US4689054A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process for the removal an disposal of airborne contaminants from paint booths and the like
Assignee: TMPC ENTERPRISES Inc 1201 19TH PLACE VERO BEACH FL 32960 A CORP OF FL
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Filing: 1986-01-07
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Granted: 1987-08-25
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Expires: 2006-01-07
Abstract
Abstract A process is provided for the removal and disposal of airborne contaminants from paint booths and the like. The process includes the steps of passing the effluent air stream from a paint booth through an adsorbent in at least one adsorber. The adsorbent is preferably activated carbon. The adsorbent is regenerated periodically by a regeneration step. The regeneration step is preferably performed by passing a regenerating fluid through the adsorber. The regenerating fluid removes the contaminants from the adsorbent and transports the contaminants out of the adsorber. The regenerating fluid is preferably partially or totally scrubbed of contaminants and recycled through the process to provide an essentially closed-loop operating system. The regenerating fluid is preferably a vapor or gas which is partially or totally cooled and condensed after regeneration. The condensate is separated in one or more steps into contaminant rich fractions and contaminant poor fractions. The contaminant rich fractions are preferably incinerated, where the contaminants are consumed as fuels.
Inventors
- 👤 Tomas E. Vara
- 👤 Jerry L. Mestemaker
- 👤 Bob R. Thakker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 09:37
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D53/00; B01D53/02; B01D53/06; B01D53/10; B01D53/12; B01D53/04; B05; B05B; B05B14/00; B05B14/40; B05B14/49; B01D2253/00; B01D2253/10; B01D2253/102; B01D2257/00; B01D2257/70; B01D2257/704; B01D2257/708; B01D2259/00; B01D2259/40; B01D2259/402; B01D2259/41; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P70/00; Y02P70/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
184 words
A process for the removal and disposal of airborne contaminants from an effluent airstream of paint booths, comprising the steps of: (1) passing the airstream through an adsorbent in at least one adsorber in an adsorption step for removing contaminants from said airstream; (2) regenerating the adsorbent in the at least one adsorber, the regeneration step comprising a substantially closed loop process, the regeneration step including the steps of passing a stream of regenerating fluid, the regenerating fluid being water or steam, through the adsorber, thereby removing the contaminants from the adsorbent with said regenerating fluid and carrying the contaminants out of the adsorber, the regenerating fluid being recycled at least by the steps of: (a) separating the regeneration stream into at least one contaminant rich fraction and at least one contaminant poor fraction; (b) separating the contaminant poor fraction of (a) into a contaminant rich fraction and a substantially contaminant free fraction; (c) recycling the substantially contaminant free fraction to the at least one adsorber; and, (3) subjecting the contaminant rich fractions of steps (2)(a) and (2)(b) to thermal oxidation in an incinerator.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
184 words
A process for the removal and disposal of airborne contaminants from an effluent airstream of paint booths, comprising the steps of: (1) passing the airstream through an adsorbent in at least one adsorber in an adsorption step for removing contaminants from said airstream; (2) regenerating the adsorbent in the at least one adsorber, the regeneration step comprising a substantially closed loop process, the regeneration step including the steps of passing a stream of regenerating fluid, the regenerating fluid being water or steam, through the adsorber, thereby removing the contaminants from the adsorbent with said regenerating fluid and carrying the contaminants out of the adsorber, the regenerating fluid being recycled at least by the steps of: (a) separating the regeneration stream into at least one contaminant rich fraction and at least one contaminant poor fraction; (b) separating the contaminant poor fraction of (a) into a contaminant rich fraction and a substantially contaminant free fraction; (c) recycling the substantially contaminant free fraction to the at least one adsorber; and, (3) subjecting the contaminant rich fractions of steps (2)(a) and (2)(b) to thermal oxidation in an incinerator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the regenerating steam in (2) is condensed after leaving the adsorber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 2, wherein the separation of step (2)(a) is accomplished by decanting.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 3, wherein the separation step of (2)(b) is performed in a stripping-rectification column.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process of claim 4, further comprising the step of refluxing a portion of the contaminant rich fraction from the stripping-rectification column back to the stripping-rectification column, whereby the fraction is enriched.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
The process of claim 4, wherein the regenerating fluid from the bottom of the stripping-rectification column is heated to produce steam prior to the step of passing the regenerating fluid through the at least one adsorber, said heating being accomplished by heat exchange with an exhaust stream from the incinerator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 2, wherein the regenerating steam leaving the at least one adsorber is compressed prior to the condensing step.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 7, further comprising the step of venting non-condensed fluid after the condensing step.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 8, wherein the non-condensed fluid is air and the venting is to step (1).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
The process of claim 1, further comprising the step of heating the regenerating fluid prior to step (2)(c), said heating being accomplished by subjecting the substantially contaminant free fraction to heat exchange with an effluent stream from the incinerator.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the adsorber is selected from the group consisting fixed bed, fluidized bed, rotary bed and compartment adsorbers.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the at least one adsorber comprises a fixed bed adsorber.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 12, wherein the airstream is passed through the adsorber substantially in the direction of the force of gravity.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 13, wherein a top layer portion of adsorbent nearest the airstream inlet is removed when the top layer portion becomes contaminated.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 14, wherein the regenerating fluid is passed through the adsorber in a direction substantially opposite the direction of the force of gravity.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 1, further including the step of supplying make-up regenerating fluid to compensate for that portion of the regenerating fluid lost in the process.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 1, further comprising the step of filtering the airstream for airborne particulates prior to passage into the at least one adsorber.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the airstream is heated prior to the adsorption step.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
49 words
The process of claim 1, wherein prior to step (2)(c) the substantially contaminant free fraction is subjected to at least one additional contaminant removal step selected from an ion exchange adsorption, and a purification separation step for removing contaminants which are not otherwise readily separated from the regenerating fluid.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the adsorption step comprises contacting the airstream with at least two adsorption beds connected in series.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
33 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the adsorption step comprises the steps of dividing the airstream into fractions and passing each fraction through one of at least two adsorption beds connected in parallel.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 1, further comprising a scrubbing step from removing contaminants from at least one fluid stream prior to release of the stream into the atmosphere.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 1, wherein process operations are computer controlled according to process parameters and monitored process conditions.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the adsorbent is activated carbon.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the adsorption step is performed in at least one adsorber simultaneously with the regeneration step in at least one other adsorber, and switching between the adsorbers.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-08-24 | 1991-02-23 | 1991-08-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-08-24 | 1995-02-23 | 1995-08-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-08-24 | 1999-02-23 | 1999-08-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |