Patents by Inventor Douglas G. Harrell

Douglas G. Harrell 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).

  • Non-linear model predictive control method for controlling a gas-phase reactor including a rapid noise filter and method therefor
    Patent number: 6263355
    Abstract: A method for controlling a chemical reactor such as a gas-phase reactor using a non-linear predictive control includes steps for generating a plurality of signals representing a current state of the chemical reactor and reflecting a respective constituent of reactants in the chemical reactor, calculating a future state of the chemical reactor responsive to said plurality of signals and referenced to mass hold-up of the reactants in the chemical reactor, and controlling at least one parameter related to the chemical reactor so as to control the future state of the chemical reactor. Spurious control events due to noise in sensor or controller output signals are preferably minimized by filtering these signals using a N-sign filter subroutine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: Montell North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas G. Harrell, Dennis C. Williams
  • Non-linear model predictive control method for controlling a gas-phase reactor including a rapid noise filter and method therefor
    Patent number: 6122557
    Abstract: A method for controlling a chemical reactor such as a gas-phase reactor using a non-linear predictive control includes steps for generating a plurality of signals representing a current state of the chemical reactor and reflecting a respective constituent of reactants in the chemical reactor, calculating a future state of the chemical reactor responsive to said plurality of signals and referenced to mass hold-up of the reactants in the chemical reactor, and controlling at least one parameter related to the chemical reactor so as to control the future state of the chemical reactor. Spurious control events due to noise in sensor or controller output signals are preferably minimized by filtering these signals using a N-sign filter subroutine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Montell North America Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas G. Harrell, Dennis C. Williams