And Solid Sorption Patents (Class 95/41)
  • Patent number: 11745163
    Abstract: A carbon dioxide adsorbent including a hierarchical zeolite. The hierarchical zeolite defines micropores having a pore width between about 0.4 nm and about 2 nm, and at least one of: mesopores having a pore width between about 2 nm and about 50 nm; and macropores having a pore width greater than about 50 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of Arizona State University
    Inventors: Dong-Kyun Seo, Farid Akhtar
  • Patent number: 11460245
    Abstract: A method of natural gas treatment including introducing a natural gas containing stream into a dryer unit, thereby producing a treated natural gas containing stream. Introducing the treated natural gas containing stream into a nitrogen rejection unit, thereby producing a further treated natural gas stream as a nitrogen rejection unit product. Splitting the nitrogen rejection unit product into at least two portions, introducing the first portion of the further treated natural gas stream into a reformer unit as first part of feed, and introducing a second portion of the further treated natural gas stream into the dryer unit as a regeneration stream, thereby producing a regeneration waste stream. Introducing at least a portion of the regeneration waste stream into the reformer unit as second part of feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Scoiété Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procédés Georges Claude
    Inventors: Yufeng Qian, Jasmin Junger, Elise Renou, Alexander Roesch
  • Patent number: 9217398
    Abstract: In a gas engine 1 that uses a gas having a lower specific gravity than air and has a pre-mixing device before a turbocharger, a pre-mixed gas mixture compressed by a turbocharger 3 is cooled by an intercooler 4 located downstream of the turbocharger 3 in the intake system. Condensed water produced as the gas is cooled and the pre-mixed gas mixture discharged with the condensed water are separated into condensed water, air, and fuel gas in a vapor-liquid separator 7. The fuel gas is returned to the intake system upstream of the turbocharger 3, while the condensed water is discharged to atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hideki Nishio, Hajime Suzuki, Yuuichi Shimizu
  • Patent number: 9061929
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a furnace (12) for melting heated glass using burners (13), wherein the combustion energy is at least partially produced by oxy-fuel combustion, and wherein at least a portion of the oxygen used is produced by separation, on a ceramic separation membrane (18), from a gaseous mixture including oxygen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Inventors: Francois Bioul, Olivier Douxchamps
  • Publication number: 20150114223
    Abstract: An air dryer with a rotor and desiccant positioned within an interior chamber of the rotor. The desiccant is positioned within the interior chamber of the rotor between the inlet and the outlet. The desiccant is configured to adsorb at least some of the water contained within air flowing from an inlet to an outlet of the rotor. As the rotor is rotated at a regeneration speed at least some of the water adsorbed by the desiccant moves to the outer surface of the desiccant and at least some of the water is separated from the outer surface of the desiccant. The rotor directs water separated from the outer surface of the desiccant to at least one opening in the rotor. A method for drying air by sending the air through desiccant and rotating the desiccant at a regeneration speed to separate water from the desiccant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: HALDEX BRAKE PRODUCTS CORPORATION
    Inventor: MICHAEL R. JENKINS
  • Publication number: 20140373712
    Abstract: An off gas purification system provides superior results to other systems for removing volatile organic compounds from off gas, especially off gas from soil, groundwater, industrial processes, pipelines and storage tanks. Off gas is extracted, followed by compression and condensation. Compression and condensation produce an off gas that must be further treated to produce pollutant-free exhaust. A separation device cleans the influent gas/air by separating residual chemical vapor from the gas stream and returning that chemical vapor to the compression and condensation step. After removal of all detectable volatile organic compounds, the air stream may be further separated into segregated gases, and heated gas is used to thermally enhance the desorption or degradation of volatile organic compounds from the off gas source or a separation device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventor: Grant Geckeler
  • Publication number: 20140360364
    Abstract: A gas compressing system includes a compressor that provides a flow of compressed gas, a first desiccant tower, and a second desiccant tower separate from the first tower. The system also includes a first separator, a second separator separate from the first separator, an outlet, a first set and second set of no more than three valves each movable between an open position and a closed position. The flow flows along a flow path from the compressor to the first tower, to the first separator, to the second tower and out the outlet when the first set of valves is open and the second set of valves is closed. The flow of compressed gas flows from the compressor to the second tower, to the second separator, to the first tower and out the outlet when the first set of valves is closed and the second set of valves is opened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Charles John Bergh, Henry Y. Mark
  • Publication number: 20140326136
    Abstract: A temperature swing adsorption system includes a first adsorption bed configured to receive a feed stream and adsorb a contaminant from the feed stream to produce a product stream, a second adsorption bed configured to receive a portion of the product stream and a cooling stream to reduce a temperature of the second adsorption bed, a third adsorption bed configured to receive the heated product stream to increase a temperature of the third adsorption bed; a separation system to separate the cooled product stream into a first component stream and a second component stream, and a fourth adsorption bed configured to receive the first component stream and to enrich an adsorptive concentration of the first component stream. The enriched first component stream is directed to the second adsorption bed to provide the cooling stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2013
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventors: Shain-Jer Doong, Christopher B. McIlroy
  • Publication number: 20140260967
    Abstract: Heat generated by the first stage compressor while it is running (either loaded or unloaded in the recycled purge air dryer system is recaptured by a stream of dried, cool system air drawn off of the outlet of a online drying tower in an air compressor system via a purge heat exchanger placed after the first stage compressor. The dried, hot air is used help regenerate the offline tower. This regenerating, pressurized, and heated purge air is then cooled in its passage across or through the desiccant in the regenerating tower. It then reenters the main airflow at the outlet of the first stage air compressor as wet cool pressurized purge air. This process is completely closed loop within the system, achieving zero air loss, and avoiding dew point spikes, increasing the efficiency of the air compressor system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Roger's Machinery Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Gitschlag
  • Patent number: 8747520
    Abstract: The present invention are methods for removing preselected substances from a mixed flue gas stream characterized by cooling said mixed flue gas by direct contact with a quench liquid to condense at least one preselected substance and form a cooled flue gas without substantial ice formation on a heat exchanger. After cooling additional process methods utilizing a cryogenic approach and physical concentration and separation or pressurization and sorbent capture may be utilized to selectively remove these materials from the mixed flue gas resulting in a clean flue gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Mark D. Bearden, Paul H. Humble
  • Patent number: 8715394
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods and apparatus for capturing or otherwise decreasing the amount of CO2 in an exhaust stream. The separation process for removing CO2 from a waste stream preferably operates substantially at atmospheric pressure and at a preselected temperature, and without the need of thermal swing regeneration. This novel elimination of the heat up and cool down periods allows the inventive cycle herein to be run faster, and more efficiently than in previously known systems. Further, in some examples herein, the heat of adsorption is used to provide the heat of regeneration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Inventors: Hugo S. Caram, Alberto I. LaCava
  • Patent number: 8709135
    Abstract: An off gas extraction system cleans common sources of off gas, such as storage tanks and polluted soils. Off gas is extracted, followed by compression and condensation. Compression and condensation produce an off gas that can be reintroduced as a treated gas into the off gas source. Alternatively, a regenerative absorber cleans the treated gas by adsorbing residual chemical vapor and concentrates the removed chemical vapors and reprocesses them. If the treated gas is not reintroduced into the off gas source, conventional scrubbers may used on the back end of the system to produce a final exhaust as prescribed by environmental regulation. Methods of accomplishing the same are similarly provided, including novel methods for degassing storage tanks and treating polluted soils to meet current environmental regulations, as well as green technology and sustainability initiatives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Inventor: Carol Diane Krumbholz
  • Patent number: 8685175
    Abstract: An apparatus and process for isomerizing a hydrocarbon stream rich in a C4 hydrocarbon and/or at least one of a C5 and C6 hydrocarbon which includes a first drier and a second drier; and a reaction zone communicating with at least the first drier. The first drier operates at a first condition to dry the reactant and the second drier operates at a second condition during regeneration. The used regenerant remaining in the second drier after regeneration can (1) pass through a vent-to-flare assembly in a batch-wise manner; (2) pass through a downflow-depressure-to-low-pressure-device assembly in a batch-wise manner; (3) pass through a cross-over piping purge assembly to minimize upsets in the reaction and fractionation zones when the second drier is placed back in operation; or any combination of (1) (2) and/or (3) to minimize upsets in the reaction and fractionation zones when the second drier is placed back in operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Bryan S. Garney, Jocelyn C. Daguio, Kurt A. Detrick, David J. Shecterle, John M. Krupczak, Andrew D. Mezera, Douglas A. Becci
  • Patent number: 8673056
    Abstract: The invention is directed to processes and apparatuses for gas treatment, in particular for the purification of methane rich gas streams, such as gas obtained from the conversion from organic matter (“biogas”). In accordance with the present invention there is provided an apparatus and a process for producing a purified methane comprising gas stream (P) from a methane containing gas stream (A), comprising the steps of: (a) pressurising said methane containing gas stream (A) and subsequently cooling it, whereby a stream comprising condensed contaminants (C) and a methane comprising stream (B) are obtained; (b) optionally feeding said methane comprising stream (B) to an adsorption unit and/or a catalytic conversion unit, whereby the concentration of contaminants in stream (B) is further decreased; and (c) cooling the methane comprising stream (B) to a temperature which is sufficient to condensate CO2 from said stream (B), whereby said purified methane comprising gas stream (P) is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Gastreatment Services B.V.
    Inventors: Mathieu André De Bas, Jacob Kuiper, Jeroen De Pater
  • Patent number: 8647409
    Abstract: An air compression system and method for an air separation plant in which air is compressed in a series of compression stages and a temperature swing adsorption unit adsorbs water vapor and carbon dioxide. The temperature swing adsorption unit is situated at a location of the compression stages such that air pressure upon entry into the adsorbent beds is between about 400 psia and about 600 psia. Each of the adsorbent beds of the unit have a minimum transverse cross-sectional flow area that will set the air velocity of the air to a level below that at which adsorbent bed fluidization would occur. Such operation allows fabrication costs of the adsorbent beds to be reduced because less adsorbent and smaller adsorbent beds are required while power consumption will be at a minimum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Mohamed Hashi, Michael C. Johnson, John Royal
  • Publication number: 20130312427
    Abstract: An air compression system and method for an air separation plant in which air is compressed in a series of compression stages and a temperature swing adsorption unit adsorbs water vapor and carbon dioxide. The temperature swing adsorption unit is situated at a location of the compression stages such that air pressure upon entry into the adsorbent beds is between about 400 psia and about 600 psia. Each of the adsorbent beds of the unit have a minimum transverse cross-sectional flow area that will set the air velocity of the air to a level below that at which adsorbent bed fluidization would occur. Such operation allows fabrication costs of the adsorbent beds to be reduced because less adsorbent and smaller adsorbent beds are required while power consumption will be at a minimum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Inventors: Mohamed Hashi, Michael C. Johnson, John Royal
  • Patent number: 8591634
    Abstract: An apparatus and process for recovering a desired gas such as xenon difluoride, xenon, argon, helium or neon, from the effluent of a chemical process reactor that utilizes such gases alone or in a gas mixture or in a molecule that becomes decomposed wherein the chemical process reactor uses a sequence of different gas composition not all of which contain the desired gas and the desired gas is captured and recovered substantially only during the time the desired gas is in the effluent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: David Charles Winchester, Matthew John Bosco, Gerald W. Klein, Isaac Patrick West, Richard Linton Samsal, Douglas Paul Dee, Andrew David Johnson, Eugene Joseph Karwacki, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20130291718
    Abstract: One ozone concentrating chamber is provided therein with a part of a cooling temperature range where ozone can be selectively condensed or an oxygen gas can be selectively removed by transmission from an ozonized oxygen gas, and a part of a temperature range where condensed ozone can be vaporized, and condensed ozone is vaporized by moving condensed ozone with flow of a fluid or by gravitation to the part where condensed ozone can be vaporized, whereby the ozonized oxygen gas can be increased in concentration. Such a constitution is provided that a particle material 13 for condensation and vaporization filled in the ozone concentrating chambers 11 and 12 has a spherical shape of a special shape with multifaceted planes on side surfaces, or an oxygen transmission membrane 130 capable of selectively transmitting an oxygen gas in an ozone gas is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventors: Yoichiro TABATA, Tetsuya SAITSU, Yujiro OKIHARA, Nobuyuki ITOH, Ryohei UEDA, Yasuhiro TANIMURA, Koji OHTA
  • Patent number: 8465570
    Abstract: A method for the purification of a feed gas stream containing at least CO2 and at least one impurity with by the incorporation of a purification step, enabling water to be at least partially removed is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Bruno Alban, Christophe Claeys, Philippe Court, Arthur Darde, Guillaume De Smedt, Bao Ha, Vladimir Hasanov, Simon Jallais, Christian Monereau, Serge Moreau, Elise Renou, Ivan Sanchez-Molinero, Jean-Pierre Tranier
  • Publication number: 20130055891
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for treating a gas stream comprising combustion fumes containing CO2 in an initial proportion, water vapor, one or more volatile acid compounds, and one or more additional impurities selected from among oxygen, nitrogen and argon, comprising the steps of: i) compressing the gas stream to a final pressure of 1 bar to 74 bar absolute; ii) cooling the gas stream to a temperature of around ?10° C. to around ?130° C. and eliminating at least one additional impurity; and iii) recovering a CO2-enriched gas stream containing a final proportion of CO2 greater than the initial proportion of CO2 in the stream to be treated. In addition, the method comprises, prior to step i), a step of pre-drying the stream for removing therefrom at least a portion of the water vapor which it contains.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude Et L'Explitation Des Procedes Georges
    Inventors: Bruno Alban, Philippe Arpentinier, Alain Briglia, Serge Moreau, Fabrice Del Corso, Benoit Davidian
  • Publication number: 20120222549
    Abstract: Device for compressing and drying gas includes a compressor and a dryer using a drying agent for drying gas connected thereto. The compressor includes two or more compressor elements with an inlet and an outlet which are connected together in series to form a first low-pressure stage. One or more subsequent high-pressure stages are each connected with their inlet to the outlet of a previous compressor element via a pressure pipe and an outlet pipe in which an after cooler is incorporated. The dryer has a drying section and a regeneration section. The drying section is filled with a drying agent for drying the gas and has an inlet connected to the outlet pipe of the compressor device, and an outlet that supplies compressed and dried gas. The regeneration section dries moist drying agent by a regeneration gas which is guided there via an inlet and an outlet with a regeneration pipe connected to the inlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Inventor: Constantijn Friso Vermeer
  • Patent number: 8252089
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and device for compressing and drying a gas flow rich in carbon dioxide, for example containing more than 50 mol % of carbon dioxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Tranier, Arthur Darde, Jean-François Rauch, Dominique Antonio, Christophe Michel
  • Publication number: 20120125194
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods and apparatus for capturing or otherwise decreasing the amount of CO2 in an exhaust stream. The separation process for removing CO2 from a waste stream preferably operates substantially at atmospheric pressure and at a preselected temperature, and without the need of thermal swing regeneration. This novel elimination of the heat up and cool down periods allows the inventive cycle herein to be run faster, and more efficiently than in previously known systems. Further, in some examples herein, the heat of adsorption is used to provide the heat of regeneration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: LEHIGH UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Hugo S. Caram, Alberto I. LaCava
  • Publication number: 20120085232
    Abstract: A method for removing contaminants from natural gas streams. The natural gas stream is fed to a dryer, then a membrane module and a multibed, multilayer vacuum swing adsorption process for removal of oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide from the natural gas stream. Alternatively when carbon dioxide is in relatively low concentration in the natural gas stream, the membrane module step is not employed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Inventors: Rustam H. Sethna, Ramachandran Krishnamurthy
  • Publication number: 20120031267
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a method to cool the recycle gas in a product compressor being used with a cyclic adsorption process. It simplifies the scheme by eliminating need to provide a separate cooler for recycle gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2010
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: ADSORPTECH INC.
    Inventors: APURVA MAHESHWARY, John R. Ambriano, James J. Flaherty, Krishamurti V. Subramanian
  • Patent number: 8062613
    Abstract: An apparatus and process for isomerizing a hydrocarbon stream rich in a C4 hydrocarbon and/or at least one of a C5 and C6 hydrocarbon which includes a first drier and a second drier; and a reaction zone communicating with at least the first drier. The first drier operates at a first condition to dry the reactant and the second drier operates at a second condition during regeneration. The used regenerant remaining in the second drier after regeneration can (1) pass through a vent-to-flare assembly in a batch-wise manner; (2) pass through a downflow-depressure-to-low-pressure-device assembly in a batch-wise manner; (3) pass through a cross-over piping purge assembly to minimize upsets in the reaction and fractionation zones when the second drier is placed back in operation; or any combination of (1) (2) and/or (3) to minimize upsets in the reaction and fractionation zones when the second drier is placed back in operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Bryan S. Garney, Jocelyn C. Daguio, Kurt A. Detrick, David J. Shecterle, John M. Krupczak, Andrew D. Mezera, Douglas A. Becci
  • Publication number: 20110247491
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process and an apparatus for the treatment of a carbon dioxide-containing gas stream from a large-scale combustion plant, in particular of a power station. The gas stream is separated in a carbon dioxide purification stage R into a gas substream having an increased carbon dioxide content and a gas substream having a reduced carbon dioxide content. The gas substream having an increased carbon dioxide content is fed to a further use and/or storage S. In particular, compression of the carbon dioxide under the ground can reduce the emission of gases which affect the climate. To increase the proportion of compressible CO2, it is proposed that the gas substream having a reduced carbon dioxide content is fed to a pressure swing adsorption stage PSA in which a fraction which is rich in carbon dioxide and a fraction which is low in carbon dioxide are produced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2009
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: LINDE-KCA-DRESDEN GMBH
    Inventors: Paul Leitgeb, Werner Sebastian Leitmayr, Torsten Stoffregen, Roland Ritter
  • Patent number: 8034159
    Abstract: A method for cleaning hydrocarbons from a gas-vapor medium ejected to the atmosphere, formed while storing oil or gasoline or filling a container therewith is provided. The medium is pumped out and compressed in a gas-liquid jet apparatus due to energy of oil or gasoline supplied by a pump. The formed mixture is separated in a separator, where a pressure of 0.7 to 2.5 MPa is maintained, and gas from the separator is compressed in a jet apparatus by oil or gasoline supplied by a pump. The gas medium cleaned from the hydrocarbons is outputted and the saturated absorbent is directed to a desorber where a pressure is generated to be lower than the pressure in the separator. The liquid medium is removed from the separators and to a container or to a storage tank from which oil or gasoline is simultaneously supplied to pump inlets or to the separators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Inventor: Valery Grigorievich Tsegelsky
  • Publication number: 20110132191
    Abstract: An adsorption drying apparatus, in particular for drying a compressed gas, includes an adsorption chamber (11) having a plurality of adsorption conduits (101) containing an adsorption material (123), a first feeding line (106) and a first discharging line (109) disposed at a first end (111) of the adsorption chamber (11), and a second feeding line (108) and a second discharging line (107) disposed at a second end (112) of the adsorption chamber (11). The adsorption chamber (11) is rotatable with respect to the feeding and discharging lines (106, 107, 108, 109) so that the adsorption conduits may be fluidically connected in temporal alternation, wherein the gas is dried in a drying sector (102), and the adsorption material (123) is regenerated in the regeneration sector (103). The first feeding line (106) is configured such that the gas stream to be dried may be fed to the regeneration sector (103) as a full flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: KAESER KOMPRESSOREN GMBH
    Inventors: Andreas FREDENHAGEN, René MARTIN, Michael FEISTHAUER, Michael ROHDENBURG
  • Publication number: 20100288121
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and device for compressing and drying a gas flow rich in carbon dioxide, for example containing more than 50 mol % of carbon dioxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Dominique Antonio, Arthur Darde, Christophe Michel, Jean-Francois Rauch, Jean-Pierre Tranier
  • Publication number: 20100263529
    Abstract: A method for the purification of a feed gas stream containing at least CO2 and at least one impurity with by the incorporation of a purification step, enabling water to be at least partially removed is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2008
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Applicant: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Bruno Alban, Christophe Claeys, Philippe Court, Arthur Darde, Guillaume De Smedt, Bao Ha, Vladimir Hasanov, Simon Jallais, Christian Monereau, Serge Moreau, Elise Renou, Ivan Sanchez-Molinero, Jean-Pierre Tranier
  • Publication number: 20100024476
    Abstract: Carbon dioxide-containing gas such as flue gas and a carbon dioxide-rich stream are compressed and the combined streams are then treated to desorb moisture onto adsorbent beds and then subjected to subambient-temperature processing to produce a carbon dioxide product stream and a vent stream. The vent stream is treated to produce a carbon dioxide-depleted stream which can be used to desorb moisture from the beds, and a carbon dioxide-rich stream which is combined with the carbon dioxide-containing gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Inventor: Minish Mahendra Shah
  • Publication number: 20100000406
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing discharges into the atmosphere of mercury pollutants associated with dry process, precalciner cement manufacturing is shown. Raw feed meal used in cement production is heated in a special heating chamber to drive off volatile mercury pollutants, such as elemental mercury and mercury oxides. Preferably, the feed meal is heated to a temperature of at least 175° C. The gases that are driven off flow are then cooled to condense the mercury pollutants causing them to be adsorbed on carbon particles injected into the gas flow. The carbon particles containing the condensed mercury pollutants are then filtered out of gas flow, for example, using a fabric filter. The gas flow may be burned to destroy other volatile pollutants such as hydrocarbons and/or ammonia.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2008
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Inventors: James J. Schwab, Ronald L. Hawks
  • Patent number: 7632337
    Abstract: The present invention relates to cryogenic air separation processes and systems that employ a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) prepurification process. It is advantageous to operate the PSA process at a pressure comparable to or below the operating pressure of the highest pressure column in the cryogenic separation unit. Following PSA prepurification, the air can be split into at least two fractions, with at least a portion of the air being directed to the cryogenic separation unit and at least a portion of the remaining air being further pressurized in at least one stage of compression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Henry Edward Howard, Jeffert John Nowobilski
  • Publication number: 20090166173
    Abstract: Purified SiHCl3 is used as a sweep gas across a permeate side of a gas separation membrane receiving effluent gas from a polysilicon reactor. The combined sweep gas and permeate is recycled to the reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventor: Sarang GADRE
  • Publication number: 20090049984
    Abstract: Improved compressor device consisting of a compressor (2) with an inlet (3) and an outlet (4); a compressed air line (5) which connects the outlet (4) of the compressor (2) to a user network (6); a drier (7) which is incorporated in the above-mentioned compressed air line (5) and which comprises at least two air receivers (13-16) which are each provided with an inlet (14) and an outlet (15) and which are filled with desiccant or drying agent, which air receivers (13-16) work alternately, such that while one air receiver (13) is drying the compressed gas, the other air receiver (16) is regenerated; and a blow-off device (28) for blowing off at least a part of the gas compressed by the compressor when the compressor (2) works in no-load or in partial load, characterised in that means are provided which make it possible to guide the part of the compressed gas which is blown off via the blow-off device (28) through the regenerating air receiver (13).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2005
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Inventor: Danny Etienne Andree Vertriest
  • Publication number: 20080314244
    Abstract: Adsorption of CO2 from flue gas streams using temperature swing adsorption. The resulting CO2 rich stream is compressed for sequestration into a subterranean formation and at least a portion of the heat of compression is used in the desorption step of the temperature swing adsorption process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventors: Bruce T. Kelley, Harry W. Deckman, Frank Hershkowitz, Paul S. Northrop, Peter I. Ravikovitch
  • Patent number: 7258725
    Abstract: Gas supplying method and system in which effective component gas in exhaust gas can be separated and purified efficiently to be resupplied regardless of variation in the flow rate or composition of the exhaust gas and consumed gas can be replenished efficiently. In a method for collecting exhaust gas discharged from a gas using facility, separating/purifying effective component gas contained in the exhaust gas and supplying the effective component gas thus obtained to the gas using facility, the exhaust gas discharged from the gas using facility is added with a replenishing gas of the same components as the effective component gas before the effective component gas is separated and purified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation
    Inventors: Tadahiro Ohmi, Yoshio Ishihara, Akihiro Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6878186
    Abstract: A pure vacuum swing adsorption/desorption system and method, wherein supplied air feedstock gas is consistently separated to obtain a high-purity oxygen end-product gas mixture, is described. The system and method separate high-purity oxygen product from air by sequenced adsorption and desorption operations occurring exclusively under vacuum pressure conditions. This allows for greatly reduced kilowatt-hours of electric-oxygen power consumption per oxygen ton produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Inventor: David Lloyd Neary
  • Patent number: 6878185
    Abstract: The subject of the present invention is a method and a device for the separation of fuel-vapor/air mixtures into their components, in particular for purification of vapor mixtures, such as occur in fuel tanks of motor vehicles. A preseparator is arranged between the fuel tank and the filter. In the preseparator, the hydrocarbons are separated from the mixture and are supplied to the fuel tank again. The remaining mixture is supplied to the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Stefan Fühling, Knut Meyer, Martin Nockemann
  • Patent number: 6755975
    Abstract: A process for treating liquids containing organic compounds and water. The process includes a pervaporation step in conjunction with a dephlegmation step to treat at least a portion of the permeate vapor from the pervaporation step. The process yields a membrane residue stream, a stream enriched in the more volatile component (usually the organic) as the overhead stream from the dephlegmator and a condensate stream enriched in the less volatile component (usually the water) as a bottoms stream from the dephlegmator. Any of these may be the principal product of the process. The membrane separation step may also be performed in the vapor phase, or by membrane distillation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignees: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc., The United States of America as represented by the Environmental Protection Agency
    Inventors: Leland M. Vane, Anurag P. Mairal, Alvin Ng, Franklin R. Alvarez, Richard W. Baker
  • Patent number: 6576043
    Abstract: A method for the separation of a gas mixture comprises (a) obtaining a feed gas mixture comprising nitrogen and at least one hydrocarbon having two to six carbon atoms; (b) introducing the feed gas mixture at a temperature of about 60° F. to about 105° F. into an adsorbent bed containing adsorbent material which selectively adsorbs the hydrocarbon, and withdrawing from the adsorbent bed an effluent gas enriched in nitrogen; (c) discontinuing the flow of the feed gas mixture into the adsorbent bed and depressurizing the adsorbent bed by withdrawing depressurization gas therefrom; (d) purging the adsorbent bed by introducing a purge gas into the bed and withdrawing therefrom an effluent gas comprising the hydrocarbon, wherein the purge gas contains nitrogen at a concentration higher than that of the nitrogen in the feed gas mixture; (e) pressurizing the adsorbent bed by introducing pressurization gas into the bed; and (f) repeating (b) through (e) in a cyclic manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Patrick Zwilling, Timothy Christopher Golden, Edward Landis Weist, Jr., Keith Alan Ludwig
  • Patent number: 6551380
    Abstract: A gas separation apparatus and process has a first pressure swing adsorption (PSA) unit (110) receiving feed gas (112), which comprises a first and a second component. First PSA unit (110) produces first product gas (114) pre-dominantly containing the first component, and first off gas (116) containing at least some of the first component and second component. Compressor (120) is coupled to first PSA unit (110) to compress first off gas (116) to form compressed off gas (126), which is passed downstream to absorber unit (130), which employs a solvent to remove at least part of the second component from compressed off gas (126), forming an enriched compressed off gas (136B). Second PSA unit (140) receives enriched compressed off gas (136B) and produces second product gas (142) which predominantly contains the first component and a second off gas that is sent to waste or reformer burner (150).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Fluor Corporation
    Inventors: Satish Reddy, Ravi Ravikumar
  • Patent number: 6511525
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for extracting liquid water from moist air using minimal energy input. The method can be considered as four phases: (1) adsorbing water from air into a desiccant, (2) isolating the water-laden desiccant from the air source, (3) desorbing water as vapor from the desiccant into a chamber, and (4) isolating the desiccant from the chamber, and compressing the vapor in the chamber to form liquid condensate. The liquid condensate can be removed for use. Careful design of the dead volumes and pressure balances can minimize the energy required. The dried air can be exchanged for fresh moist air and the process repeated. An apparatus comprises a first chamber in fluid communication with a desiccant, and having ports to intake moist air and exhaust dried air. The apparatus also comprises a second chamber in fluid communication with the desiccant. The second chamber allows variable internal pressure, and has a port for removal of liquid condensate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Barry L. Spletzer, Diane Schafer Callow
  • Patent number: 6383257
    Abstract: An apparatus and process for separating perfluorocarbon compounds from a gas mixture passes an incoming stream of a gas into a cold trap, the gas stream including a plurality of perfluorocarbon compounds. The gas mixture is cooled within the cold trap to a temperature below −100° C. to produce a condensate that is enriched in at least one perfluorocarbon compound and a non-condensed stream from which the condensate was separated. The condensate is withdrawn from the cold trap. The condensate may be withdrawn by warming the cold trap to vaporize the condensate and thereafter flowing the vaporized condensate into a storage vessel. The non-condensed stream may be vented to the atmosphere, re-circulated into the cold trap or flowed through subsequent separation processes to extract additional perfluorocarbon compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne Thomas McDermott, Richard Carl Ockovic, Alexander Schwarz, Rakesh Agrawal
  • Patent number: 6350371
    Abstract: An improved process and process train for catalytic reforming of hydrocarbons. In its most simple form, the invention includes four unit operations or steps: the reforming itself usually carried out in a series of reactors; one or more steps to separate the reformate liquid product from overhead gases, predominantly C1-C6 hydrocarbons and hydrogen; one or more treatment steps to recover hydrogen from the overhead gases, and one or more treatment steps, including a membrane gas separation step, for the waste gas from the hydrogen recovery step. The process provides improved recovery of hydrogen and LPG, and reduces the amount of gas sent to the fuel line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Kaaeid A. Lokhandwala, Richard W. Baker
  • Patent number: 6224677
    Abstract: A CVD device A is provided which is equipped with a gas introduction part A3 having an inert gas supply part G1 for supplying a diluting inert gas and a cleaning gas supply path G2 for supplying a cleaning gas, each connected therewith, and equipped with an exhaust gas discharge part A4 for releasing an exhaust gas; an exhaust gas circulation part D1 for circulating an exhaust gas from the CVD device, a cooling part D4 for cooling down and liquefying the cleaning gas in the exhaust gas, and a recovery part 4 for recovering the cleaning gas liquefied in said cooling part D4; the diluting inert gas is composed of a gas having a boiling point lower than that of the cleaning gas; a supply part 6 for supplying a cooling inert gas having the same composition as the diluting inert gas in a liquid state, an inert gas circulation part D3 which is cooled down by heat of evaporation of the cooling inert gas, and an inert gas discharge part 7 for discharging the cooling inert gas evaporated in the inert gas circulation p
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Teisan Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigeyoshi Nozawa, Shinji Tomita
  • Patent number: 6221130
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for compressing and drying a gas, typically air, are provided in which a multistage compressor is employed to produce interstage and final stage compressed gas. Regenerative adsorbent is employed to dry the final stage compressed gas. Interstage gas is used to regenerate the saturated adsorbent. Preferably, two beds of regenerable adsorbent are provided, each operable in a drying mode and a regeneration mode. In the drying mode, final stage compressed gas is passed through the bed of adsorbent in order to be dried, until the adsorbent is saturated. In the regeneration mode, moisture is removed from the saturated adsorbent by a stream of interstage compressed gas. The two beds are preferably alternately operated in the drying mode and the regeneration mode, in order to provide a continuous process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Cooper Turbocompressor, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Kolodziej, Edward S. Czechowski
  • Patent number: 6071326
    Abstract: The production of naphtha gas from landfill gas is preferably accomplished through a gas purification step, a catalytic conversion of methane gas to hydrogen gas, and a blending step in which various process streams are blended to produce the naphtha gas stream. The landfill gas stream is first treated through a gas purification/separation procedure to produce a substantially pure methane stream. The purified methane stream is then split into at least two portions. The first portion is fed into a hydrogen reformer and a shift reactor, where the methane gas is converted into a hydrogen-bearing stream which includes hydrogen and carbon dioxide. The second portion of the stream is preferably fed into a mixer. In the mixer, the pure methane stream, the hydrogen-bearing stream and a portion of the purified landfill gas stream are preferably blended together to form a naphtha gas stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Ecogas Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas Lee Hall
  • Patent number: RE39122
    Abstract: A system for drying a gas, such as air, includes a source of gas to be dried, a multistage compressor having an inlet connected to the source, and a dryer connected interstage to the compressor and to the outlet of the compressor. The dryer is connected interstage to the compressor between a compression stage and a heat exchanger of one of the compressor stages for regenerating a first desiccant filled tower. The dryer is also connected to the outlet of the compressor for drying the gas using a second desiccant filled tower. A communication structure can be activated to connect the first tower to the outlet of the compressor for drying the gas using the first tower, and to connect the second tower interstage to the compressor for regeneration of the second tower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Henderson Engineering Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Charles A. Henderson, Terry D. Henderson