Patents Assigned to Precision Combustion, Inc.
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Patent number: 7521028Abstract: An improved catalytic reactor includes a housing having a plate positioned therein defining a first zone and a second zone, and a plurality of conduits fabricated from a heat conducting material and adapted for conducting a fluid therethrough. The conduits are positioned within the housing such that the conduit exterior surfaces and the housing interior surface within the second zone define a first flow path while the conduit interior surfaces define a second flow path through the second zone and not in fluid communication with the first flow path. The conduit exits define a second flow path exit, the conduit exits and the first flow path exit being proximately located and interspersed. The conduits define at least one expanded section that contacts adjacent conduits thereby spacing the conduits within the second zone and forming first flow path exit flow orifices having an aggregate exit area greater than a defined percent of the housing exit plane area.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2005Date of Patent: April 21, 2009Assignee: Precision Combustion, Inc.Inventors: Lance Smith, Shahrokh Etemad, Hasan Karim, William C. Pfefferle
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Patent number: 7513306Abstract: A method of dissociating methane hydrate deposits in-situ is provided in which a supply of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and fuel are provided, the oxygen and the carbon dioxide are mixed to form an oxidizer fluid, and the fuel is combusted downhole by reacting it with the oxidizer fluid to provide hot combustion products. The combustion products are placed in contact with a diluent fluid to produce a cooled product fluid at a temperature higher than the prevailing methane hydrate decomposition temperature. The cooled product fluid is injected into the methane hydrate deposit decomposing the hydrate and releasing natural gas.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2008Date of Patent: April 7, 2009Assignee: Precision Combustion, Inc.Inventor: William C. Pfefferle
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Patent number: 7504047Abstract: The invention disclosed is a method for improving the selectivity of a desired chemical reaction over an undesired chemical reaction utilizing a reactor having at least one channel having a catalyst positioned thereon and a presenting a reactant flow stream at a known flow rate and inlet temperature over the catalyst at a velocity such that a boundary layer formed thereby relative to said catalytic surface defines a thickness that is sufficiently less than the thickness of a fully developed boundary layer over said catalytic surface whereby the desired chemical reaction occurs preferentially over the undesired chemical reaction.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2004Date of Patent: March 17, 2009Assignee: Precision Combustion, Inc.Inventors: Marco J. Castaldi, Maxim Lyubovsky, Subir Roychoudhury
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Patent number: 7476367Abstract: A stacked catalytic reactor is provided comprising of a plurality of housings, each housing defining a cavity having an entrance in fluid communication therewith, each housing further defining a plurality of first passages wherein each such first passage is in fluid communication with the cavity and each such first passage defines an exit. The plurality of housings are placed adjacent one to the other such that a second cavity and second passages are defined between successive housings, each second passage defines an exit, and the first passage exits and the second passage exits are interstratified and proximate one to the other. The stacked catalytic reactor employs backside cooling of a catalyst deposited therein in order to oxidize a fluid in the presence of a catalyst and transfer some heat of reaction into a second fluid and isolate the fluid to be reacted from the backside cooling fluid and then combine both fluids.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2005Date of Patent: January 13, 2009Assignee: Precision Combustion, Inc.Inventors: Shahrokh Etemad, Lance Smith
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Patent number: 7343971Abstract: A method and system for dissociating methane hydrate deposits in-situ is provided wherein an oxidizer fluid and a supply of fuel, both at a pressure higher than that of the methane hydrate deposit, are supplied and delivered to the methane hydrate deposit. The fuel is combusted downhole by reacting it with the oxidizer fluid to provide combustion products. The combustion products are placed in contact with a diluent fluid to produce a heated product fluid. The heated product fluid is injected into the methane hydrate deposit whereby methane is dissociated from the methane hydrate and made available for extraction. In addition, carbon dioxide may be made available to promote the formation of carbon dioxide hydrates from the liberated methane hydrate water.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2005Date of Patent: March 18, 2008Assignee: Precision Combustion, Inc.Inventor: William C. Pfefferle
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Patent number: 6973968Abstract: A method and system for dissociating methane hydrate deposits in-situ is provided wherein an oxidizer fluid and a supply of fuel, both at a pressure higher than that of the methane hydrate deposit, are supplied and delivered to the methane hydrate deposit. The fuel is combusted downhole by reacting it with the oxidizer fluid to provide combustion products. The combustion products are placed in contact with a diluent fluid to produce a heated product fluid. The heated product fluid is injected into the methane hydrate deposit whereby methane is dissociated from the methane hydrate and made available for extraction. In addition, carbon dioxide may be made available to promote the formation of carbon dioxide hydrates from the liberated methane hydrate water.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2004Date of Patent: December 13, 2005Assignee: Precision Combustion, Inc.Inventor: William C. Pfefferle
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Patent number: 6888152Abstract: The invention is an apparatus for producing an IR (infra-red) signature. In the method, the apparatus is mounted on a target to give the target an infra-red signature whereby the target can be acquired by an appropriate weapon sensor.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2002Date of Patent: May 3, 2005Assignee: Precision Combustion, Inc.Inventor: Theodore R. Strickland
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Patent number: 6752623Abstract: The present invention is a method, and an apparatus for practicing the method, that creates a product stream and a heat of reaction from a fuel-rich fuel/air mixture and then contacts the product stream with a sufficient quantity of additional air to completely combust all of the fuel, to which air a portion of the heat of reaction has been transferred.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2002Date of Patent: June 22, 2004Assignee: Precision Combustion, Inc.Inventors: Lance L. Smith, Shahrokh Etemad, Marco J. Castaldi, Hasan Ul Karim, William C. Pfefferle
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Patent number: 6748745Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for use therewith for a main burner of a gas turbine. The method employs catalytic combustion to support main combustion. More specifically, a rich fuel/air mixture is catalytically oxidized with the resulting reacted mixture being made lean by having additional air added thereto. The resulting lean mixture is then combusted in the presence of the main mixture that is also lean thereby supporting combustion of the main mixture. The method allows for enhanced turndown of a lean main mixture.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2001Date of Patent: June 15, 2004Assignee: Precision Combustion, Inc.Inventors: Md. Hasan Ul Karim, Kent Lyle, Lance L. Smith, Shahrokh Etemad, William C Pfefferle
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Patent number: 6746657Abstract: The invention disclosed is a method for the reduction of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide in a gas stream comprising carbon monoxide, hydrogen and water vapor, wherein the carbon monoxide and hydrogen have a mole ratio greater than 5:1, with substantially reduced methanation. The invention utilizes a reactor having at least one channel having a catalyst positioned thereon and a flow rate of the gas stream over the catalyst such that a boundary layer having a thickness less than a maximum thickness boundary is created.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2002Date of Patent: June 8, 2004Assignee: Precision Combustion, Inc.Inventor: Marco J. Castaldi
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Patent number: 6612830Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for purging an oxidant or residual fuel by controlled oxidation within a closed loop system. The particular application disclosed can operate to purge oxygen from an anode loop of a fuel cell just prior to startup, and can also operate to consume the remaining hydrogen or fuel at shutdown. The method employs the addition of additional fuel to a feed stream within the anode loop to a level that will through oxidation within the apparatus deplete the desired amount of oxygen. The method also employs the addition of air into a hydrogen feed loop that through oxidation within the apparatus consumes the hydrogen. Oxidation is accomplished first by diffusion burning and then catalysis to accomplish the depletion quickly. The method and apparatus eliminates the need for a separately stored inert gas purge tank and associated systems.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2001Date of Patent: September 2, 2003Assignee: Precision Combustion, Inc.Inventors: Jonathan D. Berry, Theodore R Strickland
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Publication number: 20030141463Abstract: The invention is an apparatus for producing an IR (infra-red) signature. In the method, the apparatus is mounted on a target to give the target an infra-red signature whereby the target can be acquired by an appropriate weapon sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2002Publication date: July 31, 2003Applicant: Precision Combustion, Inc.Inventor: Theodore R. Strickland
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Patent number: 6521904Abstract: The invention is an apparatus for producing an IR (infra-red) signature. In the method, the apparatus is mounted on a target to give the target an infra-red signature whereby the target can be acquired by an appropriate weapon sensor.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2000Date of Patent: February 18, 2003Assignee: Precision Combustion, Inc.Inventor: Theodore R Strickland
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Patent number: 6514472Abstract: A method for the selective oxidation of carbon monoxide in a gas stream comprising carbon monoxide, hydrogen and oxygen in an adiabatically operated fixed-bed, catalytic reactor. In the method the inlet temperature is controlled based upon the space velocity of the gas stream through the reactor.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2001Date of Patent: February 4, 2003Assignee: Precision Combustion, Inc.Inventors: Paul V. Menacherry, William C. Pfefferle
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Patent number: 6394791Abstract: The present invention is a method, and an apparatus for practicing the method, that creates a product stream and a heat of reaction from a fuel-rich fuel/air mixture and then contacts the product stream with a sufficient quantity of additional air to completely combust all of the fuel, to which air a portion of the heat of reaction has been transferred.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2001Date of Patent: May 28, 2002Assignee: Precision Combustion, Inc.Inventors: Lance L. Smith, Shahrokh Etemad, Marco J. Castaldi, Hasan Ul Karim, William C. Pféfferle
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Patent number: 6358040Abstract: The present invention is a method, and an apparatus for practicing the method, that creates a product stream and a heat of reaction from a fuel-rich fuel/air mixture and then contacts the product stream with a sufficient quantity of additional air to completely combust all of the fuel, to which air a portion of the heat of reaction has been transferred.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2000Date of Patent: March 19, 2002Assignee: Precision Combustion, Inc.Inventors: William C. Pfefferle, Lance L Smith, Manco J. Castaldi
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Patent number: 6358879Abstract: This invention pertains to an apparatus and means to lower emissions of carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides in lean, pre-mixed gas turbine combustors. Specifically, this invention employs a catalyst deposited on the inner surfaces of the combustor in the region of combustion which oxidizes CO combustion products. Also provided is a means for depositing a catalyst within the thermal barrier coating on the combustor liner walls.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2000Date of Patent: March 19, 2002Assignee: Precision Combustion, Inc.Inventors: William C. Pfefferle, Theodore R Strickland
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Patent number: 6328936Abstract: A catalytic reactor with an auxiliary heating structure for raising the temperature of a fluid passing therethrough whereby the catalytic reaction is promoted. The invention is a apparatus employing multiple electrical heating elements electrically isolated from one another by insulators that are an integral part of the flow path. The invention provides step heating of a fluid as the fluid passes through the reactor.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 1999Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Assignee: Precision Combustion, Inc.Inventors: Subir Roychoudhury, William C. Pfefferle
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Patent number: 6272863Abstract: This invention pertains to an apparatus and means to lower emissions of carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides in lean, pre-mixed gas turbine combustors. Specifically, this invention employs a catalyst deposited on the inner surfaces of the combustor in the region of combustion which oxidizes CO combustion products. Also provided is a means for depositing a catalyst within the thermal barrier coating on the combustor liner walls.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 1998Date of Patent: August 14, 2001Assignee: Precision Combustion, Inc.Inventors: William C. Pfefferle, Theodore R Strickland
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Patent number: 6270337Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus and method for increasing the reactivity of a fuel/air mixture prior to homogenous combustion of the mixture. More specifically, this invention is a pilot for a gas turbine combustor which utilizes the heat of combustion within the pilot to increase the reactivity of a portion of the fuel/air mixture utilized by the pilot.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 1998Date of Patent: August 7, 2001Assignee: Precision Combustion, Inc.Inventors: Shahrokh Etemad, Hasan Ul Karim, William C. Pfefferle