Patents by Inventor Dean Kenefake

Dean Kenefake 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).

  • APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING HYDROGEN
    Publication number: 20080127554
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing a hydrogen-enriched reformate. The apparatus includes a fuel processor for converting a fuel to a reformate having fluctuations in pressure and or flow rate, means for reducing the fluctuations, a compression unit for compressing the reformate and one or more of a purification unit and a storage unit downstream of a compression unit. Means for reducing the fluctuations in the reformate can include one or more of a buffer and a conduit for providing a controlled flow of a supplemental fluid to an inlet of the compression unit. The supplemental fluid can include the compressed reformate, a hydrogen-enriched reformate, and mixtures thereof. The apparatus can include means for regulating power to the compression unit that can incrementally increase power to the compression unit particularly during start up. The purification unit can include one or more of a hydrogen selective membrane and a pressure swing adsorption unit. Methods for producing hydrogen are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Applicant: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Dean A. Kenefake, W. Spencer Wheat, Hongqiao Sun, Bhaskar Balasubramanian, Vesna R. Mirkovic, Daniel G. Casey
  • Apparatus and method for producing hydrogen
    Patent number: 7354464
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing a hydrogen-enriched reformate. The apparatus includes a fuel processor for converting a fuel to a reformate having fluctuations in pressure and or flow rate, means for reducing the fluctuations, a compression unit for compressing the reformate and one or more of a purification unit and a storage unit downstream of a compression unit. Means for reducing the fluctuations in the reformate can include one or more of a buffer and a conduit for providing a controlled flow of a supplemental fluid to an inlet of the compression unit. The supplemental fluid can include the compressed reformate, a hydrogen-enriched reformate, and mixtures thereof. The apparatus can include means for regulating power to the compression unit that can incrementally increase power to the compression unit particularly during start up. The purification unit can include one or more of a hydrogen selective membrane and a pressure swing adsorption unit. Methods for producing hydrogen are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Dean A. Kenefake, W. Spencer Wheat, Hongqiao Sun, Bhaskar Balasubramanian, Vesna R. Mirkovic, Daniel G. Casey
  • Apparatus and method for producing hydrogen
    Publication number: 20060137245
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing a hydrogen-enriched reformate. The apparatus includes a fuel processor for converting a fuel to a reformate having fluctuations in pressure and or flow rate, means for reducing the fluctuations, a compression unit for compressing the reformate and one or more of a purification unit and a storage unit downstream of a compression unit. Means for reducing the fluctuations in the reformate can include one or more of a buffer and a conduit for providing a controlled flow of a supplemental fluid to an inlet of the compression unit. The supplemental fluid can include the compressed reformate, a hydrogen-enriched reformate, and mixtures thereof. The apparatus can include means for regulating power to the compression unit that can incrementally increase power to the compression unit particularly during start up. The purification unit can include one or more of a hydrogen selective membrane and a pressure swing adsorption unit. Methods for producing hydrogen are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Publication date: June 29, 2006
    Applicant: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Dean Kenefake, W. Wheat, Hongqiao Sun, Bhaskar Balasubramanian, Vesna Mirkovic, Daniel Casey