Patents by Inventor John A. Bowman

John A. Bowman 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: 7690336
    Abstract: A Miller cycle combustion engine capable of operating on multiple fuel types, and a method of operating the engine, is provided. The engine includes a fuel type determiner to determine the fuel type, and a compression adjustor to adjust the compression of a first cylinder of the engine to match the requirement of the determined fuel type. The compression adjustor is a variable valve timing system that provides a maximum compression when a fuel type requiring maximum compression is determined, and that advances or retards the opening of the intake valve to provide lower compression when a fuel type requiring lower compression is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael John Bowman, Louis Andrew Schick
  • Patent number: 7650744
    Abstract: A gas turbine systems of reducing NOX emissions and enhancing operability comprises a compressor; a combustor disposed downstream of and in fluid communication with the compressor; a turbine assembly disposed down stream of and in fluid communication with the combustor; an oxygen-enriched gas source disposed in selective fluid communication with the compressor, the combustor, or a combination of the foregoing, wherein the oxygen-enriched gas source is a pressure swing absorption system, an electrolyzer, or a membrane reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Balachandar Varatharajan, Chellappa Balan, Michael John Bowman
  • Patent number: 7597098
    Abstract: A valve mechanism is provided for use in an inhaler comprising a pressurized container, and a metering chamber, and a valve mechanism wherein the inlet and outlet valves are separate and can be operated independently. The pressure of the fluid in the canister is used to aid the opening of the outer valve so reducing the force to fire a dose. A variant of the valve mechanism allows the user to select from a range of dose volumes by appropriate orientation of the stem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: The Technology Partnership PLC
    Inventors: Graham Scott Gutsell, Nicholas John Bowman, Iain Grierson McDerment, Patrick James Campbell
  • Patent number: 7595122
    Abstract: An electrolyzer assembly comprises at least one electrolyzer cell including at least two electrodes and an electrolyte interposed therebetween. The electrolyzer assembly further comprises an interconnect structure in intimate contact with at least one of the two electrodes or the electrolyte. The interconnect structure includes at least one flow channel initially defined by a removable sacrificial material, wherein the interconnect structure is configured to provide support for the electrodes and the electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Chellappa Balan, Michael John Bowman, Kenneth Walter Browall
  • Publication number: 20090222194
    Abstract: A Miller cycle combustion engine capable of operating on multiple fuel types, and a method of operating the engine, is provided. The engine includes a fuel type determiner to determine the fuel type, and a compression adjustor to adjust the compression of a first cylinder of the engine to match the requirement of the determined fuel type. The compression adjustor is a variable valve timing system that provides a maximum compression when a fuel type requiring maximum compression is determined, and that advances or retards the opening of the intake valve to provide lower compression when a fuel type requiring lower compression is determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael John Bowman, Louis Andrew Schick
  • Publication number: 20090205334
    Abstract: Systems and methods may be provided for exhaust gas recirculation. The systems and methods may include receiving, via an intake section, inlet air at an input of a compressor, generating compressed air at the compressor using the received inlet air, and providing the compressed air from the compressor to a combustor, where the combustor produces combustion involving the compressed air and fuel. The systems and methods may also include receiving combustion products associated with the combustion at a turbine component, where the turbine component releases exhaust gases, and recirculating at least a portion of the exhaust gases to the intake section via a recirculation line, where the recirculated exhaust gases raise a temperature of the inlet air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Samer Aljabari, Michael John Bowman, Luciano Joseph Cerone, Scott Mordin Hoyte
  • Publication number: 20080309087
    Abstract: A power generation system includes a gas turbine system. The turbine system includes a combustion chamber configured to combust a fuel stream a compressor configured to receive a feed oxidant stream and supply a compressed oxidant to the combustion chamber and an expander configured to receive a discharge from the combustion chamber and generate an exhaust comprising carbon dioxide and electrical energy. The system further includes a retrofittable exhaust gas recirculation system including a splitter configured to split the exhaust into a first split stream and a second split stream, a heat recovery steam generator configured to receive the first split stream and generate a cooled first split stream and a purification system configured to receive the first cooled split stream and the second split stream and generate a recycle stream, wherein the recycle stream is mixed with the fresh oxidant to generate the feed oxidant stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Andrei Tristan Evulet, Ahmed Mostafa ElKady, Michael John Bowman
  • Publication number: 20080155984
    Abstract: A combined cycle system includes, a pre-steam-methane-reformer operating at a temperature of less than about 800 degrees Celsius to reform a mixed fuel stream to generate a first reformate stream, a water-gas-shift reactor to convert carbon monoxide in the first reformate stream to carbon dioxide and form a second reformate stream, a carbon dioxide removal unit for removing carbon dioxide from the second reformate stream and form a carbon dioxide stream and a third reformate stream; wherein less than about 50 percent of the carbon contained in the mixed fuel stream is recovered as carbon dioxide by the removal unit, a gas turbine unit for generating power and an exhaust stream, and a steam generator unit configured to receive the exhaust stream, wherein the heat of the exhaust stream is transferred to a water stream to generate the steam for the mixed fuel stream and for a steam turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: Ke Liu, Michael John Bowman, Stephen Duane Sanborn, Andrei Tristan Evulet
  • Publication number: 20080134895
    Abstract: An apparatus for separating at least one component from a mixture of a plurality of chemical species is provided. The apparatus comprises a membrane structure comprising a plurality of pores disposed within a matrix material to allow mass transport from a first surface of the membrane structure to a second surface of the membrane structure. The matrix material has a thermal conductivity of at least about 10 W/m/K; and a functional material disposed within at least a portion of the plurality of pores. The functional material has the property of promoting selective transport of at least one species through the membrane structure from the first surface to the second surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2006
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: James Anthony Ruud, Michael John Bowman, Kalya Vijaya Sarathy, Mohan Manoharan, Anthony Yu-Chung Ku, Vidya Ramaswamy, Patrick Roland Lucien Malenfant
  • Patent number: 7384620
    Abstract: A hydrogen reforming system includes a cyclical compression chamber having an entry port for receiving hydrogen-containing gas and an exit port for delivering reformed hydrogen-containing gas, an arrangement for heating the hydrogen-containing gas to a non-combustible temperature, and a drive system for cycling the cyclical compression chamber. The cyclical compression chamber has an operational cycle with an internal pressure and temperature absent combustion effective for reforming the hydrogen-containing gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael John Bowman, Chellappa Balan, Andrei Colibaba-Evulet, Narayan Ramesh
  • Patent number: 7331179
    Abstract: A technique is disclosed for a system and method for combined production of power and hydrogen utilizing the heat from a first working fluid heated by a geothermal energy source using a steam generator and an electrolyzer designed to receive the steam produced by the steam generator for the production of hydrogen and oxygen using electrolysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Chellappa Balan, Michael John Bowman, Daniel Preston Smith, Charles Max Byrd
  • Publication number: 20080011160
    Abstract: A carbon dioxide separation system comprises a heat exchanger having a first flow path for directing a fluid comprising carbon dioxide, for example an exhaust gas, therethrough and a second flow path for directing a heat transfer fluid therethrough, a separator comprising a material with selective permeability of carbon dioxide for separating the first and second flow paths and for promoting thermal transfer and carbon dioxide transport therebetween, and a condenser for condensing the heat transfer fluid to isolate the carbon dioxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2006
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: MICHAEL JOHN BOWMAN, STEPHEN DUANE SANBORN, ANDREI TRISTAN EVULET, JAMES ANTHONY RUUD
  • Publication number: 20080011161
    Abstract: A carbon dioxide separation system comprises a first flow path for directing a fluid comprising carbon dioxide therethrough, a second flow path for directing a sweep fluid therethrough, and a separator comprising a material with selective permeability of carbon dioxide for separating the first and the second flow paths and for promoting carbon dioxide transport therebetween. A carbon dioxide separation unit is in fluid communication with the second flow path for separating the transported carbon dioxide from the sweep fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Matthias Finkenrath, Michael Adam Bartlett, Michael John Bowman, Andrei Tristan Evulet, Stephen Duane Sanborn, James Anthony Ruud, Ke Liu, Michael Anthony Shockling
  • Patent number: 7266940
    Abstract: A power generation system and method includes a first gas turbine system comprising a first combustion chamber configured to combust a first fuel stream of primarily hydrogen that is substantially free of carbon-based fuels. The first gas turbine system also includes a first compressor configured to supply a first portion of compressed oxidant to the first combustion chamber and a first turbine configured to receive a first discharge from the first combustion chamber and generate a first exhaust and electrical energy. The power generation system further includes a second gas turbine system comprising a second combustion chamber configured to combust a second fuel stream to generate a second discharge. The first compressor of the first gas turbine system is configured to supply a second portion of compressed oxidant to the second combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Chellappa Balan, Michael John Bowman, Joell Randolph Hibshman, II, Andrei Tristan Evulet, Jennifer Lynn Molaison
  • Patent number: 7260935
    Abstract: A low emission turbine includes a reverse flow can-type combustor that generally includes a primary and secondary fuel delivery system that can be independently controlled to produce low CO, UHC, and NOx emissions at design set point and at conditions other than design set point. The reverse flow can-type combustor generally includes an annularly arranged array of swirler and mixer assemblies within the combustor, wherein each swirler and mixer in the array includes a primary and secondary fuel delivery system that can be independently controlled. Also disclosed herein is a can-type combustor that includes fluid passageways that perpendicularly impinge the outer surface of a heat shield. Processes for operating the can-type combustors are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Andrei Colibaba-Evulet, Michael John Bowman, Simon Ralph Sanderson, Anthony John Dean
  • Patent number: 7261064
    Abstract: A combustion engine system comprises a plurality of cylinders configured to combust a mixed fuel to produce an exhaust gas and at least one reforming cylinder configured to receive a first portion of a fuel and deliver a reformed hydrogen-containing gas. The hydrogen-containing gas is introduced into a second portion of the fuel to form the mixed fuel to reduce emission from the combustion engine system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Shailesh Singh Bhaisora, Michael John Bowman, Sauri Gudlavalleti
  • Publication number: 20070001088
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide means for attaching a catch tray to a hanging plant container. An attachment device comprises two engaging members. The first engagement member includes a U-shaped engagement structure and a plurality of spaced-apart interlock features in combination with an elongated interconnect structure thereof. The second engagement member includes a U-shaped engagement structure and an elongated interconnect structure attached to the U-shaped engagement structure. The elongated interconnect structure of the second engagement member is slideably engaged with the elongated interconnect structure of the first engagement member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2005
    Publication date: January 4, 2007
    Inventor: John Bowman
  • Patent number: 7077644
    Abstract: A gas-fired burner including a cylindrical burner housing having a premixed fuel/air opening. Disposed within the cylindrical burner housing is a cylindrical burner ring which forms at least one row of a plurality of burner ports. The cylindrical burner ring is sized relative to the burner housing such that an annular space is formed between the burner housing and the burner ring. Upper and lower annular rings extend between the burner ring and the burner housing, thereby enclosing the annular space. Disposed within the burner ring is a secondary air flow restrictor for controlling the flow of secondary air to the flame. A multi-finger grate having alternating long and short fingers is disposed above the burner housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
    Inventors: John A. Bowman, Steven Casey
  • Publication number: 20060154193
    Abstract: A gas-fired burner including a cylindrical burner housing having a premixed fuel/air opening. Disposed within the cylindrical burner housing is a cylindrical burner ring which forms at least one row of a plurality of burner ports. The cylindrical burner ring is sized relative to the burner housing such that an annular space is formed between the burner housing and the burner ring. Upper and lower annular rings extend between the burner ring and the burner housing, thereby enclosing the annular space. Disposed within the burner ring is a secondary air flow restrictor for controlling the flow of secondary air to the flame. A multi-finger grate having alternating long and short fingers is disposed above the burner housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2005
    Publication date: July 13, 2006
    Inventors: John Bowman, Steven Casey
  • Patent number: D533794
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: Brunswick New Technologies Asia Pte Ltd
    Inventors: Mark John Bowman, Dirk Renier Hendrik Marais, Michael Denton