Particulate Media, Shaped Packing Elements (e.g., Raschig Rings, Berl Saddles, Etc.), Or Porous Media For Gas And Liquid Contact Patents (Class 96/290)
  • 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
  • Patent number: 7968063
    Abstract: A mercury removal apparatus for a liquid hydrocarbon includes a conversion device which converts a mercury component in a raw liquid hydrocarbon into elemental mercury to obtain a first liquid hydrocarbon containing the elemental mercury. The apparatus also includes a first stripping device which brings the first liquid hydrocarbon into counter-current contact with a first stripping gas, thereby transferring the elemental mercury in the first liquid hydrocarbon to the first stripping gas to obtain (i) a second liquid hydrocarbon in which the amount of the elemental mercury decreases and (ii) a first gaseous hydrocarbon containing the elemental mercury.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignees: JGC Corporation, Japan Petroleum Exploration Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Shibuya, Kazuo Sato, Yoshiyuki Yamaguchi, Senichiro Kaku
  • Patent number: 7919304
    Abstract: A process and system are disclosed for the biofiltration of volatile organic compounds. The process involved recirculating contaminated effluent gas through a biofilter (1), the biofilter (1) having an inlet (20), outlet (15) and micro-organism laden filter media bed (3). The filter media bed additionally having moisture retaining properties. This process has been effective in removing high levels of VOCs from effluent gas streams and also in removing VOCs from an effluent gas stream where the VOC levels and/or volumes of effluent gas vary over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Bord Na Mona
    Inventors: Imelda Egan, Ian Phillips
  • Publication number: 20110067994
    Abstract: A system is configured to remove volatile organic compounds from a container. The system includes an enclosed contactor vessel having a first inlet to receive vapor containing volatile organic compounds from the container and a second inlet. The second inlet receives a vapor capture medium from a source. A contactor facilitates entrainment of the volatile organic compounds with the vapor capture medium while a first outlet recirculates treated vapor back to the container to effect a closed loop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Inventors: Elliott Moorhead, Bryant Hickman
  • 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: 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: 7850764
    Abstract: Generally, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for removing a vapor phase contaminant from a gas stream, thereby reducing the concentration of the vapor phase contaminant in the gas stream. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method for removing a vapor phase contaminant from a gas stream, comprising contacting a gas stream comprising a vapor phase contaminant with a first side of a membrane; sorbing the vapor phase contaminant using the membrane; reacting the vapor phase contaminant into an reacted form of the vapor phase contaminant; transporting the reacted form of the vapor phase contaminant through the membrane to a second side of the membrane; contacting the second side of the membrane with a liquid; and dissolving the reacted form of the vapor phase contaminant into the liquid. Methods for making a membrane comprising a metal for use in the present invention is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Electric Power Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventor: David W. DeBerry
  • Patent number: 7850929
    Abstract: An internal static mixing system such as a disperser of mesh wire or expanded metal co-knit with a multi filament material selected from inert polymers, catalytic polymers, catalytic metals or mixtures in combination with a vertical reactor having a reaction zone and the disperser disposed in said reaction zone, particularly for carrying out paraffin alkylation using acid catalyst is disclosed. The wire mesh provides the structural integrity of the system as well as the open space required in reactors for the movement of vapors and liquids though the system. The disperser may be in sheets, bundles or bales or positioned within a frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Catalytic Distillation Technologies
    Inventors: Lawrence A. Smith, Jr., Abraham P. Gelbein, John R. Adams
  • Patent number: 7819960
    Abstract: In one aspect of the invention there is provided a gas scrubbing system for removing contaminants from a flow of fluid, comprising a container having an interior volume, an inlet for receiving the flow of fluid and an outlet for dispensing the stream of fluid, a treatment liquid, a porous medium positioned in the interior volume, between the inlet and outlet, said porous medium providing a high surface area to facilitate chemical interactions between the fluid flow and the treatment liquid and means to apply the treatment liquid onto the porous medium. A contact cell aspect of the porous medium and a method aspect are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Inventor: Dennis Saboe
  • Patent number: 7819942
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a high-molecular polyester from a solidified polyester prepolymer by solid phase polycondensation. The polycondensation cleavage products of the solid phase polycondensation reaction are extracted from the product by means of a process gas, and the process gas is then cleaned and essentially recycled. According to the invention, the process gas is cleaned by means of an aqueous washing liquid. The invention also relates to an installation for carrying out the inventive method, said installation containing a crystallisation appliance (1) and a reaction appliance (2). A gas outlet (2d) of the reaction appliance (2) is directly or indirectly connected to a gas inlet (3c) in a gas cleaning system (3), and a gas outlet (3d) of the gas cleaning system (3) is connected to a gas inlet (2c) of the reaction appliance (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Buhler AG
    Inventors: Andreas Christel, Claudemiro Ferreira
  • Patent number: 7786323
    Abstract: (Meth)acrolein or (meth)acrylic acid is collected by bringing a reaction gas (1) containing (meth)acrolein or (meth)acrylic acid obtained through a vapor-phase catalytic oxidation reaction into contact with an aqueous solution as a collecting solvent in a collecting tower main body (2). The reaction gas (1) is supplied to the collecting tower main body (2) from two nozzles (2c) facing each other, and is caused to collide in the collecting tower main body (2). According to the present invention, (meth)acrolein or (meth)acrylic acid can be efficiently collected from a gas containing (meth)acrolein or (meth)acrylic acid while preventing polymerization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Shuhei Yada, Yasushi Ogawa, Kenji Takasaki, Yoshiro Suzuki, Kimikatsu Jinno
  • Publication number: 20100192773
    Abstract: Embodiments of an abatement apparatus are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, an abatement apparatus may include a scrubber configured to receive an effluent stream from a process chamber and further configured to remove first particles from the effluent stream; a scrubber conduit coupled to the scrubber to receive the effluent stream therefrom and configured to remove second particles from the effluent stream, the scrubber conduit having one or more inlets configured to provide a fluid to sufficiently wet an interior surface of the scrubber conduit to trap the second particles thereon and to wash the second particles therealong; and a central scrubber coupled to the scrubber via the scrubber conduit. In some embodiments, the scrubber conduit is downward sloping from the scrubber to the central scrubber. In some embodiments, a plurality of scrubbers may be coupled to the central scrubber via a plurality of scrubber conduits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Daniel O. Clark, Colin John Dickinson, Jay J. Jung, Daniel Stephan Brown, Mehran Moalem, Frank F. Hooshdaran, Morteza Farnia, Barry Page, Gary Sypherd, Jonathan Dahm, Phil Chandler
  • Patent number: 7727311
    Abstract: Installation for gas treatment by a liquid phase comprising a) a column (C) that comprises means (1) for introducing gas at one end of said column, means (9) for drawing off gas from the other end of column (C) and, from upstream to downstream in the direction of circulation of the liquid phase: a first internal (2) that comprises means for distribution of a liquid phase, a first bed (6) that comprises a packing or catalytic particles, a second internal (3) that comprises means for separating liquid/gas mixture (19, 20) that is obtained from first bed (6), first means (32, 4) for collecting and evacuating the separated liquid phase, means (100) for passing through internal (3) of the treated gas, and distribution means (31, 101) of a liquid phase with said gas, a second bed (8), second means (10) for collecting and evacuating the liquid phase at the lower outlet of column (C), b) Means for recycling the collected liquid phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Ludovic Raynal, Eric Lemaire, Jean-Louis Ambrosino
  • Publication number: 20100074828
    Abstract: The invention provides methods and apparatuses for removing carbon dioxide from a gas stream. In particular, the invention provides methods and apparatuses for absorbing carbon dioxide from a coal-fired boiler flue gas stream using an absorbing solution and for regeneration of an alkaline component used in the absorbing solution. In one embodiment, the invention provides a method for removing carbon dioxide from a gas stream by contacting a gas stream containing carbon dioxide with an alkaline liquid stream; absorbing at least a portion of the carbon dioxide into the alkaline liquid stream to produce absorbed carbon dioxide; and catalyzing a reaction of the absorbed carbon dioxide to a form of carbonate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: FLUEGEN, INC.
    Inventor: Uday Singh
  • Patent number: 7628847
    Abstract: Exhaust gases enter the tank of a columnar vessel (12) and are subsequently forced through a diffuser (24) that is at least partially immersed in a column of solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Artec 1, Inc.
    Inventors: G. Michael Pope, Jerry Green
  • Patent number: 7604685
    Abstract: A process for the extraction of an unwanted material from a gas comprising the steps of introducing an extraction liquid into a fluid having an unwanted liquid therein to form a physical aerosol comprising a plurality of extraction liquid droplets and the fluid, allowing the plurality of extraction liquid droplets to interact with the unwanted liquid in the gas to cause the extraction liquid droplets to be “wetted out” and captured on a porous medium, where the liquid is further contacted by the gas and simultaneously formed into a plurality of coalesceable droplets, coalescing the coalesceable droplets into larger droplets containing the unwanted liquid, and separating the larger droplets containing the unwanted liquid from the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Porous Media Corp
    Inventors: Matt Thundyil, Michael Spearman, Martin Miller, Doug Mittlesteadt, Heath Burns, Carl Hahn
  • Patent number: 7572323
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fluid separating device with a lower section with a fluid feeding device and a liquid discharging device, an upper section with a fluid feeding device and a gas discharging device, a contact device which is constructed in such a manner that gas, which rises from the lower section into the upper section, comes into contact with liquid which sinks from the upper section into the lower section. Thereby, the rising gases can be depleted of components which are soluble in said liquid. Furthermore, a measuring device for determining the quantity of liquid and/or the alterations thereof is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: SFC Smart Fuel Cell AG
    Inventors: Jens Müller, Volker Harbusch, Markus Huber, Christian Böhm, Kurt Rothkopf, Manfred Stefener
  • Patent number: 7559968
    Abstract: Microbicidal air filter for use with an air passageway, which includes an immobilization network including fibers having substantially embodied therein an amount of at least one antimicrobial agent sufficient to substantially immobilize, retain and kill microbes suspended in a volume of air moving through the air passageway. The immobilization network is substantially permeable to air. A microbicidal facemask and a microbicidal air filter used in an air circulation system using the immobilization network are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Noveko Inc.
    Inventor: Normand Bolduc
  • Publication number: 20080276801
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device for purifying a process gas in a reflow soldering system. Said device comprises a receptacle that contains at least one packing bed. The process gas is fed to the receptacle via a gas inlet while being discharged from the receptacle after penetrating the packing bed. The inventive device further comprises an apparatus for delivering a liquid fluid to the receptacle. Secondary materials of the soldering process in the reflow soldering system can be absorbed by the liquid fluid and thus be eliminated from the process gas. Secondary materials and/or droplets and vapors of the fluid can additionally be absorbed and adsorbed on the surface of the packing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2006
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Applicant: Rehm Anlagenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Hans Bell, Jurgen Felgner, Ralf Heidenreich
  • Publication number: 20080271603
    Abstract: An air purification system and method of purifying air according to various embodiments of the invention includes an ambient air inlet and a purified air outlet for the passage there through of air via a transport line. At least one cleaning chamber configured to contain therein an aqueous solution containing a reactant medium is in fluidic communication with the transport line. The ambient air passes through the at least one cleaning chamber and bubbles through the aqueous solution reacting with the reactant medium contained therein to remove gaseous pollutants and/or particulates. To recharge the system, a user simply changes out the cleaning chamber when the reactant medium is no longer capable of reacting to remove the gaseous pollutants and/or particulates from air passing there through.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventors: Carl Triplett, Michael Mathiesen, Jie Chen, Geoffrey Faires
  • Publication number: 20080257159
    Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for controlling humidity and temperature in gases or air streams used in semiconductor processing systems. These systems and methods can be used in combination with systems and methods for contaminant detection and removal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: Entegris, Inc.
    Inventors: William M. Goodwin, Oleg P. Kishkovich, Anatoly Grayfer
  • Patent number: 7306653
    Abstract: The present invention comprises an apparatus and method for efficiently venting impurities from a heat recovery steam generator system by concentrating the impurities in a condensing deaerating vent line 40 and then venting a proportionately small amount of steam with a proportionately high concentration of impurities. The condensing deaerating vent line 40 is attached to a low pressure drum 10, and feed water 54 may be added to the upper portion of the condensing deaerating vent line 40 to improve condensation and conserve thermal energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Siemens Power Generation, Inc.
    Inventors: James C. Bellows, Fred W. Shoemaker
  • Patent number: 7288140
    Abstract: In a wet-process gas treatment method of treating an acid gas by using at least two treating columns connected in series, a ratio of the concentration of an acid gas at an outlet to a concentration of the acid gas at an inlet of a first treating column is set higher than a ratio of the concentration of the acid gas at an outlet to the concentration of acid gas at an inlet of at least one of the other treating columns, thereby preventing deposits from forming in the interior of connecting pipes between the columns and in the interiors of the treating columns, to prevent the connecting pipes from being blocked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Echizen, Hiroshi Izawa
  • Patent number: 7275737
    Abstract: Device for simultaneously cooling and removing liquid from compressed gas of a compressor element (1) or of several compressor elements (1) which are connected either or not in parallel or in series, which device includes a pressure vessel (2) which is provided with a liquid drain (8) at the bottom, an inlet (6) for compressed gas at a distance above the latter and an outlet (18) for compressed gas at the top, latter and an outlet (18) for compressed gas at the top, characterized in that a distribution device (4) is provided in the pressure vessel (2), between the inlet (6) and the outlet (18) for the compressed gas, for spreading a cool fluid in direct contact with the compressed gas, and in that a heat exchanger (5) is provided in the pressure vessel (2) for heating the compressed gas which has been cooled by the cool fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Atlas Copco Airpower, Naamloze Vennootschap
    Inventor: Peter Jozef Heirman
  • Publication number: 20070204751
    Abstract: The invention relates to a static mixer for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine. The mixer has a wall structure that is arranged across the directional of flow in a pipe and has several layers of a corrugated sheeting material laying across one another in the direction of flow. The cells through which the flow can pass in the direction of flow are provided between the sheeting material of neighboring layers. The sheeting material has baffles for all or several of the cells. The baffles are arranged on the sheeting material so that they are arranged on their outgoing flow side in the case of said cells and extend in the direction of flow and across it.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Publication date: September 6, 2007
    Inventors: Georg Wirth, Felix Neumann
  • Patent number: 7261284
    Abstract: A process for effecting mass transfer between a liquid phase and a gaseous phase in a filled-type column comprising an external shell which accommodates at least one filler-containing basket wherethrough the phases are caused to flow in countercurrent relationship, advantageously comprises the step of feeding the gaseous phase to the at least one basket through a gas-permeable surface thereof which is larger than the basket cross-section, preferably in a prevailing radial flow direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Ammonia Casale S.A.
    Inventor: Filippi Ermanno
  • Patent number: 7250067
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a product for, and a method of, treating gases, fumes and vapors with fragments of crustacean shell so as to extract one or more components/pollutants from the gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Carafiltration Limited
    Inventor: Ashley John Wilson
  • Patent number: 7175913
    Abstract: A material for chromatographic separations, processes for its preparation, and separation devices containing the chromatographic material. In particular, porous inorganic/organic hybrid materials are provided with a decreased concentration of surface organic groups. These particles may be surface modified and have enhanced stability at low pH.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Waters Investments Limited
    Inventor: John E. O'Gara
  • Patent number: 7160362
    Abstract: A method of cleaning air, including a humidifying operation for humidifying the air containing chemical contaminants by a humidifier and taking a part of the gaseous contaminants in the air into excessive moisture to remove the contaminants from the air, and a dehumidifying operation for dehumidifying the humidified air by a condenser and taking the gaseous chemical contaminants remaining, without being removed, in the humidifying operation into condensed water for removal. By using an oblique honeycomb having both front and rear faces and both upper and lower faces disposed in open state, air is led from the front opening part of the oblique honeycomb and water is fed from the upper opening part thereof to one or both of the humidifier and condenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignees: Nichias Co., Ltd., Tokyo Electron Limited, Taisei Corporation
    Inventors: Isao Terada, Minoru Tanaka, Yuji Matumura, Sadao Kobayashi, Naoki Mori, Hiromu Itoh, Yoshihide Wakayama, Osamu Suenaga
  • Patent number: 7147689
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for removing volatile organic compounds from air that is vented from tanks and vessels containing hydrocarbon material. This invention also relates to a self-propelled vehicle on which the apparatus is mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Inventor: Charles K. Miller
  • Patent number: 7147692
    Abstract: The method involves contacting the air with an aqueous or non-aqueous liquid in a stand-alone system. The air may be brought into contact with the liquid using a number of different types of apparatus, including a packed column scrubber. The liquid may be non-evaporative.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Daniele Fornai, Stylianos Kouvroukoglou, Patrizio Ricci, Renzo Rizzo, Sergio Rossi, Andrea Filippo Argentieri, Stefano Scialla
  • Patent number: 7044993
    Abstract: Microbicidal air filter for use with an air passageway, which includes an immobilization network including a plurality of fibers having an amount of at least one antimicrobial agent incorporated and molecularly bonded into a structure thereof sufficient to substantially immobilize, retain and at least inhibit the growth of, or typically kill, microbes suspended in a volume of air moving through the air passageway. The immobilization network is substantially permeable to air. A microbicidal facemask and a microbicidal air filter used in an air circulation system using the immobilization network are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Bolduc Leroux Inc.
    Inventor: Normand Bolduc
  • Patent number: 7025808
    Abstract: A process is proposed for reducing the aerosol-related discharge from a separation column (1) in which one or more components are separated off from a gaseous or liquid starting mixture (G) at actively separating internals (2), aerosols being present or formed in a gas phase, which comprises the actively separating internals (2) being segmented at one or more separation points, which are determined in such a manner that the aerosols have at least 50% of their maximum particle size at the separation point or separation points, and an internal (3) being provided at each separation point, which internal is operated under at least partially flooded conditions, a continuous liquid phase being formed at least in partial regions of the internal (3), to which region the aerosols are bound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Günther Huber, Karl Hölemann, Jan-Martin Löning, Bernd Sachweh
  • Patent number: 7014177
    Abstract: A process for effecting mass transfer between a liquid phase and a gaseous phase in a filled-type column having an external shell which accommodates at least one filler-containing basket wherethrough the phases are caused to flow in countercurrent relationship. The process includes the step of feeding the gaseous phase to the at least one basket through a gas-permeable surface thereof which is larger than the basket cross-section, preferably in a prevailing radial flow direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Ammonia Casale S.A.
    Inventor: Ermanno Filippi
  • Publication number: 20040250684
    Abstract: Apparatus for removing carbon dioxide from a stream of air or other gas, which includes a vertical gas absorption reactor containing loosely packed mixing units submerged in a carbon dioxide absorbent liquid; gas to be treated is admitted at or near this base of the rector, is broken into small bubbles by the mixing units, and passes through the absorbent liquid to remove a high percentage of carbon dioxide; treated gas leaves from the top of the reactor, a regenerator associated with the reactor continually or intermittently regenerates the absorbent liquid and is arranged to receive absorbent liquid to be treated through an outlet from the reactor which is located higher up the wall of the reactor than the inlet for returning treated liquid to the reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2004
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Inventors: Susan Pran Krumdieck, Kenneth Neil Marsh, Matthew Lloyd Brill, Michael Asher Brown, James Richard Cleland, Matthew Donald Green, Jamie Stuart Wallace
  • Publication number: 20040237781
    Abstract: A method of cleaning air, comprising a humidifying step for humidifying the air containing chemical contaminants by a humidifying means and taking a part of the gaseous contaminants in the air into excessive moisture to remove the contaminants from the air and a dehumidifying step for dehumidifying the humidified air by a condensing means and taking the gaseous chemical contaminants remaining, without being removed, in the humidifying step into condensed water for removal, wherein, by using a oblique honeycomb having both front and rear faces and both upper and lower faces disposedin open state, air is led from the front opening part of the oblique honeycomb and water is fed from the upper opening part thereof to one or both of the humidifying and condensing means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2004
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Applicants: Nichias Co., Ltd, TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED, TAISEI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Isao Terada, Minoru Tanaka, Yuji Matumura, Sadao Kobayashi, Naoki Mori, Hiromu Itoh, Yoshihide Wakayama, Osamu Suenaga
  • Publication number: 20040231512
    Abstract: A method, and systems for implementing such method, for purifying and conditioning air of weaponized contaminants. The method includes wetting a filter packing media with a salt-based liquid desiccant, such as water with a high concentration of lithium chloride. Air is passed through the wetted filter packing media and the contaminants in are captured with the liquid desiccant while the liquid desiccant dehumidifies the air. The captured contaminants are then deactivated in the liquid desiccant, which may include heating the liquid desiccant. The liquid desiccant is regenerated by applying heat to the liquid desiccant and then removing moisture. The method includes repeating the wetting with the regenerated liquid desiccant which provides a regenerable filtering process that captures and deactivates contaminants on an ongoing basis while also conditioning the air. The method may include filtration effectiveness enhancement by electrostatic or inertial means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2003
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventors: Steven J. Slayzak, Ren S. Anderson, Ronald D. Judkoff, Daniel M. Blake, Todd B. Vinzant, Joseph P. Ryan
  • Patent number: 6821317
    Abstract: In a wet-process gas treatment method of treating an acid gas by using at least two treating columns connected in series, a ratio of the concentration of an acid gas at an outlet to a concentration of the acid gas at an inlet of a first treating column is set higher than a ratio of the concentration of the acid gas at an outlet to the concentration of acid gas at an inlet of at least one of the other treating columns, thereby preventing deposits from forming in the interior of connecting pipes between the columns and in the interiors of the treating columns, to prevent the connecting pipes from being blocked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Echizen, Hiroshi Izawa
  • Patent number: 6811147
    Abstract: A packing assembly for a column comprises a cage element which carried a packing element. The packing element comprises a first plurality of parallel plates and a second plurality of parallel plates. The first plurality of parallel plates have peripheries which enable them to be accommodated within a sphere. The second plurality of parallel plates interconnect the first plurality of parallel plates and are positioned normally to the first plurality of parallel plates. The second plurality of parallel plates have peripheries which enable them to also be accommodated within the sphere. The packing element is housed in a spherical cage element which possesses a crush strength sufficient to withstand crushing forces to be encountered when the packing assembly is deployed in a column. The packing element self-orients in the column during use to reduce pressure drop and improve performance during the course of operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Apollo Separation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip Y. Lau, Marv. A. Honnell
  • Publication number: 20040182241
    Abstract: A process is proposed for reducing the aerosol-related discharge from a separation column (1) in which one or more components are separated off from a gaseous or liquid starting mixture (G) at actively separating internals (2), aerosols being present or formed in a gas phase, which comprises the actively separating internals (2) being segmented at one or more separation points, which are determined in such a manner that the aerosols have at least 50% of their maximum particle size at the separation point or separation points, and an internal (3) being provided at each separation point, which internal is operated under at least partially flooded conditions, a continuous liquid phase being formed at least in partial regions of the internal (3), to which region the aerosols are bound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2004
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Inventors: Gunther Huber, Karl Holemann, Jan-Martin Loning, Bernd Sachweh
  • Patent number: 6773582
    Abstract: A drinking water treatment system includes a pump for pumping water from an aquifer, an aerator connected downstream from the pump for generating an outlet water flow and a hydrogen sulfide-containing gas flow, and a hydrogen sulfide scrubber for scrubbing the hydrogen sulfide-containing gas flow from the aerator. The hydrogen sulfide scrubber includes at least one scrubber tank and scrubber media contained therein. A scrubbing solution circulator includes a dispenser for dispensing scrubbing solution into contact with the scrubber media, a sump for collecting the scrubbing solution after contact with the scrubber media, and a circulating pump for circulating the scrubbing solution from the sump back to the dispenser after contact with the scrubber media. A triazine compound supply is provided for supplying a triazine compound to the scrubbing solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Precision Control Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick M. Anthony
  • Patent number: 6645273
    Abstract: A method for removing impurity substances in air flowing in a flow passage includes filtering the air in a first filter for removing solid substances; cooling the air in a first cooler to not higher than its dew-point temperature; capturing gaseous substances in the air in a wet-type impurity removing apparatus; cooling the air in a second cooler; and filtering in a second filter. The wet-type impurity removing apparatus includes a first liquid atomizer having two pluralities of nozzle ports for spraying, arranged mutually spaced apart and facing each other in the direction of the air flow passage; first and second condensing and capturing assemblies located across the first atomizer and spaced apart from each other, with the first assembly being upstream and the second assembly being downstream from the first atomizer; a second atomizer for capturing any remaining gaseous substances in the air; and a third condensing and capturing assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Oki Electric Industry Co, LTD
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Wakamatsu, Mikio Matsuki, Norio Tanaka, Hiroshi Ogata
  • Publication number: 20030145730
    Abstract: Particularly in the case of a fuel cell, the waste gas contains, in essence, carbon dioxide and methanol. According to the invention, the carbon dioxide/methanol gas mixture is directed through a porous material and is scrubbed out in the counter-current flow using water. The device utilizes a gas scrubber to separate out the fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2003
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Inventor: Walter Preidel
  • Publication number: 20030116018
    Abstract: In a wet-process gas treatment method of treating an acid gas by means of at least two treating columns connected in series, ratio of concentration of acid gas at an outlet to concentration of acid gas at an inlet, of a first treating column is set higher than ratio of concentration of acid gas at an outlet to concentration of acid gas at an inlet, of at least one of other treating columns, thereby preventing deposits from forming in the interior of connecting pipes between the columns and in the interiors of the treating columns, to prevent the connecting pipes from their blockage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Inventors: Hiroshi Echizen, Hiroshi Izawa
  • Publication number: 20030089242
    Abstract: Apparatus for removing impurity substances in the air, comprising a first filter (17) for removing solid substances in the air flowing in a flow passage (13) defined by a housing (11); first cooling means (18) for cooling the air to not higher than its dew-point temperature; a wet-type impurity removing mechanism (19) for capturing gaseous substances in the air; second cooling means (20); and a second filter (22).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Publication date: May 15, 2003
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Wakamatsu, Mikio Matsuki, Norio Tanaka, Hiroshi Ogata
  • Publication number: 20030070552
    Abstract: A waste gas treating device includes two cleansing towers, a plurality of ceramic (or porcelain) balls fully filled in the two towers, and a specific liquid filled in the two towers for waste gas pumped in firstly in the first tower to flow upward through gaps among the ceramic balls and contact with the liquid. Then toxic substances in waste gas react with the liquid to produce byproducts, which sink down out of the first tower and then into a sediment pool. Partial waste gas flowing up to a top end of the first tower is pumped into the second tower for cleansing once again in the same process in the first one to let waste gas cleansed completely and flow out of an upper end of the second tower into atmosphere.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2001
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Inventors: Chih-ming Lee, Chih-hua Lee, Chun-hung Lee, Nan-ping Lee
  • Patent number: 6547222
    Abstract: A packing element is provided for use in a mass transfer tower or a heat sink. The packing element is in the form of a saddle shaped member having a configuration generally corresponding to a portion of a toroid generated by rotating a plane closed curve about an axis that is coplanar with and spaced from the curve. The curve has inner and outer surface generating segments. The inner segment is closer to the axis than the outer segment. The outer segment is essentially w-shaped. The member has respective inner and outer surface portions which correspond in transverse cross-sectional shape to the shape of said segments. In one form of the invention, the inner segment is essentially w-shaped and complementary to said outer segment, whereby the element itself is essentially w-shaped in transverse cross-sectional configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Koch Knight, LLC
    Inventors: David M. Blischak, Paul I. Rufener, Phillip J. Herman
  • Patent number: 6528167
    Abstract: A material for chromatographic separations, processes for its preparation, and separation devices containing the chromatographic material. In particular, porous inorganic/organic hybrid materials are provided with a decreased concentration of surface organic groups. These particles may be surface modified and have enhanced stability at low pH.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Waters Investments Limited
    Inventor: John E. O'Gara
  • Patent number: 6514306
    Abstract: A fibrous element is described. The fibrous element includes a container member and an anti-microbial agent, wherein the anti-microbial agent is disposed within the container member. The container member can include structures such as an elongated fiber having multiple lobes with a longitudinally extending internal cavity including an opening from the internal cavity to the outer fiber formed between adjacent lobes, an elongated fiber having an internal longitudinally extending cavity having a longitudinally extending opening, and a particulate. The anti-microbial agent is capable of diffusing out of the container member and throughout the fibrous element in response to elevated relative humidity levels in order to contact and kill a microbial population.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald P. Rohrbach, Peter D. Unger, Gordon William Jones
  • Patent number: 6497757
    Abstract: An apparatus for removing impurity substances in the air includes a first filter for removing solid substances in the air flowing in a flow passage defined by a housing; a first cooler for cooling the air to not higher than its dew-point temperature; a wet-type impurity removing mechanism for capturing gaseous substances in the air; a second cooler; and a second filter. The wet-type impurity removing mechanism includes a first liquid atomizer having a plurality of nozzle ports for spraying, arranged mutually spaced apart and facing each other in the direction of the air flow passage; first and second condensing and capturing assemblies located across the first atomizer and spaced apart from each other, with the first condensing and capturing assembly being upstream and the second condensing and capturing assembly being downstream from the first atomizer; a second atomizer for capturing any remaining gaseous substances in the air; and a third condensing and capturing assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Assignee: Oki Electric Industry Co, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Wakamatsu, Mikio Matsuki, Norio Tanaka, Hiroshi Ogata