Patents by Inventor Edson Ng
Edson Ng 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: 11953104Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a valve assembly for providing selective flow communication between a plurality of fluid flow conduits. The valve assembly may comprise two valve members disposed coaxially in fluidly sealing contact and relatively rotatable to provide valving action of at least two port tracks. At least one valve member may comprise a fluid pressure loading means, and the fluid pressure loading means may span at least two port tracks. The valve assembly may further comprise a drive means for driving relative rotation of the valve members in order to enable cycled interconnection and fluid flow through the fluid flow conduits.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2022Date of Patent: April 9, 2024Assignee: Pathway Industries, Inc.Inventors: Matthew L. Babicki, Edson Ng
-
Publication number: 20230010933Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for making hydrogen with carbon sequestration. The method may comprise using a biomass hydroconverter product to fuel a steam reformer that converts a hydrocarbon fuel stream into a gas mixture that contains at least hydrogen and carbon dioxide. The gas stream is separated to form a hydrogen-enriched gas stream and at least one hydrogen-depleted stream. The hydrogen-depleted stream may be stored or further processed to sequester the carbon contained therein. Additionally, or alternatively, the solid residue from the biomass hydroconverter also may be stored for further sequester carbon generated by the method.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2022Publication date: January 12, 2023Applicant: G4 Insights Inc.Inventors: Matthew Babicki, Edson Ng
-
Publication number: 20220243829Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a valve assembly for providing selective flow communication between a plurality of fluid flow conduits. The valve assembly may comprise two valve members disposed coaxially in fluidly sealing contact and relatively rotatable to provide valving action of at least two port tracks. At least one valve member may comprise a fluid pressure loading means, and the fluid pressure loading means may span at least two port tracks. The valve assembly may further comprise a drive means for driving relative rotation of the valve members in order to enable cycled interconnection and fluid flow through the fluid flow conduits.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 27, 2022Publication date: August 4, 2022Inventors: Matthew L. Babicki, Edson Ng
-
Patent number: 10653995Abstract: Disclosed embodiments provide a system and method for producing hydrocarbons from biomass. Certain embodiments of the method are particularly useful for producing substitute natural gas from forestry residues. Certain disclosed embodiments of the method convert a biomass feedstock into a product hydrocarbon by hydropyrolysis. Catalytic conversion of the resulting pyrolysis gas to the product hydrocarbon and carbon dioxide occurs in the presence of hydrogen and steam over a CO2 sorbent with simultaneous generation of the required hydrogen by reaction with steam. A gas separator purifies product methane, while forcing recycle of internally generated hydrogen to obtain high conversion of the biomass feedstock to the desired hydrocarbon product. While methane is a preferred hydrocarbon product, liquid hydrocarbon products also can be delivered.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2017Date of Patent: May 19, 2020Assignee: G4 Insights Inc.Inventors: Bowie G. Keefer, Matthew L. Babicki, Brian G. Sellars, Edson Ng
-
Patent number: 10190066Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for producing hydrocarbons from biomass. The method is particularly useful for producing substitute natural gas from forestry residues. Certain disclosed embodiments convert a biomass feedstock into a product hydrocarbon by fast pyrolysis. The resulting pyrolysis gas is converted to the product hydrocarbon and carbon dioxide in the presence of hydrogen and steam while simultaneously generating the required hydrogen by reaction with steam under prescribed conditions for self-sufficiency of hydrogen. Methane is a preferred hydrocarbon product. A system also is disclosed for cycling the catalyst between steam reforming, methanation and regeneration zones.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2016Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: G4 Insights Inc.Inventors: Bowie G. Keefer, Matthew L. Babicki, Brian G. Sellars, Edson Ng
-
Publication number: 20180214815Abstract: Disclosed embodiments provide a system and method for producing hydrocarbons from biomass. Certain embodiments of the method are particularly useful for producing substitute natural gas from forestry residues. Certain disclosed embodiments of the method convert a biomass feedstock into a product hydrocarbon by hydropyrolysis. Catalytic conversion of the resulting pyrolysis gas to the product hydrocarbon and carbon dioxide occurs in the presence of hydrogen and steam over a CO2 sorbent with simultaneous generation of the required hydrogen by reaction with steam. A gas separator purifies product methane, while forcing recycle of internally generated hydrogen to obtain high conversion of the biomass feedstock to the desired hydrocarbon product. While methane is a preferred hydrocarbon product, liquid hydrocarbon products also can be delivered.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2017Publication date: August 2, 2018Applicant: G4 Insights Inc.Inventors: Bowie G. Keefer, Matthew L. Babicki, Brian G. Sellars, Edson Ng
-
Publication number: 20160304799Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for producing hydrocarbons from biomass. The method is particularly useful for producing substitute natural gas from forestry residues. Certain disclosed embodiments convert a biomass feedstock into a product hydrocarbon by fast pyrolysis. The resulting pyrolysis gas is converted to the product hydrocarbon and carbon dioxide in the presence of hydrogen and steam while simultaneously generating the required hydrogen by reaction with steam under prescribed conditions for self-sufficiency of hydrogen. Methane is a preferred hydrocarbon product. A system also is disclosed for cycling the catalyst between steam reforming, methanation and regeneration zones.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2016Publication date: October 20, 2016Applicant: G4 Insights Inc.Inventors: Bowie G. Keefer, Matthew L. Babicki, Brian G. Sellars, Edson Ng
-
Patent number: 9394171Abstract: Certain aspects of the system and method concern producing hydrocarbons from biomass. The method is particularly useful for producing substitute natural gas from forestry residues. A biomass feedstock may be converted into a product hydrocarbon by fast pyrolysis. The resulting pyrolysis gas is converted to the product hydrocarbon and carbon dioxide in the presence of hydrogen and steam while simultaneously generating the required hydrogen by reaction with steam under prescribed conditions for self-sufficiency of hydrogen. Methane is a preferred hydrocarbon product. A system also is described for cycling the catalyst between steam reforming, methanation and regeneration zones.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2012Date of Patent: July 19, 2016Assignee: G4 Insights Inc.Inventors: Bowie G. Keefer, Matthew L. Babicki, Brian G. Sellars, Edson Ng
-
Patent number: 8674153Abstract: A method for converting lignocellulosic biomass to a useful fuel is disclosed in a process sequence resulting in low levels of depositable tars in an output gas stream. One disclosed embodiment comprises performing a sequence of steps at elevated pressure and elevated hydrogen partial pressure, including fast (or flash) hydropyrolysis of a lignocellulosic biomass feed followed sequentially with catalytically enhanced reactions for the formation of methane operating at moderate temperatures of from about 400° C. to about 650° C. under moderately elevated pressure (about 5 atm to about 50 atm). A temperature rise in the catalyst above pyrolysis temperature is achieved without the addition of air or oxygen. Gas residence time at elevated temperature downstream of methane formation zones extends beyond the time required for methane formation. This sequence results in low tar deposit levels. The catalyst promotes preferential formation of methane and non-deposit forming hydrocarbons, and coke re-gasification.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2013Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Assignee: G4 Insights Inc.Inventors: Brian G. Sellars, Matthew L. Babicki, Bowie G. Keefer, Edson Ng
-
Patent number: 8541637Abstract: A system and method for converting biomass into fluid hydrocarbon products to minimize the use of fossil fuels, provide energy and chemical feedstock security, and sustainable and/or carbon neutral electric power, are disclosed. For example, fast pyrolysis can be performed on biomass to produce pygas and char using a maximum processing temperature of about 650° C. The pygas is provided to an independent reactor without the addition of an oxidizing agent for catalytically converting the pygas to hydrocarbons using a maximum processing temperature of about 650° C. A system comprising fast pyrolysis means producing a pygas and char, independent catalytic conversion means downstream of the fast pyrolysis for converting the pygas to hydrocarbons, and a hydrogen source, external to the system and/or produced by a steam reformer by steam reformation of at least a portion of the hydrocarbons, coupled to catalytic conversion means, also are described.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2010Date of Patent: September 24, 2013Assignee: G4 Insights Inc.Inventors: Matthew L. Babicki, Brian G. Sellars, Bowie G. Keefer, Edson Ng
-
Patent number: 8383871Abstract: Embodiments of a thermochemical method to convert lignocellulosic biomass to a useful fuel are disclosed in a process sequence resulting in low levels of depositable tars in the output gas stream. One disclosed embodiment comprises performing a sequence of steps at elevated pressure and elevated hydrogen partial pressure, including fast (or flash) hydropyrolysis of a lignocellulosic biomass feed followed sequentially with catalytically enhanced reactions for the formation of methane operating at moderate temperatures of from about 400° C. to about 650° C. and under moderately elevated pressure (about 5 atm to about 50 atm). A temperature rise in the catalyst above pyrolysis temperature is achieved without the addition of air or oxygen. Gas residence time at elevated temperature downstream of methane formation zones is extended well beyond the time required for methane formation. This sequence results in low depositable tars in the output gas stream.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2011Date of Patent: February 26, 2013Inventors: Brian G. Sellars, Matthew L. Babicki, Bowie G. Keefer, Edson Ng
-
Publication number: 20130023707Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for producing hydrocarbons from biomass. The method is particularly useful for producing substitute natural gas from forestry residues. Certain disclosed embodiments convert a biomass feedstock into a product hydrocarbon by fast pyrolysis. The resulting pyrolysis gas is converted to the product hydrocarbon and carbon dioxide in the presence of hydrogen and steam while simultaneously generating the required hydrogen by reaction with steam under prescribed conditions for self-sufficiency of hydrogen. Methane is a preferred hydrocarbon product. A system also is disclosed for cycling the catalyst between steam reforming, methanation and regeneration zones.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2012Publication date: January 24, 2013Inventors: Bowie G. Keefer, Matthew L. Babicki, Brian G. Sellars, Edson Ng
-
Publication number: 20130017460Abstract: Disclosed embodiments provide a system and method for producing hydrocarbons from biomass. Certain embodiments of the method are particularly useful for producing substitute natural gas from forestry residues. Certain disclosed embodiments of the method convert a biomass feedstock into a product hydrocarbon by hydropyrolysis. Catalytic conversion of the resulting pyrolysis gas to the product hydrocarbon and carbon dioxide occurs in the presence of hydrogen and steam over a CO2 sorbent with simultaneous generation of the required hydrogen by reaction with steam. A gas separator purifies product methane, while forcing recycle of internally generated hydrogen to obtain high conversion of the biomass feedstock to the desired hydrocarbon product. While methane is a preferred hydrocarbon product, liquid hydrocarbon products also can be delivered.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2012Publication date: January 17, 2013Inventors: Bowie G. Keefer, Matthew L. Babicki, Brian G. Sellars, Edson Ng
-
Publication number: 20100228062Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for converting biomass into fluid hydrocarbon products to minimize the use of fossil fuels, provide energy and chemical feedstock security, and sustainable and/or carbon neutral electric power. One disclosed embodiment comprises performing fast pyrolysis on biomass to produce pygas and char using a maximum processing temperature of about 650° C. The pygas is provided to an independent reactor without the addition of an oxidizing agent for catalytically converting the pygas to hydrocarbons using a maximum processing temperature of about 650° C. The present invention also concerns a system comprising fast pyrolysis means producing a pygas and char, independent catalytic conversion means downstream of the fast pyrolysis for converting the pygas to hydrocarbons, and a hydrogen source, external to the system and/or produced by a steam reformer by steam reformation of at least a portion of the hydrocarbons, coupled to catalytic conversion means.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2010Publication date: September 9, 2010Inventors: Matthew L. Babicki, Brian G. Sellars, Bowie G. Keefer, Edson Ng