James R Smolarek

US Patent:

6334889, Jan 1, 2002

Filed:

Sep 1, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/387757

Inventors:

James Smolarek - Boston NY
Jeffert John Nowobilski - Orchard Park NY
Mark William Ackley - East Aurora NY

Assignee:

Praxair Technology, Inc. - Danbury CT

International Classification:

B01D 5304

US Classification:

96149, 96137, 96152

Abstract:

An axial flow adsorber apparatus includes a bed of adsorbent material, a barrier in the form of an open-cell material combined with a distribution screen or baffle, graded balls, and an inflatable bladder. The adsorbent bed is the active adsorbent required for a separation process. The barrier combines the open-cell material, which provides uniform retention of all adsorbent material, with the distribution screen, which provides uniform flow and pressure distribution across the bed. The barrier substantially covers a top surface of the adsorbent bed to prevent fluidization of the bed. Graded balls on the barrier uniformly distribute a downward pressure supplied by the inflatable bladder above the balls. The uniform pressure is transmitted through the balls to the barrier to further suppress fluidization. The balls also serve to direct gas flow in the upper end of the vessel and reduce void volume in the apparatus that would trap product gas.

US Patent:

6344069, Feb 5, 2002

Filed:

Jan 4, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/753612

Inventors:

James Smolarek - Boston NY
Michael John Sinicropi - Cheektowaga NY
Herbert Raymond Schaub - East Amherst NY

Assignee:

Praxair Technology, Inc. - Danbury CT

International Classification:

B01D 53047

US Classification:

95 96, 95101, 95102, 95130

Abstract:

A VPSA apparatus includes a first adsorbent bed and a second adsorbent bed, a feed blower for providing a flow of a gas mixture at about atmospheric pressure to the beds, and a vacuum blower for removing a flow of gas therefrom and venting the gas to a space at atmospheric pressure. The VPSA process causes the first adsorbent bed to be poised for evacuation by the vacuum blower and concurrently, the second adsorbent bed is under vacuum conditions and is poised for pressurization by the feed blower. A single motor is coupled by a common shaft to both the feed blower and the vacuum blower and operates both. A conduit/valve arrangement is operative during at least a portion of a process time when the adsorbent beds are in pressurizing/evacuation states, respectively, to couple the feed blower to the second adsorbent bed when at vacuum and for concurrently coupling the vacuum blower to the first adsorbent bed which is to be evacuated. The feed blower is thereby caused to operate in a gas expansion mode and imparts expansion energy, via the common shaft, to the vacuum blower. During idling conditions, a valve-conduit system is controlled to enable significant reductions in pressure rise across the feed and vacuum blowers.

US Patent:

6506234, Jan 14, 2003

Filed:

Nov 9, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/622889

Inventors:

Mark William Ackley - East Aurora NY
James Smolarek - Boston NY
Frederick Wells Leavitt - Amherst NY

Assignee:

Praxair Technology, Inc. - Danbury CT

International Classification:

B01D 53053

US Classification:

95 96, 95130, 95902, 96113, 96114, 96130, 96144

Abstract:

A gas separation process incorporating the invention combines use of an adsorbent having high intrinsic diffusivity with a low pressure ratio PSA cycle. Further enhancements to the process are derived from the use of fast cycles, shallow beds and small particlesâespecially in a radial bed configuration. The combination of low pressure ratio, high rate adsorbents and fast cycles has been found to result in an unexpected simultaneous reduction in bed size factor (BSF) and power consumption. These benefits have been achieved while minimizing a decline in product recovery through use of the high rate adsorbent. The net result is a significant reduction in product cost.

US Patent:

6527830, Mar 4, 2003

Filed:

Oct 3, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/968925

Inventors:

Bernard T. Neu - Lancaster NY
James Smolarek - Boston NY
Andrew C. Rosinski - Boston NY
Mark William Ackley - East Aurora NY

Assignee:

Praxair Technology, Inc. - Danbury CT

International Classification:

B01D 53047

US Classification:

95 98, 95100, 95105, 95130

Abstract:

A pressure swing adsorption process for recovery of a more readily adsorbable component, such as nitrogen, and a larger amount of a less readily adsorbable component, such as oxygen, from a feed gas mixture, such as air, wherein the ratio of nitrogen to oxygen is less than about 3:1 and the ratio of the co-purge:feed gas of the process is maintained at less than about 1. 15:1.

US Patent:

6722352, Apr 20, 2004

Filed:

Nov 6, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/985733

Inventors:

James Smolarek - Boston NY
David A. Walker - Syracuse NY
Bernard T. Neu - Lancaster NY

Assignee:

Praxair Technology, Inc. - Danbury CT

International Classification:

F02B 2300

US Classification:

123585, 123 26

Abstract:

An internal combustion engine having an integrally connected pressure swing adsorption (PSA) system to provide oxygen-enriched air or oxygen-deficient air, in situ, to the mixing chamber of a spark-ignition or compression-ignition engine.

US Patent:

6770120, Aug 3, 2004

Filed:

May 1, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/135562

Inventors:

Bernard Thomas Neu - Lancaster NY
James Smolarek - Boston NY
Mark Thomas Emley - Boston NY

Assignee:

Praxair Technology, Inc. - Danbury CT

International Classification:

B01D 53053

US Classification:

95 96, 95117, 95130, 95139, 96130, 96131, 96132, 96143

Abstract:

An apparatus includes a vessel and a radial adsorption bed within the vessel and either an axial adsorption bed for a storage tank within the inner diameter of the radial adsorption bed. In one example, the radial adsorption bed surrounds an axial adsorption bed. A process that can be conducted in the vessel includes directing a gas mixture across the radial adsorption bed, thereby causing adsorption of at least a portion of a gas component present in the gas mixture and producing partially purified product. The partially purified gas is directed through the axial adsorption bed, thereby causing further purification of the partially purified gas and producing product gas. In another example, the radial adsorption bed surrounds a storage tank. The storage tank can be employed to store a gas generated or used in a separation process conducted in the radial adsorption bed. For instance, the storage tank can be employed to store product gas or void gas generated in a vacuum/pressure swing adsorption process.

US Patent:

6790260, Sep 14, 2004

Filed:

Oct 3, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/968926

Inventors:

Mark William Ackley - East Aurora NY
James Smolarek - Boston NY

Assignee:

Praxair Technology, Inc. - Danbury CT

International Classification:

B01D 53047

US Classification:

95101, 95102, 95105, 95130, 95902

Abstract:

High product recovery and low BSF are achieved for fast-cycle shallow adsorbers in VPSA gas separation enabled by the coupled effects of high intrinsic adsorption rate and proper particle size selection.

US Patent:

6792981, Sep 21, 2004

Filed:

Apr 9, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/409130

Inventors:

Michael S. Manning - Buffalo NY
James Smolarek - Boston NY
Robert B. Bollinger - Getzville NY
Ahmed Abdelwahab - Tonawanda NY

Assignee:

Praxair Technology, Inc. - Danbury CT

International Classification:

B65B 3100

US Classification:

141 3, 141 4, 141 18, 141 47, 141 94

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for introducing a compressed gas into a pressure vessel, for instance, hydrogen into a vehicle fuel tank, in which hydrogen is compressed in an initial and final compressions stages which can be powered by a common source. The initial compression stage can continually operate to compress the gas in a lower pressure storage bank during the time that hydrogen is dispensed to a vehicle fuel tank. In time periods between dispensing, the gas from the lower pressure stage and from the lower pressure storage bank is compressed in the final compression stage and stored in a higher pressure storage bank. When the pressure vessel is to be filled, the compressor compresses the gas from the higher pressure storage bank to fill the vessel.