Diverse Type Patents (Class 96/132)
  • Patent number: 8226745
    Abstract: Provided herein are new compact and miniature oxygen concentrator apparatus, as well as methods incorporating use of the apparatus. The apparatus and methods utilize selected cycle times, adsorbent specifications and novel conditions to produce a fast Pressure Swing Adsorption (“PSA”) system. The oxygen concentrator apparatus and methods herein have significant utility in the fields of biotechnology, engineering, and medicine. A particularly advantageous use of this invention is as a “snap on” portable oxygen concentrator, where piped compressed air is already available such as in civil and military hospitals, ambulances, air craft cabins, mobile fish tanks, etc. Those embodiments eliminate the need for dedicated moving machinery (blower, compressor, vacuum pump) normally associated with a conventional PSA oxygen concentrator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Lehigh University
    Inventors: Chai Siew-Wah, Shivaji Sircar, Mayuresh V. Kothare
  • Patent number: 8221718
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark William Ackley, Philip A. Barrett
  • Patent number: 8221524
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for achieving low oxygen levels in a natural gas stream without the use of a catalytic system. In one embodiment, the method comprises: membrane treatment for the removal of the bulk of CO2 and oxygen in the natural gas feed and the addition of a PSA system using a carbon molecular sieve adsorbent for the adsorption of residual oxygen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Guild Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael J. Mitariten
  • Publication number: 20120152115
    Abstract: Composite adsorbent beads have a porous and non-adsorbent core comprising at least one inorganic material and a porous and adsorbent shell comprising at least one adsorbent layer comprising a porous adsorbent material on the surface of the core. The core preferably comprises agglomerated inorganic particles having a mean particle size equal to or smaller than the mean particle size of the surrounding agglomerated adsorbent particles. The beads preferably are manufactured by calcining together a non-sintered core and the adsorbent layer. The beads can be used at the outlet end of an adsorption column to improve performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicants: AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC., GLATT SYSTEMTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Almuth Gerds, Norman Reger-Wagner, Wolfgang Hungerbach, Constant Johan Van Lookeren, Roger Whitley, Jeffrey Raymond Hufton, Timothy Christopher Golden
  • Patent number: 8152899
    Abstract: An air filter for purging unwanted substances from air, the air filter comprising: an acid-purging stage, wherein the acid-purging stage comprises an air-permeable skeleton which has an acid-neutralizing substance mounted thereto, wherein the air-permeable skeleton comprises fiberglass fibers and the acid-neutralizing substance comprises sodium bicarbonate, and further wherein the sodium bicarbonate is secured to the fiberglass fibers using an adhesive; and a solvent-purging stage, wherein the solvent-purging stage comprises solvent-purging granules captured between two air-permeable screens, and further wherein the solvent-purging granules comprise activated carbon granules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Inventor: Francois Hauville
  • Patent number: 8133302
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the removal of sulfur contaminants from a hydrocarbon stream comprising: (a) providing a gaseous hydrocarbon stream having sulfur contaminants, but having less than 10 ppmw of said sulfur contaminants as thiophenes, to a bed of adsorbent material, said material having at least one Group VIII metal compound with at least one Group VI, IA, IIA, IB metal compound on an inorganic metal oxide support material, without substantial added hydrogen, to absorb said contaminants; (b) periodically stopping said providing of said gaseous hydrocarbon feed stream of (a); (c) then, regenerating said adsorbent bed by introducing at least one regenerant, in any order, in the place of said stream; and, (d) continuing to alternate (a) and (b) plus (c) as needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Paul S. Northrop, Narasimhan Sundaram
  • Publication number: 20120039757
    Abstract: The present invention provides a filtering device for a food waste treatment apparatus. The filtering device includes a hygroscopic filter unit (240) which is connected to a drying furnace (202) of the food waste treatment apparatus and removes water from gas generated by the treatment of food waste, and a deodorization filter unit (230) which is connected to the hygroscopic filter unit to filter the gas supplied from the hygroscopic filter unit. The hygroscopic filter unit may be integrated with the deodorization filter unit. The present invention can remove water from gas generated from the food waste treatment apparatus and thus prevent pollution of the surroundings of the apparatus and corrosion of the apparatus. Furthermore, by the virtue of the dehumidifying function, the present invention can enhance the efficiency of a deodorization filter and reduce the frequency of replacement of the deodorization filter, thus reducing the maintenance cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: WOONGJIN COWAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jun Young Yoo, Chan Jung Park
  • Patent number: 8038772
    Abstract: A filter cartridge for recovering halogenated hydrocarbons (HKW), such as those occurring in inhalation anesthetics in the medical field, contains a first gas inlet; a container which contains a filter insert; wherein the container is connected over a connection with a cover and with a gas release; wherein the container is united via two sealing rings and a filter plate with the cover; wherein the filter insert contains a zeolite; wherein the filter insert has openings; wherein the filter insert adapts with the base of the filter insert to recesses in the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: ZeoSys GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Fuesting, Peter Muenn, Hartmut Welke, Helmut Stach
  • Patent number: 8016916
    Abstract: There is provided a gas separation apparatus for separating a specified gas from a gas to be treated containing a plurality of gases. The gas separation apparatus includes a plurality of serially-connected separation units that separate the specified gas from other gases by using a column, and a suction unit that controls an inside of the column to a reduced pressure. At least two of the plurality of separation units differ from each other in at least one separation condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Japan Atomic Energy Agency
    Inventors: Yoshinori Ono, Takashi Futatsuki, Tetsuya Abe, Sadamitsu Tanzawa, Toshihisa Hatano
  • Patent number: 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
  • Patent number: 7998257
    Abstract: A canister, for inhibiting a diffusion phenomenon in an adsorbent layer as much as possible and certainly adsorbing fed evaporated fuel to inhibit blow-by of the evaporated fuel into the atmosphere, is constituted by filling a first adsorbent layer of the canister with activated carbon A having a large evaporated fuel adsorption and a weak holding power, and filling a second and a third adsorbent layers with activated carbon B having an intermediate evaporated fuel adsorption and a weak holding power and therefore having characteristics that the residual amount of the low boiling point components in the evaporated fuel after purge is small, whereby after the high temperature standing of the canister, the discharge of the evaporated fuel into the atmosphere can be inhibited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Makino, Ryuji Kosugi, Tomonari Toki
  • Publication number: 20110154989
    Abstract: Hydrogen sulfide is removed from a hydrogen rich gas stream using adsorbents having a low loss of carbon dioxide adsorption capacity upon sulfur loading including high purity silica gels, titania or highly cross-linked, non-chemically reactive resins. The adsorbents may be used to adsorb both carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide, or may be used as a guard bed upstream of a separate carbon dioxide adsorbent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Raymond Hufton, Timothy Christopher Golden, Robin Joyce Maliszewskyj, Edward Landis Weist, JR., Robert Quinn, Erin Marie Sorensen
  • Publication number: 20110146494
    Abstract: A modular and compact adsorbent bed structure is disclosed for use in an adsorption-based gas separation plant. The conventional adsorbent bed in a gas separation plant is replaced with a plurality of modular adsorbent bed units connected to make the adsorbent bed structure. The modular design requires lower fabrication and maintenance costs; is easier to transport; and is easier to load with adsorbent material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventors: Ashwin Desai, Cem E. Celik, Mark William Ackley, James Smolarek
  • Patent number: 7955417
    Abstract: The method for reducing organic chlorine compounds in the cement production facility of the present invention is a method for reducing organic chlorine compounds in cement production facility by which a quantity of organic chlorine compounds contained in cement raw materials is reduced in the cement production facility, which is provided with an organic matter adsorbing step in which an adsorbing powder is supplied into exhaust gas generated on calcination of cement clinker from the cement raw materials, thereby the organic chlorine compounds are adsorbed on the adsorbing powder and an adsorbing-powder removing step in which the adsorbing powder, which has adsorbed the organic chlorine compounds, is collected, thereby removing the adsorbing powder from the exhaust gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Materials Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Ichihara, Eiji Koike, Munenori Ohgoshi, Hisanobu Tanaka, Ichiro Ebato, Kimitoshi Mizutani
  • Publication number: 20110079143
    Abstract: Certain aspects and examples are directed to sorbent devices and methods of using them. In certain embodiments, a sorbent device comprising a body comprising a sampling inlet, a sampling outlet and a cavity between the inlet and the outlet, the cavity comprising a serial arrangement of at least four different sorbent materials is described. In some embodiments, the sorbent materials are arranged from a material with a weakest sorbent strength to a material with a strongest sorbent strength with the weakest sorbent strength material adjacent to the sampling inlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2009
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Inventors: Lee Marotta, Miles Snow
  • Patent number: 7918923
    Abstract: A fluid purifier includes an enclosure provided with an inlet and an outlet, and a plurality of different carbon based purifying media disposed within the enclosure which are capable of removing different contaminants. In a non-limiting embodiment, the purifier includes three carbon-based materials ordered according to a specific sequence. In an aspect of the non-limiting embodiment, the material closer to the purifier inlet may include acid-impregnated carbons, the centrally-located material may include base-impregnated carbons, and the material closer to the outlet may include activated carbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Saes Getters S.p.A.
    Inventors: Chuck Applegarth, Cristian Landoni, Larry Rabellino
  • Patent number: 7892328
    Abstract: A PSA apparatus for high-purity hydrogen gas production is provided which can recover high purity hydrogen gas at a high recovery rate from a reformed gas (hydrogen-containing gas) produced by a reforming process, for example an autothermal reforming process, and containing, as impurity components, at least CO, CO2, N2 and/or Ar, and can contribute to reducing the equipment size, hence reducing the equipment cost. The PSA apparatus for high-purity hydrogen gas B production by removing CO, CO2 and N2 by adsorption from a hydrogen containing gas A, comprises an adsorption tower 1; and an adsorbent bed 2 in the adsorption tower, wherein, on the occasion of regeneration of the adsorbent bed 2, a purge gas C is passed through in the direction opposite to the direction of passage of the hydrogen-containing gas A.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Noboru Nakao, Shinichi Miura, Takeshi Yamashita, Akitoshi Fujisawa
  • Publication number: 20100331584
    Abstract: Recovery of a halogenated hydrocarbon is performed by removing the halogenated hydrocarbon from an accompanying gas and/or temporarily storing the halogenated hydrocarbon on sorption filters, and releasing the halogenated hydrocarbon in targeted manner. The halogenated hydrocarbon serves for removal of an expiration gas using a steam carrier. A flow of the halogenated hydrocarbon takes place through two sorbents, (1) a hydrophobic carbon molecular sieve and (2) a hydrophobic zeolite, in two sorbent beds, spatially following one another. Air mixed with steam or steam has a temperature of the gases between 90° C. and 100° C. at normal pressure. In a filter for carrying out theabove recovery method, two filter beds are disposed to spatially follow one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: ZeoSys GmbH
    Inventor: Helmut Stach
  • Publication number: 20100319536
    Abstract: This invention relates in part to a process for producing high purity acetylene by withdrawing a crude acetylene stream from a storage source, and passing said stream through an adsorbent bed that contains layered adsorption media to selectively remove moisture, solvent and carbon dioxide from the stream, thereby producing the high purity acetylene. The adsorption media is regenerated in-situ. The high purity acetylene product is useful as a source material for depositing carbon and carbon-containing films in semiconductor applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2009
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Inventors: Xuemei Song, Lloyd Anthony Brown, Thomas Thompson
  • Publication number: 20100300288
    Abstract: Guard layers are employed in the adsorbent beds of rapid cycle pressure swing adsorption (RCPSA) devices to protect the adsorbent therein from certain contaminants (e.g. water vapour). Conventional PSA devices typically pack the guard layer with as much guard material as is practical. In RCPSA devices however, the performance of the guard layer can be improved by using a reduced amount of guard material and increasing access to it. Such embodiments are characterized by guard layers with a channel fraction of greater than 50%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventors: Andre Jason Boulet, Amy Chiu, Brian G. Sellars, Andrea C. Gibbs
  • Patent number: 7828877
    Abstract: An inventive adsorptive gas separation process is provided capable of producing a purified methane product gas as a light non-adsorbed product gas as opposed to a heavy desorbed exhaust gas component, from a feed gas mixture comprising at least methane, and carbon dioxide. In an embodiment of the invention, the feed gas mixture may comprise at least about 10% carbon dioxide, and the purified methane product gas may be desirably purified to contain less than about 5000 ppm carbon dioxide. In another embodiment of the invention, the feed gas mixture may comprise at least about 50% carbon dioxide, and the purified methane product gas may be desirably purified to contain less than about 5000 ppm carbon dioxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Xebec Adsorption, Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Sawada, Matthew L. Babicki, Amy Chiu, Andre Boulet, Surajit Roy, Edward J. Rode
  • Patent number: 7819957
    Abstract: An operating room filter system connectable to a surgical body gas evacuator, such as a trocar, that includes a carbon monoxide filter media that removes carbon monoxide from a surgical waste gas. In addition, the inclusion of further filter media upstream of the carbon monoxide filter media inhibits the saturation of the carbon monoxide filter media to thereby provide an extended life to the filtration system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Inventors: Keith Roberts, David Rasch
  • Patent number: 7815721
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a gas filtering-buffering device, which comprises at least one gas filtering unit; a gas inlet, the gas to be processed flows into the at least one gas filtering unit from the gas inlet; and a gas outlet, the gas processed by the at least one gas filtering unit is discharged out of the at least one gas filtering unit via the gas outlet, wherein the at least one gas filtering unit comprising: a gas buffering cavity for performing buffering function for the gas, and a gas filtering part for performing filtering function for the gas. In the present invention, it is not only provided with a gas filtering part which is able to filter the moisture and organic substance in the gas, but also provided with a gas buffering cavity, which integrate the filtering and buffering functions together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignees: Nuctech Company Limited, Tsinghua University
    Inventors: Yaoxin Wang, Yangtian Zhang, Zhizhong Liang, Jin Lin, Zhongxia Zhang, Hua Peng, Yinong Liu
  • 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: 7789949
    Abstract: A getter device including a substrate formed of a first getter material having a composition for gettering a first gas species, and a second getter material contacting an external surface of the substrate and having a composition for gettering a second gas species. The substrate has internal porosity connected to openings at its external surface, and the second getter material covers at least a portion of the external surface of the substrate but is absent from at least part of the internal porosity within the substrate so that the first getter material is exposed within the internal porosity for gettering the first gas species. According to a second aspect, a substrate is formed of a material transparent to radiation, and a film of getter material is deposited on the substrate to be sufficiently thin and/or porous so that the film is also transparent to the radiation transmitted through the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Integrated Sensing Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Ray Sparks, Nader Najafi, Bernard Edward Newman
  • Patent number: 7780764
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to processes and systems for recovering helium from low helium-containing feed gases (i.e., containing less than about 10 volume % helium and more typically, less than about 5% helium by volume). The present invention more particularly relates to processes and systems for recovering helium from low helium-containing feed gases using temperature swing adsorption (TSA) systems and multiple (e.g. two) stage vacuum pressure swing adsorption (VPSA) systems. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the first stage VPSA system is configured to provide regeneration gas for the TSA system, and/or the VPSA second stage tail gas is recycled to the first stage VPSA system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Mohamed Safdar Allie Baksh
  • Patent number: 7780768
    Abstract: A feed gas drying system is described for a PSA or VPSA oxygen concentrator. A membrane dryer is inserted into the feed gas path to the concentrator absorbent beds, such that the moisture in the feed gas is directed to a part of the dryer exposed to the concentrator exhaust, thus achieving efficient operation of the membrane dryer with no loss of concentrator feed gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Inogen, Inc.
    Inventors: Brenton Taylor, Peter Hansen
  • Patent number: 7717985
    Abstract: An adsorption system with a sorbent bed that includes at least two distinct layer with two different sorbent materials, one of the sorbents being a natural zeolite such as clinoptilolite. The clinoptilolite is particularly suited to be positioned at the outlet end of the bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Donaldson Company
    Inventors: Donald H. White, William P. Weber, Brian G. McGill
  • Publication number: 20100101421
    Abstract: A moisture adsorbing device 1 comprising a type Y zeolite, and an NOx adsorbing device 2 being put in place on an exhaust-gas downstream side of the moisture adsorbing device 1, and comprising a zeolite that includes a transition metal ion in the cation exchange sites are included. In NOx adsorbing apparatuses, since the less the moisture content in exhaust gases is the more the NOx adsorbing capability improves, the NO adsorbing capability in low-temperature region is improved especially by means of the combination with a moisture adsorbing device that comprises a type Y zeolite whose Al2O3 proportion is great and whose moisture adsorbing amount is great compared with the other zeolites.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Inventors: Takaaki Kanazawa, Keisuke Sano, Kazuhiro Wakao, Kimikazu Yoda, Takaaki Itou
  • Patent number: 7700501
    Abstract: The invention relates to an adsorptive filtering material with biological and chemical protective function, in particular with protective function with regard to both chemical and biological poisons and noxiants, such as chemical and biological warfare agents, the adsorptive filtering material having a multilayered construction comprising a first outer supporting layer and a second outer supporting layer and an adsorptive layer disposed between the two supporting layers, the adsorptive filtering material further comprising at least one catalytically active component, the first outer supporting layer and/or the second outer supporting layer being provided with the catalytically active component. The adsorptive filtering material is particularly useful in NBC protective materials (for example NBC protective apparel) and also for production of filters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Blucher GmbH
    Inventors: Bertram Böhringer, Stefan Kämper
  • Publication number: 20100037774
    Abstract: A process for the abatement of carbonyl sulphide, carbon disulphide, metal carbonyl compounds, hydrogen sulphide and hydrogen cyanide, ammonia and arsenic and chlorine compounds from a feed gas comprising the steps of contacting the gas in succession with a first purification agent comprising activated carbon, with a second purification agent comprising alumina, with a third purification agent comprising zinc oxide, with a fourth purification agent comprising a zeolitic material and a fifth purification agent comprising zinc oxide and copper oxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Inventors: Poul Erik Højlund Nielsen, Roberta Cenni
  • Patent number: 7658789
    Abstract: An off gas extraction system provides superior results to other systems for cleaning polluted soil. Off gas is extracted, followed by compression and condensation. Compression and condensation produce an off gas that must be further treated to produce pollutant-free exhaust. A regenerative adsorber cleans the influent gas/air by adsorbing residual chemical vapor and concentrates the removed chemical vapor and reprocesses them. Conventional scrubbers are used on the back end of the system to produce a final exhaust as prescribed by environmental regulation. Methods of accomplishing the same are similarly provided, including unique business methods for conforming extraction plans with current environmental regulations and compliance impact generation based on an evolved knowledge base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Inventor: Carol Diane Krumbholz
  • Patent number: 7597745
    Abstract: A porous filter medium forms a filter or liner for extracting hydrocarbons from vapors emitted from a motorized vehicle, device or appliance fuel tank. The filter medium is a polymer network of a foam, nonwoven or collection of particles and has fine pore size and a butane working capacity (W/W %) of 4.0 percent or higher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Foamex Innovations Operating Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey I. Lebowitz, Joseph W. Lovette, Chiu Y. Chan
  • Patent number: 7588686
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and a filter unit for depleting or enriching a liquid or gas with substance(s) comprising i) providing a filter unit comprising at least one convective layer and at least one receiving layer adjacent one another, ii) passing the liquid or gas through the filter so that the main direction of flow is along the layers and the main flow of liquid gas is in the convective layer, allowing the substance(s) to: a) be transferred from a convective layer to a receiving layer, and b) be retained or otherwise modified or transferred within a receiving layer, or c) be provided by the receiving layer, and d) be transferred from the receiving layer to the fluid in the convective layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: University of Copenhagen
    Inventor: Marina B. Jensen
  • Patent number: 7585358
    Abstract: A recirculation filter includes a first layer and a second layer. The first layer has a first side and a second side and is configured to trap particles that are of a first size. The second layer has a first portion adjacent to the first side of the first layer and a second portion adjacent the second side of the first layer. The second layer is configured to trap particles that are of a second size. The second size of particles trapped by the second layer is greater than the first size of particles trapped by the first layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Aung Lwin Oo, Ishak Sugeng Iskandar, Asmin Buang, Chakravarty Barish, Kiam Siang Tan
  • Patent number: 7572319
    Abstract: An analyte pre-concentrator for gas chromatography is disclosed generally comprising a tube packed with an adsorbent, wherein the tube may serve as the liner of a chromatographic injector, as an adsorbent trap coupled to a chromatographic column, and/or as an adsorbent trap coupled to a headspace sampler. Preferably, a heating device allows the tube to be heated. In a preferred embodiment, the analyte pre-concentrator further comprises a column isolating accessory so that a chromatographic column can be temporarily isolated from substances flowing through the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: PerkinElmer LAS, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Tipler, Gary Campbell, Mark Collins
  • Patent number: 7556671
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a method for purifying carbon dioxide. Moisture, sulfur species and other impurities are removed from the carbon dioxide by a series of steps which include adsorption means and reaction means. All the steps are preferably carried out in a single vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Ravi Jain, YuDong Chen
  • Publication number: 20090142234
    Abstract: Multi-Element Structured Arrays (MESAs) present an effective approach to utilizing high pressure drop media that previously were cost prohibitive for use in a traditional filter element. The operational velocity is significantly slowed by the incorporation of numerous elements; thus, eliminating the Darcian flow resistances of the media. The MESAs are readily fitted with two or more replaceable “filter elements” that are able to employ commercially available media, microfibrous entrapped catalyst/sorbent media, unique multilayers and more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Inventors: Bruce Tatarchuk, Ryan A. Sothen
  • Patent number: 7527670
    Abstract: This invention comprises an adsorption process for the removal of at least N2O from a feed gas stream that also contains nitrogen and possibly CO2 and water. In the process the feed stream is passed over adsorbents to remove impurities such as CO2 and water, then over an additional adsorbent having a high N2O/N2 separation factor. In a preferred mode the invention is an air prepurification process for the removal of impurities from air prior to cryogenic separation of air. An apparatus for operating the process is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark William Ackley, Himanshu Saxena, Gregory William Henzler, Jeffert John Nowobilski
  • Patent number: 7524358
    Abstract: Trace amounts of carbon monoxide and optionally hydrogen are removed from gaseous feed streams by passing the feed stream through a carbon monoxide adsorbent (33) prior to passing it through a supported metal catalyst (34). The invention saves significant capital and operational costs over existing processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Himanshu Saxena, Mark William Ackley, John Fredric Billingham, Philip Alexander Barrett
  • Publication number: 20090090243
    Abstract: A canister, for inhibiting a diffusion phenomenon in an adsorbent layer as much as possible and certainly adsorbing fed evaporated fuel to inhibit blow-by of the evaporated fuel into the atmosphere, is constituted by filling a first adsorbent layer of the canister with activated carbon A having a large evaporated fuel adsorption and a weak holding power, and filling a second and a third adsorbent layers with activated carbon B having an intermediate evaporated fuel adsorption and a weak holding power and therefore having characteristics that the residual amount of the low boiling point components in the evaporated fuel after purge is small, whereby after the high temperature standing of the canister, the discharge of the evaporated fuel into the atmosphere can be inhibited.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Applicant: Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuhiko MAKINO, Ryuji KOSUGI, Tomonari TOKI
  • Patent number: 7507278
    Abstract: A canister, for inhibiting a diffusion phenomenon in an adsorbent layer as much as possible and certainly adsorbing fed evaporated fuel to inhibit blow-by of the evaporated fuel into the atmosphere, is constituted by filling a first adsorbent layer of the canister with activated carbon A having a large evaporated fuel adsorption and a weak holding power, and filling a second and a third adsorbent layers with activated carbon B having an intermediate evaporated fuel adsorption and a weak holding power and therefore having characteristics that the residual amount of the low boiling point components in the evaporated fuel after purge is small, whereby after the high temperature standing of the canister, the discharge of the evaporated fuel into the atmosphere can be inhibited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Makino, Ryuji Kosugi, Tomonari Toki
  • Patent number: 7501012
    Abstract: A microfibrous matrix with embedded supporting particulates/fibers and chemically reactive materials is provided as a filtration system for the removal of contaminants and other harmful agents from liquid and gaseous streams. Such materials may include chemically reactive materials as high surface area carbons, zeolites, silicas, aluminas, inorganic metal oxides, polymer resins, ZnO, ZnO/Carbon, Pt/?-Al2O3, PtCo/?-Al2O3, ZnO/SiO2 and various other catalysts, sorbents or reactants. The invention may be used to protect the intolerant anodes and cathodes of fuel cells from damaging H2S while simultaneously aiding the selective conversion of CO to CO2 in fuel streams predominated by hydrogen, to provide a highly efficient gas and/or liquid separation and purification methodology for gas masks, building filtration systems, and/or as polishing media located downstream of traditional packed bed filtration systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Auburn University
    Inventors: Bruce J. Tatarchuk, Bong Kyu Chang, Yong Lu, Laiyuan Chen, Eric Luna, Don Cahela
  • 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: 7468096
    Abstract: The present invention concerns the apparatus for producing oxygen, comprising: a first zeolite bed connected to an external air pressurizing device and a depressurizing device for increasing or decreasing an internal pressure thereof; a second zeolite bed connected to the first zeolite bed in parallel and connected to the external air pressurizing device and the depressurizing device for decreasing or increasing an internal pressure thereof, the first and second zeolite beds being arranged such that the internal pressure of the second zeolite bed is decreased when the internal pressure of the first zeolite bed is increased, and the internal pressure of the second zeolite bed is increased when the internal pressure of the first zeolite bed is decreased; and a carbon molecular sieve bed communicated in fluid with the first and second zeolite beds for receiving and adsorbing oxygen produced in the first and second zeolite beds and discharging the produced oxygen to the outside and discharging selectively some of
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignees: Yonsei University, Daesung Industrial Gases Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chang-Ha Lee
  • Patent number: 7468084
    Abstract: A device for conditioning recirculating air in a cleanroom has at least one fan having a housing. A return air conduit is provided through which a first portion of recirculating air is supplied from the cleanroom to the at least one fan. A second portion of the recirculating air is directly supplied to the at least one fan by bypassing the at least one return air conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: M+W Zander Facility Engineering GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut Bauer, Manfred Renz
  • Patent number: 7462224
    Abstract: The invention relates to an array of shaped activated carbon articles having channels extending through said array of shaped activated carbon articles, wherein said array of shaped activated carbon articles includes at least two shaped monolithic activated carbon articles containing channels, which channels of the at least two shaped monolithic activated carbon articles are connected so as to communicate with each other and the free cross-sectional areas formed by the channel cross-sections thereof have different values in said first and second shaped monolithic activated carbon articles. The invention also relates to a tank venting system and a motor vehicle containing an array of shaped activated carbon articles of the invention. Finally, the invention relates to a process for the production of said array of shaped activated carbon articles of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Helsa-Automotive GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Thomas Wolff
  • Patent number: 7459013
    Abstract: A carbon nanotube filter, a use for a carbon nanotube filter and a method of forming a carbon nanotube filter. The method including (a) providing a carbon source and a carbon nanotube catalyst; (b) growing carbon nanotubes by reacting the carbon source with the nanotube catalyst; (c) forming chemically active carbon nanotubes by forming a chemically active layer on the carbon nanotubes or forming chemically reactive groups on sidewalls of the carbon nanotubes; and (d) placing the chemically active nanotubes in a filter housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Steven J. Holmes, Mark C. Hakey, David V. Horak, James G. Ryan
  • Publication number: 20080271606
    Abstract: A carbon nanotube filter, a use for a carbon nanotube filter and a method of forming a carbon nanotube filter. The method including (a) providing a carbon source and a carbon nanotube catalyst; (b) growing carbon nanotubes by reacting the carbon source with the nanotube catalyst; (c) forming chemically active carbon nanotubes by forming a chemically active layer on the carbon nanotubes or forming chemically reactive groups on sidewalls of the carbon nanotubes; and (d) placing the chemically active nanotubes in a filter housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2004
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven J. Holmes, Mark C. Hakey, David V. Horak, James G. Ryan
  • Publication number: 20080242538
    Abstract: An insert for sports gear and footwear has a compliant casing formed of fabric sheeting that incorporates regions of fused or otherwise integral regions of activated carbon. A desiccant such as silica gel in the form of spheroidal beads or other granules is loosely enclosed inside of the casing. The activated carbon has an affinity for odor-causing constituents such as organic compounds, and extracts airborne odor-causing constituents as air enters the casing. Inside the casing, the desiccant extracts airborne water vapor. The two-stage removal of odor-causing constituents and water vapor rapidly and effectively extracts moisture and odors. The silica gel and activated carbon are porous and have high surface areas available for adsorption, whereby the insert is adapted to maintain moisture and odors at low levels during long-term storage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: Scott M. Grieve, Daniel M. Schlueter, James Hill, Craig Dow