1. A method for separating water from a Fischer-Tropsch stream comprising:
a) feeding the Fischer-Tropsch stream to a separation membrane having an upstream retentate side and a downstream permeate side, with the stream being fed to the upstream retentate side;
b) recovering a retentate stream reduced in water content from the upstream retentate side of the separation membrane;
c) recovering water from the downstream permeate side of the separation membrane;
d) feeding the retentate stream reduced in water content to a condenser and a separation unit;
e) recovering a hydrogen-rich gas from the separation unit; and
f) using the hydrogen-rich gas as a hydrogen-rich sweep gas by passing the gas past the downstream permeate side of the separation membrane.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the stream fed to the separation membrane is an overhead vapor stream, and water vapor is recovered from the downstream permeate side of the separation membrane.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the separation membrane is a ceramic membrane.
4. The method of claim 2, further comprising feeding the water vapor recovered to a thermal oxidizer.
5. A method for separating water from a Fischer-Tropsch stream comprising:
a) feeding the Fischer-Tropsch stream to a separation membrane having an upstream retentate side and a downstream permeate side, with the stream being fed to the upstream retentate side;
b) recovering a retentate stream reduced in water content from the upstream retentate side of the separation membrane;
c) recovering water vapor from the downstream permeate side of the separation membrane; and
d) feeding a sweep gas to the downstream permeate side of the separation membrane to thereby remove the water permeate, wherein the sweep gas is a hydrogen-rich tail gas separated from a Fischer-Tropsch product stream.
6. A method for separating water from a Fischer-Tropsch stream comprising:
a) feeding the Fischer-Tropsch stream to a separation membrane having an upstream retentate side and a downstream permeate side, with the stream being fed to the upstream retentate side;
b) recovering a retentate stream reduced in water content from the upstream retentate side of the separation membrane;
c) recovering water from the downstream permeate side of the separation membrane;
d) feeding the water vapor to a condenser and a separation unit;
e) recovering a hydrogen-rich gas from the separation unit; and
f) using the hydrogen-rich gas as a hydrogen-rich sweep gas by passing the gas past the downstream permeate side of the separation membrane to thereby remove the water permeate.
7. A method for separating water vapor from a Fischer-Tropsch overhead product comprising:
a) feeding the Fischer-Tropsch overhead product to a ceramic membrane comprising an upstream retentate side and a downstream permeate side;
b) feeding a hydrogen-rich sweep gas to the downstream permeate side of the ceramic membrane in order to recover water vapor;
c) feeding the recovered water vapor and hydrogen-rich gas to a thermal oxidizer;
d) recovering a gas reduced in water content from the upstream retentate side of the ceramic membrane;
e) feeding the gas reduced in water content to a condenser and a separation unit;
f) recovering a hydrogen-rich gas from the separation unit; and
g) using at least a portion of the hydrogen-rich gas as the hydrogen-rich sweep gas.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A respiratory mask assembly for treatment of sleep disordered breathing, comprising:
a mask frame;
a cushion provided to the mask frame; and
a headgear system having a plurality of straps including at least one strap constructed from a laminate having at least a first fabric layer and a second fabric layer, said first fabric layer being constructed and arranged to be located on a patient-contacting side in use, and said second fabric layer being constructed and arranged to be located on a non patient-contacting side in use, and further wherein said first fabric layer and said second fabric layer are joined at a joint configured to be positioned away from the patient’s face when in use, and wherein said at least one strap has a first rounded lateral edge when viewed in cross-section, and
wherein the joint is positioned at approximately a center or middle of the first rounded lateral edge when viewed in cross section.
2. The respiratory mask assembly of claim 1, wherein the laminate comprises a layer of resilient material between the first fabric layer and the second fabric layer.
3. The respiratory mask assembly of claim 1, wherein the laminate comprises a layer of rigid material between the first fabric layer and the second fabric layer.
4. The respiratory mask assembly of claim 1, wherein the laminate comprises a layer of semi-rigid material between the first fabric and the second fabric layer.
5. The respiratory mask assembly of claim 1, wherein the laminate further comprises a foam layer.
6. The respiratory mask assembly of claim 5, wherein said foam layer is encapsulated between said first fabric layer and said second fabric layer.
7. The respiratory mask assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one strap includes a second rounded lateral edge, opposite said first rounded lateral edge, as seen in said cross section.
8. The respiratory mask assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of straps further comprises a stretch portion and a portion configured not to stretch.
9. The respiratory mask assembly of claim 1, wherein said plurality of straps comprises an extensible portion and an inextensible portion.
10. The respiratory mask assembly of claim 1, further comprising a rear portion comprising a first strap being configured to engage a back of a patient’s head in a substantially circular or oval shape, the first strap having at least a portion that is substantially inextensible.
11. The respiratory mask assembly of claim 1, further comprising a rear portion comprising a rear loop of straps that circumscribes the rear of the head, the rear loop being substantially inextensible along its length.
12. The respiratory mask assembly of claim 1, further comprising a rear portion comprising a substantially inextensible arcuate region constructed to resiliently return to a predetermined shape when not in use.
13. The respiratory mask assembly of claim 1, further comprising a rear portion comprising a relatively inextensible rear portion that is configured to be located at the upper half of the patient’s head while in use.
14. The respiratory mask assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of straps is relatively extensible and a rear portion of the plurality of straps is relatively inextensible.
15. The respiratory mask assembly of claim 1, further comprising a rear portion configured to engage a back of a patient’s head and extend on either side of the patient’s parietal bone behind the patient’s ears and assume, in use, a substantially circular or oval shape.
16. The respiratory mask assembly of claim 1, further comprising at least one lower strap configured to extend below the patient’s ear in use, the at least one lower strap including a hook and loop material tab for attachment to the respiratory mask.
17. The respiratory mask assembly of claim 1, further comprising at least one upper strap configured to extend above the patient’s ear in use, wherein the at least one upper strap includes a hook and loop material tab for attachment to the respiratory mask.
18. The respiratory mask assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of straps comprises a portion that is configured to be relatively self-supporting such that the headgear system maintains a three dimensional shape when not in use.
19. The respiratory mask assembly of claim 1, wherein the first fabric layer and the second fabric layer are stitched in a region to stiffen the at least one strap of said plurality of straps.
20. The respiratory mask assembly of claim 1, wherein the first fabric layer and the second fabric layer are ultrasonically welded in a region to stiffen the at least one strap of said plurality of straps.
21. The respiratory mask assembly of claim 1, wherein the first fabric layer and the second fabric layer are compressed in a region to stiffen the at least one strap of said plurality of straps.
22. The respiratory mask assembly of claim 1, wherein the first fabric layer and the second fabric layer are thickened or treated in a region to stiffen the at least one strap of said plurality of straps.
23. The respiratory mask assembly of claim 1, wherein a stiffened region provides the headgear with a 3D shape when not in use.
24. The respiratory mask assembly of claim 1, wherein said plurality of straps further comprises a crown strap.
25. The respiratory mask assembly of claim 24, wherein the crown strap is configured to lie flat on the crown of a patient’s head in use.
26. The respiratory mask assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of straps includes a rear portion configured to lie flat on the rear of a patient’s head in use.
27. The respiratory mask assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first fabric layer and said second fabric layer having, as viewed in said cross-section, a central portion and a marginal portion on each lateral side of said central portion, the central portion projecting to a plane that is offset from a plane in which each said marginal portion projects.
28. The respiratory mask assembly of claim 1, wherein each of said first fabric layer and said second fabric layer forms an exterior surface of said first rounded lateral edge.
29. A respiratory mask system for treating a patient with sleep disordered breathing, comprising:
a respiratory mask having a mask frame;
a mask cushion provided to the frame; and
a headgear system to hold the respiratory mask in a position on a face of a patient to enhance sealing of the cushion with the patient’s face, the headgear system including a plurality of straps for attachment with the mask frame, said plurality of straps comprising:
at least one upper strap configured to extend above the patient’s ear in use, the at least one upper strap including loop material and an end with hook material, for adjustable attachment to a forehead support;
at least one lower strap configured to extend below the patient’s ear in use, the at least one lower strap including loop material and an end with hook material for adjustable attachment to a lower part of the mask; and
a rear strap portion having a rear loop configured and dimensioned to circumscribe the rear of the patient’s head, the at least one upper strap and the at least one lower strap being attached to the rear strap portion via stitched joins,
wherein at least one strap of said plurality of straps is constructed from a laminate having at least a first layer and a second layer, said first layer being constructed and arranged to be located on a patient-contacting side in use, and said second layer being constructed and arranged to be located on a non patient-contacting side in use, and further wherein each of said first layer and said second layer forms a part of at least one rounded lateral edge of the at least one strap when viewed in cross-section.
30. The respiratory mask system of claim 29, further comprising a joint located along mutual edges of the first and second layers.
31. The respiratory mask system of claim 30, wherein the joint is positioned at approximately a center or middle of the at least one rounded lateral edge when viewed in cross section.
32. The respiratory mask system of claim 29, wherein the laminate comprises a layer of rigid or resilient material between the first layer and the second layer.
33. The respiratory mask system of claim 29, wherein the laminate comprises a layer of semi-rigid material between the first and the second layer.
34. The respiratory mask system of claim 29, wherein the laminate further comprises a foam layer.
35. The respiratory mask system of claim 34, wherein said foam layer is encapsulated between said first layer and said second layer.
36. The respiratory mask system of claim 29, wherein the plurality of straps further comprises a stretch portion and a portion configured not to stretch.
37. The respiratory mask system of claim 29, wherein the rear loop comprises a first strap being configured to engage a back of a patient’s head in a substantially circular or oval shape, the at least one strap having at least a portion that is substantially inextensible.
38. The respiratory mask system of claim 29, wherein the rear loop comprises a rear loop of straps configured to circumscribe the rear of the patient’s head, the rear loop being substantially inextensible along its length and the at least one upper strap being substantially extensible along its length.
39. The respiratory mask system of claim 29, wherein the rear strap portion comprises a substantially inextensible arcuate region constructed to resiliently return to a predetermined shape when not in use.
40. The respiratory mask system of claim 29, wherein the rear strap portion comprises a relatively inextensible rear portion that is configured to be located at the upper half of the patient’s head while in use.
41. The respiratory mask system of claim 29, wherein the rear strap portion is configured to engage a back of a patient’s head and extend on either side of the patient’s parietal bone behind the patient’s ears and assume, in use, a substantially circular or oval shape.
42. The respiratory mask system of claim 29, wherein the plurality of straps comprises a portion that is configured to be relatively self-supporting such that the headgear system maintains a three dimensional shape when not in use.
43. The respiratory mask system of claim 29, further comprising a stiffened region that provides the headgear with a 3D shape when not in use.
44. The respiratory mask system of claim 29, wherein said plurality of straps comprises a crown strap.
45. The respiratory mask system of claim 44, wherein the crown strap is configured to lie flat on the crown of a patient’s head in use.
46. The respiratory mask system of claim 29, wherein the rear strap portion is configured to lie flat on the rear of a patient’s head in use.
47. The respiratory mask system of claim 29,
wherein the first and second layers have mutual abutting edges that define a joint positioned at approximately a center or middle of the at least one rounded lateral edge when viewed in cross section;
wherein the laminate further comprises a foam layer;
wherein said foam layer is substantively encapsulated between said first layer and said second layer;
wherein the rear strap portion comprises a rear loop of straps dimensioned to circumscribe the rear of the head, the rear loop being substantially inextensible along its length;
wherein the rear strap portion comprises an arcuate region constructed to resiliently return to a predetermined 3D shape when not in use; and
wherein the relatively inextensible material of the rear strap portions is configured to be located at an upper half of the patient’s head while in use.
48. A respiratory mask for treating a patient with sleep-disordered breathing, comprising:
a mask frame;
a mask cushion to seal with the patients face, and
a plurality of straps comprising:
a pair of upper straps each configured to extend above the patient’s ear in use, each said upper strap including an outwardly facing loop material layer and an end with hook material to adjustably engage the outwardly facing loop material layer, for length-adjustable attachment to a forehead support;
a pair of lower straps each configured to extend below the patient’s ear in use, each said lower strap including an outwardly facing loop material layer and an end with hook material to adjustably engage the outwardly facing loop material layer, for length-adjustable attachment with a lower part of the mask; and
a rear strap portion having a rear loop configured and dimensioned to circumscribe the rear of the patient’s head, each said upper strap and each said lower strap being attached to the rear strap portion via stitched joins,
wherein each of said upper strap and each said lower strap is constructed from at least a patient-contacting fabric material layer and a respective said outwardly facing loop material layer, each said patient-contacting fabric material layer being constructed and arranged to engage the patient’s face while in use, and further wherein mutual edges of the patient-contacting fabric material layer and said outwardly facing loop material layer form a joint positioned, as seen in cross-section, at a lateral edge of each said upper strap and each said lower strap.
49. The respiratory mask of claim 48, wherein each said lateral edge includes a rounded or tapered portion including a part of the patient-contacting fabric material layer and a part of the outwardly facing loop material layer.
50. The respiratory mask of claim 49, wherein each said joint is positioned at approximately a center or middle of said rounded or tapered portion when viewed in cross section.
51. The respiratory mask of claim 48, wherein each upper strap and each lower strap comprises a layer of rigid or resilient material between the patient-contacting fabric material layer and the outwardly facing loop material layer.
52. The respiratory mask of claim 48, further comprising a semi-rigid material layer between the patient-contacting fabric material layer and the outwardly facing loop material layer.
53. The respiratory mask of claim 48, further comprising a foam material layer for each said upper strap and each said lower strap.
54. The respiratory mask of claim 53, wherein said foam material layer is between each said patient-contacting material layer and a respective said outwardly facing loop material layer.
55. The respiratory mask of claim 48, wherein the plurality of straps further comprises a stretch portion and a portion configured not to stretch.
56. The respiratory mask of claim 48, wherein the rear loop comprises a first strap being configured to engage a back of a patient’s head in a substantially circular or oval shape, the first strap having at least a portion that is substantially inextensible.
57. The respiratory mask of claim 48, wherein the rear loop comprises a rear loop of straps configured to circumscribe the rear of the patient’s head, the rear loop being substantially inextensible along its length, and each said upper strap being substantially extensible along its length.
58. The respiratory mask of claim 48, wherein the rear strap portion comprises a substantially inextensible arcuate region constructed to resiliently return to a predetermined shape when not in use.
59. The respiratory mask of claim 48, wherein the rear strap portion comprises a relatively inextensible rear portion that is configured to be located at the upper half of the patient’s head while in use.
60. The respiratory mask of claim 48, wherein the rear strap portion is configured to engage a back of a patient’s head and extend on either side of the patient’s parietal bone behind the patient’s ears and assume, in use, a substantially circular or oval shape.
61. The respiratory mask of claim 48, wherein the plurality of straps comprises a portion that is configured to be relatively self-supporting such that the headgear system maintains a three dimensional shape when not in use.
62. The respiratory mask of claim 48, further comprising a stiffened region that provides the headgear with a 3D shape when not in use.
63. The respiratory mask of claim 48, wherein said plurality of straps comprises a crown strap.
64. The respiratory mask of claim 63, wherein the crown strap is configured to lie flat on the crown of a patient’s head in use.
65. The respiratory mask of claim 48, wherein the rear strap portion is configured to lie flat on the rear of a patient’s head in use.
66. The respiratory mask of claim 48,
wherein each said lateral edge includes a rounded or tapered portion including a part of the patient-contacting fabric material layer and a part of the outwardly facing loop material layer;
wherein each said joint is positioned at approximately a center or middle of said rounded or tapered portion when viewed in cross section;
wherein a foam material layer is between said patient-contacting fabric material layer and said outwardly facing loop material layer;
wherein the plurality of straps further comprises a stretch portion and a portion configured not to stretch;
wherein the rear loop comprises a rear loop of straps configured to circumscribe the rear of the patient’s head, the rear loop being substantially inextensible along its length and each said upper strap being substantially extensible along its length;
wherein the rear strap portion comprises a substantially inextensible arcuate region constructed to resiliently return to a predetermined shape when not in use;
wherein the rear strap portion is configured to be located at the upper half of the patient’s head while in use;
wherein the rear strap portion is configured to engage a back of a patient’s head and extend on either side of the patient’s parietal bone behind the patient’s ears, in use,
wherein the plurality of straps comprises a portion that is configured to be relatively self-supporting such that the headgear system maintains a three dimensional shape when not in use;
wherein said plurality of straps comprises a crown strap;
wherein the crown strap is configured to lie flat on the crown of a patient’s head in use; and
wherein the rear strap portion is configured to lie flat on the rear of a patient’s head in use.