Gas And Liquid Contact Apparatus For Gas Separation Including Means To Regenerate, Purify, Or Separate Contact Liquid Patents (Class 96/234)
  • Patent number: 8080226
    Abstract: Methods and systems for the destruction of one or more PFCs in a gas stream are provided. The gas stream can come from semiconductor processing, for example. The PFCs in the gas stream are reacted with steam in the presence of a catalyst to fragment the PFCs into other compounds that are readily removed from the gas stream. The catalyst comprises gallium, and can additionally comprise zirconium oxide. The gas stream can also be pre-treated prior to reacting the PFCs with steam to remove substances that could be deleterious to the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: TecHarmonic, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Hertzler, Vivian W. Hui
  • Publication number: 20110296987
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and a system for separating oxygen from air. A compressible air stream that contains oxygen is mixed in a substantially co-current flow with an incompressible fluid stream comprising an incompressible fluid in which oxygen is capable of being preferentially absorbed. Rotational velocity is imparted to the mixed streams, separating an incompressible fluid in which at least a portion of the oxygen is absorbed from other compressible components of the air stream. The compressible air stream may be provided at a stream velocity having a Mach number of at least 0.1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: SHELL OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Frederik Arnold BUHRMAN, Jingyu CUI, Mahendra Ladharam JOSHI, Stanley Nemec MILAM, Scott Lee WELLINGTON
  • Publication number: 20110296869
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and a system for separating gas components of a combustion gas. A compressible feed stream derived from a combustion gas that contains at least one target compressible component and at least one non-target compressible component is mixed in a substantially co-current flow with an incompressible fluid stream comprising an incompressible fluid in which the target component(s) is/are capable of being preferentially absorbed. Rotational velocity is imparted to the mixed streams, separating an incompressible fluid in which at least a portion of the target component is absorbed from a compressible product stream containing the non-target compressible component(s). The compressible feed stream may be provided at a stream velocity having a Mach number of at least 0.1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: SHELL OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Frederik Arnold BUHRMAN, Jingyu CUI, Mahendra Ladharam JOSHI, Stanley Nemec MILAM, Scott Lee WELLINGTON
  • Publication number: 20110296986
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and a system for separating hydrogen or helium from gas having a mixture of gaseous components. A compressible feed stream that contains at least one target compressible component and hydrogen or helium is mixed in a substantially co-current flow with an incompressible fluid stream comprising an incompressible fluid in which the target component(s) is/are capable of being preferentially absorbed. Rotational velocity is imparted to the mixed streams, separating an incompressible fluid in which at least a portion of the target component is absorbed from a compressible product stream containing the hydrogen or helium. The compressible feed stream may be provided at a stream velocity having a Mach number of at least 0.1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: SHELL OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Frederik Arnold BUHRMAN, Jingyu CUI, Mahendra Ladharam JOSHI, Stanley Nemec MILAM, Scott Lee WELLINGTON
  • Patent number: 8052847
    Abstract: A system and method for removing water from a liquid desiccant such as a glycol used to dry cooled air in order to restore the desiccant to a purity up to around 97% in a closed continuous flow process. Liquid desiccant can be sprayed into cooled air in a conditioner where it gains moisture. The wet or gained desiccant can be optionally preheated in an economizing heat exchanger and then routed into a concentrator. Desiccant pure to around 97% can be removed from the concentrator, passed through an economizing heat exchanger to provide the preheating and returned to the conditioner holding area. The concentrator can be heated by steam or other means such as natural gas to boil the wet desiccant causing mixed vapor to enter a vertical distillation column where most of the glycol condenses out on the column packing or plates and returns to the concentrator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Niagara Blower Company
    Inventors: Matthew Koban, Phillip Rowland, Michael Harvey, Peter Demakos
  • Patent number: 8038779
    Abstract: A method of assembling a gas removal system for an integrated gasification combined cycle is provided. The method includes coupling a first rich solvent tank in flow communication with the integrated gasification combined cycle to store a first emissions-rich solvent discharged from the integrated gasification combined cycle and coupling a first stripper in flow communication with the first rich solvent tank to facilitate removing gases from the first emissions-rich solvent. The method also includes coupling an absorber in flow communication with the first stripper to receive gases from the first stripper and create a second emissions-rich solvent and coupling a second rich solvent tank in flow communication with the absorber to store the second emissions-rich solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Terry Hughes
  • Publication number: 20110247494
    Abstract: A method for sorbing a gas using an ionic liquid to sorb a vapor having an electric multi-pole moment. The ionic liquid comprises an anion and a cation. The electric multi-pole moment may be an electric dipole moment and/or an electric quadru-pole moment. The sorption may be an adsorption or an absorption. The ionic liquid may be a liquid that substantially contains only anions and cations, while not containing other components, such as water. Alternatively, a solution containing the ionic liquid and a solvent or further compound, such as water, may be used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: VTU Holding GmbH.
    Inventors: Paul DINNAGE, Roland KALB
  • Publication number: 20110245575
    Abstract: A method for purifying a paraffin from a source material containing a paraffin having 2 to 6 carbon atoms and an olefin having 2 to 6 carbon atoms includes a first step of bringing the source material into contact with a silver ion-containing solution (absorption liquid) at a predetermined temperature and pressure in an absorption column 1 and recovering a non-absorbed gas not absorbed by the absorption liquid while the olefin in the source material is preferentially absorbed by the absorption liquid, and a second step of desorbing and discharging a gas component from the absorption liquid having undergone the first step at a predetermined temperature and pressure in a desorption column 2. The first step and the second step are performed continuously in parallel while the absorption liquid is circulated between the first step and the second step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: SUMITOMO SEIKA CHEMICALS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Nago, Shinichi Tai, Junichi Kawakami, Hiroyuki Hata, Shigeru Morimoto
  • Patent number: 8029753
    Abstract: An ammonia contact scrubber system (10) for removing ammonia from a fuel stream for a fuel cell (16) includes a contact scrubber (12) having a scrubber fuel inlet (14) and a scrubber fuel exhaust (20) for directing flow of the fuel stream through support material (24) within the scrubber (12) and into the fuel cell (16). An acid circulating loop (26) has an acid holding tank (28) holding a liquid acid solution (30), an acid feed line (32) secured in fluid communication between the holding tank (28) and a scrubber acid inlet (36) of the contact scrubber (12), an acid return (38) for returning the acid solution from the scrubber (12) to the acid holding tank (28), and an acid circulation pump (42) for pumping the acid solution (30) through the acid circulating loop (26) and through the support material (24) within the scrubber (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Inventor: Richard D Breault
  • Publication number: 20110232494
    Abstract: A gas scrubbing apparatus including at least two modules, each module including at least one process vessel for a gas scrubbing process, each process vessel being selected from an absorber, a regenerator, a scrubber, a reboiler, a heat exchanger or a combination thereof. Each process vessel has top wall, a base wall, and at least three sidewalls formed from a cementitous material. Each process vessel has inlet and outlet ports for fluid entering and leaving the process vessel when in use, formed within at least one of the top wall, base wall, or sidewall of each process vessel. The sidewalls of each process vessel define a polygon shaped cross-section, and at least one side wall of a first process vessel in a first module can be connected or abutted to at least one side wall of a second process vessel in a second module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: PROCESS GROUP PTY. LTD.
    Inventors: Craig DUGAN, Trina Margaret DREHER
  • Patent number: 8016919
    Abstract: A solution contained in a regeneration tower is supplied to a filtering unit. The filter unit filters out solid particles contained in the solution. A washing unit washes out with backwash water solid particles filtered out by the filter unit. An evaporating unit receives the backwash water containing the solid particles, and heats received backwash water thereby obtaining solid-particles concentrated backwash water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaki Iijima, Takashi Kamijo
  • Patent number: 8007575
    Abstract: An air filtering apparatus for electrolyzing water to generate electrolytic water containing active oxygen species and filtering air by using the electrolytic water, including an air filtering unit having a gas-liquid contact member to which the electrolytic water containing the active oxygen species is circulatively supplied so as to be brought into contact with air, an electrical conductivity detecting unit for detecting the electrical conductivity of water in the air filtering unit, and a water exchange judging unit for judging on the basis of the detected electrical conductivity whether water exchange is necessary or not.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro Dobashi
  • Patent number: 8007570
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for capturing CO2 using a solvent are provided. A gas that includes carbon dioxide may be mixed with a solvent that is operable to absorb at least a portion of the carbon dioxide from the gas. The solvent containing the carbon dioxide may be provided to at least one removal system operable to remove at least a portion of the liquid contained in the solvent. The solvent output by the removal system may be stripped to extract at least a portion of the carbon dioxide from the solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Chandrashekhar G. Sonwane, Samuel D. Draper
  • Publication number: 20110203174
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for extracting CO2 from air, and for delivering that extracted CO2 to controlled environments, such as a greenhouse, or to open-air agricultural fields. The present disclosure allows the delivery of CO2 to be made at times of highest demand. The present disclosure contemplates several geometric configurations to enhance the CO2 extraction process. The present disclosure also provides a method of delivering the CO2 to the controlled environment in response to demand, such as for example, by using a secondary sorbent as a buffer to store extracted CO2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Inventor: Klaus S. Lackner
  • Publication number: 20110203310
    Abstract: A raw material recovery method for recovering a raw material of an organic metallic compound, which has the property of being stable toward a specific refrigerant without being decomposed thereby, from exhaust gas discharged from a treatment container in which a metallic thin film is formed on the surface of an object to be treated by using source gas obtained by vaporizing the raw material is characterized by being provided with a solidification step for solidifying the unreacted source gas by cooling the exhaust gas by bringing the exhaust gas into contact with the refrigerant and reprecipitating the raw material, and a recovery step for separating and recovering the raw material reprecipitated in the solidification step from the refrigerant. To provide a method for controlling an exhaust gas flow rate so that flow of gas in a processing chamber becomes uniform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Atsushi Gomi, Yasushi Mizusawa, Tatsuo Hatano, Masamichi Hara, Kaoru Yamamoto, Chiaki Yasumuro
  • Patent number: 7988767
    Abstract: Contemplated configurations and methods for elemental sulfur removal from various gases, and especially well acid gases employ a hydrocarbon solvent that dissolves the sulfur to form a rich solvent and that is then regenerated by hydrotreating. Thus, sulfur is removed from the rich solvent as H2S that may then be processed (e.g., in Claus unit or absorption unit) while the regenerated solvent is routed back to the well and associated production pipes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Fluor Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Curt Graham, Robert Henderson, Richard B. Nielsen, Michael Debest
  • Patent number: 7981196
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for absorbing and recovering carbon dioxide from flue gas using ammonia water as an absorbent, including an absorption column and a circulation cooler connected to the absorption column so that a high-temperature absorbent is recovered from the absorption column, cooled to a preset temperature, and then supplied again into the absorption column, in order to dissipate absorptive heat generated when carbon dioxide is absorbed from the flue gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignees: POSCO, Research Institute of Industrial Science & Technology
    Inventors: Ki Joon Kang, Young Bong Lee, Kwang Hyun Kim, Je Young Kim
  • Publication number: 20110168019
    Abstract: A gas processing facility for the separation of fluids is provided. The facility includes co-current contactors placed in series. Each co-current contactor receives a gas stream that includes a non-absorbing gas such as a hydrocarbon gas or nitrogen. The gas stream also includes an acid gas or other contaminant. Each co-current contactor also receives a liquid solvent stream. The co-current contactors then each release a sweetened gas stream and a gas-treating solution. In one processing direction, the contactors are arranged to deliver progressively sweetened gas streams. In the opposite processing direction, the contactors are arranged to deliver progressively richer gas-treating solutions. In one aspect, the facility includes at least a first co-current contactor, a second co-current contactor and a final co-current contactor. However, any number of at least two co-current separators may be employed. Methods and processes for separating a gas stream are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Inventors: Paul Scott Northrop, Edward J. Grave, John T. Cullinane
  • Patent number: 7976621
    Abstract: A power plant may include a combustion apparatus (11) producing an exhaust gas (12), an absorber (20) receiving the exhaust gas (12), the absorber (20) including a desiccant and producing a first stream of desiccant solution containing water and a first concentration of desiccant, and an apparatus (29, 70, 94) for dehydrating the first stream of desiccant solution while maintaining the water in a liquid phase. The apparatus (29, 70, 94) may include a heat exchanger (71, 110), a crystallizing heat exchanger (74, 96), a separator (78, 98) and a flash tank (112) for dehydrating the desiccant solution while maintaining water in a liquid phase and subsequently recovering water from the solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred W. Shoemaker, Michael S. Briesch, Philip G. Deen, Terrence B. Sullivan
  • Patent number: 7972423
    Abstract: An apparatus for stripping and strengthening and subsequent condensing and final strengthening of an easily vaporizable component of a preferably aqueous mixture permits the heat necessary for stripping and strengthening to be transferred through a common heat transmission body (3), where the heat is derived from condensing the vapor generated by stripping and strengthening, which vapor via compression using a heat pump (26) has obtained the increase in boiling point necessary for condensation. The apparatus is comprised of two sections, namely a stripping and strengthening section or first section (1) and a condensing and final strengthening section or second section (2), said sections being joined around a common heat transmission body (3) forming a dividing wall, each section being further defined by a horizontal partially cylindrical housing (13) and an end wall at each end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Holm Christensen Biosystemer APS
    Inventor: Erik Jensen
  • Patent number: 7967900
    Abstract: In an air filtering apparatus for generating electrolytic water, infiltrating the electrolytic water into a gas-liquid contact member, and blowing air to the gas-liquid contact member by an air blowing fan, thereby filtering air, including a drain pipe for discharging the electrolytic water and a drain tank for receiving and stocking the electrolytic water discharged from the drain pipe which are mounted in a housing, the drain tank has a vertical tank body and disposed so as to be taken in and out through the front surface of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoichi Uchida, Hiroaki Usui, Nobuhiro Ogura, Toru Arakawa
  • Publication number: 20110146489
    Abstract: A process for removal of CO2 from a gas stream, comprising the steps of: (a) contacting in a CO2 absorption stage a gas stream comprising CO2 with a first absorption liquid comprising ammonia; (b) passing used absorption liquid resulting from step (a) to regeneration; (c) regenerating the first absorption liquid by releasing CO2 from used absorption liquid and returning the first absorption liquid to step (a); (d) supplying CO2 released from step (c) to a second absorption liquid; (e) contacting in a contaminant absorption stage the gas stream leaving step (a) with the second absorption liquid; and (f) withdrawing a portion of used absorption liquid resulting from step (e) and passing said liquid portion to regeneration in step (c), before recycling used absorption liquid resulting from step (e) as second absorption liquid to step (d).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Sanjay Kumar Dube, Peter Ulrich Koss, David James Muraskin
  • Patent number: 7964025
    Abstract: Systems and techniques for the reclamation of carbon dioxide from boiler flue gas as well as for the liquefaction of the reclaimed carbon dioxide for well injection oil recovery are provided. A system can include a boiler, tower scrubber, carbon dioxide absorber, regenerator, reboiler, rectifying tower, condenser and mixing tank. Mixed gases of carbon dioxide and nitrogen for well injection may be reclaimed from boiler flue gas when steam is produced resulting in an increase of crude oil output increase while lessening environmental impact. Related systems, apparatus, methods, and articles are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Liaohe Petroleum Exploration Bureau, CNPC
    Inventors: Fengshan Zhang, Yuanwen Gao
  • Patent number: 7959721
    Abstract: A modular scrubbing system is presented. The scrubber system comprises multiple modules that allow a gas flow to turn-around return back through scrubbing modules. Contemplated modules include inlets, outlets, turn-arounds, and scrubbing modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Inventors: Richard S. Crews, John S. Crews
  • Patent number: 7938889
    Abstract: A CO2 recovery system includes an absorption tower that removes CO2 from exhaust gas, a regeneration tower that regenerates a rich solution, and a separation drum that condensates steam in CO2 gas released from the regeneration tower and separates water. The CO2 recovery system further includes a filtration membrane apparatus that filters solid content remaining in the lean solution using a filter, and cleans the filter using condensed water as cleaning water and again return the condensed water into the system. The CO2-absorbing solution attached to the filter is collected and the filter is cleaned without diluting the CO2-absorbing solution upon replacement of the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaki Iijima
  • Publication number: 20110100216
    Abstract: A power generation plant (112), a method, and a CO2 capture system (122) for removing carbon dioxide (104) from a flue gas stream (106) are disclosed. As shown in FIG. 2, a CO2 capture system (122), comprises an absorber vessel (202), a water wash vessel (210), and a stripper (214). The CO2 capture system (122) can be configured to introduce both a lean ionic ammonia solution (204) from a regeneration system (124) and a flue gas stream (106) from a cooling system (120) and to provide a rich ionic ammonia solution (206) to a regeneration system (124), wherein the introduction of the lean ionic ammonia solution (204) to the flue gas stream (106) produces a flue gas substantially devoid CO2 (224). The water wash vessel (210) can be configured to receive the flue gas substantially devoid CO2 (224) and produce ammoniated water (212) by introducing water (218) to the flue gas substantially devoid CO2 (224).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD
    Inventors: Frederic Z. KOZAK, Arlyn V. PETIG, Vikram SHABDE
  • Patent number: 7935323
    Abstract: The invention describes a system and method for hydrogen sulfide decontamination of natural gas using a scavenging reagent. The system uses a scavenging reagent within two reactors wherein the consumption of scavenging reagent is optimized by the control of flow of clean and partially-consumed scavenging reagent within and between the two reactors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Cody Liners Ltd.
    Inventors: Marc Schulz, Leonard McKeary
  • Patent number: 7918926
    Abstract: A CO2 recovery system includes an absorption tower and a regeneration tower. CO2 rich solution is produced in the absorption tower by absorbing CO2 from CO2-containing gas. The CO2 rich solution is conveyed to the regeneration tower where lean solution is produced from the rich solution by removing CO2. A regeneration heater heats lean solution that accumulates near a bottom portion of the regeneration tower with saturated steam thereby producing steam condensate from the saturated steam. A steam-condensate heat exchanger heats the rich solution conveyed from the absorption tower to the regeneration tower with the steam condensate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Masaki Iijima, Takashi Kamijo, Takahito Yonekawa, Tomio Mimura, Yasuyuki Yagi
  • Publication number: 20110061532
    Abstract: A method and system for transporting and processing sour gas are provided. The method includes collecting a sour gas at a collection location, which has an associated sweetening device, and delivering a solvent to the sweetening device from a regeneration device remote therefrom. The sour gas is treated at the collection location with the solvent in the associated sweetening device to form a sweetened gas and a sour gas-rich solvent. The sweetened gas is transported from the sweetening device to a gas processing plant remote therefrom, and the sour gas-rich solvent from the sweetening device is delivered to the regeneration device for regeneration therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Inventors: David W. Kalinowski, James E. Chitwood, James O. Y. Ong, Rui Song
  • Publication number: 20110060173
    Abstract: Methods and assemblies for improving the reaction kinetics of, conserving reactants utilized in, and/or producing a more pure reaction product of, liquid-phase reactions that involve volatile reactants and products are provided. The methods and assemblies herein provide for a feed of reaction liquid to two or more absorption zones, wherein the temperature and/or feed rate of the liquid is independently adjusted prior to introduction into at least one of the two or more absorption zones. More particularly, the temperature and feed rate of the liquid as delivered to each absorption zone can be adjusted independently to optimize the absorption of at least a portion of any gaseous reactants and byproducts from the gaseous product stream and/or to optimize reaction zone conditions. Reaction kinetics may thus be improved, or substantially maintained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicant: DOW GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventor: John D. Myers
  • Patent number: 7901488
    Abstract: Carbon dioxide and other acid gases are removed from gaseous streams using aqueous absorption and stripping processes. By replacing the conventional stripper used to regenerate the aqueous solvent and capture the acid gas with a matrix stripping configuration, less energy is consumed. The matrix stripping configuration uses two or more reboiled strippers at different pressures. The rich feed from the absorption equipment is split among the strippers, and partially regenerated solvent from the highest pressure stripper flows to the middle of sequentially lower pressure strippers in a “matrix” pattern. By selecting certain parameters of the matrix stripping configuration such that the total energy required by the strippers to achieve a desired percentage of acid gas removal from the gaseous stream is minimized, further energy savings can be realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Gary T. Rochelle, Babatunde A. Oyenekan
  • Patent number: 7901487
    Abstract: An acid gas such as carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, or a mixture thereof is removed from gaseous streams using aqueous absorption and stripping processes. By replacing the conventional stripper used to regenerate the aqueous solvent and capture the acid gas with a multipressure stripper (51) that combines acid gas compression with stripping, less energy is consumed. The multipressure stripper is a multistage flash (52, 55, 59) in which the total vapor flow from each stage is compressed and fed to the bottom of the previous flash stage at a higher pressure. In this process, the heat in the water content of the vapor exiting each stage is utilized at a higher pressure in the previous stage. The described stripping process generates the acid gas at a higher pressure without operating the stripper at a higher temperature, thereby reducing the energy consumption of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventor: Gary T. Rochelle
  • Patent number: 7901493
    Abstract: An air filtering apparatus for electrolyzing water to generate electrolytic water containing active oxygen species and filtering air by using the electrolytic water, including an air filtering unit having a gas-liquid contact member to which the electrolytic water containing the active oxygen species is circulatively supplied so as to be brought into contact with air, an electrical conductivity detecting unit for detecting the electrical conductivity of water in the air filtering unit, and a water exchange judging unit for judging on the basis of the detected electrical conductivity whether water exchange is necessary or not.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro Dobashi
  • Patent number: 7896947
    Abstract: An air filtering apparatus including an electrolytic bath for electrolyzing water to generate electrolytic water, a gas-liquid contact member in which the electrolytic water generated in the electrolytic bath infiltrates and an air blowing fan for blowing air to the gas-liquid contact member is equipped with a water circulation passage through which the electrolytic water is supplied/circulated to the gas-liquid contact member, the electrolytic water passing through the gas-liquid contact member is received and stocked by a water receiving tray and the stocked electrolytic water is pumped up and supplied to the gas-liquid contact member, a drain pipe branched from the water circulation passage, a water stop valve for opening/closing the drain pipe, and a drain receiver for receiving and stocking the electrolytic water discharged from the drain pipe when the water stop valve is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuo Takahashi, Yoichi Uchida, Hiroaki Usui, Toshio Fukushima, Toru Arakawa, Hiroyuki Kobayashi, Tsuyoshi Rakuma, Tetsuya Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7892335
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for the transfer of organic compounds from a first liquid phase to a gaseous phase and from said gaseous phase to a second liquid phase, comprising a packed stripping column (2), a housing (5), a shell (1), a means for introducing the gaseous phase at the bottom end of said packed stripping column (2), a distributor (4) for distributing said first liquid phase onto said packed stripping column (2), causing said first liquid phase to trickle down said packed stripping column (2) counter-currently to the flow of the gas phase and causing the gas stream leaving said packed stripping column (2) at its top end to have a higher content of organic compounds than the gaseous phase introduced at the bottom end of said packed stripping column (2), one or more ducts (9/26) allowing the gaseous phase leaving said packed stripping column (2) to flow downwards to the bottom end of a packed scrubber (3) enclosed in a housing (25), a distributor (12) on top of said packed scrubber (3) ca
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: N.V. DeSmet Ballestra Engineering S.A.
    Inventors: Marc Kellens, Anthony Harper
  • Patent number: 7892325
    Abstract: A process for controlled conversion of at least two gases which form ignitable and/or explosive mixtures with one another, in which the gases are absorbed either separately or together in a carrier liquid which is inert in relation to the gases; the carrier liquid with the absorbed gases is fed to a degasser which comprises a closed degassing vessel (2) which comprises at least one feed line for the gas-laden carrier liquid (1) and at least one gas outlet (3) at its upper end, and also one or more drains for the carrier liquid below the feed line for the carrier liquid and in each case connected to a drain pipe (4), and in such a manner that the liquid flow rate in the degassing vessel (2) is less than 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Christ Water Technology AG
    Inventors: Thomas Menzel, Grigorios Kolios, Monique Bissen, Jürgen Johann
  • Patent number: 7883569
    Abstract: Produced natural gas containing carbon dioxide is dehydrated and chilled to liquefy the carbon dioxide and then fractionated to produce a waste stream of liquid carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide. Natural gas liquids may be first separated and removed before fractionation. After fractionation, the waste stream is pressurized and transmitted to a remote injection well for injection either for disposal of the waste stream and preferably to urge hydrocarbons toward the producing well. A hydrocarbon stream proceeds from fractionation to a methanol absorber system which removes carbon dioxide gas. The hydrocarbon stream is thereafter separated into at least hydrocarbon gas, nitrogen and helium. Some of the nitrogen is reintroduced into a fractionation tower to enhance the recovery of hydrocarbons. A methanol recovery system is provided to recover and reuse the methanol. The hydrocarbons are sold as natural gas; and the helium is recovered and sold. Excess nitrogen is vented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Inventor: Donald Leo Stinson
  • Patent number: 7862788
    Abstract: A chilled ammonia based CO2 capture system and method is provided. A promoter is used to help accelerate certain capture reactions that occur substantially coincident to and/or as a result of contacting a chilled ammonia based ionic solution with a gas stream that contains CO2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Eli Gal, Otto Morten Bade, Indira Jayaweera, Gopala Krishnan
  • Patent number: 7850768
    Abstract: An air filtering apparatus for electrolyzing water in an electrolytic bath by applying a voltage between electrodes in the electrolytic bath, supplying the generated electrolytic water to a gas-liquid contact member and blowing air to the gas-liquid contact member to filter the air, including a scale removing unit for inverting the polarities of the electrodes to remove scale deposited on the electrodes, and a judging unit for judging on the basis of a current value flowing between the electrodes whether the scale is removed from the surface of the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro Dobashi
  • Publication number: 20100307344
    Abstract: A CO2 recovering apparatus includes a CO2 absorber that brings flue gas containing CO2 and O2 into contact with CO2 absorbing liquid to reduce CO2 in the flue gas; and a regenerator that reduces CO2 in CO2 absorbing liquid (rich solvent) that absorbed CO2 in the CO2 absorber to regenerate the CO2 absorbing liquid, so that the regenerated CO2 absorbing liquid (lean solvent) having CO2 reduced in the regenerator is reused in the CO2 absorber. A lower liquid reservoir is located at the bottom of the CO2 absorber, and an air-bubble gathering member is arranged therein to gather air bubbles included in the absorbing liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Applicants: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD., THE KANSAI ELECTRIC POWER CO., INC.
    Inventors: Masaki Iijima, Masahiko Tatsumi, Yasuyuki Yagi, Kouki Ogura
  • Publication number: 20100288126
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for separating off CO2 from a gas stream, wherein in a second step the CO2 is removed from the CO2-absorbing agent by means of phase separation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: Universitat Dortmund
    Inventors: David Agar, Yudy Halim Tan, Zhang Xiaohui
  • Patent number: 7833317
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system and a method for control of emission of volatile gases (VOC) from a holding tank (80) for crude oil during unloading, loading and transport/holding of the oil, such as in an oil tank on board an oil tanker, in which a blanket gas is used to regulate pressure and amount of combustible gas and to prevent ingress of oxygen into the mentioned holding tank for crude oil. The system comprises a recovery device (50) for recovery of hydrocarbon gas from the holding tank (80) for crude oil, a storage tank (18) for liquid hydrocarbons under pressure, supplied from the recovery device (50), and that liquid hydrocarbons are fed to an evaporation device (70) set up to convert liquid hydrocarbons to gas form, for use as blanket gas in a holding tank (80) for crude oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Inventor: Inge Sverre Lund Nilsen
  • Publication number: 20100282081
    Abstract: An absorbent liquid according to the present invention is an absorbent liquid for absorbing CO2 or H2S or both from gas, in which the absorbent liquid includes an alkanolamine as a first compound component, and a second component including a nitrogen-containing compound having in a molecule thereof two members or more selected from a primary nitrogen, a secondary nitrogen, and a tertiary nitrogen or a nitrogen-containing compound having in a molecule thereof all of primary, secondary, and tertiary nitrogens. The absorbent liquid has an excellent absorption capacity performance and an excellent absorption reaction heat performance, as compared to an aqueous solution containing solely an alkanolamine and a nitrogen-containing compound in the same concentration in terms of wt %, and can recover CO2 or H2S or both from gas with smaller energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Inventors: Ryuji YOSHIYAMA, Masazumi Tanoura, Noriko Watari, Shuuji Fujii, Yukihiko Inoue, Mitsuru Sakano, Tarou Ichihara, Masaki Iijima, Tomio Mimura, Yasuyuki Yagi, Kouki Ogura
  • Publication number: 20100224070
    Abstract: The vessel apparatus processes exhaust gases and effluent seawater on a ship. Structurally, the vessel apparatus includes a vertically oriented vessel. Further, a scrubber is positioned within the vessel to remove pollutants from the exhaust gases with seawater. Also, an effluent seawater processing component is positioned in the vessel above the scrubber. Between the processing component and the scrubber is a liquid barrier that prevents effluent seawater from entering the top of the scrubber while allowing exhaust gases to pass from the scrubber to the top of the vessel. For operation of the apparatus, effluent seawater resulting from the scrubbing process is recirculated from below the scrubber to a location in the vessel above the processing component. As a result, the effluent seawater may be processed above the scrubber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Inventors: Ronald G. Patterson, Andrew J. Olds
  • Publication number: 20100224072
    Abstract: A system for purification of air in an inner space has a housing having air inlet unit and air outlet units; air filtering means located in the housing between the air inlet unit and the air outlet units; and vertical attachment attached to the air outlet units and extending vertically upwardly so that air enters the housing at a lower level through the air inlet units and leaves the system at an outlet of the attachment at a level substantially higher than the level of the inlet units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Inventor: Gennady N. Ulanov
  • Patent number: 7789944
    Abstract: A treatment system to efficiently remove lead from dust contained in extracted cement kiln combustion gas while reducing facility and running costs. A treatment system 1 comprising: a probe 3 for extracting a part of combustion gas, while cooling it, from a kiln exhaust gas passage, which runs from an inlet end of a cement kiln to a bottom cyclone; a classifier 5 for separating coarse powder from dust contained in the combustion gas extracted by the probe 3; a wet dust collector 6 for collecting dust from the extracted gas containing fine powder discharged from the classifier 5; and devices 12, 13 for feeding sulfurizing agent for sulfurizing lead contained in the kiln exhaust gas to the wet dust collector 6, and others. From the sulfurizing-agent feeders 12, 13 are preferably added the sulfurizing agents to a circulation liquid tank 7 or a pump 9 for circulating slurry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Taiheiyo Cement Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichiro Saito, Soichiro Okamura, Tsuyoshi Matsura
  • Publication number: 20100218674
    Abstract: A CO2 recovery apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes: a CO2 absorber that brings flue gas containing CO2 into contact with CO2 absorbing liquid to reduce CO2 in the flue gas; a regenerator that reduces CO2 in CO2 absorbing liquid (rich solvent) that has absorbed the CO2 in the CO2 absorber to regenerate the CO2 absorbing liquid, so that the regenerated absorbing liquid (lean solvent), having CO2 reduced in the regenerator, is reused in the CO2 absorber; a first compressor to a fourth compressor that compress the CO2 gas released from the regenerator; and an O2 reducing apparatus arranged between the second compressor and a second cooler to reduce O2 in the CO2 gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Keiji Fujikawa, Takuya Hirata, Tatsuya Tsujiuchi, Tsuyoshi Oishi
  • Patent number: 7763218
    Abstract: Partial conversion hydrocracking process comprising the steps of (a) hydrotreating a hydrocarbon feedstock with a hydrogen-rich gas to produce a hydrotreated effluent stream comprising a liquid/vapour mixture and separating the liquid/vapour mixture into a liquid phase and a vapour phase, and (b) separating the liquid phase into a controlled liquid portion and an excess liquid portion, and (c) combining the vapour phase with the excess liquid portion to form a vapour plus liquid portion, and (d) separating an FCC feed-containing fraction from the controlled liquid portion and simultaneously hydrocracking the vapour plus liquid portion to produce a diesel-containing fraction, or hydrocracking the controlled liquid portion to produce a diesel-containing fraction and simultaneously separating a FCC feed-containing fraction from the vapour plus liquid portion. The invention also includes an apparatus for carrying out the partial conversion hydrocracking process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Haldor Topsoe A/S
    Inventors: Michael Glenn Hunter, Angelica Hidalgo Vivas, Lars Skov Jensen, Gordon Gongngai Low
  • Patent number: 7758679
    Abstract: A treating unit that comprises an absorber unit for contacting a regenerated solvent with a gas stream loaded with contaminants to yield a treated gas stream and a loaded solvent stream; a regenerator unit for stripping the loaded solvent stream to yield a loaded gas stream and the regenerated solvent; and a device for smoothing contaminant peak concentrations in the loaded solvent stream and for receiving the loaded solvent stream. The device comprises a first hold-up tank having a first inlet and a first outlet, a second hold-up tank having a second inlet and a second outlet, and an inlet distributor that is operatively connected to the first inlet and to the second inlet and that provides for directing flow of the loaded solvent stream to either the first hold-up tank or the second hold-up tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Anders Carlsson, Gijsbert Jan Van Heeringen, Thijme Last
  • Patent number: 7758025
    Abstract: An apparatus for air treatment includes at least one reservoir which can be filled with a liquid, an air-conveying device and a device which ensures that for the treatment of the air to be treated the air comes into contact with at least a part of the liquid. A circulating device is provided, by which liquid in the reservoir is conveyed in a circuit out of the reservoir and back into the latter. For the purpose of sterilising the liquid, a device for mechanico-physical opening of cell membranes, for instance by electroporation or cavitation, is provided in the circuit. Such an apparatus can also be used for purifying exhaust air in a surface treatment installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Eisenmann Anlagenbau GmbH & Co KG
    Inventors: Werner Swoboda, Kersten Link