Pentair's Polarex® Patent Approved

US Patent 8425663 for Polarex®, an extractive separations technology, was approved on April 23rd, 2013.

On April 23rd, 2013 US Patent 8425663 for Polarex®, an extractive separations technology was approved. Pentair’s Director of Sales and Process Technology, Carl Hahn, Ph.D had a leading role in the development of the breakthrough technology.

Polarex® provides gas processors, chemical manufacturers, and refiners dramatically improved separation of entrained and dissolved contaminants. It is designed to replace conventional water wash and solvent scrubbing towers.

“Polarex is a robust platform which can be applied across a number of challenging applications to displace conventional extraction methods.” Dr. Hahn explained.

Conventional approaches to washing or scrubbing are often limited by contact efficiency and subsequent separation efficiency, resulting in limited performance and large capital investments. The Polarex® platform was developed utilizing advanced micro and nano-fiber technology to create a single stage, high efficiency, structured contactor/separator.

The patented Polarex® technology may be applied to the extraction of soluble components from either liquid or gas process streams. It has application to both contaminant removal (e.g. - caustic, dissolved acids, salts, acid gases or reaction by-products) as well as recovery of valuable products or solvents (e.g. – recover soluble amines from treated LPG or recovery of LPG from high BTU natural gas streams) for as little as 20% of the capital associated with a conventional system. It has already been successfully installed in several NGL treating applications (displacing conventional amine contactors) with staggering results of 86% of operational time above nameplate capacity and 19% above design while maintaining treating efficiency.

The process benefits from Polarex® include:

• High efficiency, consistent CO₂ removal from NGL prior to fractionation
• Significantly lower capital costs; smaller footprint and minimized foundation
• Lower operating costs; utilities and solvent losses
• Modular design and ease of operation

About Pentair Separation Systems
Pentair Separation Systems designs and manufactures advanced technologies for the high performance separation of liquids, solids and gases. The company's technologies help solve the most critical separation and extraction issues for the gas, refining, chemical and power generation industries. For more information, visit www.pentairseparations.com

About Pentair Ltd.
Pentair Ltd. delivers industry-leading products, services and solutions for its customers' diverse needs in water and other fluids, thermal management and equipment protection. With pro forma revenues of approximately $8B, Pentair employs more than 30,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit www.pentair.com