James H Wilhelm
Engineers in Sandy, UT

6803025, Oct 12, 2004

Dec 5, 2002

10/065971

Frank B. Meserole - Austin TX 78759
Robert E. Moser - Santa Cruz CA 95060
James H. Wilhelm - Sandy UT 84092

C01B 1720

42324308, 42324306

A process of using sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate solutions to remove SO and other acidic gases or vapors from a flue gas without substantially decreasing the amount of sulfur dioxide also present in the flue gas. Very limited quantities of such solutions are injected into the flue gas in a manner that achieves a controlled droplet size, such that the solution dries on contact with the flue gas and the resulting dry particles of sodium carbonate/bicarbonate are sufficiently small as to have adequate surface area for reacting with SO , as well as any H SO and, to some extent, HCl vapors in the flue gas.

5213782, May 25, 1993

Nov 22, 1991

7/796613

Robert E. Moser - Palo Alto CA
James H. Wilhelm - Sandy UT
John Burke - Chamblee GA
Sterling Gray - Louisville KY

Electric Power Research Institute - Palo Alto CA

C01B 1700

4232431

An improved magnesium-enhanced lime flue gas desulfurization system and process are provided which produce the high sulfur dioxide removal level of previous magnesium-enhanced lime flue gas desulfurization systems and additionally produce waste solids that have significantly better properties and are more easily dewatered than the solids produced by known systems. The magnesium-enhanced lime flue gas desulfurization system of the present invention includes a crystallizer-clarifier reaction tank (CCRT) which receives scrubber effluent and functions as a combined reaction tank and thickener. Clear liquor from the CCRT is sent to a scrubber to scrub the flue gas, and a portion of the CCRT-thickened solids are directed to a high pH premix slurry tank (PMST) where the crystallization environment can be controlled by reagent addition and pH. The PMST contents are circulated to the CCRT and are separated to produce a waste solids fraction that is easily dewatered. A fines removal system may also be employed to reduce the presence of fine solids and promote large crystal solids.

4540556, Sep 10, 1985

Jul 30, 1984

6/636348

James H. Wilhelm - Sandy UT

Central Illinois Public Service Company - Springfield IL

C01B 1700, C01B 1745, C01B 1762

423242

A process for the recovery of gypsum as a product of a dual alkali system for regeneration of a sodium base alkaline scrubber liquor in which the liquor reacts with ground limestone in two serially connected sludge blankets containing from 15%-40% solids in a liquor matrix and overlain by a relatively clear supernatant pool. Upon completion of regeneration the liquor is discharged from the second blanket to the scrubber cycle while a proportionate amount of the slurry is further treated to reduce its pH and/or increase its density and/or to displace regenerated scrubber from the matrix after which the slurry is transferred to a separate tank and there oxidized to gypsum then it is filtered. The filtrate is returned to the liquor regeneration cycle and the gypsum recovered as product.

5770164, Jun 23, 1998

May 9, 1996

8/647053

Robert E. Moser - Palo Alto CA
David R. Owens - Mountain View CA
James H. Wilhelm - Sandy UT
James D. Colley - Anchorage KY
Oliver W. Hargrove - Austin TX

Electric Power Research Institute - Palo Alto CA

B01D 5000, B01J 804, C10B 1720

422171

An efficient and cost-effective flue gas desulfurization apparatus for removing sulfur dioxide from waste gases is provided. The apparatus employs a substantially solids-free clear liquor scrubbing liquid and an, organic acid additive capable of maintaining a process pH of 4. 5 to 6. 0 under inhibited oxidation conditions in the absorber to accomplish sulfur dioxide removal while avoiding scale formation and encrustation. Calcium sulfite relative saturation is controlled to a desired low optimum level by maintaining the circulating calcium ion concentration at a corresponding, optimum low level. A smaller thickener unit area is required to produced calcium sulfite crystals with optimum settling and dewatering characteristics. A reactor system that promotes the formation of small, efficiently dewatered calcium sulfite solids is also provided.

5376280, Dec 27, 1994

Oct 25, 1993

8/143495

James H. Wilhelm - Sandy UT
C. J. H. Brest Vankempen - Salt Lake City UT
Ralph A. Cutler - Centerville UT
Vincent E. Hamilton - Salt Lake City UT

Westech Engineering, Inc. - Salt Lake City UT

C02F 156, B01D 2130

210741

A flocculation control system for controlling a feed rate of a flocculant into an aqueous slurry comprises an elongate settling tube having an open lower end for placing into the slurry. An air eductor creates a subatmospheric pressure within the settling tube to thereby draw a sample of the slurry therein to a predetermined location above the slurry level. A control valve hermetically seals an upper end of the settling tube to maintain the subatmospheric pressure therein such that the sample is retained in a quiescent state and in fluid communication with the slurry body. A pressure sensor senses the subatmospheric pressure within the settling tube, and measurements thereof are taken at selectable intervals to develop an initial measurement of said pressure and intermediate lower magnitude measurements of said pressure resulting from the settling of particles from the sample. The pressure measurements enable calculation of the weight concentration and settling velocity of said suspended particulates. A desired settling velocity for optimizing flocculant feed rate can be determined from the weight concentration of the suspended particles.

5486342, Jan 23, 1996

Jun 13, 1994

8/258921

Robert E. Moser - Palo Alto CA
David R. Owens - Mountain View CA
James H. Wilhelm - Sandy UT
Miriam Stohs - Austin TX
James D. Colley - Anchorage KY
Oliver W. Hargrove - Austin TX

Electric Power Research Institute - Palo Alto CA

B01D 5350

42324301

A flue gas desulfurization process and system employing a clear scrubbing liquor and an organic acid buffer conducted under forced oxidation conditions to produce a usable gypsum by-product without scrubber scaling and abrasion is provided. Calcium ion concentration and chloride concentration are suppressed to improve limestone utilization, reduce the consumption of organic acids and improve crystal growth. The FGD system includes a limestone reactor for precipitating gypsum separate from the scrubber system which allows the recovery of pure carbon dioxide and a clarifier/softener tank which allows the production of gypsum-free clear scrubbing liquor and a drier gypsum filter cake.

5260045, Nov 9, 1993

Nov 22, 1991

7/796603

Robert E. Moser - Palo Alto CA
James H. Wilhelm - Sandy UT
John Burke - Chamblee GA
Sterling Gray - Louisville KY

Electric Power Research Institute - Palo Alto CA

C01B 1700, C01B 1722

42324309

An improved wet magnesium-enhanced lime flue gas desulfurization system and process are provided. The magnesium-enhanced lime slurry process for removing sulfur dioxide from flue gas to produce gas that is substantially free from sulfur dioxide and calcium and sulfite-containing waste solids is modified to include the addition of process reagents to a separate premix slurry tank which has a controlled, high pH. The addition of slurry formed from the scrubber effluent to the premix slurry tank is controlled to maintain the pH above 10. The premix slurry tank mixture is circulated to a reaction tank for reaction with the scrubber effluent to produce large crystal, easily dewatered waste solids.

5558848, Sep 24, 1996

May 30, 1995

8/453897

Robert E. Moser - Palo Alto CA
David R. Owens - Mountain View CA
James H. Wilhelm - Sandy UT
James D. Colley - Anchorage KY
Oliver W. Hargrove - Austin TX

B01D 5350

42324301

An efficient and cost-effective flue gas desulfurization process for removing sulfur dioxide from waste gases is provided. The process employs a substantially solids-free clear liquor scrubbing liquid and an organic acid additive capable of maintaining a process pH of 4. 5 to 6. 0 under inhibited oxidation conditions in the absorber to accomplish sulfur dioxide removal while avoiding scale formation and encrustation. Calcium sulfite relative saturation is controlled to a desired low optimum level by maintaining the circulating calcium ion concentration at a corresponding optimum low level. A smaller thickener unit area is required to produce calcium sulfite crystals with optimum settling and dewatering characteristics. A reactor system that promotes the formation of small, efficiently dewatered calcium sulfite solids is also provided.

4740362, Apr 26, 1988

Jan 5, 1987

7/000560

Paul F. Claerbout - Springfield IL
Steven J. Harvey - Newton IL
Robert S. Butler - Effingham IL
Jerry L. Simpson - Murphysboro IL
James H. Wilhelm - Sandy UT

Central Illinois Public Service Company - Springfield IL

C01B 1700

423242

High efficiency scrubbing of SO. sub. 2 from stack gases by contact with a sodium based liquor is achieved by adjusting the pH of the scrubber liquor supplied to be in the range of 7. 00 to 8. 00; and a source of such liquor in a dual alkali system is disclosed in which a mixture of slaked lime and limestone is reacted with spent liquor in two stages one of which is at pH above 8. 00, the other of which is at a pH below about 6. 8 and the pH of the resulting regenerated liquor is adjusted to the desired pH range.

4147756, Apr 3, 1979

Apr 9, 1976

5/675364

Donald A. Dahlstrom - Salt Lake City UT
William Ellison - Lebanon PA
James H. Wilhelm - Sandy UT

Envirotech Corporation - Menlo Park CA

C01B 1700

423242

In a cooperative combination of two scrubbing systems, the first scrubbing system operates upon combustion gases with an aqueous solution to remove hydrogen chloride gas and other chlorine components. The second scrubbing system subsequently operates upon the combustion gases with a sodium-base solution to absorb sulfur oxides. The products of the two scrubbing systems are treated in combination to form a material for disposal and to generate the aqueous scrubbing solution for the chloride scrubbing system.