Patents by Inventor Jan Hugdahl

Jan Hugdahl 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).

  • Publication number: 20090285747
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method for producing micro-domain graphitic materials by use of a plasma process, and to novel micro-conical graphitic materials. By micro-domain graphitic material we mean fullerenes, carbon nanotubes, open conical carbon structures (also named micro-cones), preferably flat graphitic sheets, or a mixture of two or all of these. The novel carbon material is open carbon micro-cones with total disclination degrees of 60° and/or 120°, corresponding to cone angles of respectively 112.9° and/or 83.6°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Inventors: Steinar Lynum, Jan Hugdahl, Ketil Hox, Ragne Hildrum, Magne Nordvik
  • Patent number: 7462343
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method for producing micro-domain graphitic materials by use of a plasma process, and to novel micro-conical graphitic materials. By micro-domain graphitic material we mean fullerenes, carbon nanotubes, open conical carbon structures (also named micro-cones), preferably flat graphitic sheets, or a mixture of two or all of these. The novel carbon material is open carbon micro-cones with total disclination degrees of 60° and/or 120°, corresponding to cone angles of respectively 112.9° and/or 83.6°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Kvafrner Technology and Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Steinar Lynum, Jan Hugdahl, Ketil Hox, Ragne Hildrum, Magne Nordvik
  • Patent number: 6773689
    Abstract: This invention relates to a carbon media for storage of hydrogen characterized in that it comprises known and novel micro-domain materials and that it is produced by a one or two-step plasma process. In the one-step plasma process conventional carbon black or graphitic carbon black can be formed. In the two-step plasma process, a hydrocarbon feed material is sent through a plasma zone and becomes partly dehydrogenated in the first step to form polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and is then sent through second plasma zone to become completely dehydrogenated to form micro-domain graphitic materials in the second step. By micro-domain graphitic materials we mean fullerenes, carbon nanotubes, open conical carbon structures (also named micro-cones), flat graphitic sheets, or a mixture of two or all of these. The novel carbon material is open carbon micro-cones with total disclination degrees 60° and/or 120°, corresponding to cone angles of respectively 112.9° and/or 83.6°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Kvaerner Technology Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Steinar Lynum, Jan Hugdahl, Ketil Hox, Ragne Hildrum
  • Publication number: 20030091495
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method for producing micro-domain graphitic materials by use of a plasma process, and to novel micro-conical graphitic materials. By micro-domain graphitic material we mean fullerenes, carbon nanotubes, open conical carbon structures (also named micro-cones), preferably flat graphitic sheets, or a mixture of two or all of these. The novel carbon material is open carbon micro-cones with total disclination degrees of 60° and/or 120°, corresponding to cone angles of respectively 112.9° and/or 83.6°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2002
    Publication date: May 15, 2003
    Inventors: Steinar Lynum, Jan Hugdahl, Ketil Hox, Ragne Hildrum, Magne Nordvik
  • Patent number: 5997837
    Abstract: In a method for decomposition of hydrocarbons for the production of hydrogen and carbon black, the feed stock is passed through a plasma torch, which causes a pyrolytic decomposition of the feed stock. The feed stock is transported through the plasma torch (A) in a cooled lead-in tube (1) and undergoes a first heating in an area in the immediate vicinity of the plasma flame. The material thereby produced is passed on to one or more subsequent stages where the final and complete decomposition of the hydrocarbons to carbon black and hydrogen occurs. In this area further raw material may be added which causes quenching and reacts with the already produced carbon black. An increase is thereby caused in particle size, density and amount produced without further energy supply, whereafter the products produced are expelled and separated and hot gas may be transported in a return pipe to the torch, in order to further increase the energy yield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Kvaerner Technology and Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Steinar Lynum, Kjell Haugsten, Ketil Hox, Jan Hugdahl, Nils Myklebust
  • Patent number: 5989512
    Abstract: In a method for the production of carbon black and hydrogen by means of pyrolysis of hydrocarbons with a plasma torch (3) in a reaction chamber the pressure in the reaction chamber (1), the feed rate for the hydrogen plasma gas and hydrocarbons and the angle of the injection nozzles (2) in the reaction chamber (1) are adjusted in order to establish a reaction zone (5) in the chamber's central area with a location which determines the reaction enthalpy for decomposition of the hydrocarbons into hydrogen and carbon black in order to obtain a desired quality for the carbon part. The enthalpy value is adjusted in a range between 1 and 50 kWh/Nm.sup.3 and the temperature in the reaction zone is maintained between 1000.degree. C. and 4000.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Kvaerner Technology and Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Steinar Lynum, Ketil Hox, Jan Hugdahl
  • Patent number: 5951960
    Abstract: Provided is a method for the reduction of electrode consumption in plasma torches during the processing and decomposition of hydrocarbons for the production of carbon black and hydrogen where hydrogen is supplied to the plasma torch as a plasma forming gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Kvaerner Engineering, AS
    Inventors: Steinar Lynum, Ketil Hox, Nils Myklebust, Jan Hugdahl
  • Patent number: 5725616
    Abstract: In order to enrich natural gas or other hydrocarbon gases with hydrogen, thus reducing the carbon content and thereby achieving a reduction or elimination of the discharge of carbon dioxide during combustion of the gases, a pyrolytic process is conducted in the feed stream for the natural gases or hydrocarbon gases which are to be burned. The gas is passed through a reactor in which it is decomposed at least partially into a carbon constituent and a hydrogen constituent. The carbon constituent is removed to a desired level. Any remaining constituent together with the hydrogen constituent is conveyed to the combustion process while the removed carbon constituent is conveyed out of the process for separate application. The pyrolytic process can be carried out on the entire stream or only a partial stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: Kvaerner Engineering A.S.
    Inventors: Steinar Lynum, Kjell Haugsten, Ketil Hox, Jan Hugdahl, Nils Myklebust
  • Patent number: 5527518
    Abstract: For producing carbon black material having a surface area of less than 5 m.sup.2 /g, a dibutyl phthalate absorption of less than 30 ml/100 g and density compressed to 1.5-1.7 g/cm.sup.3 and a specific electrical resistance of less than 0.1 ohmcm for use as an anode material for aluminum production, a method includes a first stage delivering feedstock through a feed tube to a plasma torch to a reaction area to raise the temperature of the feedstock to about 1600.degree. C., then passing the dehydrogenated carbon material to a second stage to complete the decomposition to carbon black and hydrogen; adding additional raw material to cause quenching and reaction with formed carbon black to increase particle size density and quantity produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Assignee: Kvaerner Engineering a.s
    Inventors: Steinar Lynum, Ketil Hox, Jan Hugdahl
  • Patent number: 5500501
    Abstract: A plasma torch includes an arc having a generator for producing an axial field in the arc's area of operation in which one or more bodies of ferromagnetic material are placed along the torches central axis; the body is in the form of an element incorporated in the torch and is cooled by the provision of channels for a cooling medium wherein the ferromagnetic body is located near the arc's area of operation to reinforce the magnetic field with the body being moveable in an axial direction to adjust the operation parameters of the arc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1996
    Assignee: Kvaerner Engineering A.S.
    Inventors: Steinar Lynum, Kjell Haugsten, Ketil Hox, Jan Hugdahl, Nils Myklebust
  • Patent number: 5486674
    Abstract: A plasma torch is designed for energy supply for example for chemical processes. The plasma torch comprises at least three solid tubular electrodes (1, 2 and 3) located coaxially inside one another. The electrodes (1, 2, 3) can be moved axially in relation to one another. They are preferably electrically insulated (5, 6, 7) from one another and have connections for electrical power (8, 9, 10). When three electrodes are used, the middle electrode (2) is used as an auxiliary electrode or ignition electrode. It is then coupled with one of the other electrodes (1). The distance to third electrode (3) is adapted to the working voltage in such a way that a jump spark is obtained when the working voltage is connected. During operation the auxiliary electrode (2) is withdrawn from the plasma zone thus preventing it from continuously forming the foot point of the arc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1996
    Assignee: Kvaerner Engineering AS
    Inventors: Steinar Lynum, Kjell Haugsten, Ketil Hox, Jan Hugdahl
  • Patent number: 5481080
    Abstract: A plasma torch has two or more tubular electrodes located co-axially with one inside the other for chemical treatment of a reactant and includes a lead-in tube supplying the reactant and which is located co-axially in the inner electrode; the lead-in tube includes a liquid-cooled tube provided with a heat-insulating layer on the outer surface; the lead-in tube has a longitudinal axis along which the lead-in tube can be moved for positioning the nozzle at its lower end in relation to the plasma flame; the nozzle end is replaceable and is shaped with a conical wall portion to define a venturi passage to increase the exit velocity of the reactant; between the lead-in tube and the inner electrode an annular passage is provided through which plasma-forming gas is introduced which can be used to cool the reactant gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Assignee: Kvaerner Engineering A.S.
    Inventors: Steinar Lynum, Kjell Haugsten, Ketil Hox, Jan Hugdahl