Selective Diffusion Of Gases Through Substantially Solid Barrier (e.g., Semipermeable Membrane, Etc.) Patents (Class 95/45)
  • Publication number: 20130011249
    Abstract: A multi-layer filter, a gas turbine including a multi-layer filter, and a process of filtering are disclosed. The multi-layer filter includes a nano-fiber layer positioned to receive an airflow, a coalescing base medium layer, and a membrane layer. The coalescing base medium and the membrane layer are positioned for the airflow to travel through the nano-fiber layer and the coalescing base medium layer, then through the membrane layer. The gas turbine includes an inlet and the multi-layer filter in a filter portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Brad Aaron KIPPEL, Steve HINER
  • Publication number: 20130000484
    Abstract: A method of separating a first gas component from a feed gas mixture comprising the first gas component and a second gas component using a SAPO-34 molecular sieve membrane. Periodically removing unwanted components that are absorbed on the membrane may be accomplished by passing a regeneration gas stream through the membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventor: Paul Jason Williams
  • Patent number: 8343257
    Abstract: The instant invention generally provides polymer pi-bond-philic filler composite comprising a molecularly self-assembling material and a pi-bond-philic filler, and a process of making and an article comprising the polymer pi-bond-philic filler composite. The instant invention also generally provides a process of separating a pi-bond-philic gas from a separable gas mixture comprising the pi-bond-philic gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Scott T. Matteucci, Shawn D. Feist, Peter N. Nickias, Leonardo C. Lopez, Michael S. Paquette, Jeffrey C. Munro
  • Patent number: 8337587
    Abstract: A process for the recovery of carbon dioxide from a gas mixture that includes pretreating a gas mixture comprising carbon dioxide, water vapor, and one or more light gases in a pretreating system to form a cooled gas mixture, fractionating the cooled gas mixture to recover a bottoms fraction comprising carbon dioxide and an overheads fraction comprising carbon dioxide and the light gases, passing the overheads fraction over a membrane selective to carbon dioxide to separate a carbon dioxide permeate from a residue gas comprising the light gases, recycling the carbon dioxide permeate to the pretreating system, and recovering at least a portion of the bottoms fraction as a purified carbon dioxide product stream is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Lummus Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Loren E. Gearhart, Sanjiv N. Patel, David Koch
  • Patent number: 8337590
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for drying a gas, in particular air, that comprises at least one chamber (5) with an inlet (5a) for the flow of gas to be treated and an outlet (5b) for the flow of treated gas, said chamber being limited by at least one membrane (6) having a water vapor perviousness that is significantly higher than the perviousness to other gases or vapors, a humidity absorbing material being provided or flowing against the membrane (6) on the side opposite the chamber. The device includes a stack of plates (P1, P2) provided with central openings (A, B); each chamber (5) is formed by a central opening (A) located between two parallel membranes (6) while the humidity absorbing material is provided against each membrane (6); each plate (P1) is sandwiched between two plates (P2, P3) including a housing (B, B1) for the humidity absorbing material; and a plurality of chambers (5) are stacked and connected in series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: R + I Alliance
    Inventors: Ignacio Valor Herencia, Juan Manuel Juarez Galan
  • Patent number: 8337588
    Abstract: Supported zeolite Y membranes exhibiting exceptionally high CO2 selectivities when used in CO2/N2 gas separations are produced by a seeding/secondary (hypothermal) growth approach in which a structure directing agent such as tetramethylammonium hydroxide is included in the aqueous crystal-growing composition used for membrane formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: The Ohio State University Research Foundation
    Inventors: Krenar Shqau, Jeremy C. White, Prabir K. Dutta, Hendrik Verweij
  • Patent number: 8337586
    Abstract: A method of making a crosslinked polyimide membrane is described. A monoesterified membrane is formed from a monoesterified polyimide polymer. The monoesterified membrane is subjected to transesterification conditions to form a crosslinked membrane. The monoesterified membrane is incorporated with an organic titanate catalyst before or after formation of the monoesterified membrane. A crosslinked polyimide membrane made using the aforementioned method and a method of using the membrane to separate fluids in a fluid mixture, such as methane and carbon dioxide, are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Wind, Stephen J. Miller, Oluwasijibomi O. Okeowo
  • Publication number: 20120323059
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a new type of polyimide membrane with high permeances and high selectivities for gas separations and particularly for CO2/CH4 and H2/CH4 separations. The polyimide membranes have CO2 permeability of 50 Barrers or higher and single-gas selectivity for CO2/CH4 of 15 or higher at 50° C. under 791 kPa for CO2/CH4 separation. The polyimide membranes have UV cross-linkable functional groups and can be used for the preparation of UV cross-linked polyimide membranes having CO2 permeability of 20 Barrers or higher and single-gas selectivity for CO2/CH4 of 35 or higher at 50° C. under 791 kPa for CO2/CH4 separation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Chunqing Liu, Travis C. Bowen, Emily G. Harbert, Raisa Minkov, Syed A. Faheem, Zara Osman
  • Publication number: 20120312161
    Abstract: A method and a device for reducing the humidity of a gas in a housing interior, in particular in a battery housing interior, includes leading a gas through a first selectively permeable membrane and into an intermediate space. The intermediate space has the first selectively permeable membrane as an inlet and a second selectively permeable membrane as an outlet. The gas is then cooled in the intermediate space by a cooling unit such that a water vapor portion of the gas is condensed into water and the gas having a reduced water vapor content is directed through the second selectively permeable membrane into the housing interior.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Reitzle, Ulrich Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 8328912
    Abstract: An air dryer having an internal orifice designed into an outlet end cap that eliminates the need for external valves or regulators to control the flow of air through the dryer. The internal orifice, which can be press-fit or threaded into the end cap, provides a consistent and stable outlet flow and dew point and eliminates the need for instruments to measure outlet flow and dew point. The orifice size can be easily changed for changing outlet flow and dew point. A protective tubular shroud is provided for shielding a membrane module of the dryer, and for routing sweep gas to a bottom vent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas Moore, William D. Howes, Karli M. Raymond, Paul E. Smith
  • Patent number: 8328906
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a high molecular weight, monoesterified polyimide polymer. Such high molecular weight, monoesterified polyimide polymers are useful in forming crosslinked polymer membranes for the separation of fluid mixtures. According to its broadest aspect, the method of making a crosslinked membrane comprises the following steps: (a) preparing a polyimide polymer comprising carboxylic acid functional groups from a reaction solution comprising monomers and at least one solvent; (b) treating the polyimide polymer with a diol at esterification conditions in the presence of dehydrating conditions to form a monoesterified polyimide polymer; and (c) subjecting the monoesterified fiber to transesterification conditions to form a crosslinked fiber membrane, wherein the dehydrating conditions at least partially remove water produced during step (b). The crosslinked membranes can be used to separate at least one component from a feed stream including more than one component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignees: Chevron U.S.A. Inc., Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen J. Miller, Imona C. Omole, William J. Kronos
  • Patent number: 8324323
    Abstract: The present invention provides compositions of crystalline coordination copolymers wherein multiple organic molecules are assembled to produce porous framework materials with layered or core-shell structures. These materials are synthesized by sequential growth techniques such as the seed growth technique. In addition, the invention provides a simple procedure for controlling functionality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignees: UOP LLC, The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Kyoung Moo Koh, Antek G. Wong-Foy, Adam J. Matzger, Annabelle I. Benin, Richard R. Willis
  • Patent number: 8323378
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for supplying oxygen to meet a user demand in which oxygen is separated from air by an electrically driven oxygen separation device to supply oxygen to meet the user demand and to charge an adsorbent bed with all or part of the separated oxygen. When a user demand exists, oxygen can be supplied from both the electrically driven oxygen separation device and from oxygen desorbed from the adsorbent bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Sadashiv Swami, Philip A. Barrett, Richard Martin Kelly
  • Patent number: 8323379
    Abstract: A method of improving the blood compatibility of a blood-contacting surface includes immobilizing carbonic anhydrase on the surface, wherein the surface exhibits carbonic anhydrase activity of at least 20% of maximum theoretical activity of the surface based on monolayer surface coverage of carbonic anhydrase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: University of Pittsburgh—of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
    Inventors: William J. Federspiel, Alan J. Russell, Heung-Il Oh, Joel Kaar
  • Patent number: 8323463
    Abstract: A composite oxygen transport membrane having a dense layer, a porous support layer and an intermediate porous layer located between the dense layer and the porous support layer. Both the dense layer and the intermediate porous layer are formed from an ionic conductive material to conduct oxygen ions and an electrically conductive material to conduct electrons. The porous support layer has a high permeability, high porosity, and a high average pore diameter and the intermediate porous layer has a lower permeability and lower pore diameter than the porous support layer. Catalyst particles selected to promote oxidation of a combustible substance are located in the intermediate porous layer and in the porous support adjacent to the intermediate porous layer. The catalyst particles can be formed by wicking a solution of catalyst precursors through the porous support toward the intermediate porous layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Gervase Maxwell Christie, Jamie Robyn Wilson, Bart Antonie van Hassel
  • Publication number: 20120297977
    Abstract: A composite membrane for separating a gas from a mixed gas stream includes a fibrous non-woven substrate including consolidated synthetic thermoplastic fibers, and coextensively disposed on a surface of the fibrous non-woven substrate a continuous polysulfide rubber film adhered thereto. A method of separating a gas component from a mixed gas stream includes 1) contacting a surface of the above-described composite membrane with the mixed gas stream under conditions such that a product gas enriched in the gas component diffuses through the composite membrane; and 2) collecting the product gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Inventor: Aaron Oken
  • Patent number: 8317900
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing membrane, in particular gas separation membrane, wherein the membrane comprises a selective separating layer. The following steps are carried out: a) a polymer solution is produced from at least one polymer and at least one polyglycol ether, b) the polymer solution is cast into a film, c) in a further step, the selective separating layer is produced from the film, preferably by drying. The invention, among other things, further relates to a membrane, in particular gas separation membrane, comprising a selective separating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht Zentrum fur Material-und Kustenforschung GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus-Viktor Peinemann, Grete Johannsen, Wilfredo Yave Rios, Anja Car
  • Patent number: 8317899
    Abstract: A shipboard system provides dry, oil-free utility air and inert gas for use on a marine vessel. A compressor converts ambient air into a pressurized air stream. The air stream is cooled by heat exchange with sea water in the vicinity of the vessel. The air stream is then dried in a dehydration membrane module, and some of the product of the dehydration module is taken for use as utility air. The remainder of the dried air is passed through an air separation module which includes a polymeric membrane. The product of the air separation module includes a nitrogen-enriched gas which is used as an inert gas on the vessel. The compressor is the only mechanically moving component of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Generon IGS, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Jeffers, Marc Straub
  • Patent number: 8318013
    Abstract: The present invention involves the use of a multi-stage membrane system for gas, vapor, and liquid separations. In this multi-stage membrane system, high selectivity and high permeance or at least high selectivity polybenzoxazole membranes or cross-linked polybenzoxazole membranes are applied for a pre-membrane or both the pre-membrane and the secondary membrane. A primary membrane can be from conventional glassy polymers. This multi-stage membrane system can reduce inter-stage compression cost, increase product recovery and product purity for gas, vapor, and liquid separations. It can also save the cost compared to the system using all the high cost polybenzoxazole membranes or cross-linked polybenzoxazole membranes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Lubo Zhou, Chunqing Liu, Carlos A. Cabrera, Peter K. Coughlin
  • Patent number: 8313558
    Abstract: A process for separating tetrafluoroethylene from a mixture comprising tetrafluoroethylene and carbon dioxide by contacting the mixture with at least one ionic liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: E I du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Mark Brandon Shiflett, Akimichi Yokozeki
  • Patent number: 8313556
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system for delivery of a target material and/or energy. The system includes a source configured to provide a mixture containing the target material and a non-target material, a delivery conduit coupled to the source to receive the mixture from the source, and an in-line extraction device concentric to the delivery conduit. The in-line extraction device is configured to selectively extract the target material and/or energy from the mixture in the delivery conduit and to delivery it to a downstream facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: McAlister Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Roy Edward McAlister
  • Patent number: 8308854
    Abstract: A system for recycling helium carrier gas comprises: a bladder, the bladder interior fluidically configured so as to receive helium-bearing gas output from at least one of a split vent and a septum purge vent of a gas chromatograph; a compartment containing the bladder; a source of pressurized air or gas operable so as to supply pressurized air or gas into the compartment interior so as to compress the bladder containing the helium-bearing gas; a gas reservoir fluidically coupled to the bladder interior so as to receive the helium bearing gas from the compressed bladder interior; and at least one gas purification module configured so as to receive the helium-bearing gas from the gas reservoir and operable to remove contaminants from the helium-bearing gas, an output of the at least one gas purification module being fluidically coupled to a carrier gas inlet of the gas chromatograph.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Thermo Finnigan LLC
    Inventors: Edward B. McCauley, Matt A. Lasater
  • Patent number: 8309661
    Abstract: The present invention provides compositions of crystalline coordination copolymers wherein multiple organic molecules are assembled to produce porous framework materials with layered or core-shell structures. These materials are synthesized by sequential growth techniques such as the seed growth technique. In addition, the invention provides a simple procedure for controlling functionality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignees: UOP LLC, The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Kyoung Moo Koh, Antek G. Wong-Foy, Adam J. Matzger, Annabelle I. Benin, Richard R. Willis
  • Patent number: 8303690
    Abstract: A hollow fiber carbon membrane is provided, which has excellent gas separation performance, unbreakable flexibility and high utility. The hollow fiber carbon membrane comprises carbonized substance obtained by calcination of a hollow fiber-like material formed from a polyphenylene oxide derivative, and has an external diameter in the range of 0.08 mm to 0.25 mm. The polyphenylene oxide derivative substantially comprises repeating units represented by the following (a) and (b) (in the structural formula, R11 and R12 independently represent hydrogen atom or sulfone group, except that R11 and R12 are both hydrogen atoms), wherein the ratio A (%) of the repeating unit (b) to the repeating units (a)+(b) satisfies 15%<A<60%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
    Inventors: Miki Yoshimune, Kenji Haraya
  • Patent number: 8303691
    Abstract: A composite membrane comprising a discriminating layer and a porous support layer for the discriminating layer, CHARACTERISED IN THAT the discriminating layer comprises at least 60 wt % of oxyethylene groups and the porous support layer has a CO2 gas flux of 5 to 150×10?5 m3 (STP)/m2·s·kPa at a feed pressure of 2.07 kPa. The membranes are particularly useful for purifying waste gas streams e.g. by removing greenhouse gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Fujifilm Manufacturing Europe B.V.
    Inventor: Yujiro Itami
  • Patent number: 8303692
    Abstract: A polymer membrane, based on a facilitated transport mechanism, for separating olefins from paraffins, and a method for fabricating is provided. In the polymer membrane for facilitated transport, silver nanoparticles are partially cationized and play a role as a carrier for transporting olefins across the membrane, with p-benzoquinone serving as an electron acceptor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Industry-University Cooperation Foundation Hanyang University
    Inventors: Yong-Soo Kang, Kook-Heon Char, Sang-Wook Kang
  • Patent number: 8293112
    Abstract: A method of removing water and/or methanol from fluid mixtures of the water or methanol with other compounds uses vapor permeation or pervaporation of the water or methanol, as the case may be, from the mixture through a membrane having an amorphous perfluoropolymer selectively permeable layer. The novel process can be applied in such exemplary embodiments as (a) removing water or methanol from mixtures of compounds that have relative volatility of about 1-1.1 or that form azeotropic mixtures with water or methanol, (b) the dehydration of hydrocarbon oil such as hydraulic fluid to concentrations of water less than about 50 ppm, (c) removing water and methanol byproducts of reversible chemical reactions thereby shifting equilibrium to favor high conversion of reactants to desirable products, (d) drying ethanol to less than 0.5 wt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: CMS Technologies Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Stuart M. Nemser, Sudipto Majumdar, Kenneth J. Pennisi
  • Publication number: 20120255437
    Abstract: An air dryer cartridge assembly, used in a compressed air system, includes a rigid porous layer, a fibrous material layer, a diffusing layer and a desiccant for filtering and drying compressed air passing in a first direction during a charging cycle. The compressed air passes through diffusing layer, the fibrous material layer and the rigid porous layer in a second direction during a purging cycle. The desiccant, which is downstream of the rigid porous layer, the fibrous material layer and the diffusing layer during the charging cycle, reduces moisture in the compressed air during the charging cycle. The use of diffusing layer downstream of the fibrous material layer during a charging cycle disperses the compressed air so that moisture removal is improved in the desiccant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: BENDIX COMMERCIAL VEHICLE SYSTEMS LLC
    Inventors: William P. Fornof, Leonard A. Quinn
  • Patent number: 8282707
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an integrated membrane/absorbent/adsorbent process and system for removal of mercury and sulfur compounds from natural gas on a ship that houses natural gas purification equipment. First mercury and most of the sulfur compounds are removed by an adsorbent bed and then the natural gas stream passes through a membrane unit to produce a partially purified natural gas residue stream to be dried and then liquefied and a carbon dioxide permeate stream that can be used as a fuel gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Leonid Bresler, John M. Foresman, William I. Echt, Mark E. Schott
  • Patent number: 8282713
    Abstract: A filter media including a scrim, a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) media substrate upon the scrim, and a layer of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) membrane adhered to the PTFE media substrate on the scrim. The filter media is pleatable and has air permeability of approximately 3-10 cubic feet/min at a 0.5 inch H2O pressure drop and an original filtration efficiency greater than 99.0% when tested in an unused, unpleated condition with a 0.3 micron challenge aerosol at a flow rate of 10.5 feet/min and when tested after a cleanable dust performance test according to ASTM D6830.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: BHA Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Smithies, Karmin Lorraine Olson
  • Patent number: 8277932
    Abstract: Membranes, methods of making membranes, and methods of separating gases using membranes are provided. The membranes can include at least one hydrophilic polymer, at least one cross-linking agent, at least one base, and at least one amino compound. The methods of separating gases using membranes can include contacting a gas stream containing at least one of CO2, H2S, and HCl with one side of a nonporous and at least one of CO2, H2S, and HCl selectively permeable membrane such that at least one of CO2, H2S, and HCl is selectively transported through the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: The Ohio State University Research Foundation
    Inventor: W. S. Winston Ho
  • Publication number: 20120240763
    Abstract: The present invention discloses microporous UZM-5 zeolite membranes, methods for making the same, and methods of separating gases, vapors, and liquids using the same. The small-pore microporous UZM-5 zeolite membrane is prepared by two different methods, including in-situ crystallization of one or more layers of UZM-5 zeolite crystals on a porous membrane support, and a seeding method by in-situ crystallization of a continuous second layer of UZM-5 zeolite crystals on a seed layer of UZM-5 zeolite crystals supported on a porous membrane support. The membranes in the form of disks, tubes, or hollow fibers have superior thermal and chemical stability, good erosion resistance, high CO2 plasticization resistance, and significantly improved selectivity over polymer membranes for gas, vapor, and liquid separations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Chunqing Liu, Jaime G. Moscoso, Stephen T. Wilson
  • Patent number: 8273159
    Abstract: A control device module for a motor vehicle includes a control device that has a closed housing in which a first internal pressure prevails, and at least one connecting device for coupling a connecting element of an electrical cable. A closed space is defined in the coupled state between the connecting device and the connecting element, in which closed space a second internal pressure prevails. The control device also includes a pressure compensating device for adapting the first and second internal pressures to an external pressure that acts on the control device module from outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Moser, Hartmut Wayand
  • Patent number: 8273152
    Abstract: A separation method and apparatus that separates a component from a feed stream by use of a membrane in which separation is driven, at least in part, by a sweep stream. The sweep stream may be pumped to a supercritical pressure and then heated to at least near supercritical temperature, at least in part, through heat exchange with a component laden sweep stream being discharged from the membrane. A multi-component mixture can also be used that will produce the sweep stream as a vapor as a result of the heat exchange. The component laden sweep stream, due to cooling through the indirect heat exchange, will form a two-phase fluid that can be phase separated into a vapor phase enriched in the component that can be taken as a product and a residual liquid that can be recirculated in the formation of the sweep stream in the liquid state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Michael Schwartz, Raymond Francis Drnevich, Jerome Thomas Jankowiak, Dante Patrick Bonaquist
  • Patent number: 8268041
    Abstract: A suspension of inorganic particles, a copolymer comprising soft segments and hard segments, and a solvent may be extruded through a spinnerette to produce inorganic/organic composite hollow precursor fibers. The precursor fibers may be sintered. The fibers may be utilized in a gas separation module for separation of a gas mixture or production of syngas. The fibers may be installed in the gas separation module after sintering or they may be sintered after installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Okan Max Ekiner, Timothy L. Murray, Nicolas Richet
  • Patent number: 8268056
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for manufacturing a separator. The method includes (S1) preparing a porous planar substrate having a plurality of pores, (S2) preparing a slurry containing inorganic particles dispersed therein and a polymer solution including a first binder polymer and a second binder polymer in a solvent, and sequentially coating the slurry on the porous substrate through a first discharge hole and a non-solvent incapable of dissolving the second binder polymer on the slurry through a second discharge hole adjacent to the first discharge hole, and (S3) simultaneously removing the solvent and the non-solvent by drying. According to the method, a separator with good bindability to electrodes can be manufactured in an easy manner. In addition, problems associated with the separation of inorganic particles in the course of manufacturing an electrochemical device can be avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Joo-Sung Lee, Jang-Hyuk Hong, Jong-Hun Kim, Bo-Kyung Ryu
  • Patent number: 8268055
    Abstract: A membrane gas dryer includes an upstream fitting assembly, a downstream fitting assembly, a purge tube, and a sample element. The upstream fitting assembly and the downstream fitting assembly include fitting bodies and barrier sleeves. The fitting bodies and the barrier sleeves form purge plenums that are in fluid communication with the purge tube. Sealing interfaces on the fitting bodies maintain fluid-tight seals around the purge plenums as the barrier sleeves rotate about fitting bodies. The sample element includes a water-permeable membrane and passes inside the purge tube such that moisture in a sample gas flowing in a downstream direction through the sample element between the fitting body to the downstream fitting body passes moisture through the water-permeable membrane and into a purge gas flowing in the purge tube in one of an upstream direction or a downstream direction between the purge plenums.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Perma Pure LLC
    Inventors: T. Paul Smith, David J. Burke
  • Patent number: 8268042
    Abstract: The instant invention generally provides polymer inorganic clay composite comprising a molecularly self-assembling material and an inorganic clay, and a process of making and an article comprising the polymer inorganic clay composite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Leonardo C. Lopez, Scott T. Matteucci
  • Patent number: 8262778
    Abstract: The invention relates to polymeric ultrafiltration or microfiltration membranes of, for instance, poly(ethylene chlorotrifluoroethylene) (HALAR®), PVDF or PP, incorporating PVME or vinyl methyl ether monomers. The PVME may be present as a coating on the membrane or dispersed throughout the membrane or both. The membranes are preferably hydrophilic with a highly asymmetric structure with a reduced pore size and/or absence of macrovoids as a result of the addition of PVME. The PVME maybe cross-linked. The invention also relates to methods of hydrophilising membranes and/or preparing hydrophilic membranes via thermal or diffusion induced phase separation processed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Mullette, Joachim Muller, Neeta Patel
  • Patent number: 8262779
    Abstract: The present invention discloses microporous aluminophosphate (AlPO4) molecular sieve membranes and methods for making and using the same. The microporous AlPO4 molecular sieve membranes, particularly small pore microporous AlPO-14 and AlPO-18 molecular sieve membranes, are prepared by three different methods, including in-situ crystallization of a layer of AlPO4 molecular sieve crystals on a porous membrane support, coating a layer of polymer-bound AlPO4 molecular sieve crystals on a porous membrane support, and a seeding method by in-situ crystallization of a continuous second layer of AlPO4 molecular sieve crystals on a seed layer of AlPO4 molecular sieve crystals supported on a porous membrane support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Chunqing Liu, Stephen T. Wilson, David A. Lesch
  • Patent number: 8262755
    Abstract: Ion transport membrane oxidation system comprising (a) two or more membrane oxidation stages, each stage comprising a reactant zone, an oxidant zone, one or more ion transport membranes separating the reactant zone from the oxidant zone, a reactant gas inlet region, a reactant gas outlet region, an oxidant gas inlet region, and an oxidant gas outlet region; (b) an interstage reactant gas flow path disposed between each pair of membrane oxidation stages and adapted to place the reactant gas outlet region of a first stage of the pair in flow communication with the reactant gas inlet region of a second stage of the pair; and (c) one or more reactant interstage feed gas lines, each line being in flow communication with any interstage reactant gas flow path or with the reactant zone of any membrane oxidation stage receiving interstage reactant gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: John Michael Repasky, Michael Francis Carolan, VanEric Edward Stein, Christopher Ming-Poh Chen
  • Patent number: 8262775
    Abstract: Disclosed are tetratopic carboxylic acid phenyl for use in metal-organic framework compounds. These compounds are useful in catalysis, gas storage, sensing, biological imaging, drug delivery and gas adsorption separation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Northwestern University
    Inventors: Omar K. Farha, Joseph T. Hupp
  • Publication number: 20120210869
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a membrane, in particular to a hollow fiber membrane comprising a membrane, comprising at least two layers, wherein the at least two layers each comprise at least one layer forming material comprising at least one polymer and the at least two layers differ from each other with respect to the layer forming material, wherein the at least two layers are at least partly covalently and delamination free bonded to each other. The present invention relates furthermore to a method of production of the said membrane as well as to its use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: FRESENIUS MEDICAL CARE DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Christian Finkler, Rainer Fislage, Torsten Keller, Igor Raiko, Roland Sander
  • Publication number: 20120210870
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for purifying a specific gas stream containing one or more components to be recovered, one or more impurities to be eliminated and one or more poisons, for a unit for separation by means of permeation, including the following steps: a) in a unit for separation by means of absorption, separate from said unit for separation by means of permeation, the specific gas stream is placed in contact with one or more liquid solvents suitable and intended for selectively absorbing said poisons in order to obtain at least one first gas stream depleted of said poisons and a second liquid stream; and b) said first gas stream produced in step a) is separated in said unit for separation by means of permeation, at a specific absolute pressure P, into at least one third gas stream depleted of impurities and a fourth stream; the separation performed in step a) being carried out at an absolute pressure of between 50% and 200% of said specific absolute pressure P.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicants: ARKEMA FRANCE, L'AIR LIQUIDE SOCIETE ANONYME POUR L'ETUDE ET L'EXPLOITATION DES PROCEDES GEORGES CLAUDE
    Inventors: Sylvain Gerard, Nicolas Dupont, Jean-Luc Dubois, Serge Tretjak, Nabil Tlili
  • Patent number: 8241501
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a new type of high performance polymer membranes prepared from aromatic polyimide membranes by thermal treating and crosslinking and methods for making and using these membranes. The polymer membranes were prepared from aromatic polyimide membranes by thermal treating under inert atmosphere followed by crosslinking preferably by using a UV radiation source. The aromatic polyimide membranes were made from aromatic polyimide polymers comprising both pendent hydroxy functional groups ortho to the heterocyclic imide nitrogen and cross-linkable functional groups in the polymer backbone. The membranes showed significantly improved selectivity and permeability for gas separations compared to the aromatic polyimide membranes without any treatment. The membranes can be fabricated into any convenient geometry and are not only suitable for a variety of liquid, gas, and vapor separations, but also can be used for other applications such as for catalysis and fuel cell applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Chunqing Liu, Peter K. Coughlin, Man-Wing Tang, Raisa Minkov, Lubo Zhou
  • Patent number: 8241395
    Abstract: Disclosed are processes for preparing conductive glass-ceramic membranes and methods of using them in hydrogen or proton separation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Schott Corporation
    Inventors: Mark J. Davis, Samuel David Conzone, Paula Vullo
  • Patent number: 8231785
    Abstract: The present invention involves the use of a multi-stage membrane system for gas, vapor, and liquid separations. In this multi-stage membrane system, high selectivity and high permeance or at least high selectivity polybenzoxazole membranes or cross-linked polybenzoxazole membranes are applied for a pre-membrane or both the pre-membrane and the secondary membrane. A primary membrane can be from conventional glassy polymers. This multi-stage membrane system can reduce inter-stage compression cost, increase product recovery and product purity for gas, vapor, and liquid separations. It can also save the cost compared to the system using all the high cost polybenzoxazole membranes or cross-linked polybenzoxazole membranes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Lubo Zhou, Chunqing Liu, Carlos A. Cabrera, Peter K. Coughlin
  • Patent number: 8231709
    Abstract: A process for separating a gas mixture in a separation unit of the type in which the gas mixture comes from a reaction unit and comprises, as main constituents, hydrogen (H2) and/or carbon monoxide (CO).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme Pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Pascal Marty, Bernd Polster
  • Patent number: 8231710
    Abstract: A process for preparing a membrane comprising the steps of providing a composition comprising a polymerizable compound having at least 25 oxyethylene groups and at least two non-substituted vinyl groups, applying the composition to a support thereby forming a continuous layer on the support, and polymerizing the composition thereby forming a non-porous polymer film. Also claimed are the resultant membranes and their uses, e.g. for separating polar and non-polar gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Fujifilm Manufacturing Europe B.V.
    Inventors: Akira Kase, Yujiro Itami
  • Publication number: 20120187046
    Abstract: Sulfur contaminants, such as elemental sulfur (S8), hydrogen sulfide and other sulfur components in fluids (e.g., air, natural gas, and other gases, as well as water and other liquids) are removed using a silicone-based chemical filter/bath. In one embodiment, a silicone-based chemical filter includes a membrane having a cross-linked silicone that is a reaction product of an olefin and a polyhydrosiloxane. For example, sulfur contaminants in air may be removed by passing the air through the membrane before the air enters a data center or other facility housing computer systems. In another embodiment, a silicone-based chemical bath includes a housing having an inlet port, an outlet port, and a chamber containing a silicone oil. For example, sulfur contaminants in air may be removed by passing the air through the silicone oil in the chamber before the air enters a data center or other facility housing computer systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dylan J. Boday, Joseph Kuczynski, Robert E. Meyer, III, Timothy J. Tofil