Patents by Inventor Mark W. Carel

Mark W. Carel 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: 9096473
    Abstract: A process for the production of coated carbonaceous particles including: providing a carbon-residue-forming material; providing particles of a carbonaceous material; mixing the carbon-residue-forming material and the particles of a carbonaceous material at an elevated temperature; depositing a coating of the carbon-residue-forming material onto the surface of the particles; and stabilizing the coated particles by subjecting the particles to an oxidation reaction. These coated carbonaceous particles are particularly useful in the manufacture of electrodes in electrical storage cells, particularly in rechargeable electrical storage cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Pyrotek, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhenhua Mao, H. Ernest Romine, Mark W. Carel
  • Patent number: 8394291
    Abstract: Processes produce a lithium vanadium fluorophosphate or a carbon-containing lithium vanadium fluorophosphate. Such processes include forming a solution-suspension of precursors having V5+ that is to be reduced to V3+. The solution-suspension is heated in an inert environment to drive synthesis of LiVPO4F such that carbon-residue-forming material is also oxidized to precipitate in and on the LiVPO4F forming carbon-containing LiVPO4F or CLVPF. Liquids are separated from solids and a resulting dry powder is heated to a second higher temperature to drive crystallization of a product. The product includes carbon for conductivity, is created with low cost precursors, and retains a small particle size without need for milling or other processing to reduce the product to a particle size suitable for use in batteries. Furthermore, the process does not rely on addition of carbon black, graphite or other form of carbon to provide the conductivity required for use in batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Phillips 66 Company
    Inventors: Zhenhua Mao, Mark W. Carel, Daniel H. Irvin, David W. Westphal
  • Patent number: 7964240
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for making carbon coated graphitic anode powders for use in batteries including rechargeable lithium-ion batteries wherein the process includes a side product isotropic pitch for use as a precursor in other products and more preferably, as a coating material for other powder or particle products. The process includes the steps of solvent extraction of volatile materials from high volatile material green coke powder. When a desirable amount of the volatile materials have been extracted, the solvent strength is altered to cause some of the volatile materials to precipitate on the powder particles to coat the same. The coated and solvent-extracted particles are then separated from the solvent and oxidatively stabilized, then carbonized and preferably graphitized. The volatile materials remaining in the solvent are valuable and are recovered for use in other processes and other products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: Mark W. Carel, Edward J. Nanni
  • Patent number: 7943112
    Abstract: Methods relate to making lithium vanadium oxide powders. Applications for the lithium vanadium oxide powders include use as a negative electrode or anode material for lithium ion batteries. Liquid phase reactions and reduction in vanadium oxidation state of precursor material facilitate in the making of the lithium vanadium oxide powders. Particles forming the lithium vanadium oxide powders may further contain carbon to provide electrical conductivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: Zhenhua Mao, Mark W. Carel
  • Publication number: 20100301267
    Abstract: Methods relate to making lithium vanadium oxide powders. Applications for the lithium vanadium oxide powders include use as a negative electrode or anode material for lithium ion batteries. Liquid phase reactions and reduction in vanadium oxidation state of precursor material facilitate in the making of the lithium vanadium oxide powders. Particles forming the lithium vanadium oxide powders may further contain carbon to provide electrical conductivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: Zhenhua Mao, Mark W. Carel
  • Publication number: 20100183801
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for making carbon coated graphitic anode powders for use in batteries including rechargeable lithium-ion batteries wherein the process includes a side product isotropic pitch for use as a precursor in other products and more preferably, as a coating material for other powder or particle products. The process includes the steps of solvent extraction of volatile materials from high volatile material green coke powder. When a desirable amount of the volatile materials have been extracted, the solvent strength is altered to cause some of the volatile materials to precipitate on the powder particles to coat the same. The coated and solvent-extracted particles are then separated from the solvent and oxidatively stabilized, then carbonized and preferably graphitized. The volatile materials remaining in the solvent are valuable and are recovered for use in other processes and other products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2009
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: Mark W. Carel, Edward J. Nanni
  • Publication number: 20100155656
    Abstract: Processes produce a lithium vanadium fluorophosphate or a carbon-containing lithium vanadium fluorophosphate. Such processes include forming a solution-suspension of precursors having V5+ that is to be reduced to V3+. The solution-suspension is heated in an inert environment to drive synthesis of LiVPO4F such that carbon-residue-forming material is also oxidized to precipitate in and on the LiVPO4F forming carbon-containing LiVPO4F or CLVPF. Liquids are separated from solids and a resulting dry powder is heated to a second higher temperature to drive crystallization of a product. The product includes carbon for conductivity, is created with low cost precursors, and retains a small particle size without need for milling or other processing to reduce the product to a particle size suitable for use in batteries. Furthermore, the process does not rely on addition of carbon black, graphite or other form of carbon to provide the conductivity required for use in batteries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: ZHENHUA MAO, Mark W. Carel, Daniel H. Irvin, David W. Westphal
  • Publication number: 20100154206
    Abstract: This invention relates to lithium-ion batteries and cathode powders for making lithium-ion batteries where the cathode powder comprises a blend or mixture of at least one lithium transition metal poly-anion and with one or more lithium transition-metal oxide powders. A number of different lithium transition-metal oxides are suitable, especially formulations that include nickel, manganese and cobalt. The preferred lithium transition metal poly-anion is carbon-containing lithium vanadium phosphate. Batteries using the mixture or blend of these powders have been found to have high specific capacity, especially based on volume, high cycle life, substantially improved safety issues as compared to lithium transition-metal oxides, per se, and an attractive electrode potential profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANY
    Inventors: Zhenhua Mao, Daniel H. Irvin, Mark W. Carel, Edward J. Nanni, Edward G. Latimer, James B. Kimble
  • Patent number: 7597999
    Abstract: A method for the production of carbon particles comprising selecting a precursor material, sizing said precursor material, stabilizing said precursor material, carbonizing said precursor material, and graphitizing said precursor material, wherein the precursor material has a volatile matter content of from about 5 wt. % to about 60 wt. %. A method for the production of electrode materials comprising selecting a precursor material, sizing said precursor material, stabilizing said precursor material, carbonizing said precursor material, and graphitizing said precursor material, wherein said electrode material has an average particle size of from about 1 ?m to about 50 ?m, a fixed carbon content of greater than about 80 wt. %, and a graphitic structure. A carbon particle having an average particle size of from about 1 ?m to about 50 ?m, a degree of stabilization of from about 0.1 wt. % to about 10 wt. %, a fixed carbon content of greater than about 80 wt. %, and a graphitic structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: Zhenhua Mao, Edward J. Nanni, Mark W. Carel
  • Publication number: 20090242830
    Abstract: Methods and compositions relate to anode powders for use in batteries. The powders may provide limited surface area per volume of powder material. Further, the powders may include limited amounts of particles below a threshold size within a particle size distribution. Some embodiments utilize regular or anode grade petroleum coke as a precursor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: Zhenhua Mao, Edward J. Nanni, Mark W. Carel, W. Mark Southard, Bharat S. Chahar
  • Patent number: 7323120
    Abstract: A process for the production of coated carbonaceous particles including: providing a carbon residue forming material; providing particles of a carbonaceous material; mixing the carbon residue forming material and the particles of a carbonaceous material at an elevated temperature; depositing a coating of the carbon residue forming material onto the surface of the particles; and stabilizing the coated particles by subjecting the particles to an oxidation reaction. These coated carbonaceous particles are particularly useful in the manufacture of electrodes in electrical storage cells, particularly in rechargeable electrical storage cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: Zhenhua Mao, H. Ernest Romine, Mark W. Carel
  • Publication number: 20070286792
    Abstract: A method for the production of carbon particles comprising selecting a precursor material, sizing said precursor material, stabilizing said precursor material, carbonizing said precursor material, and graphitizing said precursor material, wherein the precursor material has a volatile matter content of from about 5 wt. % to about 60 wt. %. A method for the production of electrode materials comprising selecting a precursor material, sizing said precursor material, stabilizing said precursor material, carbonizing said precursor material, and graphitizing said precursor material, wherein said electrode material has an average particle size of from about 1 ?m to about 50 ?m, a fixed carbon content of greater than about 80 wt. %, and a graphitic. structure. A carbon particle having an average particle size of from about 1 ?m to about 50 ?m, a degree of stabilization of from about 0.1 wt. % to about 10 wt. %, a fixed carbon content of greater than about 80 wt. %, and a graphitic structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2006
    Publication date: December 13, 2007
    Applicant: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: Zhenhua Mao, Edward J. Nanni, Mark W. Carel
  • Publication number: 20030160215
    Abstract: A process for the production of coated carbonaceous particles, and the coated carbonaceous particles produced thereby of which process comprises the steps of: providing particles of a carbonaceous material; providing particles of a carbonaceous material; providing a coating of a fusible, carbon residue forming material onto the surface of said particles; stabilizing the coated particles by subjecting said particles to an oxidation reaction using an oxidizing agent; subsequently carbonizing the coated particles; and, optionally thereafter graphitizing the coated particles. The coated carbonaceous particles find particular use in electrodes of electrical storage cells, especially rechargeable lithium ion storage cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Inventors: Zhenhua Mao, H. Ernest Romine, Mark W. Carel
  • Patent number: 5501788
    Abstract: This invention provides a process for preparing a solvated isotropic pitch having a fluid temperature at least 40.degree. C. lower than the same pitch in the non-solvated state. Additionally, the present invention provides a solvated isotropic pitch which may be formed into carbon artifacts which do not require oxidative stabilization prior to carbonization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1996
    Assignee: Conoco Inc.
    Inventors: H. Ernest Romine, Edward J. Nanni, Mark W. Carel, W. Mark Southard
  • Patent number: 5489374
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process for obtaining a very clean mesophase pitch from isotropic pitch. This invention utilizes a solvent fractionation process which does not involve the process steps, yield loss and waste generation associated with fluxing and filtering the isotropic pitch. Additionally, this invention provides a liquid/liquid extraction process that avoids the solids handling and the high temperatures and pressures of supercritical fluid extraction. Finally, this invention controls the hardness of the mesophase product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1996
    Assignee: Conoco Inc.
    Inventors: H. Ernest Romine, W. Mark Southard, Edward J. Nanni, Mark W. Carel
  • Patent number: 5437780
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for producing mesophase pitch in high yields. The process of the invention comprises isolating a heavy fraction of a heat soaked pitch by a solvent extraction, heat soaking the isolated heavy fraction to increase the size and number of larger heavy aromatics, and isolating the larger heavy aromatics by solvent extraction to obtain a larger heavy aromatic solvated mesophase pitch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1995
    Assignee: Conoco Inc.
    Inventors: W. Mark Southard, H. Ernest Romine, Edward J. Nanni, Mark W. Carel