Method and apparatus for refreshing carbon in a carbon filter canister

• US 7,942,954 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2008
• Issued: 05/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nathaniel E. Welch
• Original Assignee: Nathaniel E. Welch
• Inventors: Welch, Nathaniel E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lawrence, Frank M
• Application Number:
  US12/287,985
• Publication Number:
  US 20090145298A1
• Time in Patent Office: 944 Days
• Field of Search: 961/47, 961/50, 961/51, 95/90, 951/09, 951/10
• US Class Current: 96/151
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/102 Carbon
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/40084 by exchanging used adsorbents with fresh adsorbents
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/4009 using hot gas
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/0423 Beds in columns

Abstract

Method and apparatus for refreshing carbon in a carbon filter system, preferably involving a plurality of canisters, wherein spent carbon is dumped from a filtering canister into a spent carbon container.

Claims

1. An improved method for refreshing carbon in a vessel of a carbon filter system, the system having a process stream line connected to a process stream inlet of the vessel and the vessel having a stream outlet, the system for filtering a process stream until the carbon is spent, the improved method comprising:

servicing a vessel structured to hold 50 to 2000 pounds of carbon filter material and having at least one valved opening, the vessel containing carbon for filtering the process stream, the servicing including inverting the vessel and dumping spent carbon in the vessel through the at least one opening by force of gravity into a spent carbon container below.

6. The method of claim 1 or 2 wherein the spent carbon container includes a roll-off box.

8. The method of claims 1 or 2 that includes scraping inside walls of the vessel.

9. The method of claim 1 or 3 that includes vibrating the vessel.

10. The method of claim 9 that includes vibrating the vessel with vibrating equipment including a vibrating prong inserted inside the vessel.

11. The method of claim 1 or 2 wherein the vessel is structured to hold 50 to 1000 pounds of carbon filter material.

12. The method of claim 1 or 2 wherein the vessel is structured to hold 50 to 500 pounds of carbon filter material.

2. An improved method for refreshing carbon in a vessel of a carbon filter system, the system having a process stream line connected to a process stream inlet of the vessel and the vessel having a stream outlet, the system for filtering a process stream until the carbon is spent, the improved method comprising:

servicing a vessel structured to hold 50 to 2000 pounds of carbon filter material and having at least one valved opening, the vessel containing carbon for filtering the process stream, the servicing including lifting the vessel and dumping spent carbon in the vessel through the at least one opening by force of gravity into a spent carbon container below.

3. The method of claim 2, comprising:

dumping the spent carbon from a lower valved orifice of the vessel; and

lifting the vessel with lifting equipment mating with the vessel for positioning the lower orifice over the spent carbon container.

4. The method of claim 2 that includes a vessel having a lower valved orifice at the bottom of the vessel.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the lifting includes lifting with a forklift.

7. The method of claim 3 that includes shaking the vessel with the lifting equipment while positioned over the spent carbon container.

13. A carbon filter vessel, comprising:

a vessel structured to hold 50 to 2000 pounds of carbon filter material;

the vessel having an inlet and an outlet for placing the vessel in fluid communication with a process stream to be filtered;

the vessel having an upper orifice capable of opening and closing for adding fresh carbon filter material; and

the vessel having a frame element structured for pivoting the vessel to invert the vessel.

14. The vessel of claim 13 wherein the vessel is structured to hold 50 to 1000 pounds of carbon filter material.