Patents by Inventor Franklin F. Mittricker

Franklin F. Mittricker 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: 10683801
    Abstract: A system includes a gas turbine system having a turbine combustor, a turbine driven by combustion products from the turbine combustor, and an exhaust gas compressor driven by the turbine. The exhaust gas compressor is configured to compress and supply an exhaust gas to the turbine combustor. The gas turbine system also has an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system. The EGR system is configured to recirculate the exhaust gas along an exhaust recirculation path from the turbine to the exhaust gas compressor. The system further includes a main oxidant compression system having one or more oxidant compressors. The one or more oxidant compressors are separate from the exhaust gas compressor, and the one or more oxidant compressors are configured to supply all compressed oxidant utilized by the turbine combustor in generating the combustion products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignees: General Electric Company, ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Richard A. Huntington, Franklin F. Mittricker, Loren K. Starcher, Sulabh K. Dhanuka, Dennis M. O'Dea, Samuel D. Draper, Christian M. Hansen, Todd Denman, James A. West
  • Patent number: 10677160
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for combined cycle power generation while reducing or mitigating emissions during power generation. Recycled exhaust gas from a power generation combustion reaction can be separated using a swing adsorption process so as to generate a high purity CO2 stream while reducing/minimizing the energy required for the separation and without having to reduce the temperature of the exhaust gas. This can allow for improved energy recovery while also generating high purity streams of carbon dioxide and nitrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Narasimhan Sundaram, Ramesh Gupta, Hans Thomann, Hugo S. Caram, Loren K. Starcher, Franklin F. Mittricker, Simon C. Weston, Scott J. Weigel
  • Patent number: 10570825
    Abstract: A fuel, an oxidant, and a diluent can be introduced to a combustion zone, wherein the oxidant comprises air, oxygen-enriched air, or oxygen-lean air. At least a portion of the fuel can be combusted to produce an exhaust gas comprising, nitrogen, nitrogen oxides, and carbon monoxide. The exhaust gas can be expanded to produce mechanical power and an expanded exhaust gas. A concentration of at least one of oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide, in the exhaust gas or the expanded exhaust gas or both can be determined, and an amount of the oxidant or the fuel introduced to the combustion zone, or both, can be adjusted based on the determined concentration to produce an exhaust gas containing a combined amount of oxygen and carbon monoxide of less than about 2 mol % and a nitrogen concentration ranging from 20 mol % to 75 mol %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignees: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company, Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Huntington, Chad C. Rasmussen, Franklin F. Mittricker, Tim Lieuwen, Sulabh K. Dhanuka, Himanshu Gupta, Moses K. Minta, Loren K. Starcher
  • Patent number: 10570793
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus are provided for generating power in low emission turbine systems and separating the exhaust into rich CO2 and lean CO2 streams. In one or more embodiments, the exhaust is separated at an elevated pressure, such as between a high-pressure expansion stage and a low-pressure expansion stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Franklin F. Mittricker, Sulabh K. Dhanuka, Richard A. Huntington, O. Angus Sites, Dennis M. O'Dea, Russell H. Oelfke
  • Patent number: 10495306
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and systems for controlling a combustion reaction and the products thereof. One embodiment includes a combustion control system having an oxygen supply stream and a high concentration carbon dioxide stream, mixing the streams to form an oxygenation stream substantially comprising oxygen and CO2 and having an oxygen to CO2 ratio, then mixing the oxygenation stream with a combustion fuel stream and combusting in a combustor to generate a combustion products stream having a temperature detected by a temperature sensor, the data from which is used to control the flow a carbon dioxide diluent stream to produce a desired temperature of combustion. The system may also include a control system configured to regulate the flow of the oxygen supply stream based on the flow rate and composition of the combustion fuel stream. The system may also include a gas turbine with an expander and having a load and a load controller in a feedback arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Franklin F. Mittricker, Loren K. Starcher, Chad Rasmussen, Richard A. Huntington, Frank Hershkowitz
  • Patent number: 10439242
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for combined cycle power generation while reducing or mitigating emissions during power generation. Recycled exhaust gas from a molten carbonate fuel cell power generation reaction can be separated by using a swing adsorption process so as to generate a high purity CO2 stream while reducing or minimizing the energy required for the separation and without having to reduce the temperature of the exhaust gas. A high temperature adsorption reactor adsorbs the CO2 and recovers H2 from an exhaust gas of a first molten carbonate fuel cell at a high temperature and at a low pressure. The reactor passes along the adsorbed CO2 to a cathode and the recovered H2 to an anode of a second molten carbonate fuel cell for further power generation. This can allow for improved energy recovery while also generating high purity streams of CO2 and H2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Narasimhan Sundaram, Hans Thomann, Franklin F. Mittricker, Loren Starcher
  • Patent number: 10273880
    Abstract: A method includes generating an exhaust gas from combustion gases with a turbine; recirculating the exhaust gas along an exhaust recirculation flow path; reducing moisture within the exhaust gas along the exhaust recirculation path with an exhaust gas processing system; providing the exhaust gas to a first exhaust gas inlet of an exhaust gas compressor for compression; and providing the exhaust gas from the exhaust recirculation path to a second exhaust gas inlet separate from the first exhaust gas inlet for cooling, preheating, sealing, or any combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignees: General Electric Company, ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Sandra Beverly Kolvick, Richard A. Huntington, Franklin F. Mittricker
  • Patent number: 10174682
    Abstract: Provided are more efficient techniques for operating gas turbine systems. In one embodiment a gas turbine system comprises an oxidant system, a fuel system, a control system, and a number of combustors adapted to receive and combust an oxidant from the oxidant system and a fuel from the fuel system to produce an exhaust gas. The gas turbine system also includes a number of oxidant-flow adjustment devices, each of which are operatively associated with one of the combustors, wherein an oxidant-flow adjustment device is configured to independently regulate an oxidant flow rate into the associated combustor. An exhaust sensor is in communication with the control system. The exhaust sensor is adapted to measure at least one parameter of the exhaust gas, and the control system is configured to independently adjust each of the oxidant-flow adjustment devices based, at least in part, on the parameter measured by the exhaust sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Franklin F. Mittricker, Richard A. Huntington
  • Patent number: 10125641
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for combined cycle power generation and enhanced hydrocarbon production where emission gases during power generation are separated by adsorption and applied to facilitate extraction of hydrocarbons from a reservoir. A power generation plant passes exhaust gas to a first swing adsorption reactor. The first swing adsorption reactor adsorbs the CO2 from the exhaust gas. An adsorption cycle of the first swing adsorption reactor is variable. An injection well injects the CO2 adsorbed by the first swing adsorption reactor in a hydrocarbon reservoir. A production well that is in communication with the injection well produces a mixture of hydrocarbons and CO2. A second swing adsorption reactor purifies the produced hydrocarbons by adsorbing the produced CO2 from the production well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Narasimhan Sundaram, Hans Thomann, Franklin F. Mittricker, Loren Starcher
  • Patent number: 10071338
    Abstract: Systems and methods for using pressure swing adsorption to separate and/or capture resulting emissions are provided. A stream of recycled exhaust gas is passed into a first swing adsorption reactor comprising a first adsorbent material which adsorbs CO2. An enriched N2 stream is recovered from a forward end of the first swing adsorption reactor. The pressure in the first swing adsorption reactor is reduced. The first swing adsorption reactor is purged with a portion of the first N2 stream recovered from the first swing adsorption reactor. The first purge output is passed to a second swing adsorption reactor comprising a second adsorbent material which adsorbs CO2. A second N2 stream is recovered from the second swing adsorption reactor. The pressure in the second swing adsorption reactor is reduced. The second swing adsorption reactor is purged with a steam purge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Narasimhan Sundaram, Hans Thomann, Franklin F. Mittricker, Loren Starcher
  • Patent number: 10060359
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes at least one sensor configured to communicate a signal representative of blower vane position, wherein the blower vane is disposed in a blower of an exhaust gas recirculation system receiving exhaust from a gas turbine system and recycling the exhaust gas back to the gas turbine system. The system further includes a controller communicatively coupled to the at least one sensor, wherein the controller is configured to execute a control logic to derive a reference value for the blower vane position, and wherein the controller is configured to apply a direct limit, an model-based limit, or a combination thereof, to the reference value to derive a limit-based value, and wherein the controller is configured to position the blower vane based on the limit-based value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignees: General Electric Company, ExxxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Karl Dean Minto, Todd Franklin Denman, Franklin F. Mittricker, Richard Alan Huntington
  • Publication number: 20180135526
    Abstract: Provided are more efficient techniques for operating gas turbine systems. In one embodiment a gas turbine system comprises an oxidant system, a fuel system, a control system, and a number of combustors adapted to receive and combust an oxidant from the oxidant system and a fuel from the fuel system to produce an exhaust gas. The gas turbine system also includes a number of oxidant-flow adjustment devices, each of which are operatively associated with one of the combustors, wherein an oxidant-flow adjustment device is configured to independently regulate an oxidant flow rate into the associated combustor. An exhaust sensor is in communication with the control system. The exhaust sensor is adapted to measure at least one parameter of the exhaust gas, and the control system is configured to independently adjust each of the oxidant-flow adjustment devices based, at least in part, on the parameter measured by the exhaust sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: Franklin F. Mittricker, Richard A. Huntington
  • Patent number: 9951658
    Abstract: A system includes an oxidant compressor and a gas turbine engine. The gas turbine engine includes a combustor section having a turbine combustor, a turbine driven by combustion products from the turbine combustor, and an exhaust gas compressor driven by the turbine. The exhaust gas compressor is configured to compress and route an exhaust flow to the turbine combustor and the oxidant compressor is configured to compress and route an oxidant flow to the turbine combustor. The gas turbine engine also includes an inlet oxidant heating system configured to route at least one of a first portion of the combustion products, or a second portion of the exhaust flow, or any combination thereof, to an inlet of the oxidant compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignees: General Electric Company, ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Vahid Vaezi, Franklin F. Mittricker, Richard A. Huntington
  • Patent number: 9903316
    Abstract: Methods and systems for low emission power generation in hydrocarbon recovery processes are provided. One system includes a gas turbine system configured to stoichiometrically combust a compressed oxidant derived from enriched air and a fuel in the presence of a compressed recycle exhaust gas and expand the discharge in an expander to generate a recycle exhaust stream and drive a main compressor. A boost compressor receives and increases the pressure of the recycle exhaust stream and prior to being compressed in a compressor configured to generate the compressed recycle exhaust gas. To promote the stoichiometric combustion of the fuel and increase the CO2 content in the recycle exhaust gas, the enriched air can have an increased oxygen concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Himanshu Gupta, Richard Huntington, Moses K. Minta, Franklin F. Mittricker, Loren K. Starcher
  • Patent number: 9903279
    Abstract: Provided are more efficient techniques for operating gas turbine systems. In one embodiment a gas turbine system comprises an oxidant system, a fuel system, a control system, and a number of combustors adapted to receive and combust an oxidant from the oxidant system and a fuel from the fuel system to produce an exhaust gas. The gas turbine system also includes a number of oxidant-flow adjustment devices, each of which are operatively associated with one of the combustors, wherein an oxidant-flow adjustment device is configured to independently regulate an oxidant flow rate into the associated combustor. An exhaust sensor is in communication with the control system. The exhaust sensor is adapted to measure at least one parameter of the exhaust gas, and the control system is configured to independently adjust each of the oxidant-flow adjustment devices based, at least in part, on the parameter measured by the exhaust sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Franklin F. Mittricker, Richard A. Huntington
  • Patent number: 9863267
    Abstract: A system includes plurality of combustors and a distributed flow measurement system coupled to the plurality of combustors. Each combustor of the plurality of combustors includes one or more oxidant passages and one or more fuel passages. The distributed flow measurement system is configured to measure an oxidant flow rate for a respective oxidant passage of the one or more oxidant passages of the respective combustor based at least in part on an oxidant pressure drop along the respective oxidant passage, and the distributed flow measurement system is configured to measure a fuel flow rate for a respective fuel passage of the one or more fuel passages of the respective combustor based at least in part on a fuel pressure drop along the respective fuel passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignees: General Electric Company, ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Dennis M. O'Dea, Karl Dean Minto, Richard A. Huntington, Sulabh K. Dhanuka, Franklin F. Mittricker
  • Publication number: 20170241638
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and systems for controlling a combustion reaction and the products thereof. One embodiment includes a combustion control system having an oxygen supply stream and a high concentration carbon dioxide stream, mixing the streams to form an oxygenation stream substantially comprising oxygen and CO2 and having an oxygen to CO2 ratio, then mixing the oxygenation stream with a combustion fuel stream and combusting in a combustor to generate a combustion products stream having a temperature detected by a temperature sensor, the data from which is used to control the flow a carbon dioxide diluent stream to produce a desired temperature of combustion. The system may also include a control system configured to regulate the flow of the oxygen supply stream based on the flow rate and composition of the combustion fuel stream. The system may also include a gas turbine with an expander and having a load and a load controller in a feedback arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Inventors: Franklin F. Mittricker, Loren K. Starcher, Chad Rasmussen, Richard A. Huntington, Frank Hershkowitz
  • Patent number: 9732673
    Abstract: Methods and systems for low emission power generation in hydrocarbon recovery processes are provided. One system includes a gas turbine system configured to stoichiometrically combust a compressed oxidant and a fuel in the presence of a compressed recycle exhaust gas and expand the discharge in an expander to generate a gaseous exhaust stream and drive a main compressor. A boost compressor can receive and increase the pressure of the gaseous exhaust stream and inject it into an evaporative cooling tower configured to use an exhaust nitrogen gas having a low relative humidity as an evaporative cooling media. The cooled gaseous exhaust stream is then compressed and recirculated through the system as a diluent to moderate the temperature of the stoichiometric combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Robert D. Denton, Himanshu Gupta, Richard Huntington, Moses Minta, Franklin F. Mittricker, Loren K. Starcher
  • Patent number: 9719682
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and systems for controlling a combustion reaction and the products thereof. One embodiment includes a combustion control system having an oxygenation stream substantially comprising oxygen and CO2 and having an oxygen to CO2 ratio, then mixing the oxygenation stream with a combustion fuel stream and combusting in a combustor to generate a combustion products stream having a temperature and a composition detected by a temperature sensor and an oxygen analyzer, respectively, the data from which are used to control the flow and composition of the oxygenation and combustion fuel streams. The system may also include a gas turbine with an expander and having a load and a load controller in a feedback arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Franklin F. Mittricker, Loren K. Starcher, Chad C. Rasmussen, Richard A. Huntington, Frank Hershkowitz
  • Publication number: 20170184021
    Abstract: A system includes a gas turbine system having a turbine combustor, a turbine driven by combustion products from the turbine combustor, and an exhaust gas compressor driven by the turbine. The exhaust gas compressor is configured to compress and supply an exhaust gas to the turbine combustor. The gas turbine system also has an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system. The EGR system is configured to recirculate the exhaust gas along an exhaust recirculation path from the turbine to the exhaust gas compressor. The system further includes a main oxidant compression system having one or more oxidant compressors. The one or more oxidant compressors are separate from the exhaust gas compressor, and the one or more oxidant compressors are configured to supply all compressed oxidant utilized by the turbine combustor in generating the combustion products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Inventors: Richard A. Huntington, Franklin F. Mittricker, Loren K. Starcher, Sulabh K. Dhanuka, Dennis M. O'Dea, Samuel D. Draper, Christian M. Hansen, Todd Denman, James A. West