an updraft or downdraft air inlet vent for capturing, either individually or simultaneously, the vapor-containing air generated during the cooking process. The captured air is directed through an exhaust duct to an air filter which removes the cooking vapors from the air. The filtered air is then discharged back into the kitchen. The filtered air may also be dehumidified or heated, and a fragrance may optionally be provided to the filtered air. The air filtration system can also be used simply as air cleaner for the kitchen with the option of adding a fragrance to the air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventor: M. Michael Khosropour
  • Patent number: 6761756
    Abstract: An air purification system for a central air conditioning unit for effectively purifying air for central air conditioning systems. The air purification system for a central air conditioning unit includes a pan assembly including a pan member having bottom and side walls, and also having a plurality of ports being spaced about and being disposed through the bottom wall with the pan member being adapted to hold water and to be disposed in a duct for a central air conditioning system; and also includes a plurality of air intake members being disposed in the ports of the pan member; and further includes cap assemblies including a plurality of tubular cap members being spaced above and disposed about the air intake members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Inventors: Sandy Gomez, Rafael Gomez
  • Patent number: 6749668
    Abstract: A process for the recovery of combustible components of a gas stream containing the combustible components and oxygen by selective absorption of the combustible components in a solvent, whereby during the absorption the gas phase is dispersed in a continuous liquid phase of the solvent. In a preferred embodiment the process is applied to give a process for the epoxidation of propene with hydrogen peroxide in the alcoholic solvent in presence of a catalyst, wherein a gas stream including unreacted propene, propene oxide and oxygen from the decomposition of the hydrogen peroxide is separated from the epoxidation reaction mixture and the combustible components in said gas stream are recovered using the process as described above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignees: Degussa AG, Uhde GmbH
    Inventors: Willi Hofen, Georg Thiele, Wolfgang Wöll
  • Patent number: 6626983
    Abstract: An apparatus for removing particles and/or other undesirable components from a gas stream includes a container containing a liquid, an inlet for the gas stream permitting wetting of at least a portion of the gas stream, and an outlet from the container for cleaned gas. The inlet and/or the outlet includes condensing means for cooling desired fractions of the gas stream and/or cleaned gas. The liquid may be such as to wet the particulates, thereby retaining them in the liquid while the gas passes through the liquid to the outlet. Methods for removing particulates and/or other undesirable components from a gas stream are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: University Court of the University of Dundee
    Inventor: James Anthony Cairns
  • Publication number: 20030177904
    Abstract: A process for purifying exhaust gases using a bubble generation device is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2003
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Inventor: Alan Hyrun Broadbent
  • Patent number: 6616733
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for filtering an air stream with an aqueous froth are provided. The process includes: passing a contaminated air stream through a diffusing sieve, into an aqueous solution in an expansion chamber; generating, maintaining, and containing an aqueous froth between the liquid-bath reservoir and a saturated fiber element; and continually saturating a coarse-fiber element with liquid from the aqueous solution. The froth is generated and maintained, and the fiber element is saturated, by controlling the dynamic interface between the contaminated air stream and the liquid-bath reservoir. The apparatus for filtering an air stream includes: an air filter device that incorporates a liquid-bath filter initial stage; an aqueous-froth filter second stage; a constantly saturated, coarse-fiber filter as a combined third stage and froth-limiter; and a moist, fine-fiber filter as the final stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Peletex, Inc.
    Inventor: Roy J. Pellegrin
  • Publication number: 20030159580
    Abstract: A separator for a wet vacuum device has a bottom and a sidewall connected to the bottom. The sidewall has stays defining slots between the stays. An air/gas stream, containing particles to be separated from the air/gas stream, enters the separator through the slots near the bottom, and the particles are separated from the air/gas stream by centrifugal force and are expelled from the separator at a spacing from the bottom through the slots. Between 3 and 45 slots are distributed about the circumference of the sidewall. The slots have a slot depth and a slot width, wherein the slot depth is substantially 0.2 up to 2.5 times as large as the slot width. The rotating separator is arranged above the liquid bath such that it agitates the surface of the liquid bath.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2003
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Applicant: PROAIR GMBH GERATEBAU
    Inventors: Paul Roth, Helmut Grassinger, Anton Kreis
  • Publication number: 20030116019
    Abstract: A high flow rate bubbler system and method are provided for producing a stable, easily controllable source of chemical vapors to a downstream process. The bubbler system is equipped with a vaporizer unit connected to its gas outlet tube. This vaporizer unit slows the gas velocity to enhance settling of entrained droplets and contacts the exiting gas with a high thermal mass, heated surfaces to promote heat transfer and evaporation of the entrained droplets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Inventor: Amir Torkaman
  • Patent number: 6562106
    Abstract: A treatment device is attached to a sealed container to provide clean replacement atmosphere to maintain the purity and cleanliness of the uncontaminated liquid remaining in the container. The device includes a valving system arranged to control flow of atmosphere into and out of the container, and includes a bubbler filled with treatment liquid, such as a disinfectant or purifying agent. Filtered air is bubbled through the treatment liquid prior to feeding the replacement atmosphere into the sealed container. In one embodiment, a floating valve assists in preventing undesired suction of the treatment liquid into the container. In another embodiment, the treatment device is attached to exhaust atmosphere to keep an ambient area clean as new liquid is added to the container and harmful atmosphere is exhausted. Methods related to the above are also defined and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Life Line Water Co., LLC
    Inventor: Gary J. Campbell
  • Patent number: 6547855
    Abstract: A mass transfer machine removes dissolved gases or volatile organic compounds from air or a liquid. The mass transfer machine includes a vessel capable of containing a liquid and having a liquid inlet and an air inlet at a near end. It further includes a liquid outlet at a far end. Two or more baffles are located transversely inside of the vessel. The baffle located nearest to the far end of the vessel has a window. Two or more diffusers are located near a bottom surface of the vessel. The diffusers are in communication with the air inlet and have two or more orifices through a wall. An adjustable plate is releasably mounted over the window of the baffle located closest to the far end of the vessel. The plate is adjustable in a vertical direction. In one embodiment, an air source supplies air to the air inlet located on the near end of the vessel. In another embodiment, an air source is connected to the an air exit located on the far side of the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Aeromix Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Troy D. Schmidtke
  • Publication number: 20030029316
    Abstract: A treatment device is attached to a sealed container to provide clean replacement atmosphere to maintain the purity and cleanliness of the uncontaminated liquid remaining in the container. The device includes a valving system arranged to control flow of atmosphere into and out of the container, and includes a bubbler filled with treatment liquid, such as a disinfectant or purifying agent. Filtered air is bubbled through the treatment liquid prior to feeding the replacement atmosphere into the sealed container. In one embodiment, a floating valve assists in preventing undesired suction of the treatment liquid into the container. In another embodiment, the treatment device is attached to exhaust atmosphere to keep an ambient area clean as new liquid is added to the container and harmful atmosphere is exhausted. Methods related to the above are also defined and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2001
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Inventor: Gary J. Campbell
  • Publication number: 20020189450
    Abstract: A process for the recovery of combustible components of a gas stream containing the combustible components and oxygen by selective absorption of the combustible components in a solvent, whereby during the absorption the gas phase is dispersed in a continuous liquid phase of the solvent. In a preferred embodiment the process is applied to give a process for the epoxidation of propene with hydrogen peroxide in the alcoholic solvent in presence of a catalyst, wherein a gas stream including unreacted propene, propene oxide and oxygen from the decomposition of the hydrogen peroxide is separated from the epoxidation reaction mixture and the combustible components in said gas stream are recovered using the process as described above.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2002
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Inventors: Willi Hofen, Georg Thiele, Wolfgang Woll
  • Patent number: 6406219
    Abstract: A process is provided for reducing a greenhouse gas emission component of a combustion gas from a thermal power generation plant. The thermal power generation plant is located in a coastal region adjacent the ocean. The plant is located beneath a seawater reservoir and a discharge line via a cooling water loop provides cooling water to the power station. The discharge line in turn feeds a modified hydroelectric plant and an intake pipe is located with its outlet beneath the ocean surface. A bypass line is connected to the discharge line 14 and extends to deep ocean sinks. In operation, seawater is pumped from the ocean to the elevated reservoir via the intake pipe and discharge line and thereafter combustion gas from the flue stack or emission system of the power station is injected into the discharge line. Electricity is generated by the power station during peak demand periods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Inventor: Jolyon E. Nove
  • Patent number: 6402816
    Abstract: An exhaust gas scrubber including a tank of scrubbing liquid into which a downconer pipe(s) feeds inlet gas and fresh scrubbing liquid from a plenum. The inlet gas flows through slotted vortex generators forming file-scale bubbles encapsulated within a scrubbing liquid. The bubbles mix and coalesce in a turbulent motion, and are then passed through another set of vortex generators which break up coalesced bubbles and form fresh fine sized bubbles, and impart an angular velocity to the mixture. Formation and coalescence of the bubbles produce gas phase to liquid phase mixing and scrubbing. Centrifugal forces created through the slotted vortex generator produce liquid circulation and recycle. The bubbly mixture then rises, bubbles coalesce and break, and the liquid scrubbing solution falls back, flowing into a relatively quiescent down flow zone around the perimeter of the scrubber outside of an overflow weir or weirs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Inventors: Gordon S. Trivett, D. Andrew Trivett
  • Patent number: 6391093
    Abstract: A weld chamber has an air intake and an exhaust or evacuating ductwork for evacuating gases and other particles from the welding chamber. The evacuating ductwork is connected to a vacuum source to remove gases and by products from the weld chamber during welding. A throttle plate is provided in the evacuating ductwork adjacent the weld chamber to adjust or regulate the air velocity evacuating from the weld chamber. The evacuating duct then leads to a sealed water filtering tank. All of the exhausted/evacuated gases and by products are led beneath the water line and bubble through the water before emerging from the sealed water. The soot and iron particles are immediately cooled and trapped in the water tank. Moreover, particles become wet and are less likely to become airborne thus leading to a substantial portion of the particles being trapped in the sealed water tank. Thee remaining gases are then evacuated to the vacuum source and further filtered by a mechanical filtration device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Howard French, John E. McManus, Jr., Bimal B. Patel
  • Patent number: 6361587
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner assembly comprising a main housing, a primary filter system, and a secondary filter system. The main housing includes an inlet and an outlet. The primary filter system filters the air prior to being exhausted outwardly through the outlet. The secondary filter system is placed in downstream airflow from the primary filter system and provides additional filtering of the air prior to being exhausted to atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Rexair, Inc.
    Inventors: Dean Rohn, Steven Ray Selewski, William R. Daws
  • Publication number: 20020020294
    Abstract: The present invention provides to a method for removing sulfuric acid mist which comprises bubbling a gas containing sulfuric acid mist 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: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2001
    Publication date: February 21, 2002
    Applicant: SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Mori, Tetsuya Suzuta
  • Publication number: 20010039878
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner apparatus includes a housing, a motor disposed within the housing and having an output shaft, and a fan coupled to the output shaft for generating a vacuum airflow through an air intake port in the housing. A separator is operably coupled to the output shaft for separating dust and dirt particulates entrained in air ingested through the intake port. The separator has a body that defines a longitudinal axis of rotation and the motor drives the separator to rotate about the axis. The body includes a plurality of longitudinally extending vanes with each vane presenting a curved flow surface for increased particulate separation as the body rotates about the axis. The longitudinally extending vanes include beveled lower ends that reduce foaming. The separator also includes a plurality of secondary particle impacting vanes positioned in the bottom of the separator for trapping particulates within said separator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2001
    Publication date: November 15, 2001
    Applicant: REXAIR, INC.
    Inventors: Eric Lee Gustafson, Jeffrey Robert Kassien
  • Patent number: 6306199
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner apparatus includes a housing, a motor disposed within the housing and having an output shaft, and a fan coupled to the output shaft for generating a vacuum airflow through an air intake port in the housing. A separator is operably coupled to the output shaft for separating dust and dirt particulates entrained in air ingested through the intake port. The separator has a body that defines a longitudinal axis of rotation and the motor drives the separator to rotate about the axis. The body includes a plurality of longitudinally extending vanes with each vane presenting a curved flow surface for increased particulate separation as the body rotates about the axis. The longitudinally extending vanes include beveled lower ends that reduce foaming. The separator also includes a plurality of secondary particle impacting vanes positioned in the bottom of the separator for trapping particulates within said separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Rexair, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Lee Gustafson, Jeffrey Robert Kassien
  • Publication number: 20010015132
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner assembly (10) comprising a main housing (12) having an inlet (14) and an outlet (16). A motor (17a) is disposed within the main housing (12) between the inlet (14) and the outlet (16) for providing motive force to a cooling fan (17b), a blower (17c), and a separator (22). The cooling fan (17b) is mounted within the main housing (12) above the motor (17a) to circulate cooling air around the motor (17a). The blower (17c) is mounted within the main housing (12) below the motor (17a) for drawing air into the inlet (14) and exhausting air outwardly through the outlet (16). The separator (22) is mounted below the blower (17c) for circulating the air and water bath (20) within a water bath pan (36) and provides, in combination with the water bath (20), a primary filter for filtering the air prior to exhausting the air outwardly toward the outlet (16) of the vacuum cleaner to atmosphere.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Publication date: August 23, 2001
    Applicant: REXAIR, INC.
    Inventors: Dean Rohn, Steven Ray Selewski, William R. Daws
  • Patent number: 6238463
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a method of cleaning exhaust air from kitchen equipment, such as steamers, grilling equipment, baking ovens and the like. According to this method, the exhaust air is subjected to a pressure increase and then introduced into a fluid bath. The present invention also concerns a device (1) for cleaning exhaust air from kitchen equipment (3) for removing exhaust air from the kitchen equipment, having a pressure boosting device (7) for increasing the pressure in the exhaust air, a fluid bath (13) and an inlet line (9) for supplying exhaust air into the fluid bath (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Eloma GmbH Grosskichentechnik
    Inventor: Peter Helm
  • Patent number: 6238468
    Abstract: Provided is a quench vessel having a cooling structure in which a combustion gas is forced down and through a cooling liquid a plurality of times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Kvaerner Pulping AB
    Inventor: Bengt Nilsson
  • Patent number: 6210468
    Abstract: A scrubber for removal of contaminants from gas by liquid contact. The scrubber has a gas and liquid tight containment walls, to contain a gas stream through the scrubber, and to allow recirculation of scrubbing liquid, without the need for external power. A plurality of preferably annular, downwardly extending underflow weirs arc provided to define therebetween a series of gas compartments. Preferably annular, upwardly extending overflow baffles are provided between adjacent underflow weirs, and liquid compartments are defined between the inner surface of an outer wall and the first overflow baffle, and between successive overflow baffles, if present. A charge of scrubbing liquid is provided, and gas is directed into the scrubber through an inlet nozzle, under the first underflow weir, over the first overflow baffle, and thence under the next underflow weir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Inventor: William D. Carson
  • Patent number: 6183541
    Abstract: A natural gas dehydrator and process for dehydrating natural gas employ a longitudinal horizontal pressure vessel containing a threshold level of liquid desiccant. A plurality of spaced-apart baffles divides the vessel into a series of pneumatically discrete compartments. The baffles have a plurality of apertures which define a sinusoidal gas flow path through the vessel into and out of the liquid desiccant from the inlet to the outlet. Each of the baffles also has an opening in its lowermost portion which define a linear primary liquid desiccant flow path through the vessel from the inlet to the outlet. The baffled vessel is fixed within another longitudinally horizontal pressure vessel so as to define a chamber therebetween. Dried gas and wet desiccant are discharged from the inner or baffled vessel into the chamber where they are gravity separated, the dried gas flowing to an outlet on top of the outer vessel and the wet desiccant flowing to a sump at the bottom of the outer vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Inventor: Bill E. Compton
  • Patent number: 6174350
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner assembly (10) includes a main housing (12) having an inlet (14) and an outlet (16). A motor (17a) is disposed within the main housing (12) for providing motive force to a cooling fan (17b), a blower (17c), and a separator (22). The separator (22) circulates the air and water bath (20) within a water bath pan (36) and provides, in combination with the water bath (20), a primary filter for filtering the air. A second filter assembly (24) is also provided preferably including a high efficiency filter (100 or 100a), or HEPA rated filter, for filtering microscopic dust and dirt particles that escape the separator (22) and water bath (20) and is disposed after both the water bath (20) and the separator (22) for additional filtering of the air. Alternatively, it may be a non-HEPA rated filter (101).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: Rexair, Inc.
    Inventors: Dean Rohn, Steven Ray Selewski, William R. Daws
  • Patent number: 6136204
    Abstract: An automatic control apparatus for effecting the continuous removal of contaminants, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from a process fluid, such as water used to wash print towels or the like. The apparatus includes a pump for circulating wash water from a washer to a treatment tank. A diffuser is provided for air stripping the contaminants from the wash water in the tank. The diffused gas is exhausted through a vent in the tank, and a contaminant emissions concentration sensor detects the composition of VOCs in the exhaust. A controller signals the pump to vary the circulation based on the emissions concentration detected by the sensor. The wash water is continuously recirculated to the washer until a predetermined emissions concentration is reached. A drain in the tank releases the treated wash water to the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: Aramark Uniform and Career Apparel, Inc.
    Inventor: Phillip P. Krejci
  • Patent number: 6132493
    Abstract: An air washer includes an upwardly-open vessel for holding an air washing liquid. An air inlet opening into the upwardly open vessel introduces air to be washed below the upper level of the air washing liquid, and a chamber above the upper level of air washing liquid has inner and outer walls. A fan spaced from the upper level of air washing liquid is positioned within the outer wall of the chamber. The fan pulls an air flow through the inner wall of the chamber and exhausts it to an exhaust path downstream of the fan. Operation of the fan induces air to pass through the inlet and to be washed by the air washing liquid in the vessel and to pass through the chamber to the fan and then to be exhausted through the exhaust path. Air washing liquid entrained as liquid droplets in the cleaned air is propelled outwardly by the fan and centrifugally removed from the cleaned air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Inventor: C. Daniel Church
  • Patent number: 6015477
    Abstract: Highly purified ammonia for use in processes for the production of high-precision electronic components is prepared on-site by drawing ammonia vapor from a liquid ammonia reservoir, passing the vapor through a filter capable of filtering out particles of less than 0.005 micron in size, and scrubbing the filtered vapor in a high-pH aqueous scrubber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2000
    Assignee: Air Liquide America Corporation
    Inventors: Joe G. Hoffman, R. Scot Clark
  • Patent number: 6004379
    Abstract: A scrubbing tower and high pressure settler assembly, and the process for using same to remove particulates from a hot partial oxidation gas stream is disclosed. The scrubbing tower and high pressure settler assembly has a dip tube, a bottom portion, a top portion, and a high pressure settler. The dip tube transports partial oxidation gas from an injection point on the exterior of the scrubbing tower into a volume of water contained in the bottom portion of the scrubbing tower. A blowdown port capable of removing particulate matter is connected to the bottom portion of the assembly. A series of trays is provided in the top portion of the scrubbing tower. The top portion of the scrubbing tower also has inlet ports for receiving water and an outlet port for releasing the scrubbed partial oxidation gas. The use of the high pressure settler facilitates higher particulate settling rates as well as higher scrubbing efficiencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Paul S. Wallace, M. Kay Anderson, DeLome D. Fair
  • Patent number: 6001223
    Abstract: Highly purified ammonia for use in semiconductor manufacturing is prepared on-site by drawing ammonia vapor from a liquid ammonia reservoir, passing the vapor through a filter capable of filtering out particles of less than 0.005 micron in size, and scrubbing the filtered vapor in a high-pH aqueous scrubber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Air Liquide America Corporation
    Inventors: Joe G. Hoffman, R. Scot Clark
  • Patent number: 5938821
    Abstract: A method of separating tritium oxide from a gas stream containing tritium oxide. The gas stream containing tritium oxide is fed into a container of water having a head space above the water. Bubbling the gas stream containing tritium oxide through the container of water and removing gas from the container head space above the water. Thereafter, the gas from the head space is dried to remove water vapor from the gas, and the water vapor is recycled to the container of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Keith Rule, Geoff Gettelfinger, Paul Kivler
  • Patent number: 5904753
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and a device for the separation and purification of gas from a fiber suspension, especially residual gas after ozone delignification or pulp suspension, wherein the suspension together with the gas is introduced into a cyclone (2) or similar in which essential separation of suspension takes place, after which the essentially gas-free suspension is drawn off downwards and the gas (5) containing residual fiber and/or other impurities is drawn off upwards, the gas stream (5), before it is conducted away, being led through a liquid bath for separation of residual fibers and/or other impurities from the gas stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Assignee: Kvaerner Pulping AB
    Inventors: Rolf Ekholm, Ulf Jansson
  • Patent number: 5882378
    Abstract: A process to detect metal impurities in a gas or gas mixture including the steps of directing the gas or gas mixture through non-metallic pipings to a sampling device and sampling the gas or gas mixture for metal impurities detection, wherein the sampling device is close to an inlet and/or outlet of a machine employing the gas or gas mixture as a processing gas, the machine being surrounded by a booth containing a gaseous atmosphere which is continuously circulated in the booth, partially renewing said atmosphere continuously, and exhausting excess atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude et L'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Kohei Tarutani, Itsuko Suzuki
  • Patent number: 5858072
    Abstract: A gas suction filtration apparatus in which a liquid filter medium is contained in a closed container. A gas intake pipe is positioned so as to introduce the gas to be filtered into the bottom of the container and a suction device applies a suction force to the upper part of the container to draw the gas through the liquid filter medium. Gas-liquid mixing plates are disposed in the container which have numerous holes for passage of the gas therethrough. The mixing plates have diameters only slightly smaller than that of the container, and preferably the gap between the outside diameter of the plates and the inside diameter of the container is smaller than the diameter of the holes so that substantially all of the gas to be filtered must pass through the holes to facilitate contact between the gas and the liquid filter medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: Motoda Electronics, Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Kenro Motoda
  • Patent number: 5820657
    Abstract: Method and Apparatus for Percolating Vacuum Cleaning wherein driven by vacuum incoming to the apparatus mixture of air and other substances is directed under the top surface of a liquid, where heavier than air particles remain, but cleaned air particles percolate up to the sucking entrance of the vacuum initiator and then are exhausted from the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Inventors: Benjamin Driker, Mikhail Rukhlis
  • Patent number: 5773621
    Abstract: A gas dispersion pipe into which gas is introduced through its top end portion and blown out from its bottom end portion into liquid for gas-liquid contact, and a method and a device for gas-liquid contact employing the gas dispersion pipe are disclosed. The gas dispersion pipe has its top end portion formed in a contraction pipe with its horizontal cross-sectional area decreasing downward and/or its bottom end portion formed in a nozzle structure with its horizontal cross-sectional area decreasing downward. Instead of making the gas dispersion pipe with its bottom end portion in the nozzle structure, a gas guide member with its horizontal cross-sectional area increasing downward may be disposed within the bottom end portion of the gas dispersion pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Chiyoda Corporation
    Inventors: Haruo Nisino, Akitaka Ide, Toshiaki Urata
  • Patent number: 5762663
    Abstract: A wet dust collecting apparatus has a housing, a suction passage formed in the housing for sucking hot dust, a water tub arranged in the housing, a mist room formed in part by water in the water tub, and further defined by a partition plate arranged downstream of a chamber associated with the sucking passage. A dust filter is arranged downstream of the mist room, and a fan sucks hot dust into the suction passage, through a comb-toothed mist generator arranged between the chamber associated with the suction passage and the mist room. Dust-containing air is sucked in the suction passage and blown through the mist generator so as to vibrate the water surface thereby generating mist in the mist room. The hot dust is absorbed by the mist and cooled thereby. The hot dust containing mist is collected by the dust filter thereby separating the dust and water content from the air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Nicotec Co.
    Inventor: Yasunori Asada
  • Patent number: 5669946
    Abstract: An air particulate filtration device designed to filter the primary filtration exhaust from a mechanical abrading dust collection device. The filtration device includes a flexible duct used to guide a positive pressure air stream from a mechanical abrading dust collection device into a receptacle partially filled with a liquid and buoyant packing material. The buoyant packing material aids in increasing the surface liquid contact with the positive pressure air stream. The fine dust and particulates that contact the liquid settle to the bottom of the receptacle. The positive pressure air stream passes though a final air filter located near the top of the filtration device after making contact with the liquid surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Inventor: Earl W. Blair, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5660616
    Abstract: A method and a device for wet desulfurization of flue gas to remove a sulfur dioxide(SO.sub.2) contained in flue gas discharged from thermal power stations and boilers are disclosed. In the method the device with a gas layered sieve plate for wet desulfurization of flue gas, an absorbing liquid improves reacting conditions by effecting it own circulation without using additional power due to the structural characteristics possessed by the device and flue gas is treated very satisfactorily thanks to high gas-liquid contact efficiency. In order to minimize power consumption and the size of the device but promote desulfurization to an unusual degree, an absorber is divided into an upper froth layer and a lower liquid layer by a single-stage gas dispersing plate with a large number of gas ejection holes bored therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1997
    Assignee: Korea Electric Power Corp.
    Inventors: Byung-Sun Choi, Joo-Soo Kim, So-Min Park, Jin-Pyo Hong, Seung-Soo Park, Kwon-Soon Park, Dong-Wha Kim, Chang-Mo Nam, Yung-Hwan Kim
  • Patent number: 5650560
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for sampling and analyzing gas. In particular landfill gas, which consists primarily of methane and contains volatile organic components, is passed through a quantity of liquid tetraglyme to cause the volatile organic components to be absorbed in the tetraglyme. The tetraglyme containing the absorbed volatile organic components, is then disposed in a sealed container and transported to a laboratory testing facility. At the testing facility, at least a portion of the tetraglyme is withdrawn from the container, dispersed in water, and subjected to a gas chromatography/mass spectrometry procedure to analyze the volatile organic components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1997
    Assignee: Southern Petroleum Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: John R. Troost
  • Patent number: 5641338
    Abstract: An air scrubber and method for cleaning a stream of air utilizes a horizontal tray (A) together with a passageway (B) for transporting air beneath the trays and directing same upwardly through a perforated bottom of the tray which is supplied with a predetermined level of water which flows over a weir from a suitable source (C) wherein the upwardly directed air agitates the water resulting in a scrubbing action which is then followed by the action of an eliminator section (D) which removes water remaining in the air stream after agitation and scrubbing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1997
    Assignee: EV-Air Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: David Lockerby Brookman
  • Patent number: 5614102
    Abstract: A sewage purification method which includes a first step in which at least two kinds of flocculants are introduced in sewage for stirring and mixing therewith so as to float and settle inorganic and organic materials. The first step is sequentially repeated more than one time. Next, at least three kinds of flocculants are introduced into the supernatant obtained in the first step for stirring and mixing therewith so as to further float and settle remaining inorganic and organic materials. At least one of the first and second steps is sequentially repeated more than one time. In the above way, middle water, drinking water and super-pure water can be obtained from sewage. Purification of exhaust gas is also possible by introducing such exhaust gas in one of the above steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Inventor: Yasuyuki Sakurada