Patents by Inventor Albert E. Stewart
Albert E. Stewart has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 9803512Abstract: A reactor system includes a fluidized-bed. A fuel and a sulfur absorbent material are eluted through the fluidized-bed. The reactor system may include a heat exchanger having a heat-exchanging portion within a heating zone of the reactor that is hermetically sealed from the heating zone. The reactor may include loose particles of an inert bed material for forming the fluidized-bed. A feed system may be provided to inject a solid fuel composite that includes a mixture of a solid, carbonaceous fuel and a solid reagent into the reactor.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2016Date of Patent: October 31, 2017Assignee: Gas Technology InstituteInventors: Albert E. Stewart, Ganesan Subbaraman, Jeffrey A. Mays, James A. Hartung
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Patent number: 9567876Abstract: A reactor system includes a fluidized-bed. A fuel and a sulfur absorbent material are eluted through the fluidized-bed. The reactor system may include a heat exchanger having a heat-exchanging portion within a heating zone of the reactor that is hermetically sealed from the heating zone. The reactor may include loose particles of an inert bed material for forming the fluidized-bed. A feed system may be provided to inject a solid fuel composite that includes a mixture of a solid, carbonaceous fuel and a solid reagent into the reactor.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2010Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: Gas Technology InstituteInventors: Albert E. Stewart, Ganesan Subbaraman, Jeffrey A. Mays, James A. Hartung
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Publication number: 20160208659Abstract: A reactor system includes a fluidized-bed. A fuel and a sulfur absorbent material are eluted through the fluidized-bed. The reactor system may include a heat exchanger having a heat-exchanging portion within a heating zone of the reactor that is hermetically sealed from the heating zone. The reactor may include loose particles of an inert bed material for forming the fluidized-bed. A feed system may be provided to inject a solid fuel composite that includes a mixture of a solid, carbonaceous fuel and a solid reagent into the reactor.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2016Publication date: July 21, 2016Inventors: Albert E. STEWART, Ganesan SUBBARAMAN, Jeffrey A. MAYS, James A. HARTUNG
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Publication number: 20130020080Abstract: A method for in situ extraction of hydrocarbon materials in a subsurface region includes increasing permeability of a low permeability hydrocarbon-containing subsurface region to create a first well sub-region and a second well sub-region vertically below the first well sub-region. The first well sub-region is heated to extract liquid hydrocarbon materials that flow to the second well sub-region. The liquid hydrocarbon materials are then transported from the second well sub-region.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2011Publication date: January 24, 2013Inventor: Albert E. Stewart
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Patent number: 8231068Abstract: An injection device transfers calcium carbonate particles for regeneration into calcium oxide. The device includes an injector body having an inlet end which receives a heated air volume, and a discharge end. At least one transfer tube disposed through a portion of the injector body discharges the calcium carbonate particles at the discharge end. At least one flow nozzle receives the heated air volume and discharges the heated air volume at the discharge end. Each flow nozzle is angularly oriented to directly impinge the plurality of calcium carbonate particles discharged from the transfer tube with the heated air volume. A flow splitter can also be connected to the device to split the calcium carbonate particles into multiple flow streams.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2004Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, Inc.Inventors: Kenneth M. Sprouse, Albert E. Stewart
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Patent number: 8167978Abstract: A gas generator includes a high pressure gas-generation system that is capable of generating a product gas stream at a non-ambient, elevated nominal pressure. A thermal swing absorber has a first configuration and a second configuration relative to being connected with the product gas stream. In the first configuration, the thermal swing absorber is connected with the high pressure gas-generation system to receive the product gas stream and remove a constituent gas from the stream. In the second configuration, the thermal swing absorber is disconnected from the product gas stream and releases the constituent gas at a pressure that is substantially equal to the elevated nominal pressure. In the second configuration, the thermal swing absorber is an input source to provide the released constituent gas into the high pressure gas-generation system, which permits more efficient use of materials within the system.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2009Date of Patent: May 1, 2012Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, Inc.Inventors: Albert E. Stewart, Jeffrey A. Mays
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Patent number: 8105541Abstract: A reactor system includes a fluidized bed reactor with a fluidized zone having sorbent particles and catalyst particles. The sorbent particles are sized to become entrained in a product stream from the fluidized zone and the catalyst particles are sized to gravimetrically stay within the fluidized zone.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2009Date of Patent: January 31, 2012Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, Inc.Inventors: Albert E. Stewart, Jeffrey A. Mays
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Patent number: 8011861Abstract: A system for substantially continuously providing a solid material, for example pulverized coal, to a pressurized container. The system provides the solid material to a first container of a first pressure elevated above an initial pressure of the solid material. Generally, a screw conveyor augmented with a jet port is used to move the material where the jet port provides a gas to provide a make-up volume of the solid material. The system also provides the material to a second high pressure container after the material has been formed into a slurry. Therefore, the solid material may be substantially continuously provided in a system to a high pressure container.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2007Date of Patent: September 6, 2011Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, Inc.Inventors: Kenneth Michael Sprouse, David R. Matthews, Albert E. Stewart
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Patent number: 7927574Abstract: A method for regenerating a solid reactant includes streaming the solid reactant into an inlet port of a contact or vessel and heating the solid reactant inside the contactor vessel, streaming a purge oxidant into an oxidant port of the contactor vessel to reduce a partial pressure of gas released from the solid reactant, venting the gas from a gas port of the contactor vessel, and removing the solid reactant from a discharge port of the contactor vessel.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2008Date of Patent: April 19, 2011Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, Inc.Inventor: Albert E. Stewart
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Publication number: 20100307389Abstract: A reactor system includes a fluidized-bed. A fuel and a sulfur absorbent material are eluted through the fluidized-bed. The reactor system may include a heat exchanger having a heat-exchanging portion within a heating zone of the reactor that is hermetically sealed from the heating zone. The reactor may include loose particles of an inert bed material for forming the fluidized-bed. A feed system may be provided to inject a solid fuel composite that includes a mixture of a solid, carbonaceous fuel and a solid reagent into the reactor.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2010Publication date: December 9, 2010Inventors: Albert E. Stewart, Ganesan Subbaraman, Jeffrey A. Mays, James A. Hartung
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Publication number: 20100119419Abstract: A fluidized-bed reactor for producing hydrogen from methane by steam reforming includes a flow splitter that splits a dense-phase flow of a gas having entrained calcium oxide particles into a plurality of equal flow streams. The reactor also incorporates an orifice plate having at least one high-velocity, rocket-style impinging injector for injecting reactants into the reactor bed. The injector includes a central orifice extending perpendicularly through the plate, and one or more adjacent peripheral orifices that extend through the plate at such an angle that respective streams of reactants injected into the reactor bed through the peripheral orifices impinge on a stream of reactants injected vertically into the reactor bed through the central orifice. The injector cooperates with adjacent base-bleed orifices in the plate to provide a uniform distribution and rapid mixing of the calcium oxide particles with a steam/methane gas mixture across the entire bottom of the reactor bed.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 7, 2009Publication date: May 13, 2010Inventors: Kenneth M. Sprouse, Albert E. Stewart
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Publication number: 20100092381Abstract: A reactor system includes a fluidized bed reactor with a fluidized zone having sorbent particles and catalyst particles. The sorbent particles are sized to become entrained in a product stream from the fluidized zone and the catalyst particles are sized to gravimetrically stay within the fluidized zone.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2009Publication date: April 15, 2010Inventors: Albert E. Stewart, Jeffrey A. Mays
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Publication number: 20100092379Abstract: A calcining system includes a calcining chamber of a sufficient length to effect a desired level of calcination of solid particles. A hot gas source to communicate hot gases within the calcining chamber. An entrainment gas source operable to communicate an entrainment gas to transport the solid particles into the calcining chamber to calcine the solid particles to form calcined solid particles.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2009Publication date: April 15, 2010Inventors: Albert E. Stewart, Jeffrey A. Mays, Kathleen M. Sevener
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Publication number: 20100092382Abstract: A gas generator includes a high pressure gas-generation system that is capable of generating a product gas stream at a non-ambient, elevated nominal pressure. A thermal swing absorber has a first configuration and a second configuration relative to being connected with the product gas stream. In the first configuration, the thermal swing absorber is connected with the high pressure gas-generation system to receive the product gas stream and remove a constituent gas from the stream. In the second configuration, the thermal swing absorber is disconnected from the product gas stream and releases the constituent gas at a pressure that is substantially equal to the elevated nominal pressure. In the second configuration, the thermal swing absorber is an input source to provide the released constituent gas into the high pressure gas-generation system, which permits more efficient use of materials within the system.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2009Publication date: April 15, 2010Inventors: Albert E. Stewart, Jeffrey A. Mays
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Patent number: 7615198Abstract: A system for substantially continuously providing a solid material, for example pulverized coal, to a pressurized container. The system provides the solid material to a first container of a first pressure elevated above an initial pressure of the solid material. Generally, a screw conveyor augmented with a jet port is used to move the material where the jet port provides a gas to provide a make-up volume of the solid material. The system also provides the material to a second high pressure container after the material has been formed into a slurry. Therefore, the solid material may be substantially continuously provided in a system to a high pressure container.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2007Date of Patent: November 10, 2009Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, Inc.Inventors: Kenneth Michael Sprouse, David R. Matthews, Albert E. Stewart
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Patent number: 7547419Abstract: A fluidized-bed reactor for producing hydrogen from methane by steam reforming includes a flow splitter that splits a dense-phase flow of a gas having entrained calcium oxide particles into a plurality of equal flow streams. The reactor also incorporates an orifice plate having at least one high-velocity, rocket-style impinging injector for injecting reactants into the reactor bed. The injector includes a central orifice extending perpendicularly through the plate, and one or more adjacent peripheral orifices that extend through the plate at such an angle that respective streams of reactants injected into the reactor bed through the peripheral orifices impinge on a stream of reactants injected vertically into the reactor bed through the central orifice. The injector cooperates with adjacent base-bleed orifices in the plate to provide a uniform distribution and rapid mixing of the calcium oxide particles with a steam/methane gas mixture across the entire bottom of the reactor bed.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2004Date of Patent: June 16, 2009Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Kenneth M Sprouse, Albert E. Stewart
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Patent number: 7537750Abstract: Hydrogen gas is produced by reacting a carbon-hydrogen-containing species with water provided as a water reforming inflow at a reforming temperature to produce a primary reacted gas flow containing hydrogen gas. The carbon-hydrogen-containing species and water are heated to the reforming temperature with solar energy. The heating is preferably performed by heating a molten metal to at least the reforming temperature with solar energy, and using the molten metal to heat the carbon-hydrogen-containing species and water to at least the reforming temperature. The water reforming inflow is preheated by heat exchange from the primary reacted gas flow. The primary reacted gas flow is reacted with water to produce additional hydrogen gas in a secondary reacted gas flow.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2004Date of Patent: May 26, 2009Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Robert Zachary Litwin, Albert E. Stewart
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Publication number: 20090074644Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for regenerating calcium oxide used in the production of hydrogen gas. The method includes steps of: (a) streaming a solid reactant into an inlet port of a contactor vessel; (b) streaming a purge oxidant into an oxidant port of the contactor vessel to reduce a partial pressure of a gas over the solid reactant; (c) venting the gas from a gas port of the contactor vessel; and (d) removing the solid reactant from a discharge port of the contactor vessel.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2008Publication date: March 19, 2009Inventor: Albert E. Stewart
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Patent number: 7459131Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for regenerating calcium oxide used in the production of hydrogen gas. The method includes steps of: (a) streaming a solid reactant into an inlet port of a contactor vessel; (b) streaming a purge oxidant into an oxidant port of the contactor vessel to reduce a partial pressure of a gas over the solid reactant; (c) venting the gas from a gas port of the contactor vessel; and (d) removing the solid reactant from a discharge port of the contactor vessel.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2004Date of Patent: December 2, 2008Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventor: Albert E. Stewart
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Patent number: 7360639Abstract: A screw feeder can be used to transport a high temperature particulate material. A housing contains the material within the screw feeder which includes an inlet and an outlet port. A screw is rotatably positioned within the housing to advance the material from the inlet port to the outlet port, which rotates axially. A labyrinth seal can be formed around and in communication with the screw to eliminate reverse movement of the material. A cooling medium can be directed into contact with at least the housing. A fluid can be injected through the screw to prevent blockage of the particulate material. A pressure differential is created from the inlet to the outlet port of at least 0.069 MPad.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2004Date of Patent: April 22, 2008Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, Inc.Inventors: Kenneth M Sprouse, Albert E Stewart