BERNARD J LERNER
Engineers in Pittsburgh, PA

6666436, Dec 23, 2003

Sep 25, 2002

10/254423

Bernard J. Lerner - Pittsburgh PA

Beco Engineering Co. - Oakmont PA

B01F 304

261 95, 261DIG 72

An improved random-dumped packed bed for effecting inter-phase heat and mass transfer. The packed bed is a plurality of a first packing size substantially uniformly mixed and co-mingled with a plurality of the suitable second larger packing size. The mixed bed so formed provides the additional surface area and mass transfer capacity of the plurality of the added first smaller packing size while maintaining the gas and liquid limiting flow capacity of a bed of the second larger packing size absent the smaller first packing size.

4229386, Oct 21, 1980

Aug 4, 1976

5/711525

Bernard J. Lerner - Pittsburgh PA

B01F 304

261 98

A packed column comprising a bed of bodies of fibrous material for the interphase transfer of mass and/or heat and the separation of solids or immiscible phases from fluids. Each body is of generally cylindrical form and includes a centrally disposed axial support from which a large number of fibers extend radially, the fibers being secured to the support. The bodies are disposed in the bed at random and interlocked with each other. The density of the fibers in count per unit volume varies from point to point in the packing body and in the bed. The volume of each body is small compared to the volume of the bed. In mass and/or heat transfer with this bed a liquid is distributed over the top of the bed and trickles downwardly through the packing in a multitude of irregular paths while the gas is projected upwardly through the bed. The gas contacts the liquid over a very large surface area for an extended time interval and effective mass and/or heat transfer between the gas and liquid takes place. In the separation of solids or an immiscible phase from a fluid, the fluid is transmitted once or repeatedly through the bed and the fibrous packing acts to agglomerate or coalesce the solid or immiscible phase components and deposit these components on the fibrous surface.

5607654, Mar 4, 1997

Oct 24, 1995

8/547317

Bernard J. Lerner - Pittsburgh PA

Beco Engineering Company - Oakmont PA

B01D 5364, B01D 5368, B01D 5370, F23G 500

423240S

A method and apparatus for minimizing the environmental release of acids and toxic organic compounds from a waste incinerator-air pollution control train. The apparatus comprises an incinerator, a gas cooling means such as a waste heat boiler or quench chamber, a means for the partial removal of acid gases and dioxins by contact with either finely-divided alkaline solids or alternatively, by an alkaline solution in a spray drier-absorber, a dry solids collection means such as a fabric filter or electrostatic precipitator, a wet scrubber means for residual metal, dioxin/acid gas removal and an induced draft fan. In the method of this invention, the final wet scrubber stage operates without alkaline neutralization, but under scrubber acid concentrations and operating conditions that provide an exhaust gas within compliance limits of emission regulations. The contaminated liquor blowdown from the wet scrubber, which contains toxic organics and acids, is recycled back into the incinerator. The aqueous acid liquor blown down to the incineration is vaporized therein, most of the toxic organic content of the liquid is destroyed by the re-incineration, and the regenerated acid gases are largely removed by the first dry scrubbing stage.

5238665, Aug 24, 1993

Jun 10, 1991

7/712475

Bernard J. Lerner - Pittsburgh PA

Beco Engineering Company - Oakmont PA

B01D 5334, F23G 500

423240S

A method and apparatus for minimizing the environmental release of acids and toxic organic compounds from a waste incinerator-air pollution control train. The apparatus comprises an incinerator, a gas cooling means such as a waste heat boiler or quench chamber, a means for the partial removal of acid gases and dioxins by contact with either finely-divided alkaline solids or alternatively, by an alkaline solution in a spray drier-absorber, a dry solids collection means such as a fabric filter or electrostatic precipitator, a wet scrubber means for residual metal, dioxin/acid gas removal and an induced draft fan. In the method of this invention, the final wet scrubber stage operates without alkaline neutralization, but under scrubber acid concentrations and operating conditions that provide an exhaust gas within compliance limits of emission regulations. The contaminated liquor blowdown from the wet scrubber, which contains toxic organics and acids, is recycled back into the incinerator. The aqueous acid liquor blown down to the incineration is vaporized therein, most of the toxic organic content of the liquid is destroyed by the re-incineration, and the regenerated acid gases are largely removed by the first dry scrubbing state.

4732585, Mar 22, 1988

Mar 21, 1986

6/842203

Bernard J. Lerner - Pittsburgh PA

B01D 4714

55 90

Apparatus for treating fluids flowing at high velocity, for mass and heat transfer, for gas-liquid contacting and for contaminant particulate, mist or fume separation, including a plurality of perforated or unperforated cylinders arrayed staggered in rows perpendicular to the direction of flow of the fluid. The elements are spatially separated from each other. Diagonal by-pass flow through the array is blocked by a partition extending from each element generally parallel to the direction of flow of fluid bisecting the space between a pair of elements of an adjacent row with the elements of the pair symmetrically spaced with respect to the partition. Also, a method of removing contaminants from gas by passing the gas through this array between and injecting a liquid into the array. Capture of the contaminants by the drops is effected because of the difference in acceleration of each as the contaminated gas passes in and out of the gap between each cylinder and its adjacent partitions. Also, mass interchange between a gas transmitted upwardly through the array and liquid injected into the gas.

5110325, May 5, 1992

Apr 22, 1991

7/688439

Bernard J. Lerner - Pittsburgh PA

B01D 4700

55 90

This invention relates to a novel gas-liquid contacting apparatus and method utilizing recycle spray contact trays disposed within a substantially vertical vessel. Each contact tray contains one or more housings defined by upstanding vertical wall members, said housings being open to gas flow at top and bottom. Within the housings, liquid spray is continuously generated by means of gas flowing upward past a first array of horizontally spaced-apart gas venturi-generating liquid conductors. Liquid flows from the tray floor outside the housing through the liquid conductors, is distributed into the gas, and is entrained upward as spray by the gas venturi action. Horizontally-disposed foraminous or perforated flow-restrictive elements, vertically spaced apart, mounted on top of the housings, cause the liquid spray to coalesce and regenerate at the first flow-restrictive barrier element which occupies the cross-sectional area of the vertical housing. A major portion of the gas and contained spray is then caused to flow laterally, normal to the upward gas flow direction, through the high-voidage space between the elements. The flow-restrictive elements are comprised of foraminous or perforated plates, or anisotropic material such as layered mesh.

RE33444, Nov 20, 1990

Aug 11, 1988

7/230878

Bernard J. Lerner - Pittsburgh PA

B01D 4714

55 90

Apparatus for treating fluids flowing at high velocity, for mass and heat transfer, for gas-liquid contacting and for contaminant particulate, mist or fume separation, including a plurality of perforated or unperforated cylinders arrayed staggered in rows perpendicular to the direction of flow of the fluid. The elements are spatially separated from each other. Diagonal by-pass flow through the array is blocked by a partition extending from each element generally parallel to the direction of flow of fluid bisecting the space between a pair of elements of an adjacent row with the elements of the pair symmetrically spaced with respect to the partition. Also, a method of removing contaminants from gas by passing the gas through this array between and injecting a liquid into the array. Capture of the contaminants by the drops is effected because of the difference in acceleration of each as the contaminated gas passes in and out of the gap between each cylinder and its adjacent partitions. Also, mass interchange between a gas transmitted upwardly through the array and liquid injected into the gas.

5695726, Dec 9, 1997

Oct 6, 1995

8/540183

Bernard J. Lerner - Pittsburgh PA

Beco Engineering Company - Oakmont PA

B01D 4700, B01D 5364, C01B 700, A62D 300

423210

Toxic metal vapor phase compounds, and in particular, mercury and cadmium, are removed from waste incinerator combustion gases by contact with dry alkaline material and dry activated carbon followed by solids separation. The resulting gas is subjected to quench/wet scrubbing with recycle hydrochloric acid solution formed in situ by absorption of HCl from the gas. Blowdown liquid withdrawn from the recycle acid liquor, may be recycled to the incinerator or further treated by neutralization, precipitation, and filtration of the precipitated toxic metals.

4022593, May 10, 1977

May 5, 1975

5/574268

Bernard J. Lerner - Pittsburgh PA

B01D 4702

55 90

A mist eliminator for liquid-gas contacting apparatus for removing the mist from the mist-containing gas of the apparatus. This mist eliminator includes a porous pad, the up-stream surface of which is engaged by one or more fibrous bodies permeable to the liquid and spaced along the up-stream surface of the pad. The fibrous bodies are spaced apart from each other so as not to impede the flow of the liquid or mist-containing gas. The bodies drain the layer of liquid downstream from the up-stream surface of the pad; the liquid flowing in thin streams through the centers of the bodies. The streams are shielded from reentrainment in the gas by the fibrous portion of the body surrounding the streams. The hydrostatic head of the streams is sufficient to cause the liquid to emerge from the drainage bodies in drops too large to be readily reentrained by the gas.