Solid Sorbent Apparatus Patents (Class 96/108)
  • Patent number: 7759276
    Abstract: The invention relates to a formed body comprising an at least partially amorphous inorganic supporting structure and an adsorption agent, which adsorption agent is disposed on and/or in the amorphous inorganic supporting structure. The invention further relates to a process for the production of same and to the use of said formed body in a filtering system, preferably in a motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: helsa-Automotive GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Thomas Wolff
  • Publication number: 20100176031
    Abstract: Crystals of [VOBDC](H2BDC)0.71 were synthesized hydrothemally. The guest acid molecules were removed by heating in air to give high quality single crystals of VOBDC. VOBDC was observed to show crystal-to-crystal transformations on absorption of the guest molecules aniline, thiophene and acetone from the liquid phase. Accurate structural data of the guest molecules and framework deformations were obtained from single crystal X-ray data. VOBDC was also shown to absorb selectively thiophene and dimethyl sulphide from methane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2007
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Inventors: Allan J. Jacobson, Xiqu Wang, Lumei Liu
  • Patent number: 7748380
    Abstract: A combined air-supplying/air-purifying breathing system that includes a self-contained breathing apparatus, a facepiece for delivering breathable air from the self-contained breathing apparatus to a user, and a powered air-purifying respirator having at least one filter and a blower and having an output connected by a hose assembly to the facepiece. A control interface operationally connects the self-contained breathing apparatus to the powered air-purifying respirator. The self-contained breathing apparatus includes a pressure vessel, a cylinder valve assembly and a pressure reducer, all carried by a back frame, and the powered air-purifying respirator is adapted to be mounted on, and carried by, the back frame, by coupling the back frame and the respirator together at respective attachment points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: STI Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Jerry Allen Phifer, William Eugene Parson, Judge W. Morgan, III, Robert Daniel Williams
  • Patent number: 7727308
    Abstract: Non-evaporable getter alloys are provided which can be activated at relatively low temperatures and are capable of efficiently sorbing hydrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Saes Getters S.p.A.
    Inventors: Alberto Coda, Alessandro Gallitognotta, Debora Caccia, Paola Baronio, Luca Toia, Mario Porro
  • Patent number: 7712605
    Abstract: An elongate gas distributing tube, which extends in a longitudinal direction of a container, is accommodated within the container that constitutes a gas storage container. Discharge ports, through which the gas is discharged, are provided only on a side circumferential wall of the gas distributing tube. Therefore, the discharged gas advances while being directed toward the inner side wall of the container. The gas distributing tube is surrounded by a gas absorbing/adsorbing material. On the other hand, the gas absorbing/adsorbing material is surrounded by a mixture, which is prepared by mixing the gas absorbing/adsorbing material with a heat storage material, such that heat is absorbed by the heat storage material contained therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takanori Suzuki, Yusuke Sogawa, Terumi Furuta
  • Publication number: 20100107592
    Abstract: A system includes a gas turbine unit configured to generate a combustion gas by combusting a mixture of compressed air and fuel and generate electric power by expanding the combustion gas. A separator is coupled to the gas turbine unit and disposed upstream of the gas turbine unit. The separator is configured to reduce sulfur content in the fuel before being fed to the gas turbine unit. A portion of an exhaust gas from a gas turbine is recirculated to the gas turbine unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2008
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Cristina Botero, Matthias Finkenrath, Michael Adam Bartlett
  • Patent number: 7708815
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to a composite hydrogen storage material comprising active material particles and a binder, wherein the binder immobilizes the active material particles sufficient to maintain relative spatial relationships between the active material particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Angstrom Power Incorporated
    Inventor: Joerg Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 7708816
    Abstract: A carbon nanotube filter. The filter including a filter housing; and chemically active carbon nanotubes within the filter housing, the chemically active carbon nanotubes comprising a chemically active layer formed on carbon nanotubes or comprising chemically reactive groups on sidewalls of the carbon nanotubes; and media containing the chemically active carbon nanotubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Steven J. Holmes, Mark C. Hakey, David V. Horak, James G. Ryan
  • Publication number: 20100101413
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for reducing or eliminating undesirable air-borne substances, such as odors, bacteria, viruses, fungi, and toxins, are provided. A filter containing nanocrystalline metal oxide or metal hydroxide particles may be installed within an air handling apparatus such as an existing HVAC unit located within a building, and particularly within a home, or a portable air processor or purifier. The air handling apparatus comprises a blower which pulls air containing various undesirable substances from within the enclosed environment and directs it through a filtering device containing the nanocrystalline particles. The undesirable substances are sorbed by the nanocrystalline particles thereby creating a deodorized stream of air that may then be directed back into various portions of the enclosed environment or vented to the atmosphere.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: NANOSCALE CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Jones, Kyle Knappenberger, Lincoln Mertz, Olga Koper, David Brotton, Deborah Basco, Bill Sanford
  • Patent number: 7704303
    Abstract: A filter for absorbing odoriferous matter from ambient air has a single body with a line of weakness that extends across at least a portion of the body and divides the filter element into at least two separately usable sub-filters. The line of weakness permits the separation of the single filter element into the sub-filters without the use of a tool. The filter element can be used in combination with varying size air purification units. The filter element can be placed in the filter housing of a large air purifier or after separation the sub-filters can be used in multiple correspondingly sized smaller air purifiers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Hamilton Beach Brands, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven J. Nowak
  • Publication number: 20100095960
    Abstract: An oxygen generator comprising a body shell, a top cover set, a bottom cover set, an air pump, multiple switching solenoid valves and a watering control set; the body shell is provided with multiple big tanks filled with molecular sieve substances, its surrounding is provided with a gas intake passage, multiple sets of airflow channels, multiple sets of gas outtake channels, a gas storage tank and an air filtration tank; the body shell is further provided with multiple switching solenoid valves, which control both the circulation between two adjoined airflow channels and the circulation between an airflow channel and an adjoined gas outtake channel; the top cover set and the bottom cover set are installed on the top side and bottom side of the body shell respectively, and the air pump is set up under the bottom cover, while the watering control set is set up on the bottom cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2008
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Applicant: Yuun Tong Electronic Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ta Hai Kao
  • Publication number: 20100095849
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to zeolites having a silica/alumina ratio of less than or equal to 10 (Si/Al?10) that are exchanged with Ag+ and thermally treated in such a way to favor adsorption over alternative catalytic and chemically reactive functionalities. The adsorbents of the present invention and the method of producing such adsorbents maximize the working adsorption capacity through ?-complexation. Applications for such adsorbents include any process in which contaminants from gas streams can form ?-complexes with the Ag in the zeolite, particularly the removal of CO, ethylene, propylene and the like from air and CO/H2 from air in prepurifier adsorbers in the production of ultra high purity (UHP) N2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Inventors: Mark William Ackley, Philip A. Barrett
  • Publication number: 20100089235
    Abstract: A deodorizing device is provided featuring a collection mouthpiece having an intake port and an internal channel, and a pump unit attachable to the collection mouthpiece and operable to draw malodorous air into the intake port and through the internal channel when the collection mouthpiece is attached to the pump unit. Also provided are a pump unit, a filter cartridge, a mount, and methods of assembling and using the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Inventor: Lee FOERSTER
  • Patent number: 7695704
    Abstract: A process for producing borazane from boron-nitrogen and boron-nitrogen-hydrogen containing BNH-waste products. The process includes reacting the BNH-waste products with a hydrogen halide, having the formula HX, wherein X is selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, I, and combinations thereof, to form any of the following: a boron trihalide, having the formula BX3, an ammonium halide, having the formula NH4X, and hydrogen. The boron trihalide is then reacted with the hydrogen to form diborane, having the formula B2H6, and hydrogen halide. The ammonium halide is then converted to ammonia, having the formula NH3, and hydrogen halide. The diborane is then reacted with the ammonia to form borazane, having the formula BH3NH3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc., Albert Ludwigs Universitat Freiburg
    Inventors: Gert Wolf, Felix Baitalow, Gerhard Roewer, Steffen Hausdorf, Gerd Arnold, Ulrich Eberle, Dieter Hasenauer, Florian O. Mertens
  • Patent number: 7695547
    Abstract: A desiccant comprises a mixture of a polymeric salt and a nonpolymeric salt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Seagate Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: James Hart Smith
  • Patent number: 7691183
    Abstract: Method for drying the compressed gas of a compressor device (1) having at least two pressure stages (4-5), whereby a dryer (3) is used with at least two pressure vessels (9-12) which are filled with a desiccant and which work alternately, such that when one pressure vessel (12) is in action to dry the compressed gas, the other pressure vessel (9) is being regenerated, whereby, in order to regenerate the other pressure vessel (9), at least a part of this compressed gas is guided through the regenerating pressure vessel (9), and at least at the end of the regeneration cycle, this part of the compressed gas, after its passage through the regenerating pressure vessel, is guided to the pressure pipe (6) between two pressure stages (4-5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Atlas Copco Airpower Naamloze Vennootschap
    Inventor: Danny Etienne Andrée Vertriest
  • Patent number: 7691182
    Abstract: Hydrogen production is provided via integrated closed-loop processing of landfill gas (LFG) and solid biomass feedstocks such as various agricultural wastes with minimal environmental impact. LFG is purified of harmful contaminants over a bed of activated charcoal (AC) and is catalytically reformed to synthesis gas, which is further processed to pure hydrogen via CO-shift and pressure-swing adsorption stages. Biomass is gasified in the presence of steam with production of a producer gas and AC. The producer gas is mixed with LFG and is processed to hydrogen as described above. High-surface area AC produced in the gasifier is used for the purification of both LFG and producer gas. An integrated processing of LFG and biomass offers a number of advantages such as a high overall energy efficiency, feedstock flexibility, substantial reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and production of value-added product-biocarbon that can be used as a soil enhancer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Nazim Z. Muradov, Franklyn Smith, Ali Tabatabaie-Raissi
  • Patent number: 7686963
    Abstract: In one aspect, ozone is quenched from a water stream, such as a drinking water or wastewater stream being treated with ozone, by contacting the stream with magnesium thiosulfate. In another aspect, a method of scrubbing ozone from a gaseous stream comprises contacting the gaseous stream with magnesium thiosulfate. In an alternative embodiment, chlorine is quenched from a water stream by contacting the stream with magnesium thiosulfate or potassium thiosulfate. In yet another aspect, a method of scrubbing chlorine from a gaseous stream comprises contacting the stream with magnesium thiosulfate or potassium thiosulfate. In another embodiment, a thiosulfate, such as magnesium thiosulfate, calcium thiosulfate, potassium thiosulfate, or sodium thiosulfate, is provided on an air filter for scrubbing ozone or chlorine from gaseous streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Tessenderlo Kerley, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Hojjatie, Dean Abrams
  • Publication number: 20100058925
    Abstract: A filter material for removing toxins and/or environmental contaminants from a body of gas, comprising bentonite disposed within a support arranged so as to allow contact between the body of gas and the bentonite.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2006
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Inventor: Paul James Byrne
  • Patent number: 7674324
    Abstract: An exposure system for exposing a photoresist layer on a top surface of a wafer to light. The exposure system including: an environment chamber containing a light source, one or more focusing lenses, a mask holder, a slit and a wafer stage, the light source, all aligned to an optical axis, the wafer stage moveable in two different orthogonal directions orthogonal to the optical axis, the mask holder and the slit moveable in one of the two orthogonal directions; a filter in a sidewall of the environment chamber, the filter including: a filter housing containing chemically active carbon nanotubes, the chemically active carbon nanotubes comprising a chemically active layer formed on carbon nanotubes or comprising chemically reactive groups on sidewalls of the carbon nanotubes; and means for forcing air or inert gas first through the filter then into the environment chamber and then out of the environment chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Steven J. Holmes, Mark C. Hakey, David V. Horak, James G. Ryan
  • Patent number: 7674320
    Abstract: Hydrogen gas at a hydrogen refueling site is cooled below liquid nitrogen temperature (e.g., about 80K) for more efficient adsorption of hydrogen on hydrogen adsorbent particles in the fuel storage of a hydrogen powered vehicle. When compressed hydrogen gas is available it may be cooled with liquid nitrogen and then sub-cooled below about 70K by a Joule-Thompson expansion. When liquid hydrogen provides hydrogen gas it may be cooled below liquid nitrogen temperatures by mixing with liquid hydrogen or by heat exchange with liquid hydrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: Senthil Kumar Vadivelu
  • Patent number: 7658190
    Abstract: A powered air-purifying respirator that includes an enclosure, defining a single contiguous enclosed interior, an inlet duct, including an inlet and a distribution portion, that guides ambient air to the interior of the enclosure, a plurality of filter canisters disposed within the interior of the enclosure, and a blower that forces air through the at least one inlet, into the interior of the enclosure and through the plurality of filter canisters to produce filtered air suitable for breathing. A valve controls the flow of ambient air through the inlet duct. A fluid dam, disposed in an air path between the inlet and the filter canisters prevents liquids from reaching the filter canisters. The enclosure is reinforced and is adapted to provide protection for the filter canister from flame and heat while the filter canister is in use. A recirculation valve recycles previously-filtered air back into the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: STI Licensing Corp.
    Inventors: Jerry Allen Phifer, William Eugene Parson, Judge W. Morgan, III, Robert Daniel Williams
  • Patent number: 7655064
    Abstract: A particulate matter-removing filter being resistant to clogging and ash blocking, requiring no special means such as back-washing and heating combustion, and being formed of inexpensive materials; and exhaust emission controlling method and device using this. (1) A particulate-matter-containing exhaust emission controlling filter which uses as a basic unit a pair of porous corrugated sheet and a porous flat sheet that support an exhaust emission controlling catalyst, has a molding formed by laminating the porous corrugated sheets so that their ridge lines alternately cross perpendicularly, has one of side surfaces, perpendicularly crossing the corrugated sheet ridge lines, of the molding or mutually-adjoining two surfaces that are the perpendicularly-crossing side surfaces sealed, and has exhaust gas in-flow passage and out-flow passage respectively formed between porous corrugated sheets via a porous flat sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Babcock-Hitachi Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuyoshi Kato, Takashi Michimoto, Eiji Miyamoto, Naomi Imada, Masatochi Fujisawa, Kazuki Kobayashi, Hiroshi Ishizaka, Takeshi Hirota
  • Patent number: 7651554
    Abstract: A system for the solid state storage of hydrogen in accordance with several exemplary embodiments is disclosed herein. The system includes a plurality of hydrogen storage containers. Each hydrogen storage container of the plurality of hydrogen storage containers has an inner chamber and an inlet. The inlet provides a pathway for introducing hydrogen gas into the inner chamber. The inner chamber having a solid hydrogen storage medium disposed therein. The system further includes an endplate manifold having a hydrogen receiving port, a plurality of hydrogen outlet ports, and a flow channel. The hydrogen flow channel is integrated into the endplate manifold. Each hydrogen outlet port is in fluid communication with the inlet of one of the plurality of hydrogen storage containers. The hydrogen flow channel provides fluid communication between the hydrogen receiving port and each hydrogen outlet port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Ovonic Hydrogen Systems LLC
    Inventors: Zhaosheng Tan, Michael A. Fetcenko
  • Patent number: 7648567
    Abstract: A hydrogen accumulation and storage material and a method of forming thereof are provided. The material comprises a plurality of various-sized and at least partially permeable to hydrogen microspheres bound together to form a rigid structure in which a diameter of the microspheres is reduced from a center of the structure towards edges of the structure. An outer surface of the rigid structure can be enveloped by a sealing layer, thereby closing interspherical spaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignees: C. EN. Limited, Aleman, Cordero, Galindo and Lee Trust (BVI) Limited
    Inventor: Alexander Chabak
  • Patent number: 7647927
    Abstract: A breathing apparatus is operable in self-contained and filtered modes of operation. In the self-contained mode of operation, a breathable gas is delivered to a user from a self-contained source of breathing gas. In a second, filtered mode of operation, a suction source draws ambient air through a filter removing contaminants and delivers filtered ambient air to the user. A method of delivering air to a subject is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Wilcox Industries Corp.
    Inventors: James W. Teetzel, Gary M. Lemire, Daniel A. Desrosiers, Mark A. Hansen
  • Patent number: 7645327
    Abstract: Systems and methods for achieving filtration are provided that utilize agglomerates or granules of nanoparticles. The agglomerates or granules of nanoparticles may be used as and/or incorporated into a HEPA filtration system to remove solid or liquid submicron-sized particles, e.g., MPPS, in an efficient and efficacious manner. The filtration systems and methods are provided that utilize agglomerates or granules in a size range of about 100-500 microns. The agglomerates or granules of nanoparticles exhibit a hierarchical fractal structure. In the case of agglomerates of nanoparticles, porosities of 0.9 or greater are generally employed, and for granules of nanoparticles, porosities that are smaller than 0.9 may be employed. Filter media formed from the agglomerates or granules may be formed from materials such as carbon black and fumed silica, and may be employed in baffled or non-baffled filtration apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: New Jersey Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Robert Pfeffer, Rajesh Dave, Stanislav Dukhin, Jose A. Quevedo, Qun Yu
  • Patent number: 7641719
    Abstract: The gas separation apparatus comprises a flexible wall which is maintained in a placed position on an upper end of an adsorbant material; the volume between the wall and an upper dome communicates with one of inner and outer chambers on both sides of the adsorbant (4). The invention can be used to separate air components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide - Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Jérôme Bres, Xavier Vigor, Sylvain Fourage, Anne Barbier
  • Patent number: 7641720
    Abstract: The invention concerns a flow turning vane assembly for use in a duct bend portion of a clean air duct of an air induction system for a vehicle engine. The flow turning vane assembly may have a vane support housing, and a hydrocarbon adsorbent vane mounted to the vane support housing. The hydrocarbon adsorbent vane has a curved shape complimentary to the duct bend portion and includes a hydrocarbon adsorbent layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: Lei Li
  • Publication number: 20090308252
    Abstract: Immobilized nitronyl nitroxide active sites on the surface of a porous inorganic oxide support act as efficient and rapid oxidants for NO, reacting with >99% of the NO under flow conditions through a packed bed; and, in a parallel configuration with nitroxyl radical active sites, act to remove >99 % of both NO and NO2 from a gas mixture, with >95% of the active sites participating in NOx trapping.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2009
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicants: The Regents of the University of California, Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew SOLOVYOV, Alexander KATZ, Enrique IGLESIA, Paul Timothy FANSON
  • Patent number: 7632339
    Abstract: A method of removing moisture from inlet air flowing to a gas turbine. The method comprises the steps of providing a housing for supporting a primary air filter. The housing is operably connected with the gas turbine. A hood connected with the housing is provided. The hood has a surface disposed at an acute angle relative to horizontal. Inlet air flow is directed into a preliminary filter supported above the hood and extending in a downward direction. The preliminary filter comprises media capable of separating moisture from the inlet air flowing through the preliminary filter at an exterior portion of the preliminary filter. Separated moisture agglomerates into a drop incapable of being carried by the flow of inlet air so the drop falls onto the hood to be directed out of the flow of inlet air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Avnit Singh
  • Patent number: 7628845
    Abstract: A filtering device and a filtering method and a semiconductor fabricating method thereof. The filtering device is used for filtering a gas had a first temperature. The filtering device includes a casing, a cooling mechanism and at least one adsorbing element. The casing has an input opening, an output opening and a cooling space. The gas enters the cooling space through the input opening and leaves the cooling space through the output opening. The cooling mechanism coupled to the casing is used for maintaining the cooling space at a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature. At least one adsorbing element is disposed inside the cooling space and has a plurality of surface-increasing elements arranged in a direction parallel. The plurality of surface-increasing elements arranged in the direction parallel to that the gas flows inside the cooling space for contacting the gas and adsorbing particles in the gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hung-Hu Hao, Kuo-Pang Tseng
  • Patent number: 7628965
    Abstract: A gas generating system comprises a catalytic reactor in fluid communication with a sulfur separator. The catalytic reactor oxidizes a fuel to provide a supply of carbon dioxide. The sulfur separator removes sulfur components from the stream before or after the fuel is oxidized. A portion of the hot exhaust gas from the catalytic reactor can be used to regenerate an adsorption bed of the sulfur separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc
    Inventors: Russell Johnson, Stephen F. Yates, Rehan Zaki
  • Publication number: 20090293719
    Abstract: Systems and methods for achieving filtration are provided that utilize agglomerates or granules of nanoparticles. The agglomerates or granules of nanoparticles may be used as and/or incorporated into a HEPA filtration system to remove solid or liquid submicron-sized particles, e.g., MPPS, in an efficient and efficacious manner. The filtration systems and methods are provided that utilize agglomerates or granules in a size range of about 100-500 microns. The agglomerates or granules of nanoparticles exhibit a hierarchical fractal structure. In the case of agglomerates of nanoparticles, porosities of 0.9 or greater are generally employed, and for granules of nanoparticles, porosities that are smaller than 0.9 may be employed. Filter media formed from the agglomerates or granules may be formed from materials such as carbon black and fumed silica, and may be employed in baffled or non-baffled filtration apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2006
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Inventors: Robert Pfeffer, Rajesh Dave, Stanislav Dukhin, Jose A. Quevedo, Qun Yu
  • Publication number: 20090293728
    Abstract: The present invention includes a canister having a housing for receiving therein an adsorption material and a heat storage material. The adsorption material can adsorb a fuel vapor. The heat storage material can absorb and dissipate a heat in response to change in temperature within the housing. The heat storage material includes a plurality of heat storage granules each having a cover layer made of an alcohol resistance material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2009
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicants: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, OSAKA GAS CHEMICALS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryuji KOSUGI, Masataka SUZUKI, Kenji SEKI
  • Publication number: 20090293720
    Abstract: A method device and material for performing adsorption wherein a fluid mixture is passed through a channel in a structured adsorbent bed having a solid adsorbent comprised of adsorbent particles having a general diameter less than 100 um, loaded in a porous support matrix defining at least one straight flow channel. The adsorbent bed is configured to allow passage of a fluid through said channel and diffusion of a target material into said adsorbent under a pressure gradient driving force. The targeted molecular species in the fluid mixture diffuses across the porous support retaining layer, contacts the adsorbent, and adsorbs on the adsorbent, while the remaining species in the fluid mixture flows out of the channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Inventor: Wei Liu
  • Patent number: 7618600
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device for removing trace amounts of ammonia from a stream of gas, particularly hydrogen gas, prepared by a reformation apparatus. The apparatus is used to prevent PEM “poisoning” in a fuel cell receiving the incoming hydrogen stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Weifang Luo, Kenneth D. Stewart
  • Patent number: 7615108
    Abstract: A canister includes a casing made of a material including a polyamide resin. The casing includes a charge port to let in fuel vapor, a purge port to let out desorbed fuel and an atmospheric air port to let in air. Granular adsorbing agent and granular heat storing agent are held in the casing. The adsorbing agent includes a granular activated carbon. The granular heat storing agent is mixed with the granular activated carbon in the casing, and the granular heat storing agent including the material of the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignees: Mahle Filter Systems Japan Corp., Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Yoshida, Koji Yamazaki, Koichi Hidano, Shoichiro Kumagai, Takahiro Imamura
  • Publication number: 20090266236
    Abstract: The present invention includes a canister including an adsorption chamber. An adsorption material and a heat storage material are disposed within the adsorption chamber. The heat storage material is molded from a mixture of a plurality of microcapsules and a binder. Each of the microcapsules contains therein a heat-change material. The heat storage material is prevented from moving relative to the chamber wall of the adsorption chamber in at least one of two directions perpendicular to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicant: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryuji KOSUGI, Masataka SUZUKI
  • Publication number: 20090266232
    Abstract: A method of activating a molded Cu-ZSM5 zeolite adsorbent of the present invention includes: oxidizing a molded product of Cu-ZSM5 zeolite in the flow of air or a gas having an equivalent oxidizability to the air at a temperature of 250° C. to 550° C.; and then heat-treating the molded product of the Cu-ZSM5 zeolite in vacuum or the flow of an inert gas at a temperature of 550° C. to 800° C. According to the present invention, an adsorbent whose adsorption performance is not deteriorated can be obtained in the case where a molded product is produced using Cu-ZSM5 zeolite.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Inventors: Akihiro Nakamura, Kazuhiko Fujie, Masato Kawai
  • Patent number: 7608132
    Abstract: A method and apparatus provide multiple consecutive purges of an air dryer in a vehicle compressed air system. A dryer throughput sensor has an output indicative of the amount of compressed air that is passed through the dryer. In response, a CPU determines the number of purges needed to purge the dryer; and a valve is operated by the CPU to initiate multiple purges of the dryer when the compressor is unloaded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
    Inventors: William P. Fornof, Paul Reisinger
  • Patent number: 7601262
    Abstract: Aluminum hydroxide fibers approximately 2 nanometers in diameter and with surface areas ranging from 200 to 650 m2/g have been found to be highly electropositive. When dispersed in water they are able to attach to and retain electronegative particles. When combined into a composite filter with other fibers or particles they can filter bacteria and nano size particulates such as viruses and colloidal particles at high flux through the filter. Such filters can be used for purification and sterilization of water, biological, medical and pharmaceutical fluids, and as a collector/concentrator for detection and assay of microbes and viruses. The alumina fibers are also capable of filtering sub-micron inorganic and metallic particles to produce ultra pure water. The fibers are suitable as a substrate for growth of cells. Macromolecules such as proteins may be separated from each other based on their electronegative charges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Argonide Corporation
    Inventors: Frederick Tepper, Leonid Kaledin
  • Patent number: 7601189
    Abstract: A filtering method and a filter device (10) for removing impurities from the breathing air (24) in a room, an air raid shelter or a vehicle. According to the filtering method, the air to be filtered is driven through a carbon dioxide filter (13) by a fan (15), with the result that at least a portion of the carbon dioxide and/or mold spores and other impurities in the air are trapped in the carbon dioxide filter. After the filtering, the filter is regenerated and the carbon dioxide and/or mold spores trapped in it are removed by a technique whereby air heated by a thermal resistor (20) is passed through the filter, this air preferably consisting of the same air to be filtered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Oy Hydrocell Ltd.
    Inventors: Markku Lampinen, Tomi Anttila, Keijo Rauhala
  • Publication number: 20090249953
    Abstract: A method of reducing moisture in a fluorine-containing gas is described. The method may include the steps of providing a purifier material that includes elemental carbon, and flowing the unpurified fluorine-containing gas having an unpurified moisture concentration over or through the carbon-based purifier material. At least a portion of the moisture is captured in the purifier material so that a purified fluorine-containing gas that emerges downstream of the purifier material has a reduced moisture concentration that is about 50% or less of the unpurified moisture concentration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Applicant: Matheson Tri-Gas
    Inventors: Andrew Millward, Joseph V. Vininski, Robert Torres, JR., Tadaharu Wantanbe, Carrie L. Wyse, Mark Raynor, Dan Davia, Praveen Jha
  • Patent number: 7597733
    Abstract: A filter assembly for use in sidestream gas sampling assembly. The filter assembly of the present invention includes a hydrophilic member that is constructed from a porous material and is situated such that gas entering the filter assembly passes through at least a portion the hydrophilic member. In a further embodiment, the filter includes a hydrophobic member positioned downstream of the hydrophilic member. The hydrophobic member acts as a second line of defense against moisture reaching the sensing mechanism in the gas sampling assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: RIC Investments, LLC
    Inventors: Brian M. Fudge, Patrick Tuxbury, Kirk Johnson
  • Publication number: 20090241776
    Abstract: A smoke removal apparatus, capable of operating in a confined space without ventilation of the apparatus to the atmosphere to provide removal of smoke from air to be treated. The apparatus comprises one or more of the following filters: a mechanical filter (2); an electrostatic filter (3); and/or a chemical filter (4). The apparatus is arranged to collect smoke from a relatively higher position (5), pass smoke through the one or more filters/and expel treated air to a relatively lower position (6).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2007
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Inventors: Brian Hunt, Peter Row, Alex Wheatley
  • Publication number: 20090238741
    Abstract: An apparatus for removing harmful gas components out of the earth's atmosphere is a free-flying autonomous lightweight aircraft with an onboard gas processing system including gas separation or extraction devices, and inlets and outlets connected to the devices. Solar cells and/or thermoelectric generators provided on the craft produce electrical energy to operate the individual devices. The system may include a cryogenic closed-loop circulation system that participates in liquefying the extracted gas components. The apparatus is preferably a lighter-than-air craft like a dirigible. A method of extracting harmful gas components from the atmosphere involves flying the apparatus at a prescribed altitude level and operating the gas processing system to remove the harmful gas component from the atmosphere, then returning the apparatus to earth to offload the liquefied stored harmful gas component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Applicant: Astrium GmbH
    Inventor: Detlev Konigorski
  • Patent number: 7591880
    Abstract: A method of operating a fuel cell system includes providing a fuel inlet stream into a fuel cell stack, operating the fuel cell stack to generate electricity and a hydrogen containing fuel exhaust stream, separating at least a portion of hydrogen contained in the fuel exhaust stream using partial pressure swing adsorption, and providing the hydrogen separated from the fuel exhaust stream into the fuel inlet stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
    Inventors: M. Douglas Levan, John E. Finn, James F. McElroy
  • Patent number: 7592284
    Abstract: A high capacity adsorbent may be used for enriching oxygen concentration in an air stream. Such a high capacity adsorbent may be from about 2 to about 3 times lighter relative to the currently available technology. Furthermore, the high capacity adsorbent is readily capable of regeneration after deactivation by water vapor. Unlike current available immobilization technology in which clay binder was used to bind 13X zeolite and additional 10% organic binder was used to immobilize beads, the adsorbents of the present invention may be made using just an organic binder, thereby reducing pore spoilage caused by the clay binder. Further unlike conventional adsorbents, which may use sodium as its cation, the adsorbent of the present invention uses a lithium cation, thereby resulting in enhanced nitrogen adsorption performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Rehan Zaki, Russ Johnson
  • Publication number: 20090229460
    Abstract: A system for generating oxygen includes a compression means configured to compress a feed gas including at least nitrogen and oxygen, and at least one sieve bed configured to generate an oxygen-enriched gas from the compressed feed gas. The sieve bed(s), having an internal gas pressure ranging from about 1 psi to about 10 psi, include a housing and a nitrogen-adsorption material operatively disposed in the housing. The nitrogen-adsorption material is configured to adsorb at least nitrogen from the compressed feed gas during a pressure swing adsorption process, thereby generating an oxygen-enriched gas for a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Inventors: Michael S. McClain, Dana G. Pelletier, Michael P. Chekal