Patents by Inventor Alwarappa Sivaraman

Alwarappa Sivaraman 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).

  • Patent number: 7316151
    Abstract: An apparatus for BTU measurement of natural gas having at least one reference spherical acoustic resonator containing a reference gas, a sample gas spherical acoustic resonator containing a natural gas sample, a first acoustic transmitter adapted to transmit a first acoustic signal into the natural gas sample, a second acoustic transmitter adapted to transmit a second acoustic signal into the reference gas, a first acoustic receiver adapted to receive at least a portion of the first acoustic signal, and a second acoustic receiver adapted to receive at least a portion of the second acoustic signal. Using the third radial resonance frequencies for the sample gas and reference gas, a data processor operably connected with a signal output of the first acoustic receiver determines the specific gravity of the natural gas sample. The discovered linear relationship between specific gravity and heating value of natural gas enables a determination of the heating value from the measured specific gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
    Inventor: Alwarappa Sivaraman
  • Publication number: 20070251298
    Abstract: An apparatus for BTU measurement of natural gas having at least one reference spherical acoustic resonator containing a reference gas, a sample gas spherical acoustic resonator containing a natural gas sample, a first acoustic transmitter adapted to transmit a first acoustic signal into the natural gas sample, a second acoustic transmitter adapted to transmit a second acoustic signal into the reference gas, a first acoustic receiver adapted to receive at least a portion of the first acoustic signal, and a second acoustic receiver adapted to receive at least a portion of the second acoustic signal. Using the third radial resonance frequencies for the sample gas and reference gas, a data processor operably connected with a signal output of the first acoustic receiver determines the specific gravity of the natural gas sample. The discovered linear relationship between specific gravity and heating value of natural gas enables a determination of the heating value from the measured specific gravity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2006
    Publication date: November 1, 2007
    Inventor: Alwarappa Sivaraman
  • Publication number: 20070249058
    Abstract: A method and system for determining a hydrocarbon dewpoint of natural gas in which a spherical acoustic resonator is filled with natural gas at a first temperature and pressure, where the first temperature is above the hydrocarbon dewpoint at the pressure. An acoustic signal is introduced into the natural gas and the radial resonance frequency of the natural gas is measured as the temperature of the natural gas is reduced. As the temperature decreases, the radial resonance frequency also decreases. The hydrocarbon dewpoint is the temperature at which the radial resonance frequency is at a minimum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2006
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Inventor: Alwarappa Sivaraman
  • Patent number: 6946017
    Abstract: A process for separation of carbon dioxide and methane in which a gas mixture comprising carbon dioxide and methane is brought into contact with a methane hydrate solid material disposed in a reactor vessel, whereby the methane hydrate is displaced by carbon dioxide hydrate, thereby freeing the methane, which is then removed from the reactor vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
    Inventors: Dennis Leppin, Alwarappa Sivaraman
  • Publication number: 20050121200
    Abstract: A method for sequestering and storing CO2 in which gaseous carbon dioxide is injected into a subterranean methane hydrate field, displacing methane in the methane hydrate field with the carbon dioxide and forming carbon dioxide hydrate. The displaced methane may then be collected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2004
    Publication date: June 9, 2005
    Inventor: Alwarappa Sivaraman
  • Publication number: 20050120878
    Abstract: A process for separation of carbon dioxide and methane in which a gas mixture comprising carbon dioxide and methane is brought into contact with a methane hydrate solid material disposed in a reactor vessel, whereby the methane hydrate is displaced by carbon dioxide hydrate, thereby freeing the methane, which is then removed from the reactor vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2003
    Publication date: June 9, 2005
    Inventors: Dennis Leppin, Alwarappa Sivaraman