And Liquid Contact (e.g., Scrubbing, Sorption, Etc.) Patents (Class 95/42)
  • Patent number: 7022295
    Abstract: A gas siphon type reactor (10) is used to carry out a three phase chemical reaction under pressure, such as the reduction of uranyl nitrate to uranous nitrate by hydrogen, in the presence of a catalyst made up of platinum on a silica carrier. The control of the pressure in the reactor (10) is provided by regulating the liquid and gas flow rates from separator (52), into which the liquid and the gas leaving the reactor (10) are routed. The liquid in the reactor (10) is tapped from a lateral branch pipe (32) fitted with a filter (36) and emerging in the upper area (30), behind a profiled wall (34).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Compagnie Generale des Matieres Nucleaires
    Inventors: Pietro Bilardello, Nicolas Durupt, Renaud Pontier
  • Patent number: 6955705
    Abstract: Method and system for compressing and dehydrating wet natural gas produced from a low-pressure well using a rotary screw compressor. A dehydrating agent is combined with wet natural gas within a rotary screw compressor. Operation of the rotary screw compressor causes compression and dehydration of the wet natural gas to produce a compressed dry natural gas. Engine exhaust produced by the engine which powers the rotary screw compressor may be used to remove water absorbed by the dehydrating agent and thereby recover the dehydrating agent for re-circulation in the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: RDC Research LLC
    Inventors: Richard P. Cheney, Brad Salzman
  • 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: 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: 6203596
    Abstract: The process serves for removing carbon monoxide and/or hydrogen from an air stream by catalytic oxidation. Dusts and/or aerosols of a particle size of less than 20 &mgr;m are removed from the air stream upstream of the catalytic oxidation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Linde Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Ulrich Von Gemmingen
  • 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: 5980609
    Abstract: A treatment process for a hydrogen-containing off-gas stream from a refinery, petrochemical plant or the like. The process includes three separation steps: condensation, membrane separation and hydrocarbon fraction separation. The membrane separation step is characterized in that it is carried out using a polymeric separation membrane that is selective in favor of hydrocarbons, including methane, over hydrogen, so that the hydrogen-enriched stream is delivered at high pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard W. Baker, Kaaeid A. Lokhandwala
  • Patent number: 5928408
    Abstract: Air is separated in a double rectification column including a lower pressure rectification column. A first oxygen product containing less than 3.5% by volume of argon impurity is withdrawn through an outlet of the column which has a packed section below the level of the outlet. The argon impurity is striped from liquid descending through the packed section and a second relatively pure oxygen product containing less than 100 volumes per million is withdrawn from below the section through an outlet thereof. Impurities less volatile than oxygen are preferably separated from the second oxygen product in a side rectification column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: The BOC Group plc
    Inventor: Paul Higginbotham
  • Patent number: 5879431
    Abstract: A membrane separation process for treating a gas stream containing methane and nitrogen, for example, natural gas. The separation process works by preferentially permeating methane and rejecting nitrogen. We have found that the process is able to meet natural gas pipeline specifications for nitrogen, with acceptably small methane loss, so long as the membrane can exhibit a methane/nitrogen selectivity of about 4, 5 or more. This selectivity can be achieved with some rubbery and super-glassy membranes at low temperatures. The process can also be used for separating ethylene from nitrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard W. Baker, Kaaeid A. Lokhandwala, Ingo Pinnau
  • Patent number: 5871563
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the purification of an inert gas by subjecting the inert gas to a sorption treatment, especially gas scrubs. The invention comprises compressing the inert gas to a higher pressure before the sorption treatment, performing the sorption treatment at this higher pressure, and then expanding the purified inert gas. The advantages of the process of the invention can be seen to be essentially that, for example, streams of waste air which contain as impurities volatile solvents such as methyl chloride, isopropyl chloride, or dichloromethane, can be cleaned up with low consumption of energy and scrubbing liquid. Correspondingly, the equipment can have smaller dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Assignee: Hoechst Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Peter Roth, Regina Witt, Joachim Burschapers, Norbert Schadler
  • Patent number: 5830260
    Abstract: The waste gas accumulating in the drying of products containing volatile ingredients is cooled, the condensate obtained is subjected to crossflow membrane filtration and part of the cleaned waste gas is returned to the drying process. The concentrate obtained is put to a material, thermal or other use. The both effective and economic process is suitable for eliminating the aerosols, particularly the organic aerosols, present in the waste gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Henkel Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien
    Inventors: Levent Yueksel, Wilhelm Johannisbauer, Katrin Burmeister, Heike Fleischmann
  • Patent number: 5774815
    Abstract: The invention is a nonaqueous, single method for processing multiple spent nuclear fuel types by separating the fission- and transuranic products from the nonradioactive and fissile uranium product. The invention has four major operations: exposing the spent fuels to chlorine gas at temperatures preferably greater than 1200.degree. C. to form volatile metal chlorides; removal of the fission product chlorides, transuranic product chlorides, and any nickel chloride and chromium chloride in a molten salt scrubber at approximately 400.degree. C.; fractional condensation of the remaining volatile chlorides at temperatures ranging from 164.degree. C. to 2.degree. C.; and regeneration and recovery of the transferred spent molten salt by vacuum distillation. The residual fission products, transuranic products, and nickel- and chromium chlorides are converted to fluorides or oxides for vitrification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Jerry Dale Christian, Thomas Russell Thomas, Glen F. Kessinger
  • Patent number: 5772734
    Abstract: A membrane hybrid process for treating organic-containing gas streams to remove or recover the organic. The process combines absorbent scrubbing, gas stripping, condensation, and membrane separation, and is particularly useful in treating high-volume, low-organic-concentration streams. The process may be operated such that the only products are a clean air stream suitable for venting to the atmosphere, and a small-volume, condensed liquid organic stream suitable to reuse or disposal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard W. Baker, Ramin Daniels
  • Patent number: 5741350
    Abstract: Hydrocarbons are recovered from the product purge gas in an alkene polymerization process by absorption of heavier hydrocarbons from the purge gas by an intermediate hydrocarbon stream to yield a vapor rich in inert gas and alkene monomer. Alkene monomer is condensed and rectified by dephlegmation at low temperatures from the inert gas, flashed and vaporized to provide refrigeration for the condensation step, and recycled to the polymerization process. The intermediate hydrocarbon from the absorption step is recycled to the polymerization process. Optionally a portion of the inert gas is reused for purge gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: Air Products And Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Howard Charles Rowles, Lee Jarvis Howard
  • Patent number: 5681360
    Abstract: A process for concentrating and recovering methane and carbon dioxide from landfill gas includes absorption of commonly occurring pollutants using a reduced amount of carbon dioxide absorbent which itself may be an in situ derived and recoverable constituent. Separated methane may be concentrated into a high heating value fuel, and a highly pure food-grade carbon dioxide product may also be recovered. Process streams may be used to provide fuel for compression and refrigeration and/or to regenerate carbon dioxide absorbent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Assignee: Acrion Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence A. Siwajek, W. Jeffrey Cook, William R. Brown
  • Patent number: 5611840
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for separating out hydrogen chloride from a gas mixture forming in the chlorination of methane, which gas mixture contains unreacted methane, its chlorination products and hydrogen chloride formed in the reaction, by cooling and compression of the gas mixture and subsequent scrubbing with a scrubbing liquid which comprises at least one liquid chlorination product of methane. The gas mixture is separated into a methane-containing gas phase and a liquid phase containing hydrogen chloride and methane chlorination products, and the hydrogen chloride is then desorbed from the liquid phase by heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Assignee: Hoechst Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Werner Kraus, Thomas Vernaleken, Wolfgang Schick, Peter M. Roth
  • Patent number: 5547491
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for the selective recovery of solvents from solvent gas mixtures according to which the solvent gas mixture undergoes a sorption process, individual solvent gas fractions are fractionally desorbed from the sorption agent, condensed at staggered time intervals, measured to determine their composition, and collected separately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1996
    Assignees: Adolf Lony KG Flexible Verpackungen, Rafflenbeul & Partner
    Inventors: Werner Berwian, Thomas Frohs, Rolf Rafflenbeul
  • Patent number: 5538535
    Abstract: A membrane process for separating chlorine from chlorine-containing gas streams is disclosed. The process employs a permselective membrane that is selective to chlorine and is stable in the long-term presence of chlorine. The process can be used to treat tail-gas from chlor-alkali plants, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Ingo Pinnau, Kaaeid A. Lokhandwala, Phuong Nguyen, Lora G. Toy, Marc L. Jacobs
  • Patent number: 5533437
    Abstract: Hydrocarbons are recovered from the product purge gas in an alkene polymerization process by absorption of heavier hydrocarbons from the purge gas by an intermediate hydrocarbon stream to yield a vapor rich in inert gas and alkene monomer. Alkene monomer is condensed at low temperatures from the inert gas, flashed and vaporized to provide refrigeration for the condensation step, and recycled to the polymerization process. The intermediate hydrocarbon from the absorption step is recycled to the polymerization process. Optionally a portion of the inert gas is reused for purge gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Lee J. Howard, Howard C. Rowles
  • Patent number: 5476536
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for removing harmful hydrocarbons, particularly plant protective aerosols and vapors, from the fresh air supplied to a vehicle cabin. The loaded fresh air is subjected to a partial condensation with subsequent phase separation. The fresh air is cooled below the dew point of the components to be removed in a type of cold trap. It has a device for collecting and draining the obtained condensate. A standard cooling plant may be installed for providing the cold necessary for partial condensation. If the vehicle is already equipped with an air conditioning system, then the cooling necessary for partial condensation is tapped directly from the air conditioner cycle. It is possible for the fresh air stream to be passed over the evaporator of the air conditioner. The cold air stream present following the removal of the condensate can be warmed in heat exchange with fresh air which is to be cooled prior to its further release into the vehicle cabin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1995
    Assignee: Holter GmbH
    Inventor: Heinz Holter
  • Patent number: 5453559
    Abstract: A hybrid condensation-absorption process and unit is disclosed for the recovery of olefins. A mixed-component stream containing hydrogen, methane and olefins is compressed and refrigerated against propylene refrigerant to partially condense the stream. The condensate is stripped of volatile components and fed to a fractionation unit such as a deethanizer. The volatile components stripped from the condensate and the non-condensed vapor from the mixed-component stream are fed to a solvent absorption unit to remove olefins which are absorbed in the solvent. The olefins-rich solvent is regenerated to recover olefins and lean solvent. The lean solvent is recirculated to the absorption unit. The olefins recovered from regeneration of the solvent are fed to the fractionation unit along with the pre-stripped condensate. Vapor from the absorption unit is cryogenically processed to recover a crude hydrogen product, a fuel gas product and residual olefins which can be recycled to the absorption unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1995
    Assignee: The M. W. Kellogg Company
    Inventors: Christopher L. Phillips, Vijender K. Verma
  • Patent number: 5447554
    Abstract: A method for pressurizing a gas using a liquid. The method comprises providing a liquid pump; providing a liquid for introducing to the liquid pump; introducing a gas to the liquid prior to the liquid entering the liquid pump; pumping the liquid and the gas through the liquid pump to provide a compressed mixture of the liquid and gas having an increased pressure; thereafter separating the gas from the liquid while both liquid and gas are under pressure; reducing the pressure of the liquid after the separation; and recirculating the liquid back to the liquid pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1995
    Inventor: C. Edward Eckert
  • Patent number: 5306331
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process for utilizing one stream from a gas separation unit in an evaporation cooler to provide cool water which is used to cool the feed gas mixture by direct or indirect contact prior to entering the gas separation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Assignee: Permea, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven R. Auvil, Rodney J. Allam, Paul A. Webley, Philip J. Young