With Control Means Responsive To Sensed Condition Patents (Class 96/156)
  • Patent number: 11225979
    Abstract: The operational performance of pumps can be improved when pumping liquids with at least 10 vol. % gas volume fraction (GVF) as found in many oil fields, wherein wells produce mixtures of gas and oil in varying proportions. An increase in the GVF that would have led to slugging in the flow, degrading the performance of pump in multiphase flow loop, and would have necessitated a check valve at each fluid stream to avoid flow reversal, can be overcome by a multiphase flow loop including a solenoid valve on the gas stream, which maintains the same intake gas pressure as that of oil/liquid pressure during the experiments. By testing pumps at more accurate GVFs, pump performance can be better assessed, resulting in reduced power consumption and increased efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
    Inventors: Mehaboob Basha, Syed M. Shaahid, Luai M. Alhems
  • Patent number: 10710015
    Abstract: An oil mist separator including a case having an inlet portion and an outlet portion of a blowby gas and forming a passage from the inlet portion to the outlet portion, and an oil separator unit disposed in the passage. The oil separator unit includes a first plate part having a narrowing portion reducing an area of the passage and a second plate part having a hit portion hit by the blowby gas that has passed through the narrowing portion. The narrowing portion is configured by a notch formed from a predetermined end surface of the first plate part, and an inner wall of the case includes a fitting portion in which an end portion having the predetermined end surface of the first plate part is fitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazushi Tada
  • Patent number: 9133431
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems for the concentration of cells from a cell suspension into unprocessed tissue, such as adipose tissue. Also disclosed herein are systems for optimizing hydration of tissue and cell enriched grafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: BIMINI TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Alvin Peterson, Lucas Fornace
  • Patent number: 9074442
    Abstract: A method of servicing a wellbore in a subterranean formation comprising placing a foamed wellbore servicing fluid into a wellbore; flowing the foamed wellbore servicing fluid back to the wellbore surface; and contacting the foamed wellbore servicing fluid with an immobilized defoaming agent structure comprising an inert substrate and a defoamer. A system comprising a foamed wellbore servicing fluid in contact with a de-foaming structure, wherein the de-foaming structure comprises a defoamer covalently bonded to an inert substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth W. Pober
  • Publication number: 20150083411
    Abstract: Automated systems and methods of extracting gas from groundwater aquifers are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Charles Benjamin Barnes Oborn, Gary Farnsworth Player
  • Publication number: 20150013536
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods and devices for removing gas from pipelines, including offshore and/or onshore pipelines at pipeline locations where gases have a tendency to accumulate. In an aspect the pipeline contains a hydrocarbon-containing liquid containing undissolved and/or non-condensable gases which tend to form corrosive gases that adversely affect pipeline performance and/or integrity. A pump specially positioned with respect to pump inlet and pump outlet in pipeline sections are used to increase fluid velocity in pipeline sections where gas can accumulate. Optionally, a valve is employed to facilitate fluid recirculation upon detection of a gas bubble that causes a change in a pressure drop in the pipeline from the expected hydrostatic pressure drop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: Yuri FAIRUZOV, Victor FAIRUZOV
  • Publication number: 20150000517
    Abstract: A solution treatment apparatus connected to a supply nozzle that supplies a treatment solution to a substrate, includes: a supply pipeline connecting a treatment solution storage container and the supply nozzle; a filter apparatus provided in the supply pipeline; a pump on a secondary side of the filter apparatus; a circulation pipeline connecting a discharge side of the pump and an intake side of the filter apparatus; a supply control valve provided in the supply pipeline on a secondary side of the pump; a circulation control valve provided in the circulation pipeline; and a control unit, wherein the control unit opens the circulation control valve and drives the pump when supply of the treatment solution from the supply nozzle to the substrate is stopped by closing the supply control valve, to thereby circulate the treatment solution between the supply pipeline having the filter apparatus and the circulation pipeline.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Kousuke Yoshihara, Katsunori Ichino, Toshinobu Furusho, Takashi Sasa, Katsuhiro Tsuchiya, Yuichi Terashita, Hirofumi Takeguchi
  • Patent number: 8894755
    Abstract: A gas-liquid separator includes a housing which encloses a separation chamber, an inlet port for feeding the multi-phase flow into the separation chamber, a liquid outlet port for discharging the liquid dominated flow from the separation chamber and a gas outlet port provided at a position above both the inlet port and the liquid outlet port for discharging the gas dominated flow from the separation chamber. Both the inlet port and the liquid outlet port are positioned adjacent to an elongated lower bottom wall of the housing and define a flow direction into the and out of the separation chamber approximately aligned along the bottom wall. The separation chamber extends above the bottom wall in between the inlet port and the liquid outlet port. The liquid outlet port is provided with a gas seal to prevent entrainment of free gas from the separation chamber into the liquid outlet port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Statoil Petroleum AS
    Inventors: Tor Bruun, Torbjørn Fiveland, Bjørnar Werswick
  • Patent number: 8882885
    Abstract: A system to purge dissolved gases selectively from liquids can include a first contactor having two first contactor inlets and two first contactor outlets. The first contactor can receive liquid from a liquid source at a first inlet of the first contactor and an inert gas source at a second inlet of the first contactor, the inert gas can purge a first portion of gas from the liquid source. The first portion of purged gas exits the first contactor at a first outlet of the first contactor. The second contactor can receive input from the second outlet of the first contactor and the inert gas, the inert gas purges a second portion of the gas from the liquid source. The second portion of purged gas can exit the second contactor at a first outlet of the second contactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: MKS Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Ulrich Brammer, Johannes Seiwert, Christiane Gottschalk
  • Patent number: 8852330
    Abstract: A separator tank (1) for separating oil and gas from water comprises an essentially cylindrical vertical tank with at least one separator tank unit. The separator tank unit has an inlet for fluid (2) and a first inner annular wall (5) a first conical portion (9) and a first central opening (8). A second inner annular wall (15) is positioned at a distance from the first inner annular wall and has a second conical portion (19) and a second central opening (18). A first flow opening (10) is provided at an end of said first inner annular wall (5) and a second flow opening (20) is provided at an end of second inner annular wall (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Schlumberger Norge AS
    Inventors: Jan Thore Naess, Finn Beckmann
  • Publication number: 20140260963
    Abstract: A system comprises: a filter for removing at least one of a contaminant or gas bubbles from a liquid photoresist to provide a filtered photoresist at an outlet of the filter. The filter has a filter vent. A trap has an inlet coupled to receive the filtered photoresist from the filter, for removing a remaining contaminant or gas bubbles from the filtered photoresist. One or more valves and one or more conduits are connected to the filter and the trap. The one or more valves are operable to reverse a direction of flow of the filtered photoresist, so that the photoresist flows from the inlet of the trap, through the outlet of the filter, to the filter vent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: Chung-Cheng WANG
  • Publication number: 20140241967
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a carbon dioxide capturing apparatus includes a first absorbing unit, a regeneration unit, a water washing capturing unit, and a pre-amine capturing unit. The first absorbing unit brings a gas containing carbon dioxide into contact with an absorbing liquid containing an amine compound, and discharges the absorbing liquid which has absorbed carbon dioxide as a rich liquid. The regeneration unit releases a carbon dioxide gas from the rich liquid sent from the first absorbing unit. The water washing capturing unit captures the amine compound entrained in a decarbonated treatment gas sent from the first absorbing unit. The pre-amine capturing unit receives part of the rich liquid from the first absorbing unit, and traps the amine compound entrained in the decarbonated treatment gas by bringing the decarbonated treatment gas from the first absorbing unit into countercurrent contact with the part of the rich liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Koshito FUJITA, Masatoshi HODOTSUKA
  • Publication number: 20140216255
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for maximizing energy available for sale from a power plant during a peak demand period. An acid gas removal unit can include a lean solvent storage tank, a rich solvent storage tank, a stripper, and an acid gas compressor, which are fluidly coupled to an absorber to allow formation of rich solvent from lean solvent in the absorber. Stripper and compressor duties can be reduced or eliminated as a function of an increased power production. Rich solvent produced during the peak demand period can be stored in the rich solvent storage tank, and the lean solvent storage tank can store an amount of lean solvent sufficient to produce the rich solvent during the peak demand period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Inventor: Dennis W. Johnson
  • Patent number: 8758604
    Abstract: Apparatus and method are disclosed for integrated waste foam/gas evacuation from an electrocoagulation unit. The electrocoagulation unit has a primary electrocoagulation reaction chamber with processing electrodes maintained therein. A flotation chamber is integrated above the reaction chamber and a vacuum hood is affixed over the flotation chamber. A vacuum nozzle device is connectable with a vacuum source and received through the hood and in the flotation chamber, a height adjustable foam intake provided at one end of the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Rockwater Resource, LLC
    Inventor: Reginald A. Wiemers
  • Publication number: 20140144327
    Abstract: This disclosure is related to an apparatus for automatically separating spent drilling materials from air drilling operations. The apparatus includes a reservoir, a spent materials inlet, and a drill cuttings outlet. The apparatus also includes either a float system or a load cell system to actuate the drill cuttings outlet when the spent drilling materials reach a predetermined amount in the reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Inventor: Calvin White
  • Patent number: 8728219
    Abstract: A feed gas conditioner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Gaumer Company Inc.
    Inventors: Jack L. McClanahan, Craig S. Tiras
  • Publication number: 20140083290
    Abstract: Provided is a de-aeration device that de-aerates hydraulic fluid in a hydraulic system (10). The hydraulic fluid is controllably supplied to the de-aeration device (28) in response to one or more sensed parameters. Consequently, the de-aeration device can de-aerate fluid at strategic times during operation of the hydraulic system to prevent a decrease in system performance and prevent cavitation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Inventor: Eric William Larson
  • Patent number: 8641895
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for recovering oil from oil-containing sorbents, such as drill cuttings obtained from drilling with an oil-based mud. The method includes peptizing the substrate with an acid reagent and direct thermal desorption with combustion effluent gases at high temperature under turbulent mixing conditions. Another method disclosed includes upgrading the oil in the substrate to improve one or more of the properties of the recovered oil relative to the oil in the substrate, such as, lower aromatics content, lower sulfur content, lower functional group content, higher saturates, higher viscosity, higher viscosity index, and any combination thereof. The apparatus provides for efficient recovery of oil from the substrate with a short residence time, high throughput, low residual oil content in the treated solids and/or high percentage of oil recovery. The apparatus may be transported to a remote location for on-site treatment of drill cuttings or other oil-containing solids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Racional Energy & Environment Company
    Inventor: Ramon Perez-Cordova
  • Publication number: 20140026754
    Abstract: A foam removing device, containing: a liquid container; a foam-containing liquid supply pipe; an air bubble outlet pipe; a foam-removed liquid outlet pipe; an inner rotating cylinder: a liquid supply opening; and an air bubble outlet, wherein the inner rotating cylinder contains a foam-removed liquid guide hole formed therein, where the foam-removed liquid guide hole is configured to guide the foam-removed liquid reached to an area adjacent to a perimeter surface of the inner rotating cylinder by the centrifugal separation into a foam-removed liquid accommodating space between an outer surface of the inner rotating cylinder and an inner surface of the liquid container, and a foam-removed liquid outlet opening is provided in the foam-removed liquid accommodating space of the liquid container, where the foam-removed liquid outlet opening is configured to connect the foam-removed liquid outlet pipe with the liquid container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Satoshi NAKAZAWA, Shuji HANAI
  • Patent number: 8632686
    Abstract: An apparatus and method to remove water content in organic solvents characterized in that it comprises treatment tank 10 to which organic solvent is introduced, solvent inlet section 1 that introduces the organic solvent, solvent outlet section 2 from which the treated organic solvent is discharged, inert gas inlet section 3 from which inert gas is introduced, treatment gas outlet section 4 from which gas is discharged, cooling treatment tank 20 in which the treatment gas is cooled and the gas and liquid are separated, treatment gas inlet section 5 from which the treatment gas is introduced, recovered liquid outlet section 6 from which the separated liquid organic solvent is discharged, and waste gas outlet section 7 from which the separated gas is discharged, and that the water content in the organic solvent is removed by having the inert gas flow over the entire liquid surface of the organic solvent inside treatment tank 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Société Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procédés Georges Claude
    Inventors: Terumasa Koura, Takashi Kameoka
  • Publication number: 20140013947
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for the treatment of a resin to remove gas from the resin are provided. The apparatus can be operated continuously so that multiple amounts of resin can be consecutively degassed until the overall desired amount of resin has been provided. Thus, batch treatment at one time of the entire desired amount of resin for degassing can be avoided. The gases removed from the resin can be readily captured such that e.g., further treatment can occur.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Xiaoming Liu
  • Patent number: 8574350
    Abstract: A water separation system and method for treating multiphase hydrocarbon production streams is disclosed. The system may be employed to separate gas from the production stream, and then separate the liquid stream into its oil component and water component. A gas/liquid separator may be employed to separate a multiphase hydrocarbon production stream into a gas stream and a liquid stream. A liquid cyclone separator, positioned downstream from the gas/liquid separator, may be employed to divide the liquid stream into an oil dominated portion and a water dominated portion. The system may be used on land or on offshore platforms in locations where it is desirable to separate oil and water from hydrocarbon streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Vasudevan Sampath, Ivan Mantilla, Carlos Avila, Gene Kouba, John Strader, John D. Marrelli
  • Patent number: 8568515
    Abstract: A water separation system and method for treating multiphase hydrocarbon production streams is disclosed. The system may be employed to separate gas from the production stream, and then separate the liquid stream into its oil component and water component. A gas/liquid separator may be employed to separate a multiphase hydrocarbon production stream into a gas stream and a liquid stream. A liquid cyclone separator, positioned downstream from the gas/liquid separator, may be employed to divide the liquid stream into an oil dominated portion and a water dominated portion. The system may be used on land or on offshore platforms in locations where it is desirable to separate oil and water from hydrocarbon streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Ivan Mantilla, Carlos Avila, Gene Kouba, John Strader, Vasudevan Sampath, John D. Marrelli
  • Patent number: 8496806
    Abstract: Provided is a dehydrator that requires no excessively large apparatus structure and achieves cost-saving while maintaining suction efficiency at a desired level by use of suction means. A dehydrator 100 for separating water from a target liquid 13 includes at least two water separation membrane units 1a and 1b which are provided in series in a flow direction of the target liquid 13. The water separation membrane unit 1a on an upstream side out of the water separation membrane units 1a and 1b is connected to suction means 7 for sucking a gas phase containing water through one condenser 4, and the one condenser 4 condenses water in the gas phase and thereby separates the water. The gas phase sucked by the suction means 7 from the one condenser 4 is transferred to at least one downstream condenser 8 provided downstream of the one condenser 4, and the downstream condenser 8 condenses water in the gas phase and thereby separates the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsuhiro Yukumoto, Hiroyuki Osora, Yoshio Seiki, Haruaki Hirayama, Yukio Tanaka, Hideo Kashiwagi, Katsufumi Inoue
  • Publication number: 20130180402
    Abstract: A deaerator includes a case defining a vortex chamber and a fluid inlet for allowing a mixture of lubricating liquid and air to pass through the case into the vortex chamber. An air outlet allows air flow out of the deaerator, and a liquid outlet allows lubricating liquid flow out of the deaerator. A porous diffuser is positioned proximate the liquid outlet for slowing the flow of lubricating liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2012
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keith E. Short, Timothy A. Johnson, Michael R. Blewett
  • Patent number: 8449821
    Abstract: A system includes a controller and an apparatus that includes a housing having a volume and an inlet. The inlet can receive a fluid that includes a gas and a liquid. The apparatus also includes a baffle that partitions the volume into a first portion and a second portion. The baffle extends from a base of the housing. The first portion can receive the liquid and separate the liquid into a first part and a second part. The second portion can receive the second part of the liquid from the first portion. The controller regulates an amount of the second part of the liquid in the second portion such that a level of the second part of the liquid is higher than a height that the baffle extends from the base of the housing, thus enabling the use of the extra surge capacity in the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Sanjay Kumar Sharma, Ravi Nath
  • Patent number: 8366802
    Abstract: The cyclone is for separating gas from a gas laden liquid stream by pressure reduction of the liquid stream. The cyclone has a cylindrical casing, having a tangentially directed inlet arrangement for the gas laden liquid stream, a lower outlet line for liquid and an upper outlet line for vapor and gas. The inlet arrangement is connected to a common supply source (BLPR), and has at least two insertion pipes. The flow in at least one of these insertion pipes is controlled by at least one valve that depends upon an order of flow from the common supply source to maintain a flow velocity above a critical value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Metso Paper Sweden AB
    Inventor: Krister Olsson
  • Patent number: 8333828
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to degassing and cleaning of hydrocarbon fuel. Degassing of hydrocarbon fuel is a way to remove the dissolved gases which aid in the oxidation of the fuel as well as the removal of sulfur, water and other particulate matter through radial cavitation. This process allows for both improvements in efficiency as well as decrease in emissions of standard fuel and the re-refining of fuels which have broken down. University of Idaho did a study on the breakdown of diesel fuel and found out that 26% of the efficiency is lost by the 28th day after fuel processing. In one embodiment, the fuel is subjected to fluid-shear forces and cavitation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Donnelly Labs LLC
    Inventor: Joseph L. Donnelly
  • Publication number: 20120312754
    Abstract: System and method for control of a subsea located cyclone for separating oil from water. The cyclone is arranged to receive water with oil contents through an inlet line, the oil is separated from the water and delivered through an oil outlet to an oil outlet line, and the water is delivered through a water outlet to a water outlet line. The system is comprising a control valve in the oil outlet or oil outlet line from the cyclone, a first differential pressure transducer arranged between the inlet line and the oil outlet from the cyclone, and a second differential pressure transducer arranged between the inlet line and the water outlet from the cyclone. The system is distinguished in that a sensor for measuring oil contents is arranged in the water outlet or water outlet line, and via a control means said sensor is operatively connected to the control valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: Aker Subsea AS
    Inventors: Klas Goran Eriksson, Geir Inge Olsen, Steinar Oyulvstad
  • Publication number: 20120152121
    Abstract: A water separation system and method for treating multiphase hydrocarbon production streams is disclosed. The system may be employed to separate gas from the production stream, and then separate the liquid stream into its oil component and water component. A gas/liquid separator may be employed to separate a multiphase hydrocarbon production stream into a gas stream and a liquid stream. A liquid cyclone separator, positioned downstream from the gas/liquid separator, may be employed to divide the liquid stream into an oil dominated portion and a water dominated portion. The system may be used on land or on offshore platforms in locations where it is desirable to separate oil and water from hydrocarbon streams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Vasudevan Sampath, Ivan Mantilla, Carlos Avila, Gene Kouba, John Strader, John D. Marrelli
  • Publication number: 20120152122
    Abstract: A water separation system and method for treating multiphase hydrocarbon production streams is disclosed. The system may be employed to separate gas from the production stream, and then separate the liquid stream into its oil component and water component. A gas/liquid separator may be employed to separate a multiphase hydrocarbon production stream into a gas stream and a liquid stream. A liquid cyclone separator, positioned downstream from the gas/liquid separator, may be employed to divide the liquid stream into an oil dominated portion and a water dominated portion. The system may be used on land or on offshore platforms in locations where it is desirable to separate oil and water from hydrocarbon streams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Ivan Mantilla, Carols Avila, Gene Kouba, John Strader, Vasudevan Sampath, John D. Marelli
  • Publication number: 20120132079
    Abstract: A separator tank (1) for separating oil and gas from water comprises an essentially cylindrical vertical tank with at least one separator tank unit. The separator tank unit has an inlet for fluid (2) and a first inner annular wall (5) a first conical portion (9) and a first central opening (8). A second inner annular wall (15) is positioned at a distance from the first inner annular wall and has a second conical portion (19) and a second central opening (18). A first flow opening (10) is provided at an end of said first inner annular wall (5) and a second flow opening (20) is provided at an end of second inner annular wall (15).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Inventors: Jan Thore Naess, Finn Beckmann
  • Patent number: 8182680
    Abstract: A method for controlling operation of a pump unit, where the pump unit includes a primary piston pump having a primary piston and a secondary piston pump having a secondary piston. The primary piston pump is fluidically connected with the secondary piston pump. The primary piston pump includes an inlet valve and an outlet valve, and the pump unit operates periodically according to a pump cycle. The method includes determining a fluid pressure of fluid dispensed by the pump unit, and performing a closed loop control of a position of the primary piston in dependence on the fluid pressure of the fluid dispensed by the pump unit during a first time interval of the pump cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip Herzog, Konstantin Choikhet, Klaus Witt, Herbert Anderer
  • Publication number: 20120067219
    Abstract: Disclosed is a measurement device with which it is possible to quickly measure the carbon dioxide content of an absorbent solution circulating through a carbon dioxide recovery system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Takashi Ogawa, Masatoshi Hodotsuka, Yukio Oohashi, Manabu Sakurai, Susumu Yamanaka, Naomi Tsuchiya, Haruhiko Hirata
  • Patent number: 8128740
    Abstract: The invention is targeted at the process of separating gas, such as air, from a liquid path. Specifically, the invention provides a means to remove gas from a dynamic liquid path, manage the removed gas and liquid path. The invention provides a means to remove gas from a dynamic liquid path using the buoyant property of gas in a less buoyant liquid, having ingress and egress ports for liquid and gas flow, and separate points of egress for liquid and trapped gas and integral liquid channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Organ Recovery Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: David Walter Wright, Jeffrey C. Garland
  • Publication number: 20120006200
    Abstract: A gas purification system including a hydrogen sulfide (H2S) absorber, a carbon dioxide (CO2) absorber, a flash tank, and a H2S concentrator. The gas purification system may also include a gas path though the H2S absorber prior to the CO2 absorber, a first solvent path sequentially through the CO2 absorber, the H2S absorber, and the H2S concentrator, and a second solvent path sequentially through the CO2 absorber, the flash tank, and the H2S concentrator, wherein the first and second solvent paths flow a common solvent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2010
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Anindra Mazumdar, Judith Pauline Oppenheim
  • Patent number: 8021542
    Abstract: A water recovery method and apparatus which uses a desiccant, such as lithium chloride, to recover water vapor from the engine exhaust of a vehicle. The apparatus uses liquid-contactor to transfer water vapor from the vehicle exhaust to the liquid desiccant. The desiccant is then transferred to a reverse osmosis system which separates the liquid desiccant into potable water and a concentrated desiccant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Richard Eugene Kirts
  • Publication number: 20110185894
    Abstract: The cyclone is for separating gas from a gas laden liquid stream by pressure reduction of the liquid stream. The cyclone has a cylindrical casing, having a tangentially directed inlet arrangement for the gas laden liquid stream, a lower outlet line for liquid and an upper outlet line for vapor and gas. The inlet arrangement is connected to a common supply source (BLPR), and has at least two insertion pipes. The flow in at least one of these insertion pipes is controlled by at least one valve that depends upon an order of flow from the common supply source to maintain a flow velocity above a critical value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2008
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Inventor: Krister Olsson
  • Publication number: 20110168017
    Abstract: Method and device for degassing a liquid of a substantially closed liquid circulation system at a working pressure. The method comprises passing at least a partial flow of the liquid through a restriction into a chamber in which a degassing pressure is maintained, the degassing pressure being higher than atmospheric pressure and lower than the working pressure, separating gas withdrawn from the partial flow of liquid from the partial flow, removing the gas from the chamber, and pumping the degassed partial flow of the liquid back into the substantially closed circulation system. The restriction comprises a nozzle, and the step of passing at least the partial flow of the liquid through the restriction into the chamber comprises spraying at least the partial flow of the liquid through the nozzle into the chamber for obtaining a jet and/or mist of the liquid in the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: SPIRO ENTERPRISES B.V.
    Inventor: A. Lamers
  • Patent number: 7967892
    Abstract: A water deaerating system and method are provided. The first end of an open-ended conduit is placed beneath the surface of a body of oxygen-rich water. The conduit extends into a housing and where the second end of the conduit resides at a location in the housing that is above the surface of the body of oxygen-rich water. A vacuum is applied to a spatial region defined within the housing above the location of the second end of the conduit. The oxygen-rich water is pumped through the conduit and exits the second end of the conduit to enter the spatial region of the housing. The oxygen-rich water descends through the housing due to gravity. The oxygen-rich water's descension is interrupted and the vacuum operates to remove oxygen from the oxygen-rich water so-descending to generate oxygen-depleted water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Sea Knight Corporation
    Inventors: Claude R. Thompson, William M. Lechler, Neil F. Marshall
  • Patent number: 7964168
    Abstract: The CO2 contained in combustion fumes is captured by carrying out at least the following steps in combination: a) a fuel is burned, producing combustion fumes; b) the fumes are placed in contact with an absorbent solution in order to produce CO2-poor fumes and a CO2-laden solution; c) the CO2-laden solution is regenerated in a thermal regeneration column (RE) in order to produce a regenerated absorbent solution and a CO2-rich gaseous effluent (5); and d) the CO2-rich gaseous effluent is cooled in order to obtain a CO2-enriched gaseous fraction which is evacuated, and a liquid fraction, which is heated by heat exchanged with the combustion fumes and then introduced at the head of regeneration column (RE) as reflux (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignees: IFP, ALSTOM Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Thorsten Burkhardt, Pierre-Antoine Bouillon, Jean-Claude Magdelenat
  • Patent number: 7963423
    Abstract: A fuel dispensing unit for refueling vehicles, comprising a fuel line having a fuel inlet, a gas exit and a fuel exit. A sensor is arranged to measure the amount of gas in the fuel flowing through the fuel line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Dresser, Inc.
    Inventors: Linda Sassner, Bengt Larsson
  • Publication number: 20110139010
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an oil separator for separating oil and/or oil mist from a gas. An optimum separation performance is hereby achieved with normal volume flow of the gas (A) but also in the case of an increased volume flow (A) or a blockage of the oil separator, the ventilation for example of a crankcase is ensured and observance of a maximum pressure loss is ensured. For this purpose, two oil separation elements (10a to 10d and 10e to 10h) are disposed one behind the other in the volume flow (A), the spacing of which from each other is variable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2006
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Inventors: Thorsten Sattler-Laegel, Christian Schuerle, Dieter Grafl
  • Patent number: 7938958
    Abstract: A de-aeration system for a fuel system, the fuel system having a housing for containing a fuel filter element, a fuel inlet and a fuel outlet is disclosed. The de-aeration system includes a de-aeration valve having a valve inlet in a lower face of the valve for connection to the housing for purging the air trapped in the housing. The de-aeration valve also includes a valve outlet in an upper face of the valve and a ball. The ball is configured to lift between the lower face and the upper face in response to an air pressure differential acting on the ball. This opens the valve to purge air trapped in the housing. The ball is further configured to close the valve by sealing against the valve outlet in the upper face in response to a pressure differential across the ball created by unfiltered fuel entering the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Parker Hannifin (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Phil Core, James Ashton, Steven Wilson
  • Patent number: 7892330
    Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes: a head which ejects droplets of liquid in accordance with an image signal; a sub tank which is integrated with the head; a liquid holding chamber which is arranged in the sub tank and has an intake port and an outflow port, the liquid being supplied to the liquid holding chamber through the intake port and supplied to the head through the outflow port; an air connection channel which is arranged in the sub tank and has a suction port through which air is sucked; a dividing plate which is provided in the sub tank and divides the liquid holding chamber from the air connection channel; a gas/liquid separating member which is disposed in a portion of the dividing plate and allows only air to pass between the liquid holding chamber and the air connection channel; a supply connection device which is capable of connecting with the intake port and the suction port; a liquid holding tank which is connected to the supply connection device and capable of communicating with the liqui
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Naoki Kusunoki
  • Patent number: 7883567
    Abstract: The deaerating and dissolving apparatus or the deaerating and dissolving method includes: a pipe which is configured to feed a liquid; a flow rate control section which is provided to a middle portion of the pipe and is configured to feed the liquid at a predetermined flow rate to a downstream side; a cavity forming section which is provided to a middle portion of the pipe downstream of the flow rate control section and is configured to produce a stationary cavity which is in contact with the liquid, and a pressurization or depressurization section which pressurizes or depressurizes the inside of the cavity, wherein the liquid is deaerated when the inside of the cavity is depressurized with the pressurization or depressurization section, and a gas is dissolved into the liquid when the inside of the cavity is pressurized with the gas supplied through the pressurization or depressurization section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: National University Corporation Okayama University
    Inventor: Seiichi Washio
  • Publication number: 20110011267
    Abstract: An air pollution control apparatus 1 includes: an absorber 2 that serves as a passage for flue gas; an absorbent spraying unit 5 that sprays an absorbent into the absorber 2; and a reservoir tank 3 that reserves therein the absorbent. The air pollution control apparatus 1 brings the flue gas into gas-liquid contact with the absorbent to process the flue gas, while sending the flue gas in the absorber 2. The air pollution control apparatus 1 also collects and reserves therein the absorbent after processing the flue gas in the reservoir tank 3. The air pollution control apparatus 1 also includes a defoaming agent diffusing unit 6 that diffuses a defoaming agent over foams of the absorbent in the reservoir tank 3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Seiji Kagawa, Yoshito Tanaka, Jun Hashimoto, Hiroshi Kawane
  • Patent number: 7842121
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for providing aqueous stream purification services. The system includes at least one separation unit. Each separation unit may include a mechanical vapor recompression separator, a steam stripper, and a secondary recovery heat exchanger. The system for wastewater purification may receive water from a waste water storage, purify the water, and return the purified water to a purified water storage. The system may include a controller. The controller may include an operating conditions module configured to interpret at least one operating condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Capital Corporation
    Inventors: Larry D. Sanderson, James W. Schleiffarth, Leslie D. Merrill, Bradford M. Rohwer
  • Patent number: 7837768
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for purifying a waste fluid stream. The system includes a recirculation pump having an inlet for a recirculation stream and an outlet to expel a pressurized stream. The system includes a compressor having an inlet for an evaporation stream and an outlet for a pressurized evaporation stream. A primary heat exchanger has inlets for the pressurized stream and the pressurized evaporation stream, an internal surface area for heat transfer from the evaporation stream to the pressurized stream, and outlets for a cooled product stream and a heated pressurized stream. The heated pressurized stream is formed by heating the pressurized stream and the cooled product stream is formed by cooling the evaporation stream. The system includes an evaporation unit having an inlet for the heated pressurized stream and outlets for an evaporation stream and the recycled liquid bottoms stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Capital Corporation as Administrative Agent
    Inventors: Larry D. Sanderson, James W. Schleiffarth, Leslie D. Merrill, Bradford M. Rohwer
  • Patent number: 7811358
    Abstract: The present invention provides a deaerator and a deaerating method which enable the continuous deaeration of a liquid at a low cost. That is, with respect to a pipe which supplies a fluid by a supply means, a rip-out portion which rips out a fluid from an inner peripheral surface of the pipe is provided at a predetermined position in the inside of the pipe, and the fluid is supplied at a predetermined flow rate by a flow control means which adjusts the flow rate of the liquid which is supplied through the pipe so as to form a cavity on a downstream side of the rip-out portion. A through hole which communicates with the cavity is formed in the pipe, and deaeration of the liquid is performed by exhausting gases in the inside of the cavity by suction means such as a vacuum pump via the through hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: National University Corporation Okayama University
    Inventor: Seiichi Washio