Patents Assigned to Intelligent Energy, Inc.
  • Patent number: 7452404
    Abstract: A process and system for separating a fuel stream containing a low concentration of sulfur compounds from a primary fuel stream is disclosed. The process includes isolating a stage-one permeate stream and a stage-one retentate stream from the primary fuel stream, evaporating the stage-one permeate stream at a vacuum, and isolating a stage-two permeate stream and a stage-two retentate stream from the stage-one permeate stream. The stage-two retentate stream is a fuel stream containing low concentrations of sulfur compounds. The system includes a fuel supply, a stage-one separator for separating a fuel stream into a stage-one permeate stream and a stage-one retentate stream, a stage-two separator, a first supply line connecting a portion of the fuel supply to the stage-one separator, and a second supply line connecting the stage-one separator permeate stream to the stage-two separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Intelligent Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Kandaswamy Duraiswamy, Richard Root Woods
  • Patent number: 7452405
    Abstract: A system for producing an auxiliary fuel stream containing a low concentration of sulfur compounds from a primary fuel stream includes a first separation stage to separate a portion of a primary fuel stream into a first vapor permeate stream and a first retentate stream, a first separation stage partial condenser connected to the first vapor permeate stream condensing a portion of the first vapor permeate stream into a first liquid stage stream and a first vapor stage stream, and a second separation stage partial condenser condensing a portion of the first vapor stage stream into a second liquid stage. The first vapor permeate stream is preferable sent through a vapor phase reactive desulfurization catalyst reactor to condition any sulfur compounds present into species that can be easily separated from the fuel stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Intelligent Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Kandaswamy Duraiswamy, Richard Root Woods
  • Patent number: 7439273
    Abstract: A hydrogen generation system is disclosed that includes a fuel reforming reactor generating a hydrogen-rich reformate gas at a temperature greater than 150 C, a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) hydrogen purification unit that separates the reformate gas into a relatively pure hydrogen stream and an off-gas stream, and a catalytic reactor down stream of the PSA unit that converts carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H2) contained in the relatively pure hydrogen stream into methane (CH4) and water vapor (H2O). The method of purification involves generating a hydrogen-rich reformate gas at a temperature greater than 150 C in a fuel reforming reactor, separating the reformate gas into a relatively pure hydrogen stream and an off-gas stream in a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) hydrogen purification unit, and converting carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H2) contained in the relatively pure hydrogen stream into methane (CH4) and water vapor (H2O) in a catalytic reactor down stream of the PSA unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Intelligent Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Root Woods, Brook Forest Porter, Kandaswamy Duraiswamy
  • Patent number: 7399392
    Abstract: An electrochemical reformer 1 using reactant feed structures having both hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions to provide mechanisms for the wicking of liquid reactants into reformer 1 and for the separation and removal of gaseous products from reformer 1. The electrical reformer 1 may be combined with a fuel cell, a portion of the output of which is used to power reformer 1, to create a compact, portable power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Intelligent Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Root Woods, Rahul Hari Iyer, Brook Forest Porter
  • Publication number: 20080131340
    Abstract: A method and device for loading a catalyst into a chamber. The catalyst loading is well suited for production of hydrogen producing microreactors. The catalyst is coated onto a strip which is mountable within the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Applicant: INTELLIGENT ENERGY, INC.
    Inventor: Anand Chellappa
  • Publication number: 20080073249
    Abstract: A method of and system for reducing engine environmental atmospheric pollution emissions from a vehicle having a combustion engine utilizing hydrocarbon fuel for at least one of propulsion and auxiliary electrical power is disclosed. The method basically includes providing an unprocessed bulk fuel storage container and a clean processed fuel tank on the vehicle, supplying the engine for propulsion with fuel from the unprocessed fuel storage container when the vehicle is beyond a predetermined distance from an area having environmental restrictions passing a portion of unprocessed fuel through a desulphurization process to fill a clean fuel storage container while the vehicle is in motion and supplying the combustion engine for one of propulsion and auxiliary electrical power from clean fuel in the processed fuel storage container when the vehicle is within an area having environmental restrictions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2007
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Applicant: INTELLIGENT ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Kandswamy Duraiswamy, Anand Chellappa
  • Publication number: 20080017524
    Abstract: The present disclosure is related to methods and apparatus that provide safe storage of volatile compounds or elements, utilizing storage configurations that take advantage of the diffusibility and release characteristics of cell-based materials, such as foam materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Applicant: INTELLIGENT ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Powell, Matthew Fountain, Anand Chellappa
  • Publication number: 20070212293
    Abstract: A hydrogen generation system is disclosed that has a vaporization section receiving and vaporizing fuel along with water and passing the vapor to a reformer catalyst section heated by a combustor section which generates reformate gas and is fueled by off-gas from a H2 purification unit along with a combustion air source. The off-gas outlet feeds the combustor section in the reformer assembly to heat the catalyst section and the vaporization section. An H2 storage unit connected to the H2 purification unit pure H2 outlet receives the pure H2. The storage unit has an outlet selectively connectable to the reformer assembly process inlet during startup without the need for a spark igniter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2006
    Publication date: September 13, 2007
    Applicant: INTELLIGENT ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Brook Forest Porter, Kandaswamy Duraiswamy, Richard Root Woods
  • Publication number: 20070212295
    Abstract: A hydrogen generation system is disclosed that includes a fuel reforming reactor generating a hydrogen-rich reformate gas at a temperature greater than 150 C, a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) hydrogen purification unit that separates the reformate gas into a relatively pure hydrogen stream and an off-gas stream, and a catalytic reactor down stream of the PSA unit that converts carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H2) contained in the relatively pure hydrogen stream into methane (CH4) and water vapor (H2O). The method of purification involves generating a hydrogen-rich reformate gas at a temperature greater than 150 C in a fuel reforming reactor, separating the reformate gas into a relatively pure hydrogen stream and an off-gas stream in a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) hydrogen purification unit, and converting carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H2) contained in the relatively pure hydrogen stream into methane (CH4) and water vapor (H2O) in a catalytic reactor down stream of the PSA unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Publication date: September 13, 2007
    Applicant: INTELLIGENT ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Richard Root Woods, Brook Forest Porter, Kandaswamy Duraiswamy
  • Patent number: 7220699
    Abstract: A method and device for loading a catalyst into a chamber. The catalyst loading is well suited for production of hydrogen producing microreactors. The catalyst is coated onto a strip which is mountable within the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Intelligent Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Anand Chellappa
  • Publication number: 20070012184
    Abstract: A system for producing an auxiliary fuel stream containing a low concentration of sulfur compounds from a primary fuel stream includes a first separation stage to separate a portion of a primary fuel stream into a first vapor permeate stream and a first retentate stream, a first separation stage partial condenser connected to the first vapor permeate stream condensing a portion of the first vapor permeate stream into a first liquid stage stream and a first vapor stage stream, and a second separation stage partial condenser condensing a portion of the first vapor stage stream into a second liquid stage. The first vapor permeate stream is preferable sent through a vapor phase reactive desulfurization catalyst reactor to condition any sulfur compounds present into species that can be easily separated from the fuel stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2006
    Publication date: January 18, 2007
    Applicant: INTELLIGENT ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Kandaswamy Duraiswamy, Richard Woods