And Means For Driving Gas Flow (e.g., Pump, Blower, Compressor, Etc.) Patents (Class 96/127)
  • Patent number: 12226733
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided that obtain the same or better level of performance by using lower operating flow rates, pressures and/or optimized flow distributions within the system. This extends the life of system components and lower energy consumption. In one embodiment, gas separation (or sieve) beds that are used to separate gaseous components are provided that have lower flow and pressure requirements compared to conventional beds. The sieve beds include, for example, a diffuser having low solid area in cross-section and maximum open area for flow while providing adequate mechanical properties to contain sieve material and support filter media. In another embodiment, systems and methods are provided having an indicator when a component has been serviced or repaired. This provides an indication whether the component has been tampered with in any manner. This allows the manufacturer to determine if the component was serviced, repaired, or tampered with outside the manufacturer's domain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: VENTEC LIFE SYSTEMS INC.
    Inventors: Matthew E. Monaghan, Pankaj Patil, William A. Null
  • Patent number: 11894150
    Abstract: Systems and methods that facilitate forming and maintaining FRCs with superior stability as well as particle, energy and flux confinement and, more particularly, systems and methods that facilitate forming and maintaining FRCs with elevated system energies and improved sustainment utilizing multi-scaled capture type vacuum pumping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: TAE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Alan Van Drie
  • Patent number: 11697925
    Abstract: Atmospheric moisture harvester systems include two beds with water capture material, such as metal-organic framework (MOF), a heater, two fans, and a condenser having two sides, operatively configured into adsorption and desorption modes, wherein the MOF beds are interchangeable to cycle between the desorption and water adsorption modes. The systems may further include a photovoltaic panel powering the fans and condenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Omar M. Yaghi, Mathieu S. Prevot, Nikita Hanikel, Eugene A. Kapustin, Farhad Fathieh
  • Patent number: 11110386
    Abstract: An air purification device for a vehicle includes: a sorption device provided with a sorbent; an air intake duct for sucking air in a vehicle cabin; an outlet-side three-way valve connected to the sorption device; an air supply duct for blowing air into the cabin; an exhaust duct for discharging air to outside of the cabin; a blower; a heater; and a controller. The controller selectively executes a purification mode in which air in the cabin is sent into the sorption device at a purification temperature, and purified air from which moisture and carbon dioxide have been removed by the sorbent is blown into the cabin, and a first regeneration mode in which air heated to a first regeneration temperature is sent into the sorption device, and exhaust air containing moisture and carbon dioxide released from the sorbent is discharged to the outside of the cabin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Subaru Matsumoto, Shinji Kakizaki
  • Patent number: 10994239
    Abstract: A gas scrubber includes a canister having a rotatable spiral separator which provides a non-linear path configured to be filled with modular adsorbent material portions between a gas inlet and a gas outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Michiaki Sano, Jo Sato
  • Patent number: 10898850
    Abstract: An air purification device includes: a carbon dioxide removal device configured to sorb and remove carbon dioxide contained in air; an air supply duct connected to a first outlet of the carbon dioxide removal device and having a blowing opening 17a for flowing out purified air from which carbon dioxide has been removed by the carbon dioxide removal device 12 into a vehicle cabin; and an exhaust duct connected to a second outlet of the carbon dioxide removal device and having an exhaust opening 18a for discharging the carbon dioxide sorbed by the carbon dioxide removal device to outside of the vehicle cabin 3, wherein the air supply duct is mounted to a front seat of the vehicle so as to be movable vertically with the blowing opening facing forward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Subaru Matsumoto, Shinji Kakizaki
  • Patent number: 9229630
    Abstract: A user interface for a portable oxygen concentration system. The user interface includes a touch screen and a controller coupled to the touch screen. The controller is configured to detect when a first portion of the touch screen is contacted by a user, and thereafter operate the touch screen for displaying an icon on a second portion of the touch screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: RESPIRONICS OXYTEC, INC
    Inventors: Charles R. Altas, Scott C. Halperin, Peter L. Bliss
  • Publication number: 20150128800
    Abstract: The invention relates to an oxygen separation device (12, 14), comprising a gas inlet (29, 31) at a primary side for guiding a flow of oxygen comprising gas into the oxygen separation device (12, 14) and having a gas outlet (33, 35) at a secondary side for guiding a flow of oxygen enriched gas out of the oxygen separation device (12, 14), at least one oxygen separation area (20, 22) with an oxygen separation sorbent (16, 18) being capable of separating oxygen from an oxygen comprising gas by sorbing at least one component of the oxygen comprising gas apart from oxygen and being contaminatable by a contaminant, and a decontamination area (21, 23) with a decontamination material(17, 19) for decontaminating the oxygen comprising gas from at least one contaminant, wherein the oxygen separation area (20, 22) and the decontamination area (21, 23) are fluidly connected by a spacer (76, 78) comprising at least one diffusion reducing channel (80, 82), wherein the spacer (76, 78) has a value of diffusion reduction rR o
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Peter Lower Bliss, Rainer Hilbig, Joseph Thomas Dolensky, Achim Gerhard Rolf Koerber, Paul Van Der Sluis, Mareike Klee, Wilhelmus Cornelis Keur
  • Publication number: 20150059573
    Abstract: A process and equipment for removing carbon dioxide from a process gas (G), with a solid adsorbent and temperature swing adsorption, where the carbon dioxide is removed from process gas in either a first bed (B1) or a second bed (B2) of adsorbent, while the other bed is regenerated with heat furnished by the incoming hot process gas; the beds are contained in vessels (V1, V2) with heat exchange tubes or plates (T1, T2), so that the removal of CO2 takes place by contacting the process gas with the bed in the shell side, and regeneration of a bed takes place by passing the hot process gas inside the tubes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: Casale SA
    Inventor: Ermanno Filippi
  • Publication number: 20150047504
    Abstract: Provided are a continuous oxygen adsorption and desorption device and an continuous oxygen adsorption and desorption method using the device, and more particularly, an continuous oxygen adsorption and desorption device for producing high-purity oxygen products by using a plurality of adsorption and desorption towers filled with an oxygen-selecting adsorption and desorption agent selected from BaMg(CO3)2 particles or particles in which either MgCO3 or Mg(OH)2 has been attached to the outside of BaMg(CO3)2, and also a continuous oxygen adsorption and desorption method using the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventors: Jong-Ho Park, Tae Sung Jung, Hyung Chul Yoon, Young Tae Guahk, Hee-Tae Beum, Jong-kee Park, Sang-Sup Han, Jong-Nam Kim, Soon-Haeng Cho
  • Patent number: 8956447
    Abstract: A heat exchanger of a desiccant wheel dehumidifier, disclosed in the disclosure, includes a frame and multiple heat exchange platy tubes. The frame has an air inlet and an air outlet. The multiple heat exchange platy tubes are fixed on the frame and are substantially arranged side by side with each other. Every two of the multiple heat exchange platy tubes adjacent to each other are separated at an interval from each other to form a first flow channel. Each of the multiple heat exchange platy tubes includes a main body and at least one spacing wall. The main body has multiple second flow channels therein. The at least one spacing wall is located between two of the multiple second flow channels adjacent to each other. The air inlet and the air outlet communicate with the multiple second flow channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Norm Pacific Automation Corp.
    Inventors: Chin-Huan Chen, Hong-Yang Hsu, Chia-Liang Liu
  • Patent number: 8936669
    Abstract: A temperature swing adsorption system includes a first adsorption bed configured to receive a feed stream and adsorb a contaminant from the feed stream to produce a product stream, a second adsorption bed configured to receive a portion of the product stream and a cooling stream to reduce a temperature of the second adsorption bed, a third adsorption bed configured to receive the heated product stream to increase a temperature of the third adsorption bed; a separation system to separate the cooled product stream into a first component stream and a second component stream, and a fourth adsorption bed configured to receive the first component stream and to enrich an adsorptive concentration of the first component stream. The enriched first component stream is directed to the second adsorption bed to provide the cooling stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Shain-Jer Doong, Christopher B. McIlroy
  • Publication number: 20140326136
    Abstract: A temperature swing adsorption system includes a first adsorption bed configured to receive a feed stream and adsorb a contaminant from the feed stream to produce a product stream, a second adsorption bed configured to receive a portion of the product stream and a cooling stream to reduce a temperature of the second adsorption bed, a third adsorption bed configured to receive the heated product stream to increase a temperature of the third adsorption bed; a separation system to separate the cooled product stream into a first component stream and a second component stream, and a fourth adsorption bed configured to receive the first component stream and to enrich an adsorptive concentration of the first component stream. The enriched first component stream is directed to the second adsorption bed to provide the cooling stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2013
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventors: Shain-Jer Doong, Christopher B. McIlroy
  • Patent number: 8828128
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling the humidity of an indoor space is disclosed. The system features a desiccant wheel which rotates sequentially through a plurality of distinct process air streams in order to optimize desiccant moisture adsorption at the process side of the desiccant wheel. This moisture is then deposited on the regeneration side of the wheel upstream of a cooling coil, increasing the dew point of the air entering the coil. The latent capacity and operational temperature of the coiling coil will be increased as a result, thus enhancing the dehumidification performance of the cooling coil and the overall efficiency of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Novelaire Technologies, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Terry Parker, Robert Mills
  • Patent number: 8790451
    Abstract: A system for utilizing solar energy for home utility supply includes an air collector coupled to a solar module disposed to collect ambient air carrying thermal energy generated from the solar module. The system includes an energy transfer module (ETM) comprising a first heat-exchanger configured to process a first air stream from the air collector and output a second air stream carrying a portion of the thermal energy. Additionally, the system includes an air-conditioning module for processing a third air stream from interior space. The system includes an air processor comprising a desiccant material to pre-condition the third air stream utilizing the second air stream in the ETM and form a fourth air stream for the air-conditioning module and a fifth air stream in the ETM. Furthermore, the system uses a second heat-exchanger to process the fourth air stream and form a six air stream with reduced temperature and humidity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: PVT Solar, Inc.
    Inventor: Ramachandran Narayanamurthy
  • Patent number: 8728215
    Abstract: A cyclic adsorption process is provided having pressurization and depressurization steps and driven by one or more centrifugal machines operating under acceleration and deceleration conditions wherein the deceleration rate of the machine is controlled to minimize power consumption and maximize the efficiency of the process. The operating speed of the centrifugal machine during deceleration is matched to the measured pressure ratio conditions so that the centrifugal machine arrives at its minimum operating speed near the point required to begin acceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael S. Manning, Andrew C. Rosinski, Paul W. Belanger
  • Patent number: 8657918
    Abstract: A cyclic adsorption process is provided having pressurization and depressurization steps and driven by one or more centrifugal machines operating under acceleration and deceleration conditions wherein the deceleration rate of the machine is controlled to minimize power consumption and maximize the efficiency of the process. The operating speed of the centrifugal machine during deceleration is matched to the measured ratio pressure conditions so that the centrifugal machine arrives at its minimum operating speed near the point required to begin acceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael S. Manning, Andrew C. Rosinski, Paul W. Belanger
  • Publication number: 20140020559
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the disclosure correspond to, for example, a system for scrubbing a mixture of gases and/or contaminants from indoor air from an enclosed space to remove at least one gas and/or contaminant from the mixture of gases and/or contaminants. The system may include one or more adsorbent materials configured to be cycled between adsorption and regeneration of at least one of gas and/or contaminant from the mixture of gases and/or contaminants via a temperature swing adsorption cycle (for example), regeneration means configured to regenerate one or more adsorbent materials. The regeneration means may be configured at a regeneration temperature to regenerate the one or more adsorbent materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Inventors: Udi Meirav, Israel Biran, Abraham Bechar
  • Patent number: 8591634
    Abstract: An apparatus and process for recovering a desired gas such as xenon difluoride, xenon, argon, helium or neon, from the effluent of a chemical process reactor that utilizes such gases alone or in a gas mixture or in a molecule that becomes decomposed wherein the chemical process reactor uses a sequence of different gas composition not all of which contain the desired gas and the desired gas is captured and recovered substantially only during the time the desired gas is in the effluent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: David Charles Winchester, Matthew John Bosco, Gerald W. Klein, Isaac Patrick West, Richard Linton Samsal, Douglas Paul Dee, Andrew David Johnson, Eugene Joseph Karwacki, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8574331
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein include air-treatment mask systems having at least one controllable air-treatment device that is controlled responsive to one or more signals from at least one pollutant sensor, and related methods of operation and air-treatment masks. In an embodiment, an air-treatment mask system includes a wearable air-treatment mask having a mask body including a face-securing member, and at least one controllable air-treatment device supported by the mask body. The air-treatment device is configured to treat incoming air. The system includes at least one pollutant sensor configured to sense ambient air for a presence of at least one pollutant and output one or more signals responsive to the sensing. The system includes control electrical circuitry operably coupled to the air-treatment device and the pollutant sensor and configured to control operation of the controllable air-treatment device responsive to receiving the signal(s) from the pollutant sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: ELWHA LLC
    Inventors: Mahalaxmi Gita Bangera, Roderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare, Lowell L. Wood
  • Patent number: 8568519
    Abstract: A portable oxygen concentrator designed for medical use with a novel housing and internal component design that reduces noise and vibration while increasing durability. The improved design of the portable oxygen concentrator further facilitates easy maintenance and repair over the life of the equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Inogen, Inc.
    Inventors: Brenton Taylor, Peter Hansen, John Stump, Patrick Burgess
  • Patent number: 8557029
    Abstract: Methods and systems for regenerating a purification bed take advantage of inert gas pressure, such as, for example, supplied by a pipeline. The inert gas (102) is provided at a first pressure and combined with a recycle composition (116) from the vessel (110, 110a) containing the material being regenerated. These streams form a regeneration fluid composition (114) at a second pressure less than the inert gas pressure, which is then routed to the vessel to regenerate the purification bed. A jet compressor (108) may be used for the combining of the inert gas and recycle streams. The recycled composition allows reduction in inert gas usage, while a portion is flared or otherwise disposed of.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Univation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Randall L. Force, Rachael L. Le Geyt
  • Patent number: 8496738
    Abstract: A mixed gas is separated with collection of at least one constituent gas. An inlet leads to a blower or other gas compression element through a valve. This blower feeds a chamber which contains media which selectively adsorbs the constituent gas to be collected, such as nitrogen from air. An exhaust from the chamber leads to an exhaust through a check valve. The blower can be reversed after nitrogen has been adsorbed within the chamber to desorb nitrogen and deliver nitrogen back through the blower. The inlet valve is closed after blower reversing and a separate diversion pathway is opened so that nitrogen is delivered from the blower to a nitrogen collection region. A variant system also includes an oxygen collection region on a side of the chamber opposite the blower for collection of both nitrogen and oxygen separated from air simultaneously, or collection of other constituent gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Pacific Consolidated Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Tarik Naheiri, Steve Schellhase, Javier Lopez, James Yang
  • Patent number: 8409520
    Abstract: Provided is an ozone concentrator including an ozone generator (3), adsorption/desorption columns (4) in which silica gel (6) cooled with a certain-temperature refrigerant (25) for concentrating ozone generated by the ozone generator (3) is packed, a refrigerating machine (23) for cooling the refrigerant (25), a vacuum pump (20) for enhancing a concentration of the ozone in one of the adsorption/desorption columns (4) by discharging mainly oxygen from the silica gel (6) adsorbing the ozone, a plurality of valves (8) to (13) for air pressure operations, for switching passages of gas that is allowed to flow in or flow out with respect to the adsorption/desorption columns (4), and ozone concentration meters (28, 29) for measuring the concentration of the ozone enhanced by the vacuum pump (20), in which a discharge line of the vacuum pump (20) is connected to another one of the adsorption/desorption columns (4), whereby the ozone is allowed to pass through another one of the adsorption/desorption columns again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Toshiba Mitsubishi-Electric Industrial Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Ota, Yasuhiro Tanimura, Yoichiro Tabata, Yujiro Okihara, Tetsuya Saitsu, Noriyuki Nakamura, Ryohei Ueda
  • Patent number: 8252089
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and device for compressing and drying a gas flow rich in carbon dioxide, for example containing more than 50 mol % of carbon dioxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Tranier, Arthur Darde, Jean-François Rauch, Dominique Antonio, Christophe Michel
  • Patent number: 8221514
    Abstract: The invention provides an ecologically clean method and apparatus for water harvesting from air. The method is based on changing of thermodynamic state properties of air wind getting a rotation and passing through convergent-divergent nozzles. The apparatus is a water condensation engine exposed to humid wind. The constructive solution has no moving solid parts, and the incoming wind is an inherent moving component of the engine. It comprises a cascade of sequentially arranged horn-tubes and a set of stationary wing-like details. Those horn-tubes transform the wind into a fast and cooled out-flowing air flux coming-and-hitting upon the set of wing-like details, where the air portions are accelerated and eddying. The inner static pressure and temperature decrease in the air portions. The decrease in static pressure and temperature triggers off condensation of water-vapors into water-aerosols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Yuri Abramov
    Inventor: Yuri Abramov
  • Publication number: 20120160098
    Abstract: A carbon dioxide (CO2) removal system includes first and second sorbent beds, a heat exchange system and means for reducing pressure. The sorbent beds each have a solid amine sorbent for adsorbing and desorbing CO2. At a given time, one of the sorbent beds adsorbs CO2 and the other sorbent bed desorbs CO2. The heat exchange system cools the CO2 adsorbing bed and heats the CO2 desorbing bed so that the temperature of the CO2 desorbing bed is greater than the temperature of the CO2 adsorbing bed. The means for reducing pressure reduces CO2 pressure at the CO2 desorbing bed. A method for removing CO2 includes supplying a gas stream to a sorbent bed containing a solid amine sorbent to adsorb CO2, reducing pressure at another sorbent bed to desorb CO2, heating the CO2 desorbing bed, cooling the CO2 adsorbing bed, and removing CO2 from the CO2 desorbing bed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventor: William G. Papale
  • Patent number: 8197581
    Abstract: A self-regenerating bio-gas treatment system that uses the bio-gas instead of atmospheric are as media transport between adsorber and desorber tanks. Each tank includes at least four horizontally stacked and evenly spaced apart, perforated trays each capable being filled with fluidized carbon which migrates downward in the adsorber tank to remove contaminants from the bio-gas. With the bio-gas function as its media transport, the carbon media continuously moves downward over the perforated trays and eventually collected in the bottom of the adsorber tank. The spent carbon is then delivered to the desorber tank. The desorber tank is filled with an inert gas produced by an inert gas generator which causes the carbon media to be regenerated. The inert gas strips the carbon media of contaminates and is then delivered to a ground flare. The carbon media is returned to the adsorber tank and re-used to treat bio-gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: ESC Enviroenergy, LLC
    Inventor: Lowell Howard
  • Publication number: 20120068119
    Abstract: A fluid treatment method reduces a concentration of a first component included in a fluid-to-be-treated. A fluid treatment apparatus reduces a concentration of a first component included in a fluid-to-be-treated. A concentration of a second component differing from the first component is reduced in the fluid-to-be-treated in order to obtain a first fluid. The first fluid passes through at least part of an adsorption unit in order to obtain a second fluid. The adsorption unit is capable of adsorbing both the first component and the second component and has at least an ability to adsorb the first component that is temperature dependent. A third fluid pass through a portion of the adsorption unit through which the first fluid has passed. The third fluid has a concentration of the second component that is lower than in the fluid-to-be-treated and a temperature that is higher than the fluid-to-be-treated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Keiichirou Kametani, Morimasa Watanabe, Osamu Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7789938
    Abstract: Device for drying a compressed gas which consists of a compressed gas supply (2), two pressure vessels (33 and 34) which are provided with an input (37, respectively) and an output (39, 40 respectively) and a take-up point (32) for users of compressed dried gas, whereby at least two layers of desiccant (35 and 36) are provided in the pressure vessels (33 and 34), a first layer (35) made of a waterproof desiccant and a second layer (36) which is not necessarily made of a waterproof desiccant respectively, and whereby the pressure vessels (33 and 34) are provided with a second input (41, 42 respectively) for the supply of compressed gas to regenerate desiccant from the first layer (35).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Atlas Copco Airpower, naamloze vennootschap
    Inventor: Filip Gustaaf M. Huberland
  • Patent number: 7604004
    Abstract: An oxygen separator for separating oxygen from ambient air utilizing a vacuum swing adsorption process has a mass of less than 2.3 kg. A carrier is mountable on a person to support the oxygen separator for ambulatory use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Vbox Incorporated
    Inventors: Theodore W. Jagger, Nicholas P. Van Brunt, John A. Kivisto, Perry B. Lonnes
  • Patent number: 7601206
    Abstract: Potable water is produced by extraction of water vapor from air. Water absorbed inside a desiccant bed is forced into vapor phase by using input heat energy, for example, waste heat from the exhaust of an internal combustion engine. Pre-heating a portion of the desiccant material prior to desorption enhances efficiency. Energy for the pre-heating may be obtained by recovering heat from the desiccant material prior to adsorption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: MesoSystems Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles J. Call, Robert C. Beckius, Ezra L. Merrill, Seung-Ho Hong, Mike Powell
  • Patent number: 7563306
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of conditioning humidity and temperature in the process air stream of a desiccant dehumidifier used to dry moisture-laden spaces and structures by replacing moisture-laden air with dehumidified air to increase the rate of water evaporation within the affected areas. An air-dehumidifier comprises a dehumidification assembly having a desiccant rotor assembly, a shielded radiant burner assembly, and a control system. The shielded radiant burner assembly is used to regenerate the desiccant rotor by removing moisture from the reactivation quadrant, where high velocity (at least 500 ft/min) air streams are often flowed, by projecting radiant heat onto the rotor, while minimizing the potential for the high velocity air streams interrupting the combustion of air and fuel in the radiant burner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Technologies Holdings Corporation
    Inventors: Charles A. Boutall, Albert Keith Teakell
  • Patent number: 7550031
    Abstract: An energy efficient oxygen concentrator for filling high pressure portable cylinders with medical oxygen for use by ambulatory patients. Two compressors provide two pressurized air sources, one for operating an oxygen concentrator to provide a stream of oxygen enriched gas, and the other for driving a pressure intensifier for filling portable oxygen cylinders. Pressurized exhaust from the pressure intensifier is returned to the inlet side of at least one of the compressors for reducing the energy required to drive the compressor. Preferably, each compressor has a single reciprocating piston, a single motor drives both pistons and the pressurized exhaust from pressure intensifier is provided to the inlets for both compressors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Sunrise Medical HHG Inc.
    Inventors: Donald W. Hunter, Frank R. Frola, Karl Bowser
  • Publication number: 20080257158
    Abstract: A self-regenerating bio-gas treatment system that uses the bio-gas instead of atmospheric are as media transport between adsorber and desorber tanks. Each tank includes at least four horizontally stacked and evenly spaced apart, perforated trays each capable being filled with fluidized carbon which migrates downward in the adsorber tank to remove contaminants from the bio-gas. With the bio-gas function as its media transport, the carbon media continuously moves downward over the perforated trays and eventually collected in the bottom of the adsorber tank. The spent carbon is then delivered to the desorber tank. The desorber tank is filled with an inert gas produced by an inert gas generator which causes the carbon media to be regenerated. The inert gas strips the carbon media of contaminates and is then delivered to a ground flare. The carbon media is returned to the adsorber tank and re-used to treat bio-gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Inventor: Lowell Howard
  • Patent number: 7410533
    Abstract: In a humidity controller apparatus for removing moisture from or adding moisture to process subject air which is to be supplied to an indoor space alternately using a first adsorption element (81) and a second adsorption element (82) by switching distribution routes for the process subject air in the casing (10), a suction-side wall (12) of the casing (10) has first and second inlet openings (13, 15) which are provided side by side. The casing (10) has a filter room (44) which is in communication with the first and second inlet openings (13, 15). The filter room (44) contains an air filter (71) for filtering the process subject air. With this structure, maintenance tasks for the air filter (71) are simplified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomohiro Yabu
  • Publication number: 20080134897
    Abstract: An adsorption dryer includes a pressure vessel containing the drying agent in a cylindrical chamber, which is in the form of a cylindrical tubing section. The pressure vessel is axially clamped between a bottom and a top distributor plate. In the cylindrical chamber of the pressure vessel, the drying agent is enclosed between a bottom piston and a top piston. The two pistons are radically sealed against the inside of the wall of the pressure vessel. Tongue and groove connections between the wall of the pressure vessel and the piston can hold the pistons axially. The bottom and top distributor plates are clamped with the pistons by means of threaded bolts. The tongue and groove connection between the piston and the pressure vessel and the bolt connection of the distributor plates with the pistons ensure comparatively low cost of production and assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2005
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Applicant: Zander Aufbereitungstechnik GmbH & Co. KG Im Teelbruch 118
    Inventors: Alexandros Zachos, Gunter Priess
  • Patent number: 7185447
    Abstract: A drying device for drying a gas comprises parallel cooling branches, at least one of which is in its active state at any given time. A gas-coolant heat exchanger arranged in each of the cooling branches has a first channel through which the gas to be dried flows in the active state of this cooling branch and a second channel which, in the active state of this cooling branch, forms an evaporator for a coolant circulating in at least one coolant circuit. The drying device further comprises an ambient-air input line, an ambient-air output line and an ambient-air conveyor. In the passive state of a respective cooling branch, the ambient-air input line and the ambient-air output line are connected, at least for a time, with this cooling branch by the switching device and the ambient-air conveyor conveys ambient air through the first channel of the gas-coolant heat exchanger arranged in this cooling branch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Inventor: Peter Arbeiter
  • Patent number: 7022167
    Abstract: A raised ring encircling a duct at an output port of a desiccant dehumidifier housing prevents its flexible hose from blowing off the duct even when clamped, as dried air blowing pressures through the duct increase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Inventor: Spencer W. Hess
  • Patent number: 6920777
    Abstract: An apparatus, system and method reduce the cool down time of GC ovens by supplying larger volumes of air through oven intake ducts. The system and method provide intake cross-sheets in an oven intake duct to reduce airflow spin, increasing the flow rate of fresh air into the GC oven and reducing the overall cool-down time of the GC oven. In addition, because the improved airflow allows the oven wall temperature to quickly match the oven air temperature, the noise in the temperature signal may be reduced. As a result, the GC oven can reach an equilibrium “ready” state faster. Furthermore, the utilization of the cross-sheets may allow for flexibility in the design of a fast GC oven—specifically in the location and shape of the intake duct—without loss of performance. This flexibility may become increasingly significant as GC ovens continue on the trend of becoming smaller and faster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Sammye Miller
  • Patent number: 6863711
    Abstract: A system for recovering water from the atmosphere includes water sorbent assembly composed of a water adsorbent material and a heat exchanger. The water adsorbent material traps water present within the air drawn through the sorbent assembly. Once the sorbent assembly is fully saturated, exhaust gases generated from a power plant are routed through a heat exchanger in thermal contact with the water adsorbent material to remove water within the sorbent assembly into a condenser, and from the condenser to a water storage container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand
    Inventors: Stephen Tongue, Douglas Snowdon
  • Patent number: 6858068
    Abstract: A device for adsorbing water vapor from a gas stream. The device can be incorporated with an enclosure or garment in such a manner so as to enable water vapor to be adsorbed, thereby decreasing the relative humidity in the micrlimate surrounding the user. The water adsorption device is light-weight, has a high mass and volumetric energy capacity. A desiccant material is included within the water adsorption device to adsorb water vapor and a phase-change material is located in thermal communication with the desiccant to increase the loading capacity of the desiccant and maintain a cool gas stream by extracting the heat of adsorption from the desiccant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Nanopore, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas M. Smith, Kevin H. Roderick
  • Patent number: 6652628
    Abstract: Desiccants employed in dehumidifying moisturized air present within a water-damaged building are themselves dehumidified to liberate collected moisture through the use of ambient air drawn over and about a heat exchanger fired by diesel fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Inventor: Spencer W. Hess
  • Patent number: 6575228
    Abstract: A ventilation and dehumidification system for ventilating fresh air to a conditioned space. The system is comprised of a desiccant wheel for dehumidifying incoming air by exchanging moisture from an inflow current of air with an outflow current of air. The desiccant wheel is both regenerated and defrosted by a regenerative heater which is placed to heat the outflow current of air before the outflow current passes through the desiccant wheel. The system includes blowers in order to motivate the inflow and outflow currents of air. The system may also include heat recovery means such as a heat transfer wheel or a motionless heat transfer core. The blowers can be arranged so as to create an air pressure differential between the inflow chamber and the outflow chamber so that any leakage of air between the two chambers will occur from the inflow chamber to the outflow chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Mississippi State Research and Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Ron S. Ragland, Leisha J. Rotering, Russell A. Straate, Brad A. Terlson
  • Patent number: 6514318
    Abstract: A pressure swing adsorption system for separating components of a gas mixture includes a first adsorbent module, and a second a adsorbent module coupled to the a first adsorbent module. The first adsorbent module includes a first gas inlet for receiving the gas mixture, at least one bed of first adsorbent material in communication with the first gas inlet for adsorbing a gas mixture component from the gas mixture, and a first gas outlet in communication with the first adsorbent beds for receiving a first product gas therefrom. The second adsorbent module includes a second gas inlet coupled to the first gas outlet for receiving the first product gas, at least one second bed of adsorbent material in communication with the second gas inlet for adsorbing a first product gas component from the first product gas, and a second gas outlet in communication with the second adsorbent beds for receiving a second product gas therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: QuestAir Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Bowie G. Keefer
  • Patent number: 6508865
    Abstract: Atmospheric air passes through a droplet separator and then through one or more filtration stages. The first filtration stage is made of bag-filter elements with filter medium made up of synthetic fibres with a density which increases in the direction of air flow. The air is introduced thereinto at its natural temperature when between approximately −20° C. and +5° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Alain Colson
  • Patent number: 6364942
    Abstract: A dehumidification system for dehumidifying a conditioned space. The system is comprised of a motionless desiccant block for dehumidifying air within the conditioned space. The system is configured to operate in one of two modes. In a first dehumidifying mode the system draws air from the conditioned space, dehumidifies the air, and returns the air to the conditioned space. In a second regeneration mode the system draws air from outside the conditioned space, heats the air, passes the heated air through the desiccant to dry the desiccant, and expels the air back outside the conditioned space. The system is configured with pivoting dampers to select air source and air destination for the two modes of the system. The system includes blowers in order to motivate the flow of air and a regenerative heater for use during regeneration mode. By utilizing a motionless desiccant block the system avoids the expense and maintenance of desiccant wheels and wheel motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Felber, Timothy J. Kensok, Timothy J. Smith
  • Patent number: 6364943
    Abstract: A gas treatment system for separating and eliminating gaseous hydrocarbon from treatment-object gas exhausted from, for example, a factory is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Taikisha Ltd.
    Inventor: Teisuke Maekawa
  • Patent number: 6355091
    Abstract: A ventilation and dehumidification system for ventilating fresh air to a conditioned space. The system is comprised of a unitary heat transfer desiccant wheel for dehumidifying incoming air by exchanging moisture from an inflow current of air with an outflow current of air. The unitary heat recovery wheel is able to transfer heat between the two air currents when the wheel is spun at a faster speed. The unitary heat transfer desiccant wheel is both regenerated and defrosted by a regenerative heater which is placed to heat the outflow current of air before the outflow current passes through the unitary heat transfer desiccant wheel. The unitary heat transfer desiccant wheel is spun at a slow speed to accomplish more dehumidification, and at a fast speed to accomplish more heat recovery. The system includes at least two blowers in order to motivate the inflow and outflow currents of air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Felber, Timothy J. Smith, Brad A. Terlson
  • Patent number: 5938523
    Abstract: A device for removing noxious and aromatic matter from a conducted air flow into the interior of a vehicle comprises an air conduction housing with a reactor containing an adsorbent. To attain consistently good adsorption and absorption power with small amounts of adsorbing and absorbing material, the air conduction housing is designed with two separate parallel air flow channels, in each of which there is a reactor in the form of a flat wall. An adsorption air flow acts upon the adsorbent in one air flow channel and a desorption air flow acts upon the adsorbent in the other air flow channel, the direction of air flow into the reactor in the adsorption operation being opposite that in the desorption operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignees: Behr GmbH & Co., Mercedes-Benz Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Noureddine Khelifa, Guenter Abersfelder