Patents by Inventor Jeffrey E. Surma

Jeffrey E. Surma 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: 20240150169
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to systems and methods for producing hydrogen gas and liquid fuels from methane-containing gases or organic feedstock using one or more of pyrolysis or electrolysis. The systems and methods include using gasifiers, oxidation units, cleaners, and liquid fuel manufacturing systems to produce liquid fuels. Ratios of carbon to hydrogen are controlled in the systems and methods to provide efficient liquid fuel and hydrogen formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2022
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Applicant: InEnTec Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel R. Cohn, Leslie Bromberg, Jeffrey E. Surma
  • Patent number: 11905469
    Abstract: The present invention includes a method for converting renewable energy source electricity and a hydrocarbon feedstock into a liquid fuel by providing a source of renewable electrical energy in communication with a synthesis gas generation unit and an air separation unit. Oxygen from the air separation unit and a hydrocarbon feedstock is provided to the synthesis gas generation unit, thereby causing partial oxidation reactions in the synthesis gas generation unit in a process that converts the hydrocarbon feedstock into synthesis gas. The synthesis gas is then converted into a liquid fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: InEnTec Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel R. Cohn, Jeffrey E. Surma, Leslie Bromberg
  • Publication number: 20230159326
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to systems and methods for cracking hydrocarbons into hydrogen gas and carbon using heating of a fluidized bed. The systems and methods utilize electrically conductive carbon or graphite particles as a fluidized bed material for heating hydrocarbon feedstock to at least a pyrolysis temperature. The electrically conductive carbon, graphite, or other particles may be heated by electrically powered sources that include induction heating, microwave heating, millimeter wave heating, joule heating and/or plasma heating. Combustion heating may also be employed in varying amounts with varying combinations of electrically powered heating sources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2021
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Applicant: InEnTec Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey E. Surma, Daniel R. Cohn, Leslie Bromberg
  • Publication number: 20220325186
    Abstract: The present invention includes a method for converting renewable energy source electricity and a hydrocarbon feedstock into a liquid fuel by providing a source of renewable electrical energy in communication with a synthesis gas generation unit and an air separation unit. Oxygen from the air separation unit and a hydrocarbon feedstock is provided to the synthesis gas generation unit, thereby causing partial oxidation reactions in the synthesis gas generation unit in a process that converts the hydrocarbon feedstock into synthesis gas. The synthesis gas is then converted into a liquid fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2022
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Applicant: InEnTec Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel R. Cohn, Jeffrey E. Surma, Leslie Bromberg
  • Publication number: 20220130567
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein include methods and systems for melting or augmenting a melt rate of material in a melter using electromagnetic radiation with a frequency between 0.9 GHz and 10 GHz. In some examples, a power and/or frequency of radiation used may be selected so as to control a temperature of a cold cap in the melter while maintaining emissions from the melter below a threshold level. In this manner, examples described herein may provide for efficient and safe melting and vitrification of radioactive wastes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2022
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Applicant: InEnTec Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel R. Cohn, Jeffrey E. Surma
  • Patent number: 11254876
    Abstract: Embodiments include a method for converting renewable energy source electricity and a hydrocarbon feedstock into a liquid fuel by providing a source of renewable electrical energy in communication with a synthesis gas generation unit and an air separation unit. Oxygen from the air separation unit and a hydrocarbon feedstock is provided to the synthesis gas generation unit, thereby causing partial oxidation reactions in the synthesis gas generation unit in a process that converts the hydrocarbon feedstock into synthesis gas. The synthesis gas is then converted into a liquid fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: InEnTec Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel R. Cohn, Jeffrey E. Surma, Leslie Bromberg
  • Patent number: 11232879
    Abstract: Methods and systems for melting or augmenting a melt rate of material in a melter using electromagnetic radiation with a frequency between 0.9 GHz and 10 GHz. In some examples, a power and/or frequency of radiation used may be selected so as to control a temperature of a cold cap in the melter while maintaining emissions from the melter below a threshold level. In this manner, examples described herein may provide for efficient and safe melting and vitrification of radioactive wastes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: InEnTec Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel R. Cohn, Jeffrey E. Surma
  • Publication number: 20210207037
    Abstract: The present invention includes a method for converting renewable energy source electricity and a hydrocarbon feedstock into a liquid fuel by providing a source of renewable electrical energy in communication with a synthesis gas generation unit and an air separation unit. Oxygen from the air separation unit and a hydrocarbon feedstock is provided to the synthesis gas generation unit, thereby causing partial oxidation reactions in the synthesis gas generation unit in a process that converts the hydrocarbon feedstock into synthesis gas. The synthesis gas is then converted into a liquid fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Applicant: InEnTec Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel R. Cohn, Jeffrey E. Surma, Leslie Bromberg
  • Patent number: 10954449
    Abstract: The present invention includes a method for converting renewable energy source electricity and a hydrocarbon feedstock into a liquid fuel by providing a source of renewable electrical energy in communication with a synthesis gas generation unit and an air separation unit. Oxygen from the air separation unit and a hydrocarbon feedstock is provided to the synthesis gas generation unit, thereby causing partial oxidation reactions in the synthesis gas generation unit in a process that converts the hydrocarbon feedstock into synthesis gas. The synthesis gas is then converted into a liquid fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: INENTEC, INC.
    Inventors: Daniel R. Cohn, Jeffrey E. Surma, Leslie Bromberg
  • Patent number: 10927028
    Abstract: An optimized gasification/vitrification processing system having a gasification unit which converts organic materials to a hydrogen rich gas and ash in communication with a joule heated vitrification unit which converts the ash formed in the gasification unit into glass, and a plasma which converts elemental carbon and products of incomplete combustion formed in the gasification unit into a hydrogen rich gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: InEnTec, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey E. Surma, James A. Batdorf
  • Publication number: 20190295734
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein include methods and systems for melting or augmenting a melt rate of material in a melter using electromagnetic radiation with a frequency between 0.9 GHz and 10 GHz. In some examples, a power and/or frequency of radiation used may be selected so as to control a temperature of a cold cap in the melter while maintaining emissions from the melter below a threshold level. In this manner, examples described herein may provide for efficient and safe melting and vitrification of radioactive wastes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Inventors: Daniel R. Cohn, Jeffrey E. Surma
  • Publication number: 20190249089
    Abstract: The present invention includes a method for converting renewable energy source electricity and a hydrocarbon feedstock into a liquid fuel by providing a source of renewable electrical energy in communication with a synthesis gas generation unit and an air separation unit. Oxygen from the air separation unit and a hydrocarbon feedstock is provided to the synthesis gas generation unit, thereby causing partial oxidation reactions in the synthesis gas generation unit in a process that converts the hydrocarbon feedstock into synthesis gas. The synthesis gas is then converted into a liquid fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Applicant: INENTEC INC
    Inventors: Daniel R. Cohn, Jeffrey E. Surma, Leslie Bromberg
  • Patent number: 10316262
    Abstract: A rotating heat regenerator is used to recover heat from the syngas at it exits the reactor vessel of a waste or biomass gasifier. In some embodiments, three or more streams are passed through the heat exchanger. One stream is the dirty syngas, which heats the rotating material. A second stream is a cold stream that is heated as it passes through the material. A third stream is a cleaning stream, which serves to remove particulates that are collected on the rotating material as the dirty syngas passes through it. This apparatus can also be used as an auto-heat exchanger, or it can exchange heat between separate flows in the gasifier process. The apparatus can also be used to reduce the heating requirement for the thermal residence chamber (TRC) used downstream from the gasification system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: InEnTec, Inc.
    Inventors: Leslie Bromberg, Daniel R. Cohn, Jeffrey E. Surma, James A. Batdorf, David A. Lamar
  • Patent number: 10273414
    Abstract: A method for converting renewable energy source electricity and a hydrocarbon feedstock into a liquid fuel by providing a source of renewable electrical energy in communication with a synthesis gas generation unit and an air separation unit. Oxygen from the air separation unit and a hydrocarbon feedstock is provided to the synthesis gas generation unit, thereby causing partial oxidation reactions in the synthesis gas generation unit in a process that converts the hydrocarbon feedstock into synthesis gas. The synthesis gas is then converted into a liquid fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: InEnTec, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel R. Cohn, Jeffrey E. Surma, Leslie Bromberg
  • Publication number: 20180273415
    Abstract: An optimized gasification/vitrification processing system having a gasification unit which converts organic materials to a hydrogen rich gas and ash in communication with a joule heated vitrification unit which converts the ash formed in the gasification unit into glass, and a plasma which converts elemental carbon and products of incomplete combustion formed in the gasification unit into a hydrogen rich gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Applicant: InEnTec Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey E. Surma, James A. Batdorf
  • Patent number: 9994474
    Abstract: An optimized gasification/vitrification processing system having a gasification unit which converts organic materials to a hydrogen rich gas and ash in communication with a joule heated vitrification unit which converts the ash formed in the gasification unit into glass, and a plasma which converts elemental carbon and products of incomplete combustion formed in the gasification unit into a hydrogen rich gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: InEnTec, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey E. Surma, James A. Batdorf
  • Patent number: 9914890
    Abstract: A gasification system method and apparatus to convert a feed stream containing at least some organic material into synthesis gas having a first region, a second region, a gas solid separator, and a means for controlling the flow of material from the first region to the second region. The feed stream is introduced into the system, and the feed stream is partially oxidized in the first region thereby creating a solid material and a gas material. The method further includes the steps of separating at least a portion of the solid material from the gas material with the gas solid separator, controlling the flow of the solid material into the second region from the first region, and heating the solid material in the second region with an electrical means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: InEnTec, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey E. Surma, James A. Batdorf
  • Publication number: 20170009162
    Abstract: A rotating heat regenerator is used to recover heat from the syngas at it exits the reactor vessel of a waste or biomass gasifier. In some embodiments, three or more streams are passed through the heat exchanger. One stream is the dirty syngas, which heats the rotating material. A second stream is a cold stream that is heated as it passes through the material. A third stream is a cleaning stream, which serves to remove particulates that are collected on the rotating material as the dirty syngas passes through it. This apparatus can also be used as an auto-heat exchanger, or it can exchange heat between separate flows in the gasifier process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Applicant: INENTEC INC.
    Inventors: Leslie Bromberg, Daniel R. Cohn, Jeffrey E. Surma, James A. Batdorf, David A. Lamar
  • Publication number: 20170002271
    Abstract: The present invention includes a method for converting renewable energy source electricity and a hydrocarbon feedstock into a liquid fuel by providing a source of renewable electrical energy in communication with a synthesis gas generation unit and an air separation unit. Oxygen from the air separation unit and a hydrocarbon feedstock is provided to the synthesis gas generation unit, thereby causing partial oxidation reactions in the synthesis gas generation unit in a process that converts the hydrocarbon feedstock into synthesis gas. The synthesis gas is then converted into a liquid fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Applicant: INENTEC INC
    Inventors: Daniel R. Cohn, Jeffrey E. Surma, Leslie Bromberg
  • Patent number: 9469533
    Abstract: A method for converting renewable energy source-electricity and a hydrocarbon feedstock into a liquid fuel by providing a source of renewable-electrical energy in communication with a synthesis gas generation unit and an air separation-unit. Oxygen from the air separation unit and a hydrocarbon feedstock is provided to the-synthesis gas generation unit, thereby causing partial oxidation reactions in the synthesis gas-generation unit in a process that converts the hydrocarbon feedstock into synthesis gas. The synthesis gas is then converted into a liquid fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: INENTEC INC.
    Inventors: Daniel R. Cohn, Jeffrey E. Surma, Leslie Bromberg