University of California

Fluor Corporation

Floor Corporation

Peter Condorelli

Steven C George

Jeffrey Scherffius

Ray Won

Carl L Mariz

Hye-Won Shin

Parametric characterization of nitric oxide (NO) gas exchange using a two-compartment model of the lungs is a non-invasive technique to characterize inflammatory lung diseases. The technique applies the two-compartment model to parametric characterization of NO gas exchange from a tidal breathing pattern. The model is used to estimate up to six flow-independent parameters, and to study alternate breathing patterns.

Flow-independent parameter estimation based on tidal breathing exhalation profiles

An apparatus and method to characterize NO gas exchange dynamics in human lungs comprising the steps of: (1) performing a series of breath hold maneuvers of progressively increasingly breath hold times, each breath hold maneuver comprising a) inhaling a gas, b) holding a breath for a selected time duration, and c) exhaling at a flow rate which is uncontrolled but which is effective to ensure evacuation of the airway space and (2) measuring airway NO parameters during consecutive breath hold maneuvers. As a result disease states of the lungs are diagnosed using the measured airway NO parameters.

Accurate method to characterize airway nitric oxide using different breath-hold times including axial diffusion of nitric oxide using heliox and breath hold

A recovery plant for recovery of a gaseous component from a process gas has an absorber employing a lean solvent and a semi-lean solvent that absorb the gaseous component from the process gas, thereby producing a rich solvent, a semi-rich solvent, and a lean process gas. A regenerator extracts the gaseous component from the rich solvent, thereby regenerating the lean solvent and the semi-lean solvent. A solvent flow control element combines at least part of the semi-rich solvent and the semi-lean solvent to form a mixed solvent, and a cooler cools the mixed solvent that is subsequently fed into the absorber. In a method of removing a gaseous component from a process gas, a stream of lean solvent and a stream of semi-lean solvent are provided. In another step, the stream of lean solvent and the stream of semi-lean solvent contact the process gas in an absorber to produce a stream of semi-rich solvent and rich solvent. In a further step, at least part of the stream of semi-rich solvent and semi-lean solvent are combined to form a mixed solvent stream, and a cooler cools the mixed solvent stream, which is introduced into the absorber to absorb the gaseous component.

Split-flow process and apparatus

A recovery plant for recovery of a gaseous component, such as carbon dioxide, from a process gas, such as the exhaust from a combustion turbine, has an absorber ( ) employing a lean solvent ( ) in an upper section of the absorber and a semi-lean solvent ( ) in a lower section of the absorber. A regenerator ( ) extracts the gaseous component from the rich solvent ( ) thereby producing a regenerated lean solvent ( ) and a semi-lean solvent ( ). A solvent flow control element ( ) combines at least a part of the semi-rich solvent ( ) from the upper section of the absorber with the semi-lean solvent ( ) from the regenerator to form a mixed solvent ( ), and a cooler ( ) cools the mixed solvent that is subsequently fed into the lower section of the absorber ( ). By cooling the mixed solvent prior to entry into the absorber, the thermal energy required to remove the carbon dioxide from the exhaust gas can be reduced.

Growing community of inventors

Irvine, CA, United States of America

Peter Condorelli