By Heating Patents (Class 95/251)
  • Patent number: 10596489
    Abstract: A separation system for separating a multiphase fluid into an oil fraction and at least one of a water fraction and a gas fraction includes an elongated separator vessel which includes a multiphase fluid inlet and an oil outlet located downstream of the multiphase fluid inlet, a first immersed plate heater which is positioned in the separator vessel between the multiphase fluid inlet and the oil outlet, a heating medium heater which is located externally of the separator vessel and is fluidly connected to the first immersed plate heater, a second immersed plate heater which is positioned in the separator vessel between the multiphase fluid inlet and the oil outlet and which includes an inlet and an outlet, and an oil discharge line which is connected between the oil outlet and the inlet of the second immersed plate heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: FMC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Victor van Asperen, Sander G. Baaren, Wouter Balk
  • Patent number: 8945281
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes an apparatus and a method for generating IPA vapor for condensation on a substrate in order to provide a vapor that is substantially free of particulate and molecular contaminants. The apparatus includes an inlet for liquid to enter, and a plurality of heated sloped surfaces to create thin sheets of flowing liquid on the surfaces from which the liquid can vaporize to form vapor. The liquid flows from one surface to another, vaporizing the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: MSP Corporation
    Inventors: Thuc M. Dinh, Yamin Ma, Benjamin Y. H. Liu
  • Patent number: 8679233
    Abstract: A method of modifying the apparent wettability (the area contacted by a liquid) of solids with liquids by controlling the surface geometry or the capillary geometry. This modification is possible by understanding the geometric relationship between the contact angle and the included angle of surface features. This same geometric relationship can be used to enhance two-phase fluid separation during phase transformation as well as measure dynamic contact angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Phillip G. Wapner, Wesley P. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 8663363
    Abstract: A CO2 recovering apparatus includes: a CO2 absorber that brings flue gas containing CO2 into contact with CO2 absorbent to reduce the CO2 contained in the flue gas; a regenerator that reduces CO2 contained in rich solvent that has absorbed CO2 in the CO2 absorber to regenerate the rich solvent, so that the CO2 absorbent that is lean solvent having CO2 reduced in the regenerator is reused in the CO2 absorber; and a controller that controls to detect the absorbent concentration in the CO2 absorbent, to increase the volume of CO2 absorbent to be circulated based on a decrease in the absorbent concentration, and to adjust the volume of steam to be supplied in the regenerator based on the volume of the CO2 absorbent to be circulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., The Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Masaki Iijima, Hiroshi Tanaka, Yoshiki Sorimachi, Masahiko Tatsumi, Yasuyuki Yagi, Kouki Ogura
  • Patent number: 8657921
    Abstract: A shell-and-tube heat exchanger, for removing volatile substances from a polymer solution by degasification, includes a bundle of tubes arranged vertically and parallel to each other in a shell chamber through which a fluid heat-transfer medium flows. The upper end of each tube is fixed in an upper tube sheet and the lower end of each tube is fixed in a lower tube sheet, and the polymer solution flows through the tubes in the direction of gravity. One feature is that a multilayer woven wire fabric is attached to the top of the upper tube sheet. The finest meshed layer of the fabric has a mesh width of 50 ?m to 1000 ?m. The invention also relates to a method for removing volatile substances from a polymer solution by degasification in a shell-and-tube heat exchanger and use of the shell-and-tube heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Styrolution GmbH
    Inventors: Norbert Güntherberg, Rainer Bardon, Hartmut Heinen, Michael Sauer, Ludger Leber, Wolfgang Fischer
  • Patent number: 8623314
    Abstract: Processes for recovering ammonia from an ammonium sulfate stream include reacting the ammonia sulfate stream with a lime slurry to form a slurry comprising calcium sulfate and ammonia; providing the slurry comprising calcium sulfate and ammonia to a stripper configured to recover the ammonia from the slurry; utilizing a heat source from a chilled ammonia process to the stripper; and extracting an ammonia vapor stream from the stripper. Also disclosed are systems for performing the processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: David James Muraskin, Sanjay Kumar Dube
  • Publication number: 20120174783
    Abstract: A method and system for removing gaseous contaminants from a gas stream by contacting the gas stream with a wash solution and regenerating the wash solution in a regeneration system for future use in removing gaseous contaminants from the gas stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD
    Inventors: Jonathan W. Leister, Barath Baburao, Frederic Vitse
  • Patent number: 8043588
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method and plant for energy-efficient removal of CO2 from a gas phase by means of absorption. The invention is particularly suitable for use in connection with thermal power plants fired by fossil fuels, and is also well-suited for retrofitting in existing thermal power plants. A processing plant according to the invention comprises three sections: a primary CO2-generating process that serves as main product supplier; a CO2-capture and separation plant based on absorption and desorption of CO2 respectively by/from at least one absorbent; and a second CO2-generating process where combustion of carbonaceous fuel in pure oxygen atmosphere serves as energy supply to at least a part of the thermal energy necessary to drive the regeneration of the absorbent in the desorption column(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignees: CO2-Norway AS, Nebb Engineering AS
    Inventors: Carl W. Hustad, Ingo Tronstad
  • Publication number: 20110099128
    Abstract: The within invention provides a method of producing and utilizing ethane gas, mostly a waste product from natural gas wells, especially Marcellus Shale wells in the northeastern United States. The method provides for separating the ethane gas from the natural gas wells, preparing it and mixing it with methane gas to burn landfill waste on site at a landfill's incinerator. Other components of the natural gas well, such as propane, butane and hexanes are further separated and sold to commercial and residential end users.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Inventor: Michael K. Weaver
  • Patent number: 7892321
    Abstract: An integrated heating system for adding heat to a feed fuel within a module by way of an integrated heating element within the body or casing of the module. The heat may be selectively added to maintain a selected temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Intelligent Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Diane Lee Aagesen, Kandaswamy Duraiswamy
  • Patent number: 7842121
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for providing aqueous stream purification services. The system includes at least one separation unit. Each separation unit may include a mechanical vapor recompression separator, a steam stripper, and a secondary recovery heat exchanger. The system for wastewater purification may receive water from a waste water storage, purify the water, and return the purified water to a purified water storage. The system may include a controller. The controller may include an operating conditions module configured to interpret at least one operating condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Capital Corporation
    Inventors: Larry D. Sanderson, James W. Schleiffarth, Leslie D. Merrill, Bradford M. Rohwer
  • Patent number: 7837768
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for purifying a waste fluid stream. The system includes a recirculation pump having an inlet for a recirculation stream and an outlet to expel a pressurized stream. The system includes a compressor having an inlet for an evaporation stream and an outlet for a pressurized evaporation stream. A primary heat exchanger has inlets for the pressurized stream and the pressurized evaporation stream, an internal surface area for heat transfer from the evaporation stream to the pressurized stream, and outlets for a cooled product stream and a heated pressurized stream. The heated pressurized stream is formed by heating the pressurized stream and the cooled product stream is formed by cooling the evaporation stream. The system includes an evaporation unit having an inlet for the heated pressurized stream and outlets for an evaporation stream and the recycled liquid bottoms stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Capital Corporation as Administrative Agent
    Inventors: Larry D. Sanderson, James W. Schleiffarth, Leslie D. Merrill, Bradford M. Rohwer
  • Publication number: 20080196588
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for generating a vapor to be injected into a flue gas stream are described. Apparatus comprises a fluid vaporization and injection assembly further comprising: a stripper for producing first ammonia vapor and a first aqueous ammonia solution from a second aqueous ammonia solution; a reflux tank for producing a second ammonia vapor and the second aqueous ammonia solution from the first ammonia vapor and the first aqueous ammonia solution; and a first outlet for outputting the second ammonia vapor for introduction into the flue gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Inventors: William Gretta, Eric Pear, Dileep Karmarkar
  • Patent number: 7033420
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for thermally degassing a condensate or feedwater by heating the condensate or feedwater in a feedwater vessel/degassing means, to which preheated condensate is fed and from which feedwater for heating surfaces heated in a heat recovery steam generator is removed. Structurally simple degassing, advantageous in thermal terms, is achieved by virtue of the fact that the condensate is preheated in a first condensate preheater, and that a partial stream of the preheated condensate, which is preheated further in a second condensate preheater, is used to heat the condensate or feedwater in the feedwater vessel/degassing means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd.
    Inventor: Erhard Liebig
  • Publication number: 20040187687
    Abstract: In a process for thermally degassing the water in a steam system, in particular a heat recovery steam generator, which steam system preferably includes at least one steam drum, at least one economizer connected upstream of it, and at least one evaporator, economic, efficient and structurally simple degassing is achieved by virtue of the fact that water is sucked out of at least one water volume, this water is mixed with steam from a steam volume, and the two-phase mixture that is formed flows out into the water volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2004
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Inventor: Erhard Liebig
  • Publication number: 20040187688
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for thermally degassing a condensate or feedwater by heating the condensate or feedwater in a feedwater vessel/degassing means, to which preheated condensate is fed and from which feedwater for heating surfaces heated in a heat recovery steam generator is removed. Structurally simple degassing, advantageous in thermal terms, is achieved by virtue of the fact that the condensate is preheated in a first condensate preheater, and that a partial stream of the preheated condensate, which is preheated further in a second condensate preheater, is used to heat the condensate or feedwater in the feedwater vessel/degassing means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2004
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Inventor: Erhard Liebig
  • Patent number: 6558452
    Abstract: Ammonia is recovered from waste water containing NH3, at least one acid gas (CO2, H2S) and inert gases. Firstly, the waste water is passed through a pretreatment column and then, at least in part, into a total stripping column. The top product from the total stripping column is cooled in a condenser, and an aqueous NH3-containing condensate coming from the condenser is fed to an NH3 stripping column. The top product from the NH3 stripping column is brought into direct contact with circulating aqueous NH3-containing condensate in a wash column, and NH3 is recovered from the top product from the wash column. Some of the bottom product from the wash column is fed back into the NH3 stripping column. The temperature in the bottom region of the pretreatment column is set to from less than 30 to 200° C., a sub-stream of the waste water is introduced into the upper region of the pretreatment column, and a second sub-stream of the waste water is fed into the pretreatment column below the first sub-stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: MG Technologies AG
    Inventors: Hans-Martin Stönner, Gert Ungar, Matthias Linicus
  • Patent number: 6551379
    Abstract: Apparatus for use with a natural gas dehydrator wherein a portion of the wet glycol in an emissions separator is pumped under pressure as circulating wet glycol which may be used as a coolant for effluent removed from a reboiler and/or a power source for an eductor to form a vacuum in a first chamber of a liquid water removal separator apparatus. The cooled effluent, comprising at least liquid water, liquid hydrocarbons and uncondensed vapors, moves into the first chamber wherein the liquid water and/or the liquid hydrocarbons are separated from the uncondensed vapors. At least, the uncondensed vapors are removed from the first chamber and move into the eductor wherein they are compressed and combined into the circulating wet glycol. The separated liquid water is transferred to a second chamber of the liquid water removal separator apparatus and then removed therefrom. In some instances, the liquid hydrocarbons are transferred to a third chamber and removed therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Inventor: Rodney T. Heath
  • Patent number: 6398850
    Abstract: A thermally-activated gas extraction device that comprises a bubble capture chamber, an exhaust manifold, a tapered extraction chamber and an extraction heater associated with the tapered extraction chamber. The tapered extraction chamber extends from the bubble capture chamber towards the exhaust manifold and has a cross-sectional area that increases towards the exhaust manifold. A gas removal method in which the gas extraction device is provided, a bubble of gas is accumulated in the bubble capture chamber, a portion of the liquid in the tapered extraction chamber heated to nucleate a bubble of vapor, and the bubble of vapor is heated to explosively expand the bubble of vapor into contact with the walls of the tapered extraction chamber and into contact with the bubble of gas to form a composite bubble. Contact with the walls of the tapered extraction moves the composite bubble towards the exhaust manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Leslie A. Field, David K. Donald, Phillip W. Barth, Jonathan Servaites, Storrs T. Hoen
  • Patent number: 6364933
    Abstract: Apparatus for use with a natural gas dehydrator wherein a portion of the wet glycol in an emissions separator is pumped under pressure as circulating wet glycol which may be used as a coolant for effluent removed from a reboiler and/or a power source for an eductor to form a vacuum in a first chamber of a liquid water removal separator apparatus. The cooled effluent, comprising at least liquid water, liquid hydrocarbons and uncondensed vapors, moves into the first chamber wherein the liquid water and/or the liquid hydrocarbons are separated from the uncondensed vapors. At least, the uncondensed vapors are removed from the first chamber and move into the eductor wherein they are compressed and combined into the circulating wet glycol. The separated liquid water is transferred to a second chamber of the liquid water removal separator apparatus and then removed therefrom. In some instances, the liquid hydrocarbons are transferred to a third chamber and removed therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Inventor: Rodney T. Heath
  • Patent number: 6299673
    Abstract: A thermally-activated gas extraction device that comprises a bubble capture chamber, an exhaust manifold, a tapered extraction chamber and an extraction heater associated with the tapered extraction chamber. The tapered extraction chamber extends from the bubble capture chamber towards the exhaust manifold and has a cross-sectional area that increases towards the exhaust manifold. A gas removal method in which the gas extraction device is provided, a bubble of gas is accumulated in the bubble capture chamber, a portion of the liquid in the tapered extraction chamber heated to nucleate a bubble of vapor, and the bubble of vapor is heated to explosively expand the bubble of vapor into contact with the walls of the tapered extraction chamber and into contact with the bubble of gas to form a composite bubble. Contact with the walls of the tapered extraction moves the composite bubble towards the exhaust manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Leslie A. Field, David K. Donald, Phillip W. Barth, Jonathan Servaites, Storrs T. Hoen, Jonah A. Harley
  • Publication number: 20010006614
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the recovery of unreacted ammonia from the effluent obtained from a reaction zone wherein oxygen, ammonia and a hydrocarbon are reacted at an elevated temperature in the presence of an ammoxidation catalyst to produce an unsaturated nitrile is provided, including the steps of:
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2000
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Inventors: Linda L. Nero, Loring A. Weisenberger