Patents by Inventor James Michael Storey

James Michael Storey 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: 8376034
    Abstract: A method of assembling a radiant cooler includes providing a vessel shell that defines a gas flow passage therein that extends generally axially through the vessel shell, forming a tube cage from coupling a plurality of cooling tubes together to form a tube cage defined by a plurality of chevron-shaped projections that extend circumferentially about a center axis of the tube cage, each chevron-shaped projection includes a first side and a second side coupled together a tip, circumferentially-adjacent pairs of projections coupled together such that a valley is defined between each pair of circumferentially-spaced projections, each of the projection tips is positioned radially outward from each of the valleys, and orienting the tube cage within the vessel shell such that the tube cage is in flow communication with the flow passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Michael Storey, Aaron John Avagliano, Ashley Nicole Gerbode, John Battaglioli
  • Patent number: 8371007
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system is provided, including a plug removal shield. The plug removal shield further includes a tube configured to surround a plug retaining a fluid volume, and a mount configured to hold the tube relative to the plug. The tube includes a port configured to pass a plug removal tool into proximity with the plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Lien-Yan Chen, James Michael Storey, Robert Henri Gauthier
  • Patent number: 8357215
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of removing a particulate layer from a gasification system component including locating a shedding apparatus in operable communication with the gasification system component. A force is transmitted from the shedding apparatus into the gasification system component and the particulate layer is shed from the gasification system component as a result of the force. Further disclosed is a syngas cooler for a gasification system including a vessel and a plurality of thermal energy transfer platens located in the vessel. A shedding apparatus is in operable communication with the plurality of platens and is capable of shedding a particulate layer from the plurality of platens by transmitting a force to the plurality of platens. The apparatus includes a manifold disposed between the shedding apparatus and the plurality of platens and connected to the plurality of platens via one or more struts capable of distributing the force to the plurality of platens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Steven Craig Russell, James Michael Storey, Robert Henri Gauthier
  • Publication number: 20120291246
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system is provided, including a plug removal shield. The plug removal shield further includes a tube configured to surround a plug retaining a fluid volume, and a mount configured to hold the tube relative to the plug. The tube includes a port configured to pass a plug removal tool into proximity with the plug.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Lien-Yan Chen, James Michael Storey, Robert Henri Gauthier
  • Patent number: 8287815
    Abstract: A method and system for preheating a vessel that includes an area of excess heat and a flow of purge fluid that is channeled to an area to be purged wherein the purge fluid is deficient of heat are provided. The system includes a cooling tube assembly positioned between the area of excess heat and the area to be purged and a first heat exchanger coupled in flow communication to the cooling tube assembly, the first heat exchanger configured to transfer heat between a flow of cooling fluid through the cooling tube assembly and the flow of purge fluid wherein the flow of cooling fluid through the cooling tube assembly is maintained sub-cooled and the flow of purge fluid is heated to facilitate reducing a thermal stress in the area purged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Steven Craig Russell, James Michael Storey, Robert Henri Gauthier
  • Publication number: 20120219409
    Abstract: A pump used in a gasification system, the pump comprises a housing having an inlet and an outlet, a rotor supported within the housing for rotation relative to the housing, the rotor comprising a hub, a plurality of disks spaced apart by sections of the hub, and defining a plurality of transport channels for transporting solid carbonaceous feedstocks for the gasification system, and an interior feedstock facing surface adjacent to the solid carbonaceous feedstocks, wherein at least a portion of the interior feedstock facing surface is coated with a coating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Inventors: Judeth Brannon Corry, James Michael Storey, Minghu Guo, Wei Chen, Cai Zeng, Richard L. Zhao, Steven Craig Russell
  • Publication number: 20120205222
    Abstract: A system includes a solid feed fuel pump. The solid feed fuel pump includes a solid feed flow path configured to route a solid fuel flow from an inlet to an outlet. The solid feed fuel pump also includes a vent including a filter, wherein the vent is configured to discharge fluid flow that is opposing the solid fuel flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Steven Craig Russell, Derek Leslie Aldred, Jeffery Allen Rader, James Michael Storey
  • Patent number: 8240366
    Abstract: A method of assembling a radiant cooler is provided. The method includes providing a vessel shell that includes a gas flow passage defined therein that extends generally axially through the vessel shell, coupling a plurality of cooling tubes and a plurality of downcomers together to form a tube cage wherein at least one of the plurality of cooling tubes is positioned circumferentially between a pair of circumferentially-adjacent spaced-apart downcomers, and orienting the tube cage within the vessel shell such that the tube cage is in flow communication with the flow passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Michael Storey, Aaron John Avagliano, Ashley Nicole Gerbode, Fulton Jose Lopez, Lien-Yan (Tom) Chen, Judeth Helen Brannon Corry
  • Patent number: 8227078
    Abstract: A coating for use in combustion systems includes a plurality of refractory metal particles in a ceramic, glass or metal matrix disposed on surfaces of the system that are prone to slag, ash, and/or char buildup during operation of the combustion system. The coating is effective to prevent any substantial interaction with the slag, ash, and/or char.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Martin Mathew Morra, Aaron John Avagliano, Wei Chen, Kristopher John Frutschy, Monty L. Harned, Shashishekara S. Talya, James Michael Storey
  • Publication number: 20120171054
    Abstract: According to various embodiments, a system includes a fluidization elbow. The fluidization elbow includes an elbow inlet, an elbow outlet downstream from the elbow inlet, and an elbow body disposed between the elbow inlet and the elbow outlet, wherein the elbow body turns and converges from the elbow inlet toward the elbow outlet. The fluidization elbow also includes multiple gas nozzles coupled to the elbow body, wherein the multiple gas nozzles include injection axes that generally converge toward the elbow outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Steven Craig Russell, James Michael Storey, Ajoy Patra, Xinyuan Zhang
  • Patent number: 8197564
    Abstract: A method of assembling a synthesis gas (syngas) cooler for a gasification system includes positioning a dip tube within a shell of the syngas cooler. The dip tube is configured to quench the syngas flowing through the shell and/or at least partially channel the syngas through the dip tube. The method also includes coupling an isolation tube to the dip tube such that the isolation tube is substantially concentrically aligned with, and radially outward of, the dip tube. The isolation tube is coupled in flow communication with a purge gas source and is configured to at least partially form a dynamic pressure seal. The method further includes coupling at least one of the isolation tube and the dip tube in fluid communication with a fluid retention chamber. The method also include at least partially filling the fluid retention chamber with fluid, thereby further forming the dynamic pressure seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Allyson Joy Jimenez-Huyke, James Michael Storey, John Saunders Stevenson, Aaron John Avagliano, Thomas Frederick Leininger, Judeth Brannon Corry
  • Patent number: 8186177
    Abstract: An integrated gasification combined cycle system is provided. The integrated gasification combined cycle system includes an air compressor coupled in flow communication to an air separation unit, a condensate heater coupled in flow communication with the air compressor, and a condenser coupled in flow communication with the condensate heater. The condensate heater and the air compressor are coupled such that a portion of compressed air generated by the air compressor is channeled to the condensate heater. A method of assembling an integrated gasification combined cycle system is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Paul Steven Wallace, James Michael Storey, Aaron John Avagliano
  • Publication number: 20120111009
    Abstract: A system includes a syngas cooler configured to cool a syngas. The syngas cooler includes a first syngas cooler section configured to cool the syngas and a second syngas cooler section configured to cool the syngas and generate a first superheated steam with an enthalpy of less than approximately 3800 kJ/kg.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Judeth Brannon Corry, Leroy Omar Tomlinson, James Michael Storey, Paul Stephen Dimascio, Mark Joseph Steffen, Wei Chen, Benjamin Campbell Steinhaus, Richard Anthony De Puy
  • Publication number: 20120102835
    Abstract: A system includes a gasifier, which includes a reaction chamber configured to convert a feedstock into a synthetic gas, a quench chamber configured to cool the synthetic gas, a quench ring configured to provide a water flow to the quench chamber, and a quench ring protection system configured to protect the quench ring from the synthetic gas or a molten slag. The quench ring protection system includes a protective barrier disposed within an inner circumferential surface of the quench ring. The protective barrier substantially overlaps the inner circumferential surface in an axial direction along an axis of the quench ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Judeth Brannon Corry, James Michael Storey, Paul Stephen Dimascio, Wei Chen, Wade Albert Taber, Delome Diane Fair
  • Patent number: 8147130
    Abstract: A heat flux measurement device includes at least two thermocouples disposed within a front portion of the device at different axial distances from a front wall of the device. A correlation between the measured heat fluxes from the device over a period of time is used to estimate a fouling thickness on a wall, for example, a water wall of a radiant syngas cooler (RSC).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mohamed Sakami, James Michael Storey, Shobhana Mani, Fulton Jose Lopez
  • Patent number: 8135247
    Abstract: A fiber sensor package is disclosed. The fiber sensor package includes an interconnection between a first optical fiber and a second optical fiber within a tubing such that the first and second optical fibers are at least partially disposed within that tubing. A bonding material is disposed across an edge of the interconnection around at least a part of the circumferential surfaces of the first and second fibers, holds rigid the interconnection of the first and second optical fibers. The methods of preparing the package, and the examples of systems benefiting from the fiber sensor package of this invention are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Hua Xia, James Michael Storey, Aaron John Avagliano, Aditya Kumar, Kevin Thomas McCarthy, Juntao Wu, Cheryl Zhan
  • Patent number: 8048311
    Abstract: Methods and systems for a zero discharge waste water treatment system are provided. The system includes a filtration train including filter media having successively smaller diameter filtration elements, a reverse osmosis apparatus including a pump and a membrane coupled in flow communication with said filtration train, a vapor compressor coupled in flow communication with said reverse osmosis apparatus, and a spray dryer coupled in flow communication with said vapor compressor, said spray dryer configured to separate moisture in a brine solution from particulate suspended in the brine solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Paul Steven Wallace, James Michael Storey, Aaron John Avagliano
  • Patent number: 8024930
    Abstract: A combined Gasification, methanation and power island steam turbine system. The system includes a gasification portion, the methanation portion and a steam turbine portion. The Gasification portion includes the new heat recovery design and associated controls for obtaining a desired steam to dry gas ration of 1.1-2.2. The methanation portion includes first, second and third methanation reactors and associated heat recovery integrated with a high-pressure, low-pressure superheater, and HP economizers. The power Island steam turbine includes a High pressure, Intermediate pressure, low-pressure steam turbine having an input coupled to an output of the superheaters in Methanation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sampath Kumar Bommareddy, Karthik Subramanyan, James Michael Storey, Jerrold Samuel Kassman, Kurt Richard Imai
  • Patent number: 8006983
    Abstract: A method for assembling a seal assembly is provided. The method includes coupling a first ring within a vessel, coupling a second ring within the vessel, and coupling a first seal layer between the first ring and the second ring such that the first seal layer contacts at least the first ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Steven Craig Russell, Nicholas Simon Graham, Kelsey Elizabeth Beach, James Michael Storey
  • Publication number: 20110120010
    Abstract: A gasification quench chamber is disclosed. The gasification quench chamber includes a reservoir that contains liquid coolant in its lower portion and an exit for the cooled syngas in its upper portion; a dip tube that is configured to introduce a syngas mixture to contact the liquid coolant which produces the cooled syngas; a cooling device configured to further cool the cooled syngas in its upper portion; and a stability device in the lower portion that is configured to mitigate coolant level fluctuation and sloshing. In an embodiment of the quench chamber, the cooling device includes a heat exchanger pipe. A quench chamber and scrubber assembly is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Prashant Tiwari, Aaron Avagliano, Judeth Brannon Corry, Constantin Dinu, Helge Burghard Herwig Klockow, Gregory Michael Laskowski, Sarah Marie Monahan, Denise Marie Rico, James Michael Storey