Patents by Inventor Troy L. Amundson

Troy L. Amundson 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).

  • Process for converting alkanes to carbon filaments
    Patent number: 7078008
    Abstract: The present invention includes a process for producing carbon filaments and synthesis gas from a mixture of alkanes, preferably natural gas, comprising converting a first portion of the alkanes, preferably C2+ hydrocarbons, directly to carbon filaments and converting a second portion of the alkanes, preferably methane, to syngas. The natural gas may be separated into a first feed stream comprising ethane, propane, and butane and a second feed stream comprising methane. The first feed stream is fed to a carbon filament CF reactor to produce carbon filaments and hydrogen. The second feed stream is fed to a syngas production reactor to produce syngas. Alternatively, the natural gas is fed to at least one carbon filament reactor that is maintained at an effective temperature to convert C2+ hydrocarbons in the natural gas to carbon filaments and hydrogen, thereby filtering methane from the natural gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Conocophillips Company
    Inventors: Joe D. Allison, Sriram Ramani, Priya Rangarajan, Kenneth M. York, Troy L. Amundson, Gary E. Welch
  • Process for converting alkanes to carbon filaments
    Publication number: 20040062704
    Abstract: The present invention includes a process for producing carbon filaments and synthesis gas from a mixture of alkanes, preferably natural gas, comprising converting a first portion of the alkanes, preferably C2+ hydrocarbons, directly to carbon filaments and converting a second portion of the alkanes, preferably methane, to syngas. The natural gas may be separated into a first feed stream comprising ethane, propane, and butane and a second feed stream comprising methane. The first feed stream is fed to a carbon filament CF reactor to produce carbon filaments and hydrogen. The second feed stream is fed to a syngas production reactor to produce syngas. Alternatively, the natural gas is fed to at least one carbon filament reactor that is maintained at an effective temperature to convert C2+ hydrocarbons in the natural gas to carbon filaments and hydrogen, thereby filtering methane from the natural gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2002
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Applicant: Conoco Inc.
    Inventors: Joe D. Allison, Sriram Ramani, Priya Rangarajan, Kenneth M. York, Troy L. Amundson, Gary E. Welch