Concentration Sensing Means Patents (Class 96/111)
  • Publication number: 20120027655
    Abstract: A feed gas comprising CO2, H2S and H2 is treated to produce an H2-enriched product and an H2S-lean, CO2 product. The feed gas is separated to provide the H2-enriched product and a stream of sour gas. The stream of sour gas is divided into two parts, one of which is processed in an H2S removal system to form one or more streams of sweetened gas, and the other of which bypasses the H2S removal system, the stream(s) of sweetened gas and the sour gas bypassing the H2S removal system then being recombined to form the H2S-lean, CO2 product gas. The division of the sour gas between being sent to and bypassing the H2S removal system is adjusted responsive to changes in the H2S content of the sour gas, so as to dampen or cancel the effects of said changes on the H2S content of the H2S-lean, CO2 product gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC.
    Inventors: Charles Linford Schaffer, Andrew David Wright, Kevin Boyle Fogash, Jeffrey William Kloosterman, Jeffrey Raymond Hufton
  • Publication number: 20120012005
    Abstract: Regenerative air dryers are disclosed for feeding pressurized air with a controlled moisture content to a header. In one embodiment, a dryer comprises first and second chambers alternating between drying and regenerating phases. One of the chambers is at the drying phase while the other is at the regenerating phase. A controller is programmed to switch the phase of the chambers between drying and regenerating when the desiccant in the chamber at the drying phase has retained water to a predetermined capacity. A bypass line bypasses both chambers. An input provides air to the chamber at the drying phase and to the bypass line. A dew point feedback system controls a volume of air passing through the bypass line. Means are included for combining air from the bypass line with air exiting the chamber at the drying phase to provide air with a controlled dew point to the header.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Inventor: Nicholas Edward Burke
  • Publication number: 20120006193
    Abstract: An apparatus and process for thermally-linked adsorption-desorption. The process involves (a) at least one pair of adjacent sorbent beds, referenced herein as first and second sorbent beds, each pair of adjacent beds being thermally-linked one to the other through a thermally conductive wall; wherein each sorbent bed comprises a heat conductive foam, such as a reticulated metallic foam or sponge, having a sorbent coated thereon; then (b) alternating a flowstream between the beds such that at least one bed operates in adsorption cycle to remove target compound(s) from the flowstream with generation of heat of adsorption, which is conductively transferred away from the first bed towards the second bed, while operating the second bed in desorption cycle to remove the adsorbed target compound(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Inventors: Subir Roychoudhury, Christian Junaedi, James Knox
  • Patent number: 8083836
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for extracting CO2 from air comprising an anion exchange material formed in a matrix exposed to a flow of the air, and for delivering that extracted CO2 to controlled environments. The present invention contemplates the extraction of CO2 from air using conventional extraction methods or by using one of the extraction methods disclosed; e.g., humidity swing or electro dialysis. The present invention also provides delivery of the CO2 to greenhouses where increased levels of CO2 will improve conditions for growth. Alternatively, the CO2 is fed to an algae culture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Kilimanjaro Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Allen B. Wright, Klaus S. Lackner, Ursula Ginster
  • Patent number: 8080095
    Abstract: A preferred embodiment steady state tracking desorption system achieves steady tracking of either a fixed sorbate output set point, or a set point that changes over time. The system includes an electrically heated thermal adsorption/desorption device A temperature sensor senses the temperature of an adsorbent material within the adsorption/desorption device. A sorbate sensor senses a sorbate level from an outlet of the adsorption/desorption device. A power sensor senses the power supplied by the desorption device. A controller interprets levels sensed by the temperature sensor, the sorbate sensor and the power sensor and provides a signal to achieve steady set point tracking of a sorbate level from the outlet of the adsorption/desorption device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
    Inventors: Mark J. Rood, K. James Hay, Byung J. Kim, Hamidreza Emamipour, Zaher M. Hashisho
  • Publication number: 20110296872
    Abstract: A method and a system capable of removing carbon dioxide directly from ambient air, and obtaining relatively pure CO2. The method comprises the steps of generating usable and process heat from a primary production process; applying the process heat from said primary process to water to co-generate substantially saturated steam, alternately repeatedly exposing a sorbent to removal and to capture and regeneration system phases, wherein said sorbent is alternately exposed to a flow of ambient air during said removal phase, thereby enabling said sorbent to sorb, and therefore remove, carbon dioxide from said ambient air, and to a flow of the co-generated steam during the regeneration and capture phase, after the sorbent has adsorbed the carbon dioxide, thereby enabling regeneration of such sorbent, and the resultant capture in relatively pure form of the adsorbed carbon dioxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Inventor: Peter Eisenberger
  • Publication number: 20110271839
    Abstract: The movable air purification robot system is disclosed, which makes it possible to automatically eliminate dust, bacteria and smell from air while freely moving along a polluted area irrespective of a space dimension. The movable air purification robot system comprises an air purification robot including an air pollution detection unit for detecting pollution and humidity of floating substance contained in air, an air purification unit for circulating the air containing pollutants by means of the air pollution detection unit and filtering, absorbing and purifying the same, a robot moving unit formed of two driving wheels disposed at both lower sides of a robot body and independently operating, an obstacle detection unit for detecting an obstacle so that the robot moving unit can move freely, a robot operating unit for allowing a user to operate the robot, a robot control unit for controlling the operations of each element, and a power unit for supplying electric power to operating elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: MONEUAL INC.
    Inventors: Un Ki KIM, Hee Nam CHANG, Man Hee LEE, Hong Seuk Park
  • Publication number: 20110259189
    Abstract: The invention relates to a control device (3) for a compressed air preparation device (1) of a vehicle (2), wherein the control device (3) outputs output signals for adjusting feed phases and regeneration phases of the compressed air preparation device (1), wherein a compressor (4) feeds compressed air via an air dryer having a desiccant (6a) into a compressed air reservoir (8) in a feed phase, and compressed air is fed out of the compressed air reservoir (8) through the air dryer (6) for drying the desicant (6a) in a regeneration phase. According to the invention, the control device (3) adjusts the regeneration phases depending on a current or future engine load and/or a current or future consumption of compressed air by the vehicle (2). Particularly in coasting phases, excessive drying of the desiccant to a low moisture can occur, in order to save fuel in later travel segments. Route-optimized regeneration of the desiccant as a function of engine load and/or utilization phases is also possible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2009
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Inventors: Heinrich Diekmeyer, Kevin Pendzich, Joachim Reinhardt, Wolfgang Strache
  • Patent number: 8016925
    Abstract: A compact and highly portable combination pressure swing adsorption apparatus and product gas conservation device for medical use, to produce efficiently a gas with a high concentration of oxygen and to deliver the oxygen concentrated gas to a user at selectable times and in selectable doses, in which the operating components are detachably mounted together as a single unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Inventors: Norman R. McCombs, Robert Bosinski, Robert E. Casey, Michael R. Valvo
  • Patent number: 8016914
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and a control system for controlling an adsorbent bed unit in which an adsorbent bed concentration of an impurity within an adsorbent bed of the adsorbent bed unit is measured. The adsorbent bed concentration is controlled by manipulating the feed cycle time during which an adsorbent bed is adsorbing the impurities to maintain the adsorbent bed concentration at a targeted adsorption bed concentration. The targeted adsorption bed concentration is determined such that the product impurity concentration is maintained at product impurity concentration targets. The method and control system can incorporate a supervisory level of control reactive to product impurity concentration levels and related targets to determine the targeted adsorption bed concentration and a primary level of control that calculates the feed cycle time based upon an error between the measured and targeted adsorption bed concentrations. Proportional integral control can be used for such purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul W. Belanger, Mohamed Safdar Allie Baksh, Preeti Chandra, Andrew C. Rosinski
  • Publication number: 20110197760
    Abstract: A method of removing mercury from a process gas by means of a sorbent and a filter (10) involves applying said sorbent to at least one filtering surface (12) of the filter (10). A first parameter, which is indicative of the amount of mercury that needs to be removed in said filter (10), and a second parameter, which is indicative of the amount of material that has been collected on said filtering surface (12), are measured. A measured value of said first parameter is compared to a mercury set point. When said measured value of said first parameter is higher than said mercury set point, the cleaning of said filtering surface (12) is delayed, compared to the point in time suggested by a measured value of said second parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Inventor: Leif A.V. Lindau
  • Patent number: 7981195
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to the prevention of an exothermic reaction in the gas purifier of an ultra-high purity gas system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Robert Schulte, Michael Henry Hawke, Keith Randall Pace, Thomas John Bergman, Jr., Brian Donald Warrick, Sandro Di Santo, Rick Boyer
  • Patent number: 7972415
    Abstract: A breathing air purification device and method having a carbon-monoxide free sweep stream. Water vapor is removed from a compressed air stream using a membrane dryer, comprising, a membrane having a permeate portion and a non-permeate portion, a membrane housing which encases the membrane, a membrane feed inlet conduit connected to the membrane and a non-permeate gas outlet conduit fluidly connected to the non-permeate portion of the membrane. The sweep stream used to cleanse the outer permeate portion of the membrane dryer is taken from a catalyst filter. The catalyst filter includes a cartridge containing a bed of catalyst, two end pieces maintaining the cartridge within a catalyst bed housing and having outlet holes, a catalyst inlet conduit connected to the bed of catalyst and a product gas outlet conduit connected to the outlet holes. A sweep inlet tube provides a gas connection from the catalyst filter component to the permeate portion of the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: SPX Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy J. Fox, Mark F. Honath
  • Patent number: 7972414
    Abstract: A method and system of operating a trans-fill device. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods comprising generating an enriched gas stream from atmospheric air, and operating an intensifier which, when provided the enriched gas stream, produces a cylinder fill gas stream. The operating continues in the absence of the enriched gas stream being provided to the intensifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Alonzo C. Aylsworth, Charles R. Alysworth, Kevin G. McCulloh
  • Patent number: 7964017
    Abstract: A gas flow system and method are provided for controlling the moisture in a gas flow. The system may include a gas source from which gas flows, a processing chamber to which the gas flows, and a gas flow line through which the gas flows from the gas source to the processing chamber. The gas flow line may include a moisture control line section. The moisture control line section includes a pass-through line through which the gas may pass, so as to be exposed to a dryer. The exposure to a dryer may be controlled by a suitable valve. A scrubber is disposed in the gas flow line, the scrubber removing contaminates from the gas in the gas flow. The system may include a moisture sensor disposed in the gas flow, the moisture sensor sensing at least one parameter of the gas and outputting a signal representing the at least parameter to a moisture sensor controller, such that the moisture sensor controller determines the moisture in the gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, Inc.
    Inventor: John Petinarides
  • Publication number: 20110132197
    Abstract: Provided is an exhaust recycling system, which can burn and remove efficiently a VOC in an exhaust gas discharged from a predetermined zone and which can recycle the clean air after the removal of VOC. Also provided is a technique capable of stabilizing the concentration of the VOC contained in the exhaust gas to be fed to an adsorption apparatus. The exhaust recycling system comprises a coating zone (111) for discharging the exhaust gas containing the VOC, an adsorption apparatus (200) for adsorbing the VOC in the exhaust gas discharged from the coating one (111), and a clean air recycle apparatus for releasing the VOC adsorbed by the adsorption apparatus (200), from the adsorption apparatus (200), thereby to make the adsorbed VOC into a combustion fuel for a regenerative combustion apparatus (300), and for introducing again the clean air cleaned by passing through the adsorption apparatus (200), into the coating zone (111).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Bansei Nagase, Hisashi Saito, Masahiro Nakao
  • Patent number: 7922789
    Abstract: A portable gas fractionalization apparatus that provides oxygen rich air to patients is provided. The apparatus is compact, lightweight, and low-noise. The components are assembled in a housing that is divided into two compartments. One compartment is maintained at a lower temperature than the other compartment. The lower temperature compartment is configured for mounting components that can be damaged by heat. The higher temperature compartment is configured for mounting heat generating components. An air stream is directed to flow from an ambient air inlet to an air outlet constantly so that there is always a fresh source of cooling air. The apparatus utilizes a PSA unit to produce an oxygen enriched product. The PSA unit incorporates a novel compressor system which includes the use of free piston linear compressors so as to reduce power consumption, noise and vibration reduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Inogen, Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffrey Frank Deane, Brenton Alan Taylor
  • Patent number: 7900694
    Abstract: An air conditioner for a vehicle includes an air conditioner case having an evaporator and a heater core installed therein and having a blower installed at an inlet thereof; a movable filter moving between an air-filtering location and an air-non-filtering location of the air conditioner case; a judging device judging whether air blown by the blower inside the air conditioner case is contaminated; and a driving device moving the movable filter to the air-filtering location when the judging device determines that the air is contaminated and to the air-non-filtering location when the judging device determines that the air is not contaminated. Therefore, when it is determined that the air is contaminated, the movable filter is moved to the air-filtering location. When it is determined that the air is not contaminated, the movable filter is moved to the air-non-filtering location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Halla Climate Control Corp.
    Inventors: Yong-Jun Jee, Jae-Ho Kim, Bok-Sun Kang
  • Patent number: 7875100
    Abstract: A method is provided for indicating the useful service life of a gas filtration and purification system comprising steps of embedding two or more mass-responsive electronic sensors (e.g., surface acoustic wave devices) in a sorbent bed of a filtration cartridge, wherein the mass-responsive electronic sensors are coated with a non-conductive absorptive organic polymer; passing a gas containing a volatile chemical of interest through the filtration cartridge and in contact with the two mass-responsive electronic sensors; and measuring a difference in an electronic property between the two mass-responsive electronic sensors. In such a manner, the two mass-responsive electronic sensors act as internal references with respect to each other, thereby eliminating variations in temperature, interferents, pressure, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Michael W. Wright
  • Patent number: 7857889
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for purifying exhaust gases from a waste incineration plant by utilizing a sorption method in a circulating fluidized bed. According to the disclosure, the mass flow of the supplied fresh sorbent is regulated as a function of the concentration of fresh sorbent and/or at least one sorbed pollutant in the recirculated solid matter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Von Roll Umwelttechnik AG
    Inventor: Philipp Oliver Morf
  • Publication number: 20100313762
    Abstract: A system for obtaining oxygen-enriched air from ambient air comprises an absorber moving bed separating unit whose adsorption material binds oxygen and nitrogen to a different degree. To flush out moisture remaining in the moving bed material, it is proposed to connect a useful gas store which comprises the oxygen-enriched air to the inlet of the separating unit at time intervals via a controllable flush valve, and to flush the moisture out of the moving bed material in the useful gas store by means of dry gas. This shortens the start phase which elapses after switching on until steady-state conditions are established.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Applicant: DUERR TECHNIK GMBH & CO. KG.
    Inventors: Dirk Roeck, Torsten Grundmann, Juergen Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20100294127
    Abstract: The present system is an adsorption system for separating air into a concentrated gas component, which has an air supply, a compressor for receiving and compressing the air supply, providing a compressed air supply, and molecular sieve material for separating the compressed air supply into a concentrated gas component. The adsorption system delivers at least 5 liters per minute (LPM) of concentrated gas component from the molecular sieve material in which the system has a specific total weight per LPM <9 lbs/LPM. Additionally, an output quantity of the concentrated gas is delivered by the adsorption system and a purging quantity of the concentrated gas is dispensed into a sieve chamber of the adsorption system undergoing a purge cycle. The purging quantity has a value equal to or less than the difference between the maximum quantity and the output quantity, and the purging quantity is controlled based on the output quantity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: RIC INVESTMENTS, LLC
    Inventor: Joseph T. DOLENSKY
  • Patent number: 7837761
    Abstract: A portable oxygen concentrator includes a reservoir adapted to store oxygen-enriched gas, a delivery valve adapted to communicate with the reservoir, a pressure sensor adapted to measure a reservoir pressure within the reservoir and to measure a pressure drop across the delivery valve, and an input device adapted to receive a pulse does setting. A controller coupled to the pressure sensor and monitors the reservoir pressure and the pressure drop across the delivery valve. The controller is also coupled to the delivery valve to selectively open the delivery valve for pulse durations based on the pulse dose setting to deliver pulses of gas from the reservoir to a user. The controller further adjusts the pulse durations based at least partially upon the reservoir pressure and the pressure drop across the delivery valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: RIC Investments, LLC
    Inventors: Peter L. Bliss, Charles R. Atlas, Scott Carson Halperin
  • Patent number: 7810314
    Abstract: A method for operating an engine comprises correlating a measured property associated with a carbon nanostructure layer to an amount of particulate matter from an exhaust stream of the engine. In this way, engine operation may be adjusted based on an amount of sensed particulate matter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Avra Brahma, Jagjit Nanda
  • Publication number: 20100242722
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and a control system for controlling an adsorbent bed unit in which an adsorbent bed concentration of an impurity within an adsorbent bed of the adsorbent bed unit is measured. The adsorbent bed concentration is controlled by manipulating the feed cycle time during which an adsorbent bed is adsorbing the impurities to maintain the adsorbent bed concentration at a targeted adsorption bed concentration. The targeted adsorption bed concentration is determined such that the product impurity concentration is maintained at product impurity concentration targets. The method and control system can incorporate a supervisory level of control reactive to product impurity concentration levels and related targets to determine the targeted adsorption bed concentration and a primary level of control that calculates the feed cycle time based upon an error between the measured and targeted adsorption bed concentrations. Proportional integral control can be used for such purposes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventors: Paul W. Belanger, Mohamed Safdar Allie Baksh, Preeti Chandra, Andrew C. Rosinski
  • Publication number: 20100192769
    Abstract: Disclosed herein, without limitation, are activated carbon honeycomb catalyst beds and systems for removing mercury and other toxic metals from a process stream, i.e, from flue gas of a coal combustion system. The activated carbon honeycomb can for example remove greater than 90% mercury from flue gas with a simple design and without adding material to the flue gas. Also disclosed herein, and without limitation, are methods for manufacturing and using the disclosed honeycomb catalyst beds and systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2010
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Inventors: Kishor Purushottam Gadkaree, Lin He, Youchun Shi
  • Patent number: 7749303
    Abstract: A method is provided for indicating the useful service life of a gas filtration and purification system comprising steps of embedding two or more mass-responsive electronic sensors (e.g., surface acoustic wave devices) in a sorbent bed of a filtration cartridge, wherein the mass-responsive electronic sensors are coated with a non-conductive absorptive organic polymer; passing a gas containing a volatile chemical of interest through the filtration cartridge and in contact with the two mass-responsive electronic sensors; and measuring a difference in an electronic property between the two mass-responsive electronic sensors. In such a manner, the two mass-responsive electronic sensors act as internal references with respect to each other, thereby eliminating variations in temperature, interferents, pressure, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Michael W. Wright
  • Patent number: 7708806
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for extracting CO2 from air comprising an anion exchange material formed in a matrix exposed to a flow of the air, and for delivering that extracted CO2 to controlled environments. The present invention contemplates the extraction of CO2 from air using conventional extraction methods or by using one of the extraction methods disclosed; e.g., humidity swing or electro dialysis. The present invention also provides delivery of the CO2 to greenhouses where increased levels of CO2 will improve conditions for growth. Alternatively, the CO2 is fed to an algae culture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Global Research Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Allen B. Wright, Klaus S. Lackner, Ursula Ginster
  • Patent number: 7655077
    Abstract: An air treatment system includes a recirculation line (24) through which air from the enclosed space can be recirculated, and a contaminant adsorption assembly (36) is provided in an auxiliary supply conduit (31). In the event that contaminants are detected in atmospheric air, air from the enclosed space can be recirculated for conditioning and then readmitted to the enclosed space. Oxygen that is breathed by occupants of the enclosed space can be replenished by admitting air from atmosphere, which is treated using the adsorption assembly and then mixed with air that is in the enclosed space or being recirculated for admission to the enclosed space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Domnick Hunter Ltd.
    Inventor: Robert Michael Fielding
  • Publication number: 20090314163
    Abstract: A device for filtering nanoparticulate matter below 300 nm in size from ambient air within a defined enclosed space comprises at least one filter medium containing at least one filter material, and a fan or blower, which blows or draws the air through the filter medium does so with sufficiently low air velocity in the filter medium that the air has a long residence time in the filter medium, during which time adhesive encounters between nanoparticulate matter and the solid phase of the filter material are highly probable. This air velocity is also being sufficiently low to ensure that, once adhesion has taken place, kinetic de-adhesion by the air flow is highly improbable. Such a device allows to keep the nanoparticle count inside the enclosed space kept below 5000/cc, equivalent to ‘natural woodland’, even though external levels may exceeded 200,000/cc: the removal of nanoparticles by cleaning making this <2.5% the external count.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2007
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: Matter Engineering AG
    Inventors: Andreas Mayer, Heinz Burtscher, Jan Czerwinski, Markus Kasper, Richard John Artley, Günther Dobrauz, Gordon Edge
  • Publication number: 20090260518
    Abstract: The concentration of adsorbate in the feed gas to an on-stream bed of a cyclical swing adsorption process is monitored and the data processed to predict the time required to complete the on-stream mode of that bed and the purge flow rate and/or other regeneration mode operating condition of the concurrently off-stream bed is modified in response to changes in said predicted time whereby the regeneration mode of the off-steam bed is completed at the same time as the on-stream mode of the concurrent on-stream bed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew David Wright, Mohammad Ali Kalbassi, Timothy Christopher Golden, Christopher James Raiswell
  • Publication number: 20090211448
    Abstract: An apparatus for separating humidity from a pressurized feed gas is provided the apparatus having a housing; an intake path formed at a first end of the housing; a centrifugal device disposed within the housing; a sieve bed disposed within the housing; an outlet path formed at a second end of the housing; a purge path formed below the intake path; and a water sump zone located within the housing below the centrifugal device. The centrifugal device receives the feed gas from the intake path during a charge phase and directs the feed gas in a centrifugal pattern to cause water vapor in the feed gas to condense into water droplets on the inner wall. The water droplets are discharged from the housing through the purge path with an exhaust gas during a purge phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2008
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Inventor: MICHAEL S. MCCLAIN
  • Publication number: 20090188391
    Abstract: A system and a method for solvent purification is provided. The system includes a solvent storage tank and a filter coupled to the tank for filtering out moisture from the solvent. The method includes providing a tank to hold the solvent being purified, providing a filter coupled to the tank, and repeatedly providing solvent from the tank to the filter, and filtering the solvent to remove moisture and returning the filtered solvent to the tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Inventors: Dmitry Vernik, Ron Hood
  • Patent number: 7566358
    Abstract: A carbon canister to adsorb hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon air mixture in a UST system to prevent fugitive emissions due to overpressurization. The carbon canister has an inlet port at one end coupled to the UST system. An outlet port on the opposite end of the canister is connected to a flow-limiting orifice with a known calibrated flow rate that vents in a controlled fashion to the atmosphere. When UST pressure rises slightly above ambient pressure, fuel vapors and air from the UST system enters, via the inlet port, into the canister, where hydrocarbons are adsorbed onto the surface of the activated carbon. The cleansed air vents through the controlled flow outlet port to atmosphere, thereby preventing excessive positive pressure from occurring in the UST system. The activated carbon is purged of hydrocarbons by means of reverse air flow caused by negative UST pressures that occur during periods of ORVR vehicle refueling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Veeder-Root Company
    Inventors: Robert P. Hart, Kent Reid
  • Patent number: 7563310
    Abstract: A dehumidifier for an electrical-equipment air intake has an outer housing wall and a floor of a material with a high specific thermal conductivity downwardly closing the outer housing wall, having a downwardly tapering funnel-shaped inner surface formed with a central downwardly open port, and having a rounded edge where the surface meets the port. An inner air-permeable housing inside the outer housing wall holds a moisture-absorbing mass so that air drawn in through the port can pass through the mass and then into a space between the inner and outer housings. A moisture sensor is provided between the housings and a heater in the mass. A controller connected between the heater and the sensor energizes the heater and cooks moisture out of the mass such that the moisture condenses on the floor and runs over the edge out through the port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Reinhausen GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Eichert, Kurt Kugler, Karsten Viereck, Rainer Brill
  • Publication number: 20090120284
    Abstract: An active adsorbent pollutant reducing system includes a canister containing activated carbon, a pump and a series of valves connected to the canister and the pump. The valves and pump of the system are controlled so that vapor/air in the ullage of a gasoline storage tank is pumped to the canister/adsorbent material when tank pressure reaches a first level with vapor being adsorbed and air being discharged to atmosphere. When a second tank pressure level, lower than the first tank pressure level, is achieved, the valves are controlled to reconfigure the pump and canister so that continued pump operation pulls a vacuum on the canister resulting in adsorbed gasoline vapor being purged from the adsorbent material and returned to the storage tank. Tank pressure, HC content in the vapor flow and canister weight can be used for control of the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventor: Rodger P. Grantham
  • Publication number: 20090120294
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to the prevention of an exothermic reaction in the gas purifier of an ultra-high purity gas system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventors: Thomas Robert Schulte, Michael Henry Hawke, Keith Randall Pace, Thomas John Bergman, JR., Brian Donald Warrick, Sandro Di Santo, Rick Boyer
  • Publication number: 20090056552
    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: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicants: Organo Corporation, Japan Atomic Energy Agency
    Inventors: Yoshinori Ono, Takashi FUTATSUKI, Tetsuya ABE, Sadamitsu TANZAWA, Toshihisa HATANO
  • Patent number: 7468091
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for dehumidifying air and to an air dehumidifier. To this end, a filter element is provided that is filled with granular material that can be regenerated by baking out. For effecting this baking out, a heating device is provided that is only actuated when both a humidity sensor indicates that a humidity limit value has been exceeded as well as a relative pressure sensor or a comparable technical means indicates that, at the moment, no flow toward the oil expansion tank is recorded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Maschinefabrik Reinhausen GmbH
    Inventors: Karsten Viereck, Dieter Dohnal, Ansgar Hinz, Reiner Brill
  • Patent number: 7459008
    Abstract: A method and system of operating a trans-fill device. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods comprising generating an enriched gas stream from atmospheric air, and operating an intensifier which, when provided the enriched gas stream, produces a cylinder fill gas stream. The operating continues in the absence of the enriched gas stream being provided to the intensifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Inventors: Alonzo C. Aylsworth, Charles R. Aylsworth, Kevin G. McCulloh
  • Patent number: 7442236
    Abstract: The present invention concerns the application of adsorption gas separation technologies to anaesthesia equipment and falls within the technical domains of adsorption separation units and medical devices. The invention concerns a device and processes for recovering xenon from gas mixtures released from anaesthesia gas machines (1) using xenon as anaesthetic. The purged xenon is collected using a system which includes a shift valve (6), and then separated and purified (38-40). The recycled xenon is then pressurised (31) and reintroduced in the anaesthesia circuit (48) using a shift valve (12). The separation and purification process combines different adsorption separation/purification technologies. The device is external to the anaesthesia gas machine and is compatible with any standard anaesthesia circuit able of perform xenon anaesthesia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Sysadvance-Sistemas de Engenharia, S.A.
    Inventors: Antonio Pedro Grilo Taveira, Adélio Miguel Magalhães Mendes
  • Publication number: 20080210085
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for purifying exhaust gases from a waste incineration plant by utilizing a sorption method in a circulating fluidized bed. According to the disclosure, the mass flow of the supplied fresh sorbent is regulated as a function of the concentration of fresh sorbent and/or at least one sorbed pollutant in the recirculated solid matter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Inventor: Philipp Oliver Morf
  • Patent number: 7419534
    Abstract: A cooling apparatus is disclosed for cooling and dehumidifying the inside of a device such as an electronic device installed outdoors The cooling apparatus of the invention comprises a set of dehumidifying parts, each arranged at an open air intake side and an air exhaust side of a housing of the device respectively, and having filtering members for removing humidity from the open air. When air in the housing is saturated with humidity by air blowing from a fan, the rotational direction of the fan is reversed to thereby change the air flowing direction towards the dehumidification part. A dehumidification material thus receives heated and dried exhaust-air from a heating material and discharges moisture accumulated within the material to the outside, thereby recovering moisture absorption capability of the dehumidification material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Katsuya Hirano
  • Patent number: 7407528
    Abstract: The method serves for operating an air fractionization installation for obtaining oxygen on board an aircraft, with at least two molecular sieve chambers. A part mass flow of the oxygen obtained in the respective adsorbing molecular sieve chamber is supplied for flushing a desorbing molecular sieve chamber. The quantity of the flushing oxygen led to the desorbing molecular sieve chamber is controlled by way of this.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: DAe Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Rittner, Rüdiger Meckes, Jürgen Pfennig
  • Patent number: 7393380
    Abstract: A method for guaranteeing at least one characteristic of a fluid used for producing food products. This method utilizes a system for piping and delivering the fluid, combined with means for producing the products, in order to use the fluid for producing the products; the measuring a value of the characteristic; the comparing the measured value with a predetermined threshold value; the act of executing an action if the measured value departs from the threshold value; the combining the measured value with first information for identifying at least one product; and then the storing the associated value and the associated information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme A Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Jean-François Vie, Henry Ledon, Philippe Girardon, Christel Girault
  • Patent number: 7393381
    Abstract: A plurality of different layers of filter media are used to remove siloxanes from a gas stream. Based on an analysis of the specific gas stream to be filtered, a filter media having an average pore size enabling the preferential removal of a specific class of contaminants is selected for each different class of contaminants. The layers are arranged in sequential order such that contaminants having a higher molecular weight are preferentially removed by the first layers. Collectively, the layers define a segmented activity gradient that enables each class of contaminants present in the gas stream to be preferentially removed in a different layer, preventing removal competition between different classes of contaminants. Preferable adsorption media exhibit a relatively narrow range of pore sizes. Both inorganic adsorption media and carbon-based adsorption media exhibiting a relatively narrow range of pore sizes can be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Applied Filter Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul M. Tower, Jeffrey V. Wetzel
  • Patent number: 7332015
    Abstract: A dehydrator breather is provided that includes automatic purging of accumulated moisture by detecting absorbed moisture in the breather, and closing an intake air channel, while opening an exit moisture channel. Adjustment of a default time-based purging cycle is adjusted to account for fluctuations in the detected moisture. An external communication capability is provided to enable off-site monitoring of the breather or the tank the breather is attached to.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Waukesha Electric Systems, Inc
    Inventors: Thomas M. Golner, Shirish P. Mehta
  • Patent number: 7329304
    Abstract: A portable oxygen concentrator includes a pair of sieve beds having first and second ends, a compressor for delivering air to the first ends of the sieve beds, a reservoir communicating with the second ends of the sieve beds, and an air manifold attached to the first ends of the sieve beds. The air manifold includes passages therein communicating with the compressor and the first ends of the sieve beds. A set of valves is coupled to the air manifold, and a controller is coupled to the valves for selectively opening and closing the valves to alternately charge and purge the sieve beds to deliver concentrated oxygen into the reservoir. An oxygen delivery manifold communicates with the second ends of the sieve beds for delivering oxygen from the reservoir to a user. Pressure sensors may be provided in the reservoir and/or delivery line for controlling operation of the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Respironics Oxytec, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter L. Bliss, Charles R. Atlas, Jr., Scott Cameron Halperin
  • Patent number: 7316734
    Abstract: A volatile organic compound treatment apparatus including an adsorber coming into contact with a gas to be treated and adsorbing volatile organic compounds; a plurality of pairs of electrodes, divided into a plurality of groups, which generate electric discharge so that a part of the adsorber is exposed to the electric discharge; and an electric discharge control mechanism for controlling whether or not the electric discharge is generated in what pair of the electrodes by applying a voltage to every group of the pair of electrodes such that different parts of the adsorber are sequentially exposed to the electric discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Ohta, Masaki Kuzumoto, Yasuhiro Tanimura, Hajime Nakatani, Toshiaki Yoshizumi, Hideo Ichimura
  • Patent number: RE42058
    Abstract: A dehydrator breather is provided that includes automatic purging of accumulated moisture by detecting absorbed moisture in the breather, and closing an intake air channel, while opening an exit moisture channel. Adjustment of a default time-based purging cycle is adjusted to account for fluctuations in the detected moisture. An external communication capability is provided to enable off-site monitoring of the breather or the tank the breather is attached to.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Waukesha Electric Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas M. Golner, Shirish P. Mehta