Including Reduction Of Pressure Patents (Class 95/95)
  • Patent number: 12083470
    Abstract: A natural gas adsorptive separation system and method is described. A method of separating natural gas includes directing a natural gas mixture through an activated carbon adsorption tower until the adsorption tower is saturated, collecting methane from the output of the adsorption tower, heating the saturated carbon adsorption tower with adsorbate using a heater and/or a vacuum pump in a closed loop circuit with the carbon adsorption tower until the input to the vacuum pump is within a specified temperature of the output of the heater, lowering the pressure in the heated activated carbon adsorption tower using the vacuum pump to desorb at least one hydrocarbon compound of the plurality of different hydrocarbon compounds, compressing and cooling the desorbed hydrocarbon compound, separating the cooled and compressed hydrocarbon compound into gas and liquid in a fluid separator, and collecting the liquid from the fluid separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: Solid State Separation Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Pedro T. Santos, Xuepei Yuan, Jason G. S. Ho
  • Patent number: 11674699
    Abstract: A method for production of water from air includes cyclically and successively repeating the following two phases: a first phase a), which includes the following steps: a1) taking air from the outside, a2) conveying the air towards an enthalpic exchanger containing an adsorbent material that internally accumulates the moisture that is present in the air, a3) outputting dry air, and a second phase b), which includes the following steps: b1) supplying heat to the enthalpic exchanger by way of a low-temperature heat source, b2) conveying an air flow through the enthalpic exchanger, wherein the air in contact with the enthalpic exchanger is heated and at the same time collects the moisture contained in the adsorbent material, and b3) bringing the heated and humidified air flow to ambient temperature in order to cause the moisture contained therein to condense, thereby obtaining water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Politecnico Di Torino
    Inventors: Vincenzo Maria Gentile, Marco Simonetti, Giovanni-Vincenzo Fracastoro
  • Patent number: 11602712
    Abstract: A water sorption device includes a catalytic combustor configured to, in a desorption state, combust a hydrocarbon fuel mixture to generate heat; a thermoelectric generator configured to, in the desorption state, generate electricity from a first portion of the heat from the catalytic combustor; and an adsorber configured to in an adsorption state, adsorb water from ambient air from an environment and in the desorption state, desorb the adsorbed water as vapor using a second portion of the heat from the catalytic combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Steven James Eickhoff, Jeffrey Klein, Christopher Scott Larsen, Gustav Errol Rustan
  • Patent number: 10731549
    Abstract: An in-water refueling system for unmanned undersea vehicles with fuel cell propulsion. The in-water refueling system may store a liquid such as water at constant pressure and may dispense gases such as hydrogen or oxygen for refueling. In its basic configuration, the in-water refueling system may comprise a tank with an interior space for storing the liquid; a pump for regulating the flow of liquid into the interior space of the tank; an electrolysis stack assembly for converting the liquid into one or more gases; and open-bottom cylinders for storing and dispensing the gases. Each open-bottom cylinder may comprise a float sensor for determining the amount of fluids entering its cylindrical space. The in-water refueling system may further comprise a controller for regulating a temperature and a fluid pressure in the tank. Dispense lines and valves may be utilized to release the gases from the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Benjamin Wilcox
  • Patent number: 9120050
    Abstract: Systems and methods associated with providing a concentrated product gas utilizing a vacuum swing adsorption process are provided. In one embodiment, the system includes first and second sieve beds, a scavenger pump, and a controller. In one embodiment, the method includes: separating one or more adsorbable components from a source gaseous mixture via first and second sieve beds in alternating and opposing filling and purging cycles of a vacuum swing adsorption process to form the concentrated product gas and pressurizing the concentrated gas for delivery to a user. Other embodiments include selectively controlling a variable restrictor based at least in part on a desired output setting to selectively provide flow between the first and second sieve beds such that the flow for at least one output setting is different from the flow for at least one other output setting in relation to corresponding filling cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Invacare Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph B. Richey, II, William J. Daniels
  • Publication number: 20150111018
    Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to methods of capturing a gas from an environment by associating the environment with a porous carbon material that includes, without limitation, protein-derived porous carbon materials, carbohydrate-derived porous carbon materials, cotton-derived porous carbon materials, fat-derived porous carbon materials, waste-derived porous carbon materials, asphalt-derived porous carbon materials, coal-derived porous carbon materials, coke-derived porous carbon materials, asphaltene-derived porous carbon materials, oil product-derived porous carbon materials, bitumen-derived porous carbon materials, tar-derived porous carbon materials, pitch-derived porous carbon materials, anthracite-derived porous carbon materials, melamine-derived porous carbon materials, and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the associating results in sorption of gas components (e.g., CO2, H2S, and combinations thereof) to the porous carbon material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: James M. Tour, Desmond E. Schipper, Chih-Chau Hwang, Josiah Tour, Almaz S. Jalilov, Gedeng Ruan
  • Publication number: 20150111024
    Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to methods of capturing a gas from an environment by associating the environment (e.g., a pressurized environment) with a porous carbon material that comprises a plurality of pores and a plurality of nucleophilic moieties. In some embodiments, the associating results in sorption of gas components (e.g., CO2 or H2S) to the porous carbon materials. In some embodiments, the methods of the present disclosure also include a step of releasing captured gas components from porous carbon materials. In some embodiments, the releasing occurs without any heating steps by decreasing environmental pressure. In some embodiments, the methods of the present disclosure also include a step of disposing released gas components and reusing porous carbon materials. Additional embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to porous carbon materials that are used for gas capture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: James M. Tour, Chih-Chau Hwang, Desmond E. Schipper
  • Publication number: 20150107585
    Abstract: An oxygen concentrator is configured to provide oxygen at either lower pressures or higher pressures. When providing low pressure oxygen, the disclosed oxygen concentrator may be used with a conventional, low pressure oxygen delivery device, such as an oxygen cannula or mask, that is configured to deliver oxygen at approximate source pressures of 5 psig to 8 psig. When providing high pressure oxygen, the disclosed oxygen concentrator may be used with a high pressure oxygen delivery device, such as a low profile nasal cannula, that is configured to deliver oxygen at higher pressures. The disclosed oxygen concentrator is configured to automatically select whether low pressure oxygen or high pressure oxygen should be output to the user based on the type of connector used to couple a delivery device thereto, or based on characteristics of the delivery device itself.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventor: Todd ALLUM
  • Publication number: 20150059572
    Abstract: A method of capturing and sequestering a gas species from a fossil fuel-fired power plant flue gas is disclosed. The method includes the step of providing an apparatus having a vessel adapted to be pressurized and a hollow fiber membrane contained in the vessel and having a sorbent embedded therein. The method further includes the steps of subjecting the hollow fiber membrane to a flow of flue gas, removing one or more gas species from the flue gas with the hollow fiber membrane, and regenerating the sorbent contained in the hollow fiber membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Ramsay Chang, Adam Berger, Abhoyjit Bhown
  • Patent number: 8940084
    Abstract: A gas adsorbing device (5a) according to the present invention includes a gas adsorbing material (9) that adsorbs at least nitrogen and a housing container (11) that has a long, thin, flat, tubular shape and is made of metal and in which both sides of a housing portion (10) configured to house the gas adsorbing material (9) under reduced pressure are sealed. A contact portion (13) where opposing inner surfaces of the housing container (11) are in close contact with each other is located between at least one of seal portions (12a and 12b) of the housing container (11) and the housing portion (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Shinya Kojima, Masahiro Koshiyama, Masamichi Hashida, Asaaki Yasuda
  • Publication number: 20140326138
    Abstract: The invention describes a method for enriching at least one component from a gaseous mixture of substances, comprising the steps of (i) contacting a flow of a first gaseous mixture of substances which contains at least one component to be enriched, with a composite material at a first pressure p1 such that the at least one component to be enriched is adsorbed to the composite material and a charged composite material is obtained, said composite material comprising (a) a porous matrix of a fluorine-containing polymer having a percentage of tetrafluoroethylene monomer units of at least 95 mol % based on the total number of monomer units and (b) zeolite particles which are embedded in the matrix and around which matrix filaments extend; (ii) disrupting the flow of the gaseous mixture of substances and (iii) desorbing the at least one component to be enriched from the charged composite material by reducing the pressure to a pressure p2, with p1?p2?200 mbar, such that a second gaseous mixture of substances is prod
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicant: CLARIANT PRODUKTE (DEUTSCHLAND) GMBH
    Inventors: Achim Koch, Michael Zavrel, Christoph Kröhnke, Ulrich Kettling
  • Publication number: 20140326137
    Abstract: A vapor recovery system includes a product handling circuit and a control circuit. The control circuit maintains a negative pressure in the product handling circuit in order to prevent undesirable fugitive vapor emissions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2013
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicant: Jordan Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mark A. Jordan, Alexander K. Daub, Arthur L. Boroff
  • Publication number: 20140296607
    Abstract: A process for removing halogen compounds, particularly chlorine compounds, from a process fluid, includes the steps of (i) passing a process fluid containing hydrogen halide over a first sorbent to remove hydrogen halide and generate a hydrogen halide depleted process fluid and then, (ii) passing the hydrogen halide depleted process fluid over a second different sorbent to remove organic halide compounds therefrom. A purification system suitable for removing hydrogen halide and organic halide compounds from process fluids is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: JOHNSON MATTHEY PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY
    Inventors: Colin Baptist, Claire Cahill, Matthew John Cousins, David Davis, Michelle Taylor Wilson, Christopher John Young
  • Patent number: 8821618
    Abstract: A gas-adsorbing member is charged in low gas-permeable container (7) through its opening portion, wherein low gas-permeable container (7) is constituted by a hollow cylindrical metal member which is opened at its one end and is sealed at its other end and, also, has body portion (9) extending from the one end to the other end thereof such that the length of the body portion is equal to or larger than the maximum width of the end portions. Then, a sealing member is installed within the opening portion and near the opening portion. Then, the sealing member is molten by being heated. Thereafter, the sealing member within the opening portion is cooled to be solidified, thereby attaining sealing of the opening portion. Thus, it is possible to provide a gas-adsorbing-device fabricating method capable of suppressing degradations of the gas-adsorbing member and capable of reducing the fabrication costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Masamichi Hashida
  • Patent number: 8778057
    Abstract: Includes gas adsorption device (1) in which gas adsorbent (3) is decompression-sealed by first package (4) with poor gas permeability, and second package (2) with poor gas permeability. Second package (2) is at least partially flexible. Air that is a gas that gas adsorbent (3) can adsorb is filled between gas adsorption device (1) and second package (2). In this configuration, gas adsorbent (3) adsorbs air when first package (4) is damaged, and thus a pressure inside second package (2) reduces. Due to this pressure reduction, the shape or dimension of second package (2) changes. Any damage to first package (4), i.e., any degradation in adsorption capacity of gas adsorption device (1), can thus be determined by confirming this change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Masamichi Hashida
  • Publication number: 20140161699
    Abstract: An apparatus for recycling exhaust gas includes a vessel containing a reversible ammonia sorber material which is exothermic when sorbing (“loading”) ammonia and which is endothermic when releasing (“unloading”) ammonia. A first valve selectively couples a source of exhaust gas including ammonia to a first port of the vessel, a second valve selectively couples a vacuum pump to the vessel, and a third valve selectively coupling a second port of the vessel to an output. A controller opens and closes the first valve, the second valve and the third valve to implement a loading phase, an intermediate venting phase and an unloading phase for the vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: SAES Pure Gas, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Applegarth, Lawrence A. Rabellino, Sarah Vogt, Marco Succi, Cristian Landoni
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20140013942
    Abstract: A sorbent that is particularly effective for the efficient adsorption and subsequent desorption of ammonia is produced from a high-purity carbon material which is exposed to an oxidizing environment so as to produce an effective amount of at least one oxygen species on its exposed surfaces. The high purity carbon material may be produced by carbonizing a polymer material, and the sorbent may comprise a support having an open-cell, three dimensional, lattice-like structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: Advanced Fuel Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Marek A. WĂłjtowicz, Joseph E. Cosgrove, Michael A. Serio
  • Publication number: 20130324397
    Abstract: A durable carbon pyrolyzate adsorbent having reversible sorptive affinity for hydrogen sulfide, and including the following characteristics: (a) a bulk density as measured by ASTM D2854 in a range of from 0.55 g/cc adsorbent to 1.25 g/cc adsorbent; (b) an H2S capacity in a range of from 140 cc H2S/g adsorbent to 250 cc H2S/g adsorbent, at normal conditions (1 atm, 293.15° K); (c) an H2S capacity in a range of from 1.0 cc H2S/g adsorbent to 15.0 cc H2S/g adsorbent, at partial pressure of 0.76 ton (101.3 Pa) (1000 ppm) of H2S at 293.15° K; and (d) a single pellet radial crush strength in a range of from 7 kilopond (kP) to 40 kilopond (kP) as measured by ASTM D4179.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: Advanced Technology Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Shaun M. Wilson, Edward A. Sturm, Michael J. Wodjenski, J. Donald Carruthers, Joshua B. Sweeney
  • Patent number: 8552246
    Abstract: ETS-10 titanosilicate materials selectively adsorb carbon dioxide from gaseous mixtures containing carbon dioxide and light paraffins such as methane and ethane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: The Governors of the University of Alberta
    Inventors: Steven M. Kuznicki, Alejandro Anson, Christopher C. H. Lin, Patricio S. Herrera
  • Publication number: 20130259782
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and apparatus for producing a fluid enriched in carbon dioxide starting from a waste gas from a ferrous metallurgy unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme pour I'Etude et I'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Alain Briglia, Christophe Szamleski, Olivier De Cayeux, Richard Dubettier-Grenier, Alain Guillard, Xavier Traversac
  • Patent number: 8535414
    Abstract: The present invention discloses the improvements to a vacuum swing adsorption (VSA) process used for Xe recovery. By only collecting the recovered gas mixture after the initial evacuation of N2 from the adsorbent vessel and void space, the recovered Xe is not diluted by N2 contained in the adsorbent vessel and void space. The concentration of the recovered Xe can by increased (high purity), simultaneously little Xenon is lost. During the initial evacuation of N2, the vessel has been evacuated to a pressure less than 1 atmospheric pressure, for example, from 100 to 1 torr.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew David Johnson, Richard Vincent Pearce, Thomas Stephen Farris, Timothy Christopher Golden, Matthew John Bosco, Eugene Joseph Karwacki, Jr., David Charles Winchester, Jeffrey Raymond Hufton
  • Publication number: 20130213229
    Abstract: An acid-gas sorbent comprising an amine-composite. The present composite may comprise a first component comprising an amine compound at a concentration of from about 1 wt % to about 75 wt %; a second component comprising a hydrophilic polymer and/or a pre-polymer compound at a concentration of from about 1 wt % to about 30 wt %; and a third component comprising a cross-linking agent, and/or a coupling agent at a concentration of from about 0.01 wt % to about 30 wt %.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: ARCHON TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
    Inventors: AHMED M. SHAHIN, CONRAD AYASSE
  • Patent number: 8465571
    Abstract: A fluid treatment device is disclosed. The device includes a vessel having a fluid entrance and exit. Within the vessel hollow fiber of nano-porous material are arranged so as to define two volumes separated by the nano-porous material. In one embodiment the fluid, air, passes up the center of the hollow fiber drying as the air contacts the inner walls of the fiber. The device is purged by stopping the flow through the device and allowing the air pressure that builds up between the fibers to be released through the nano-porous material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Nano-Porous Solutions Limited
    Inventor: Colin Thomas Billiet
  • Patent number: 8454730
    Abstract: Various embodiments of a gas storage and supply system and its operation processes having pre-selected temperature and pressure limits are disclosed. Various temperature and pressure profiles may be used to supply stored gas to a gas consuming device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Rittmar Von Helmolt, Ulrich Eberle, Dieter Hasenauer
  • Publication number: 20130102460
    Abstract: Nanocomposite adsorbent materials and methods for their preparation and use are described. As an example, a polyaniline-graphite nanoplatelet nanocomposite may be used to adsorb carbon dioxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY MADRAS
    Inventors: Sundara Ramaprabhu, Ashish Kumar Mishra
  • Publication number: 20130047848
    Abstract: A built in purifier for a cylinder of essentially nitrogen free gas having a low water content is provided with a molecular sieve 3A adsorbent to adsorb water from the gas, the 3A adsorbent having a particularly low adsorption capacity for nitrogen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC.
    Inventors: Roger Dean Whitley, Pascal Lisbet, Daniel Louis Vassilaros, Stuart Alexander Kerr
  • Publication number: 20130034481
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to the introduction of an additive to a contaminated gas stream. An additive introduction system uses a compressor and carbon dioxide separator to provide a treated carrier gas for introduction of an alkaline additive to a contaminated gas stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: ADA-ES, INC.
    Inventor: ADA-ES, INC.
  • Publication number: 20130019749
    Abstract: Method for recovering a desired component from a waste gas comprising (a) at an operating facility, introducing a waste gas comprising the desired component and one or more undesired components into an adsorber containing adsorbent material selective for the desired component, adsorbing at least a portion of the desired component therein, (b) terminating flow of waste gas into the adsorber; and (c) recovering and concentrating the desired component by either (1) isolating the adsorber, transporting the adsorber to a central processing facility, or (2) withdrawing from the adsorber an intermediate gas enriched in the desired component, compressing the intermediate gas and storing it in a vessel, isolating the vessel, transporting the vessel to a central processing facility to provide a concentrated product further enriched in the desired component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Raymond Hufton, Thomas Stephen Farris, Timothy Christopher Golden, Eugene Joseph Karwacki, JR.
  • Publication number: 20120304858
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for removing carbon dioxide from a gas stream, comprising placing the gas stream in contact with a resin, wetting the resin with water, collecting water vapor and carbon dioxide from the resin, and separating the carbon dioxide from the water vapor. The resin may be placed in a chamber or a plurality of chambers connected in series wherein the first chamber contains resin that was first contacted by the gas, and each successive chamber contains resin which has been wetted and carbon dioxide collected from for a greater period of time than the previous chamber, and so on, until the last chamber. Secondary sorbents may be employed to further separate the carbon dioxide from the water vapor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: GLOBAL RESEARCH TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Allen B. Wright, Klaus S. Lackner, Ed Leon-Guerrero, Ursula Ginster, Tymothy Catterson, Karl Madison, Ryuhei Ishikawa, George W. Grimm, Mark Malcomson, Ping Liu
  • Patent number: 8262771
    Abstract: A flammable gas concentration device comprises an adsorption tower filled by an adsorbent for adsorbing a flammable gas. Raw gas containing air and a flammable gas is fed to the adsorption tower via a feeding path and an exhaust gas in the raw gas which has not been adsorbed to the adsorbent is discharged to an outside of the adsorption tower via a discharge path. Pressure in the adsorption tower is reduced lower than an atmospheric pressure, and the flammable gas adsorbed by the adsorbent is desorbed and collected through a collection path. A flammable gas adsorption step of feeding the raw gas to the adsorption tower and discharging the exhaust gas from the adsorption tower, and a flammable gas desorption step of collecting the desorbed flammable gas are sequentially executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Osaka Gas Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Seki, Etsuo Shito, Katsuhiko Hirao
  • Patent number: 8236095
    Abstract: A vacuum-pressure swing absorption concentrator includes a motor driven compressor having pressure and vacuum heads that are connected to a pressure reservoir and a vacuum reservoir respectively. The pressure and vacuum reservoirs are selectively and alternately interconnected in sequence through a main valve to a pair of nitrogen filtering sieve beds. A controller operates the valve to alternately and cyclically interconnect the sieve beds to the pressure and vacuum reservoirs respectively. During each cycle, a respective bed is pressurized and enriched oxygen is produced and delivered to a tank for use by a patient. At the same time, the other bed is evacuated through the vacuum reservoir. A crossover valve delivers oxygen from a pressurized bed to an evacuated bed to facilitate purging of impurities previously collected in the evacuated bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: O2 Concepts, LLC
    Inventor: Stuart Bassine
  • Publication number: 20120192864
    Abstract: Lightweight, portable oxygen concentrators that operate using an ultra rapid, sub one second, adsorption cycle based on advanced molecular sieve materials are disclosed. The amount of sieve material utilized is a fraction of that used in conventional portable devices. This dramatically reduces the volume, weight, and cost of the device. Innovations in valve configuration, moisture control, case and battery design, and replaceable sieve module are described. Patients with breathing disorders and others requiring medical oxygen are provided with a long lasting, low cost alternative to existing portable oxygen supply devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: SEPARATION DESIGN GROUP LLC
    Inventors: Stephen Douglas Galbraith, Kenneth J. McGowan, Evonne A. Baldauff, Elise Galbraith, David K. Walker, Robert B. LaCount
  • Publication number: 20120160097
    Abstract: This disclosure involves an adsorption-desorption material, e.g., crosslinked epoxy-amine material having an Mw from about 500 to about 1Ă—106, a total pore volume from about 0.2 cc/g to about 2.0 cc/g, and a CO2 adsorption capacity of at least about 0.2 millimoles CO2 per gram of crosslinked material, and/or linear epoxy-amine material having an Mw from about 160 to about 1Ă—106, a total pore volume from about 0.2 cc/g to about 2.0 cc/g, and a CO2 adsorption capacity of at least about 0.2 millimoles CO2 per gram of linear material. This disclosure also involves processes for preparing the crosslinked epoxy-amine materials and linear epoxy-amine materials, as well as selective removal of CO2 and/or other acid gases from a gaseous stream using the epoxy-amine materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Dennis G. Peiffer, David C. Calabro, Quanchang Li, Mobae Afeworki, Stephen M. Cundy
  • Patent number: 8192527
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing hydrogen of very high purity from a feed predominantly containing said hydrogen and a minor part of impurities mainly consisting of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane and heavier hydrocarbons. The purification method by hydrogen adsorption using a desorption stage at a lower pressure than the pressure of the feed, such as a PSA method for example, allows to produce the desorption stream and notably to recover the carbon dioxide under pressure and high-purity hydrogen, with a high yield. These performances are obtained by combining the successive stages of the method according to the invention with the use of a new family of adsorbent whose dynamic capacity at a high desorption pressure is greater than that of conventional adsorbents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: IFP Energies Nouvelles
    Inventors: Gerhard Pirngruber, Elsa Jolimaitre, Luc Wolff, Damien Leinekugel le Cocq
  • Patent number: 8172924
    Abstract: A method of using a crystallographic framework of sterically bulky calixarene molecules to selectively separate and/or store volatile gas components. Sterically bulky calix[4]arenes or their derivatives form a crystalline lattice that has relatively large lattice voids, is nonporous, and is held together predominately by van der Weals forces. The calix[4]arene lattice can form a guest-host assembly by absorbing a desired volatile gas guest component into the crystalline lattice without any phase shift or other change to the lattice structure. The crystalline calixarene can also be desirably used to purify a gas mixture by removing one or more volatile gas contaminants or by removing and storing the desired volatile gas component. This method can preferably be used to purify a hydrogen gas stream by removing the carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide contaminants or to remove and store oxygen from the air or carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide from combustion gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Inventors: Jerry L. Atwood, Leonard J. Barbour, Agoston Jerga
  • Patent number: 8152901
    Abstract: A jacket material into which a gas adsorbing device and core material are inserted is decompressed in a vacuum chamber, the opening is sealed, and then the jacket material is exposed to the atmosphere. In the atmospheric pressure, a pressure of about 1 atm which is equivalent to the pressure difference between the inside and outside is applied to the jacket material of the heat insulator. The jacket material is made of a plastic laminated film and is deformed by pressure. A protruding portion is plunged into a container to drill through holes, and a gas adsorbent in the container communicates with the inside of the jacket material. Thus, both during holding and in applying to the vacuum heat insulator, the gas adsorbent can be applied to the vacuum heat insulator without degradation, and the high degree of vacuum can be kept for a long time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Masamichi Hashida, Kazutaka Uekado, Akiko Yuasa
  • Publication number: 20120079938
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to radial flow vessels and processes to achieve even fluid flow distribution through the bed during purification, separation or reaction processes. The radial bed vessel is designed such that the ratio of the cross-sectional flow areas of the flow channels is in proportion to the ratio of the mass flow rates of the process gas with the proportionality constant between 0.7 and 1.4. In addition, the channels each have a cross-sectional flow areas such that the pressure change within each channel is less than or equal to 10% of the pressure drop across the bed of active material under the process operating conditions for the particular gas employed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Inventors: CEM E. CELIK, Mark W. Ackley
  • Patent number: 8147598
    Abstract: A jacket material into which a gas adsorbing device and core material are inserted is decompressed in a vacuum chamber, the opening is sealed, and then the jacket material is exposed to the atmosphere. In the atmospheric pressure, a pressure of about 1 atm which is equivalent to the pressure difference between the inside and outside is applied to the jacket material of the heat insulator. The jacket material is made of a plastic laminated film and is deformed by pressure. A protruding portion is plunged into a container to drill through holes, and a gas adsorbent in the container communicates with the inside of the jacket material. Thus, both during holding and in applying to the vacuum heat insulator, the gas adsorbent can be applied to the vacuum heat insulator without degradation, and the high degree of vacuum can be kept for a long time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Masamichi Hashida, Kazutaka Uekado, Akiko Yuasa
  • Publication number: 20120067216
    Abstract: The present invention describes the use of isostructural zeolites with rho zeolitic structure in processes of adsorption and separation of the various components of natural gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Inventors: Avelino CORMA CANOS, Miguel Palomino Roca, Fernando Rey Garcia, Susana Valencia Valencia
  • Publication number: 20120036999
    Abstract: A method of using a crystallographic framework of sterically bulky calixarene molecules to selectively separate and/or store volatile gas components. Sterically bulky calix[4]arenes or their derivatives form a crystalline lattice that has relatively large lattice voids, is nonporous, and is held together predominately by van der Waals forces. The calix[4]arene lattice can form a guest-host assembly by absorbing a desired volatile gas guest component into the crystalline lattice without any phase shift or other change to the lattice structure. The crystalline calixarene can also be desirably used to purify a gas mixture by removing one or more volatile gas contaminants or by removing and storing the desired volatile gas component. This method can preferably be used to purify a hydrogen gas stream by removing the carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide contaminants or to remove and store oxygen from the air or carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide from combustion gases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2005
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Inventors: Jerry L. Atwood, Leonard J. Barbour, Agoston Jerga
  • Patent number: 8092577
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for removing chemical sterilant molecules from a medium, such as a carrier gas. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a housing that defines an internal cavity. The housing has an inlet and an outlet fluidly communicating with the internal cavity. An electrode is dimensioned to be received in the internal cavity of the housing. The electrode is made of a material that is chemically active with respect to molecules of a chemical sterilant and conductive to electricity. The electrode is connected to a source of an electrical charge such that an electrical field gradient is formed in a region of space surrounding the electrode. The electrical field gradient is operable to force the chemical sterilant molecule toward the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: STERIS Corporation
    Inventors: Michael A. Centanni, Thaddeus J. Mielnik
  • 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: 20110226874
    Abstract: Fluid storage and dispensing systems, and processes for supplying fluids for use thereof. Various arrangements of fluid storage and dispensing systems are described, involving permutations of the physical sorbent-containing fluid storage and dispensing vessels and internal regulator-equipped fluid storage and dispensing vessels. The systems and processes are applicable to a wide variety of end-use applications, including storage and dispensing of hazardous fluids with enhanced safety. In a specific end-use application, reagent gas is dispensed to a semiconductor manufacturing facility from a large-scale, fixedly positioned fluid storage and dispensing vessel containing physical sorbent holding gas at subatmospheric pressure, with such vessel being refillable from a safe gas source of refill gas, as disclosed herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: W. Karl Olander, James V. McManus, Steven J. Hultquist, Jose I. Arno, Peter C. Van Buskirk
  • Patent number: 8016916
    Abstract: There is provided a gas separation apparatus for separating a specified gas from a gas to be treated containing a plurality of gases. The gas separation apparatus includes a plurality of serially-connected separation units that separate the specified gas from other gases by using a column, and a suction unit that controls an inside of the column to a reduced pressure. At least two of the plurality of separation units differ from each other in at least one separation condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Japan Atomic Energy Agency
    Inventors: Yoshinori Ono, Takashi Futatsuki, Tetsuya Abe, Sadamitsu Tanzawa, Toshihisa Hatano
  • Patent number: 8012241
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for condensing ozone arranged so as to efficiently take out the ozone gas of a predetermined concentration, although its construction is simple. The method for condensing the ozone gas comprises acting ozone-oxygen mixture gas on an adsorbing cylinder which is filled in its interior area with an adsorbent so as to selectively adsorb the ozone gas to an adsorbent and desorbing the selectively adsorbed ozone gas so as to condense and purify the ozone gas. The method further includes acting the ozone-oxygen mixture gas on the adsorbent in non-cooled state to selectively adsorb the ozone gas to the adsorbent and vacuuming the adsorbing cylinder on performing desorption-operation of the ozone gas to desorb the ozone gas from the adsorbent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Iwatani Corporation
    Inventors: Kunihiko Koike, Sadaki Nakamura, Koichi Izumi, Goichi Inoue
  • Publication number: 20110185900
    Abstract: A method of remediating at least a portion of a building that contains defective drywall is presented. The method comprises removal of the defective drywall and cross-contaminated drywall, actively desorbing volatile compounds from the building materials exposed after removal of the drywall and passively desorbing remaining contaminants by depositing a film of an absorbent on the accessible surfaces of the exposed building materials. Active desorbing of volatiles can be carried out with forced thermal desorption, where the interior surfaces of the building are heated while the air is removed and replaced with air free of the volatile compounds. The absorbent for passive desorption can be a nanoparticulate metal oxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Inventor: SPIDERMAN MULHOLLAND
  • Patent number: 7988770
    Abstract: A jacket material into which a gas adsorbing device and core material are inserted is decompressed in a vacuum chamber, the opening is sealed, and then the jacket material is exposed to the atmosphere. In the atmospheric pressure, a pressure of about 1 atm which is equivalent to the pressure difference between the inside and outside is applied to the jacket material of the heat insulator. The jacket material is made of a plastic laminated film and is deformed by pressure. A protruding portion is plunged into a container to drill through holes, and a gas adsorbent in the container communicates with the inside of the jacket material. Thus, both during holding and in applying to the vacuum heat insulator, the gas adsorbent can be applied to the vacuum heat insulator without degradation, and the high degree of vacuum can be kept for a long time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Masamichi Hashida, Kazutaka Uekado, Akiko Yuasa
  • Publication number: 20110088549
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods and systems for carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide and other acid gases capture via adsorption at high pressure using mesoporous materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Inventors: Abdelhamid SAYARI, Youssef BELMABKHOUT
  • Patent number: 7892322
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for separating a specified gas from a gas to be treated containing the specified gas comprising at least one ingredient, which comprises allowing the gas to be treated to flow through a column without the use of another gas for transferring the gas to be treated, while keeping the inside of the column packed with a packing material at a reduced pressure. The above apparatus and method can be suitably used for separating a specified gas having a high purity at a low cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Japan Atomic Energy Agency
    Inventors: Yoshinori Ono, Takashi Futatsuki, Tetsuya Abe, Sadamitsu Tanzawa, Seiji Hiroki