Patents by Inventor Kevin M. Hoopes

Kevin M. Hoopes 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: 11821682
    Abstract: The systems and methods described herein integrate a supercritical fluid power generation system with a LNG production/NGL separation system. A heat exchanger thermally couples the supercritical fluid power generation system with the LNG production/NGL separation system. A relatively cool heat transfer medium, such as carbon dioxide, passes through the heat exchanger and cools a first portion of extracted natural gas. The relatively warm heat transfer medium returns to the supercritical fluid power generation system where a compressor and a thermal input device, such as a combustor, are used to increase the pressure and temperature of the heat transfer medium above its critical point to provide a supercritical heat transfer medium. A second portion of the extracted natural gas may be used as fuel for the thermal input device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Griffin C. Beck, David L. Ransom, Kevin M. Hoopes
  • Patent number: 11620415
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process for making a flow conditioning device that transforms an input flow into a desired output flow. The process includes the steps of inputting into a computer program a set of design constraints representative of the input flow and the output flow. The computer program generates a design representative of a flow-conditioning device that transforms the input flow into the output flow. The process then provides the output design to an additive manufacturing or other suitable production system adapted to form a solid representation of the flow-conditioning device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: VIRGINIA TECH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES, INC.
    Inventors: Anthony M. Ferrar, William C. Schneck, Walter F. O'Brien, Kevin M. Hoopes, Justin Bailey
  • Publication number: 20220146192
    Abstract: The systems and methods described herein integrate a supercritical fluid power generation system with a LNG production/NGL separation system. A heat exchanger thermally couples the supercritical fluid power generation system with the LNG production/NGL separation system. A relatively cool heat transfer medium, such as carbon dioxide, passes through the heat exchanger and cools a first portion of extracted natural gas. The relatively warm heat transfer medium returns to the supercritical fluid power generation system where a compressor and a thermal input device, such as a combustor, are used to increase the pressure and temperature of the heat transfer medium above its critical point to provide a supercritical heat transfer medium. A second portion of the extracted natural gas may be used as fuel for the thermal input device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2022
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventors: Griffin C. BECK, David L. RANSOM, Kevin M. HOOPES
  • Patent number: 11268754
    Abstract: The systems and methods described herein integrate a supercritical fluid power generation system with a LNG production/NGL separation system. A heat exchanger thermally couples the supercritical fluid power generation system with the LNG production/NGL separation system. A relatively cool heat transfer medium, such as carbon dioxide, passes through the heat exchanger and cools a first portion of extracted natural gas. The relatively warm heat transfer medium returns to the supercritical fluid power generation system where a compressor and a thermal input device, such as a combustor, are used to increase the pressure and temperature of the heat transfer medium above its critical point to provide a supercritical heat transfer medium. A second portion of the extracted natural gas may be used as fuel for the thermal input device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Griffin C. Beck, David L. Ransom, Kevin M. Hoopes
  • Publication number: 20200103163
    Abstract: The systems and methods described herein integrate a supercritical fluid power generation system with a LNG production/NGL separation system. A heat exchanger thermally couples the supercritical fluid power generation system with the LNG production/NGL separation system. A relatively cool heat transfer medium, such as carbon dioxide, passes through the heat exchanger and cools a first portion of extracted natural gas. The relatively warm heat transfer medium returns to the supercritical fluid power generation system where a compressor and a thermal input device, such as a combustor, are used to increase the pressure and temperature of the heat transfer medium above its critical point to provide a supercritical heat transfer medium. A second portion of the extracted natural gas may be used as fuel for the thermal input device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Griffin C. BECK, David L. RANSOM, Kevin M. HOOPES
  • Publication number: 20190138663
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process for making a flow conditioning device that transforms an input flow into a desired output flow. The process includes the steps of inputting into a computer program a set of design constraints representative of the input flow and the output flow. The computer program generates a design representative of a flow-conditioning device that transforms the input flow into the output flow. The process then provides the output design to an additive manufacturing or other suitable production system adapted to form a solid representation of the flow-conditioning device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: Anthony M. Ferrar, William C. Schneck, Walter F. O'Brien, Kevin M. Hoopes, Justin Bailey
  • Publication number: 20160012159
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process for making a flow conditioning device that transforms an input flow into a desired output flow. The process includes the steps of inputting into a computer program a set of design constraints representative of the input flow and the output flow. The computer program generates a design representative of a flow-conditioning device that transforms the input flow into the output flow. The process then provides the output design to an additive manufacturing or other suitable production system adapted to form a solid representation of the flow-conditioning device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Inventors: Anthony M. Ferrar, William C. Schneck, Walter F. O'Brien, Kevin M. Hoopes, Justin Bailey