Patents by Inventor James Seaba
James Seaba 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).
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Patent number: 11267767Abstract: Aspects of the invention relate to improvements in the flexibility with which oxygen and hydrogen, for example from electrolysis, may be supplied to processes having both gasification and methanation steps, as well as improvements in how such processes may be operated in response to variations in carbonaceous feeds. Offsets, between the ideal quantity of hydrogen and the quantity available from a given source may be compensated for by adjusting one or more operations of the process, and in particular such operation(s) that ultimately impact the quantity of CO and/or CO2 available downstream of the gasifier for conversion to methane in an RNG product stream.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2021Date of Patent: March 8, 2022Assignee: Gas Technology InstituteInventors: Andrew Kramer, James Seaba, David C. LaMont
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Publication number: 20220063997Abstract: In the liquid phase reforming (LPR) of oxygenated C,H-containing compounds such as alcohols, various strategies are disclosed for managing byproduct CO2. Important processing options include those in which electrolyte, consumed in capturing or precipitating the CO2 generated from LPR, is regenerated or not regenerated, with carbon emissions potentially being avoided in the latter case. With regeneration, different chemistries are possible, such as in the case of a regeneration cycle utilizing hydroxide anions to precipitate a solid, carbonate form of CO2 that is generated from reforming. Alternatively, a reaction and regeneration system may use carbonate anions to “capture” CO2 and thereby maintain it as aqueous, solubilized bicarbonate form.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2021Publication date: March 3, 2022Inventors: James SEABA, Osman AKPOLAT
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Publication number: 20210309586Abstract: Aspects of the invention relate to improvements in the flexibility with which oxygen and hydrogen, for example from electrolysis, may be supplied to processes having both gasification and methanation steps, as well as improvements in how such processes may be operated in response to variations in carbonaceous feeds. Offsets, between the ideal quantity of hydrogen and the quantity available from a given source may be compensated for by adjusting one or more operations of the process, and in particular such operation(s) that ultimately impact the quantity of CO and/or CO2 available downstream of the gasifier for conversion to methane in an RNG product stream.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 4, 2021Publication date: October 7, 2021Inventors: Andrew KRAMER, James SEABA, David C. LaMont
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Patent number: 10882800Abstract: Aspects of the invention relate to improvements in the flexibility with which oxygen and hydrogen, for example from electrolysis, may be supplied to processes having both gasification and methanation steps, as well as improvements in how such processes may be operated in response to variations in carbonaceous feeds. Offsets, between the ideal quantity of hydrogen and the quantity available from a given source may be compensated for by adjusting one or more operations of the process, and in particular such operation(s) that ultimately impact the quantity of CO and/or CO2 available downstream of the gasifier for conversion to methane in an RNG product stream.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2019Date of Patent: January 5, 2021Assignee: Gas Technology InstituteInventors: Andrew Kramer, James Seaba, David Lamont
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Publication number: 20200270157Abstract: A system and method for desalinating and removing pollutants from water produced during oil and gas development that includes a discharge directing produced water from a well and a direct contact steam generator positioned downstream of the discharge. A filter is positioned downstream of the direct contact steam generator to separate solid waste from the produced water and a condenser is positioned downstream of the filter, the condenser separating combustion exhaust from clean water.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2020Publication date: August 27, 2020Applicant: GAS TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTEInventors: John C. VEGA III, Sarah EISENLORD, James SEABA
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Publication number: 20200017422Abstract: Aspects of the invention relate to improvements in the flexibility with which oxygen and hydrogen, for example from electrolysis, may be supplied to processes having both gasification and methanation steps, as well as improvements in how such processes may be operated in response to variations in carbonaceous feeds. Offsets, between the ideal quantity of hydrogen and the quantity available from a given source may be compensated for by adjusting one or more operations of the process, and in particular such operation(s) that ultimately impact the quantity of CO and/or CO2 available downstream of the gasifier for conversion to methane in an RNG product stream.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 7, 2019Publication date: January 16, 2020Inventors: Andrew KRAMER, James SEABA, David LAMONT
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Patent number: 9702237Abstract: Systems and methods relate to recovering hydrocarbons by injecting into a reservoir outputs from two different types of steam generators along with carbon dioxide, enabling lower fuel consumption for such a hybrid-based approach versus either type of steam generator alone. One steam generator vaporizes water by thermal transfer from combustion with exhaust from the combustion remaining separated from the steam. Since this type of steam generator outputs a limited carbon dioxide concentration with the steam, at least part of the carbon dioxide injected comes from recycling the carbon dioxide separated out of production fluids recovered from the reservoir. Another steam generator produces the steam by direct water contact with combustion products to produce a resulting fluid including the steam and additional carbon dioxide.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2014Date of Patent: July 11, 2017Assignee: ConocoPhillips CompanyInventors: James Scinta, James Seaba, Scott Macadam
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Patent number: 9573823Abstract: A closed loop combustion system for the combustion of fuels using a molten metal oxide bed.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2010Date of Patent: February 21, 2017Assignee: PHILLIPS 66 COMPANYInventors: David C. LaMont, James Seaba, Edward G. Latimer, Alexandru Platon
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Publication number: 20150198546Abstract: A real time and online apparatus and methods measuring steam quality of a moving steam sample stream by superheating or cooling to subsaturated water using a known amount of heat and mass. The meter allows for continuous flow and can be used for verification and calibration of other steam quality measurement device.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 7, 2015Publication date: July 16, 2015Inventors: Jianshe WANG, James SEABA
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Publication number: 20150034322Abstract: Systems and methods relate to recovering hydrocarbons by injecting into a reservoir steam along with carbon dioxide recovered from flue gases produced while generating the steam and from separation of produced fluids. Due to benefits from the carbon dioxide injection, carbon dioxide capture rates from the flue gases selected below fifty percent in such combined recovery of the carbon dioxide enables lower fuel consumption even given that additional fuel is needed for the carbon dioxide capture versus steam only operations. As the capture rates from the flue gases increase above fifty percent like when employed for sequestration purposes, such approaches use more fuel than the steam only operations and may not be cost efficient. A carbon dioxide recovery unit coupled to an air-fired boiler or an auxiliary oxy-fired boiler may supply the carbon dioxide recovered from the flue gases.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2014Publication date: February 5, 2015Inventors: Scott MACADAM, James SEABA, David LARKIN
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Publication number: 20140373538Abstract: Methods and systems relate to an oxy-boiler used to generate steam injected into a well for assisting recovery of hydrocarbons. Operating conditions of a burner for the oxy-boiler limits oxygen contamination in a resulting flue gas for carbon dioxide recovery and limits size of the oxy-boiler, which may thus be located proximate the well rather at a central processing facility. In contrast to a direct steam generation approach where resulting carbon dioxide is mixed with steam, the oxy-boiler also enables selection of a desired level of carbon dioxide injection, which may be provided with the flue gas that may be exhausted from the oxy-boiler at an injection pressure.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2014Publication date: December 25, 2014Inventors: Scott MACADAM, James SEABA
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Publication number: 20140231081Abstract: Systems and methods relate to recovering hydrocarbons by injecting into a reservoir outputs from two different types of steam generators along with carbon dioxide. Synergistic results enable lower fuel consumption for such a hybrid based approach versus either type of steam generator alone. One steam generator vaporizes water by thermal transfer from combustion with exhaust from the combustion remaining separated from the steam. Since this type of steam generator outputs a limited carbon dioxide concentration with the steam, at least part of the carbon dioxide injected comes from recycling the carbon dioxide separated out of production fluids recovered from the reservoir. Another steam generator produces the steam by direct water contact with combustion products to produce a resulting fluid including the steam and additional carbon dioxide.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2014Publication date: August 21, 2014Applicant: CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANYInventors: James SCINTA, James SEABA, Scott MACADAM
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Publication number: 20140060825Abstract: Methods and systems generate steam and carbon dioxide mixtures suitable for injection to assist in recovering hydrocarbons from oil sands based on concentration of the carbon dioxide in the mixtures as influenced by temperature of water introduced into a direct steam generator. Increasing temperature of the water to above 200° C. before introduction into the direct steam generator may utilize heat from an electrical power generation unit. Enthalpy of this preheated water impacts amount of fuel needed to burn in the direct steam generator and hence the concentration of the carbon dioxide, which may be below 11% by mass percent of the steam.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 4, 2013Publication date: March 6, 2014Applicant: CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANYInventors: Scott MACADAM, James SEABA
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Publication number: 20110117004Abstract: A closed loop combustion system for the combustion of fuels using a molten metal oxide bed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2010Publication date: May 19, 2011Applicant: CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANYInventors: David C. LAMONT, James SEABA, Edward G. LATIMER, Alexandru PLATON
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Patent number: 7722831Abstract: A micro component steam reformer system for producing hydrogen-enriched gas to power a fuel cell adapted for scalable power requirements wherein fluid flow is configured in a circuit whereby, in serially interconnected fluid flow modules, a vaporized hydrocarbon is mixed with fuel cell off gas having a hydrogen component and combusted to heat vaporizers and a steam reformer, vaporized hydrocarbons and water vapor are introduced as a feed stock into the steam reformer to produce a syn-gas, which is cooled and purified, and the resulting principally hydrogen gas is introduced into a hydrogen fuel cell having an interconnection within the circuit in which off gas from the fuel cell is processed to provide hydrogen and water for use in the system cycle.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2006Date of Patent: May 25, 2010Inventors: James Seaba, Christopher J. Brooks
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Publication number: 20080209808Abstract: A micro component steam reformer system for producing hydrogen-enriched gas to power a fuel cell adapted for scalable power requirements wherein fluid flow is configured in a circuit whereby, in serially interconnected fluid flow modules, a vaporized hydrocarbon is mixed with fuel cell off gas having a hydrogen component and combusted to heat vaporizers and a steam reformer, vaporized hydrocarbons and water vapor are introduced as a feed stock into the steam reformer to produce a syn-gas, which is cooled and purified, and the resulting principally hydrogen gas is introduced into a hydrogen fuel cell having an interconnection within the circuit in which off gas from the fuel cell is processed to provide hydrogen and water for use in the system cycle.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2006Publication date: September 4, 2008Inventors: James Seaba, Christopher J. Brooks
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Patent number: 6946113Abstract: A method for processing separate fluid flows in a micro component system for the production of hydrogen gas used in fuel cells in which a first fluid flow is directed to micro channels formed on one side of a conductive separator maintained in an enclosure, a second fluid flow is directed to micro channels formed on the opposite side of the separator, and laminar flow is maintained in the fluids such that heat transfer between the fluids on the opposite sides of the micro channels is by conduction through the separator and heat transfer within the fluids on the opposite sides of the micro channels is predominantly by convection within the fluids.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2002Date of Patent: September 20, 2005Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: James Seaba, Lea-Der Chen
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Publication number: 20040079031Abstract: A micro component steam reformer system for producing hydrogen-enriched gas to power a fuel cell adapted for scalable power requirements. The steam reformer system uses a cycle in which, in laminar flow modules, a vaporized hydrocarbon is mixed with fuel cell off gas having a hydrogen component and combusted to heat vaporizers and a steam reformer. Vaporized hydrocarbons and water vapor are introduced as a feed stock into the steam reformer to produce a syn-gas, which is cooled and purified. The resulting principally hydrogen gas may be introduced into a hydrogen fuel cell. Off gas from the fuel cell is recycled to provide hydrogen and water for use in the system cycle.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2003Publication date: April 29, 2004Inventors: James Seaba, Christopher J. Brooks
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Patent number: 6716400Abstract: An ignition system for initiating a fuel cell hydrogen production cycle on demand comprising a module having heat exchanger functions interconnected in an adjacent heater/vaporizer relationship in which a first heat exchanger section in the module is connected to a source of hydrogen enriched gas to provide an initial energy burst to begin the vaporization of liquid hydrocarbons for use in the hydrogen producing cycle; and in which, after system start up, the module section may be inactivated or integrated in the hydrogen producing cycle.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2001Date of Patent: April 6, 2004Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Christopher J. Brooks, James Seaba
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Publication number: 20030075311Abstract: A method for processing separate fluid flows in a micro component system for the production of hydrogen gas used in fuel cells in which a first fluid flow is directed to micro channels formed on one side of a conductive separator maintained in an enclosure, a second fluid flow is directed to micro channels formed on the opposite side of the separator, and laminar flow is maintained in the fluids such that heat transfer between the fluids on the opposite sides of the micro channels is by conduction through the separator and heat transfer within the fluids on the opposite sides of the micro channels is predominantly by convection within the fluids.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2002Publication date: April 24, 2003Inventors: James Seaba, Lea-Der Chen