Patents Represented by Attorney Robert D. Crawford
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Patent number: 8347724Abstract: An inspection scanner [1000] is described that has a low profile construction designed to fit into tight spaces and inspect structures [10] such as weld joints [13]. Wheel frame assemblies [1100, 1200] carry a probe holder assembly [1110] with an ultrasonic (US) array [1400] that emits US beams through the structure [10] and receives reflected sound waves. The probe holder assembly [1110] extends and US beam is angled away to inspect in tight locations. The wheel frame assemblies [1100, 1200] roll on wheels [1140, 1240] that drive an encoder [1250]. Encoder [1250] provides the specific locations for the received sound waves with respect to the weld. The locations and received sound waves are used to reconstruct a signal showing imperfections inside of structure [10]. The wheels [1140, 1240] may be magnetic to hold it to the structure [10] being inspected. A brake system [1600] may be employed to hold the inspection scanner [1000] at a given location.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2009Date of Patent: January 8, 2013Assignee: ALSTOM Technology LtdInventor: Jacques L. Brignac
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Patent number: 8343445Abstract: A solvent based flue gas processing system for removing CO2 from a flue gas stream is provided in which a catalyst coated on a support structure is provided. The catalyst selected is capable of retaining CO2, at least for a period of time, thereby increasing the residence time of CO2 and solvent.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2009Date of Patent: January 1, 2013Assignee: ALSTOM Technology LtdInventors: Zheng Liu, Naresh B. Handagama
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Patent number: 8329128Abstract: A gas stream containing carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide is cleaned by removing, in a sulfur removal stage, sulfur dioxide from the gas stream. Sulfur dioxide is removed from the gas stream by bringing the gas stream into direct contact with ammonia. The used ammonia may be recycled. In a carbon dioxide removal stage, carbon dioxide is removed from the gas stream depleted in sulfur dioxide by bringing the gas stream into contact with an ammoniated liquid. Following sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide removal, in an ammonia removal stage, ammonia from the gas stream is removed. Ammonia is removed from the gas stream by bringing the gas stream into direct contact with an acidic liquid to absorb into the acidic liquid, ammonia from the gas stream. The used acidic liquid may be recycled.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2011Date of Patent: December 11, 2012Assignee: ALSTOM Technology LtdInventors: Sanjay Kumar Dube, David James Muraskin
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Patent number: 8327919Abstract: A semi-modular rotor module [52] for a modified modular air preheater [10] has a two-pin lug assembly for engaging an air preheater post [16]. The two-pin lug assembly includes an upper two-pin lug [54] and a lower two-pin lug and is configured to occupy a sector sealing plate angle ?. A plurality of diaphragms [56], [58], [60], [62] extend radially from the two-pin lug assembly, including two outer diaphragms [56], [62] positioned to define a sub-sector angle ? that is less than the sealing plate angle ?. Stay plates [42] are between the diaphragms to define basket modules where heat exchange elements [22a] are received. A modular rotor can be modified by removing pairs of adjacent unitary rotor modules [20] and replacing each pair with the semi-modular rotor module [52].Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2009Date of Patent: December 11, 2012Assignee: ALSTOM Technology LtdInventor: William D. Slocum
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Patent number: 8318101Abstract: The invention relates to an oil-derived hydrocarbon converter comprising a catalytic cracking vessel (1) in the presence of catalyst particles in fluidized phase and a regenerator, for regenerating said catalyst particles by burning off the coke deposited on them, said catalyst circulating between said cracking vessel and said regenerator, said regenerator being a reactor (2) integrated into a combustion installation for steam generation comprising carbon dioxide capture.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2006Date of Patent: November 27, 2012Assignee: ALSTOM Technology LtdInventors: Jean-Xavier Morin, Corinne Beal, Silvestre Suraniti
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Patent number: 8316782Abstract: The invention relates to an indirect heating system in which a solid fuel circulates in the form of particles. The inventive system comprises a grinding station, a furnace (7), at least one intermediate silo, a separator, at least one cyclone and, optionally, a gas recirculation fan. The invention is characterized in that a dust extractor (10) captures the finest particles which are subsequently introduced into the furnace (7) by means of at least one specific conduit (52) and burnt by at least one specific burner (71). The aforementioned ultra-fine particles are then stored in a specific silo (10), dosed into a feeding device (61), mixed in well defined proportions with hot air and conveyed to the specific burner (71) through the specific conduit (52).Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2003Date of Patent: November 27, 2012Assignee: ALSTOM Technology LtdInventors: François Malaubier, Jean-Michel Tornier
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Patent number: 8309047Abstract: Disclosed is a method of removing carbon dioxide from a process gas, the method comprising: contacting an ammoniated solution with the process gas in an absorption arrangement 101, the ammoniated solution capturing at least a part of the carbon dioxide of the process gas, wherein the molar ratio, R, of ammonia to carbon dioxide in the ammoniated solution is controlled such that substantially no precipitation of solids occurs within the absorption arrangement 101; allowing ammoniated solution including captured carbon dioxide to exit the absorption arrangement 101; cooling the ammoniated solution that has exited the absorption arrangement, wherein at least a part of the captured carbon dioxide is precipitated as solid salt; separating at least a part of the precipitated salt from the ammoniated solution; heating the ammoniated solution from which the at least a part of the precipitated salt has been separated, such that substantially no solids are present in the heated ammoniated solution; and allowing the heaType: GrantFiled: December 16, 2009Date of Patent: November 13, 2012Assignee: ALSTOM Technology LtdInventors: Sean E. Black, Sanjay K. Dube, David J. Muraskin, Frederic Z. Kozak
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Patent number: 8308849Abstract: Ultra cleaning of combustion gas to near zero concentration of residual contaminants followed by the capture of CO2 is provided. The high removal efficiency of residual contaminants is accomplished by direct contact cooling and scrubbing of the gas with cold water. The temperature of the combustion gas is reduced to 0-20 degrees Celsius to achieve maximum condensation and gas cleaning effect. The CO2 is captured from the cooled and clean flue gas in a CO2 absorber utilizing an ammoniated solution or slurry in the NH3—CO2—H2O system. The absorber operates at 0-20 degrees Celsius. Regeneration is accomplished by elevating the pressure and temperature of the CO2-rich solution from the absorber. The CO2 vapor pressure is high and a pressurized CO2 stream, with low concentration of NH3 and water vapor is generated. The high pressure CO2 stream is cooled and washed to recover the ammonia and moisture from the gas.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2009Date of Patent: November 13, 2012Assignee: ALSTOM Technology LtdInventor: Eli Gal
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Patent number: 8293200Abstract: A method of heating a used absorption liquid resulting from a carbon dioxide absorption stage in which a CO2 comprising gas stream is contacted with an absorption liquid comprising ammonia, wherein the used absorption liquid is subjected to heat exchange, in a heat exchanger, with a fluid of a desulfurization stage in which a SO2 comprising flue gas is contacted with a reagent composition comprising an alkaline compound.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2010Date of Patent: October 23, 2012Assignee: ALSTOM Technology LtdInventors: Sanjay Kumar Dube, David James Muraskin
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Patent number: 8250933Abstract: A system for measuring a flow rate of a fluid through a plurality of tubes sharing a common flow orifice, the system includes an ultrasonic transducer having a plurality of sensors in communication with a plurality of tubes sharing a common flow orifice. The system includes an electronic module coupled to the ultrasonic transducer, the electronic module connecting selected sensors to a flow rate analyzer for determining a flow rate of fluid through the plurality of tubes on which the sensors are in communication with.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2010Date of Patent: August 28, 2012Assignee: ALSTOM Technology LtdInventors: John M. Banas, Brian P. Demarey, John O. Gerety, John M. Holmes, Joseph W. Quinn, Edward S. Sadlon
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Patent number: 8192530Abstract: A system (10) for regenerating a rich absorbent solution (26), the system including: an absorber (20) facilitating interaction between a process stream (22) and an absorbent solution, wherein the process stream comprises an acidic component, and interaction of the process stream with the absorbent solution produces a reduced acidic component stream (28) and a rich absorbent solution; at least one heat exchanger accepting at least one of said reduced acidic component stream and the process stream to transfer heat to a heat transfer fluid (60); and at least one mechanism (60a) to transfer the heat transfer fluid from said at least one heat exchanger to a regenerator (34) regenerating the rich absorbent solution, wherein each of the at least one mechanisms is fluidly coupled to each of the at least one heat exchangers.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2008Date of Patent: June 5, 2012Assignee: ALSTOM Technology LtdInventors: Nareshkumar B. Handagama, Rasesh R. Kotdawala
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Patent number: 8182577Abstract: An ammonia based CO2 capture system and method is provided in which multiple absorption stages are provided. Each absorption stage delivers an ionic solution at a predetermined temperature and contacts it with a flue gas stream.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2008Date of Patent: May 22, 2012Assignee: ALSTOM Technology LtdInventors: Eli Gal, Otto M. Bade, Dennis J. Laslo, Frederic Z. Kozak, David J. Muraskin, Jurgen Dopatka
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Patent number: 8171893Abstract: The boiler of the invention has a circulating fluidized bed, uses solid fuels and the oxygen obtained by high temperature oxygen production membranes, and is characterized in that the membranes are placed in the bed. These membranes are, for example, of the OTM (Oxygen Transport Membranes) type. Since the membranes operate at over 700° C., their positioning in the outer bed is ideally selected because the temperature of the solids circulating in the outer bed is between 750 and 900° C. This is particularly remarkable because the operating temperature windows of the circulating fluidized bed coincide with the optimal temperature window of use of the membranes.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2005Date of Patent: May 8, 2012Inventors: Jean-Xavier Morin, Corinne Beal, Silvestre Suraniti
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Patent number: 8160730Abstract: A control system (300) for optimizing a power plant includes a chemical loop having an input for receiving an input signal (369) and an output for outputting an output signal (367), and a hierarchical fuzzy control system (400) operably connected to the chemical loop. The hierarchical fuzzy control system (400) includes a plurality of fuzzy controllers (330). The hierarchical fuzzy control system (400) receives the output signal (367), optimizes the input signal (369) based on the received output signal (367), and outputs an optimized input signal (369) to the input of the chemical loop to control a process of the chemical loop in an optimized manner.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2009Date of Patent: April 17, 2012Inventor: Xinsheng Lou
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Patent number: 8148284Abstract: A system for effecting the pretreatment therewith of a sorbent comprising a conveying line (105), such as a pipe, and a plurality of solution nozzles operative for purposes of introducing a solution to treat the sorbent. More particularly, the conveying line (105) includes an inlet (107), an outlet (109), and an inner surface (105a) that is operative to define a passageway (190) through which sorbent particles are capable of being transported between the inlet (107) of the conveying line (105) and the outlet (109) of the conveying line (105).Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2008Date of Patent: April 3, 2012Assignee: ALSTOM Technology LtdInventors: James F. Durant, David J. Matteson, Kurt W. Johnson
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Patent number: 7988752Abstract: A gasifier 10 includes a first chemical process loop 12 having an exothermic oxidizer reactor 14 and an endothermic reducer reactor 16. CaS is oxidized in air in the oxidizer reactor 14 to form hot CaSO4 which is discharged to the reducer reactor 16. Hot CaSO4 and carbonaceous fuel received in the reducer reactor 16 undergo an endothermic reaction utilizing the heat content of the CaSO4, the carbonaceous fuel stripping the oxygen from the CaSO4 to form CaS and a CO rich syngas. The CaS is discharged to the oxidizer reactor 14 and the syngas is discharged to a second chemical process loop 52. The second chemical process loop 52 has a water-gas shift reactor 54 and a calciner 42. The CO of the syngas reacts with gaseous H2O in the shift reactor 54 to produce H2 and CO2. The CO2 is captured by CaO to form hot CaCO3 in an exothermic reaction.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2008Date of Patent: August 2, 2011Assignee: ALSTOM Technology LtdInventors: Herbert E. Andrus, Jr., Michael S. McCartney
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Patent number: 7971558Abstract: A circulating fluidized bed including a reaction chamber connected by an acceleration duct to a centrifugal separator which separates hot gas particles derived from the chamber. The acceleration duct is arranged partly in the upper part of the chamber.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2003Date of Patent: July 5, 2011Assignee: ALSTOM Technology LtdInventor: Daniel Baglione
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Patent number: 7921738Abstract: An apparatus (100) operative for purposes of detecting the presence of a coal rope within a coal delivery pipe (200) is provided. The apparatus (100) includes a rod (105) that is operative to flex when struck by a coal rope that is present inside the coal delivery pipe (200), a strain gauge (115) that is operative to produce an electrical signal based upon the amount of flexing that the rod (105) is subjected to when struck by a coal rope that is present in the coal delivery pipe (200), and a processor that is operative to determine based upon the electrical signal that is received thereby from the strain gauge (115) at least one of either the location of the coal rope within the coal delivery pipe (200) or the density of the coal rope within the coal delivery pipe (200).Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2008Date of Patent: April 12, 2011Assignee: ALSTOM Technology LtdInventors: William P. Bailey, Richard C. LaFlesh, Jeffrey S. Mann, David H. Nilson, Joseph W. Quinn
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Patent number: 7896951Abstract: A system for reducing carbon dioxide emissions from gasses generated in burning fossil fuel, includes a vessel, separator and reheater. The upper portion of the vessel receives downward flowing, first type solid particles capable of absorbing heat from upward flowing gasses and second type solid particles capable of capturing carbon dioxide from the gasses. The separator separates the second type solid particles with the captured carbon dioxide from the gasses discharged from the first vessel discharge, and directs the separated second type solid particles with the captured carbon dioxide to a separator discharge. The reheater directs the first type solid particles and the second type solid particles with the captured carbon dioxide in a downwardly flow to a first reheater discharge, such that heat from the first type solid particles causes the captured carbon dioxide to be released from the second type solid particles.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2009Date of Patent: March 1, 2011Assignee: ALSTOM Technology LtdInventors: Herbert E. Andrus, Jr., Glen D. Jukkola, Michael S. McCartney
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Patent number: 7850936Abstract: A system for removing sulfur dioxide (SO2) from SO2 laden flue gas resulting from the burning of fossil fuel, includes an absorber and first and second separators. The absorber captures SO2 from a flow of the SO2 laden flue gas with a sorbent. The first separator separates a first portion of the sorbent with captured SO2 both from a second portion of the sorbent with captured SO2 and from the flue gas. The second separator separates the second portion of sorbent from the flue gas.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2009Date of Patent: December 14, 2010Assignee: ALSTOM Technology LtdInventors: Armand A. Levasseur, George D. Mylchreest