Patents by Inventor Wayne G. Wnuck

Wayne G. Wnuck 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: 7998456
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the production of hydrogen from the catalytic partial oxidation of a hydrocarbonaceous feedstock (3) with molecular oxygen (4) over a partial oxidation catalyst (6), which process comprises: during a reaction time interval contacting a first mixture of the hydrocarbonaceous feedstock and molecular oxygen with an overall oxygen-to-carbon ratio in the range of from 0.3 to 0.8 with the partial oxidation catalyst to convert the feedstock to a hydrogen-comprising gas and during a regeneration time interval contacting a second mixture of the hydrocarbonaceous feedstock and molecular oxygen with an oxygen-to-carbon ratio in the range of from 1.0 to 10 with the partial oxidation catalyst, in which process the regeneration time interval is in the range of from 2 to 10 seconds and the ratio of the reaction time interval to the regeneration time interval is at most 40.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Haroldus Adrianus Johannes Van Dijk, Stephan Montel, Wayne G. Wnuck
  • Publication number: 20100061921
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the production of hydrogen from the catalytic partial oxidation of a hydrocarbonaceous feedstock (3) with molecular oxygen (4) over a partial oxidation catalyst (6), which process comprises: during a reaction time interval contacting a first mixture of the hydrocarbonaceous feedstock and molecular oxygen with an overall oxygen-to-carbon ratio in the range of from 0.3 to 0.8 with the partial oxidation catalyst to convert the feedstock to a hydrogen-comprising gas and during a regeneration time interval contacting a second mixture of the hydrocarbonaceous feedstock and molecular oxygen with an oxygen-to-carbon ratio in the range of from 1.0 to 10 with the partial oxidation catalyst, in which process the regeneration time interval is in the range of from 2 to 10 seconds and the ratio of the reaction time interval to the regeneration time interval is at most 40.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Inventors: Haroldus Adrianus Johannes Van Dijk, Stephan Montel, Wayne G. Wnuck
  • Patent number: 7601316
    Abstract: Oxides of nitrogen are adsorbed onto the surfaces of, and particulates are trapped in, pores of channels (130, 133, 139-151) in a porous, interdigitated ceramic particulate filter (57, 100) that has relative rotation with respect to a gas inlet distributor (76, 101). The distributor has a baffle (85) or ribs (121, 122) that causes constantly flowing engine exhaust (53) to enter the filter channels over a large portion of a revolution of the adsorption bed or the distributor, and causes constantly flowing syngas (54) to thereafter pass through those passages during a small portion of each revolution. Either the inlet gas distributor (101) or the filter bed (57) may be rotated to distribute the gases. Dual, alternately regenerated filters (35, 36) may be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Ke Liu, Wayne G. Wnuck, John G. Buglass
  • Patent number: 6964156
    Abstract: A catalytic partial oxidizer (30) provides syngas (hydrogen and carbon monoxide) to an apparatus intermittently using syngas such as valves (34) feeding NOx traps (35), for brief periods of time. During turndown times when syngas is not being used, either the output of the CPO is diverted (33) to the inlet (13) of an engine (12) through the engine gas recycle (EGR) system (43-46), or the amount of fuel (19) and exhaust (23) applied to the CPO is reduced (24, 26; 59, 60) so that the CPO merely stays warm and in a reduced state, thereby being ready to restart immediately. A mini-CPO (62) may provide syngas and heat to the major CPO (30) during the turndown time when syngas is not being used by the NOx traps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: HydrogenSource LLC
    Inventors: Ke Liu, Wayne G. Wnuck, Willem P. Leenhouts
  • Patent number: 6955042
    Abstract: A single lean NOx trap (8) has an inlet manifold (10) with baffles (18–20) to divide the inlet manifold into three flow paths (11–13). Each flow path has a thermal reformer (24–26; CPO, (POX, or ATR) with an electric heater provided electric power by related lines (29–31). Fuel from a source (50) is controlled (45–46) to apply pulses of fuel through nozzles (40–42) into each corresponding path (11–13) in turn. A plurality of diesel particulate filters (14) are disposed in the flow paths (11–13) upstream of the lean NOx trap (8). A diesel oxidation catalyst (53) is disposed downstream of the lean NOx trap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: HydrogenSource LLC
    Inventors: Wayne G. Wnuck, Ke Liu
  • Patent number: 6775973
    Abstract: Oxides of nitrogen are adsorbed onto the surfaces of gas passages (68) in a bed (57, 100) that has relative rotation with respect to a gas inlet distributor (76, 101). The manifold has a baffle (85) or ribs (121, 122) that causes constantly flowing engine exhaust (53) to enter the gas passages over a large portion of a revolution of the adsorption bed or the distributor, and causes constantly flowing regeneration gas (54) to thereafter pass through those passages during a small portion of each revolution. The passages may be formed by planar (66a) or helical (66b) radial walls (66), a serpentine wall (70), a monolith (126), or a honeycomb (127). Either the distributor (101) or the bed (57) may be rotated to distribute the gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: HydrogenSource LLC
    Inventors: Ke Liu, Peter F. Foley, Eric A. Rohrbach, Wayne G. Wnuck
  • Publication number: 20040107697
    Abstract: Oxides of nitrogen are adsorbed onto the surfaces of gas passages (68) in a bed (57, 100) that has relative rotation with respect to a gas inlet distributor (76, 101). The manifold has a baffle (85) or ribs (121, 122) that causes constantly flowing engine exhaust (53) to enter the gas passages over a large portion of a revolution of the adsorption bed or the distributor, and causes constantly flowing regeneration gas (54) to thereafter pass through those passages during a small portion of each revolution. The passages may be formed by planar (66a) or helical (66b) radial walls (66), a serpentine wall (70), a monolith (126), or a honeycomb (127). Either the distributor (101) or the bed (57) may be rotated to distribute the gases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventors: Ke Liu, Peter F. Foley, Eric A. Rohrbach, Wayne G. Wnuck
  • Patent number: 4714586
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for preparing a dimensionally stable electrode structure, particularly nickel-chromium anodes, for use in a molten carbonate fuel cell stack. A low-chromium to nickel alloy is provided and oxidized in a mildly oxidizing gas of sufficient oxidation potential to oxidize chromium in the alloy structure. Typically, a steam/H.sub.2 gas mixture in a ratio of about 100/1 and at a temperature below 800.degree. C. is used as the oxidizing medium. This method permits the use of less than 5 weight percent chromium in nickel alloy electrodes while obtaining good resistance to creep in the electrodes of a fuel cell stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1987
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Thomas E. Swarr, Wayne G. Wnuck
  • Patent number: 4654195
    Abstract: A method for fabricating ribbed electrodes that accommodates the shrinkage which occurs during thermal cycling reducing the cracks caused by the confining stresses of a mold. A composition comprising a metal selected from the group consisting of nickel, copper and mixtures thereof with chromium onto a ribbed mold. The mold and composition are prefired in a reducing atmosphere forming a ribbed electrode. The ribbed electrode is removed from the mold and sintered in a reducing atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1987
    Assignee: International Fuel Cells Corporation
    Inventors: Wayne G. Wnuck, Bryan J. Dec, Raymond J. Jarvis
  • Patent number: 4473543
    Abstract: High activity steam reforming catalysts are described particularly adapted for use in autothermal reforming processes. A rhodium catalyst on a calcium oxide impregnated alumina substrate allow the autothermal reforming process to take place with substantially no carbon plugging at oxygen to carbon ratios below what had been considered critical for avoiding carbon plugging of the catalyst in the past.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 25, 1984
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Herbert J. Setzer, Roger R. Lesieur, Sam Karavolis, Wayne G. Wnuck