Patents Assigned to Gas Technology Institute
  • Patent number: 9023310
    Abstract: A process for recovering sulfur from a hydrogen sulfide-bearing gas utilizes an aqueous reaction medium, a temperature of about 110-150° C., and a high enough pressure to maintain the aqueous reaction medium in a liquid state. The process reduces material and equipment costs and addresses the environmental disadvantages associated with known processes that rely on high boiling point organic solvents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
    Inventor: Arunabha Basu
  • Patent number: 9022115
    Abstract: A method for wellbore perforation in which a section of the wellbore to be perforated is isolated and purged of wellbore fluid to provide a clear path for laser beam transmittal. A laser beam emitter in the purged wellbore section transmits a laser beam pulse from the laser beam emitter to a target area of a sidewall and formation lithology of the purged wellbore section, thereby altering a mechanical property of a material of the sidewall and formation lithology and producing material debris. A liquid jet pulse of a liquid is transmitted immediately following termination of the laser beam pulse to the target area, thereby removing the material debris from the target area. This cycle is then repeated until the desired perforation depth has been achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignees: Gas Technology Institute, Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Kleefisch, Colin Hawthorn, Henry David Reynolds, Neal Gregory Skinner, Jim Basuki Surjaatmadja, Roger Lynn Schultz, Timothy Holiman Hunter
  • Patent number: 9000778
    Abstract: A method for underground pipeline monitoring in which a continuous alternating electrical current having a current frequency in a range of about 1 kHZ to about 8 kHz is imparted onto a pipeline, producing an alternating magnetic field at the current frequency along the pipeline. Distributed along the pipeline is a network of RFID tag sensors which absorb an amount of energy from the alternating magnetic field. The impedance of the sensors is modulated, producing a modulated sensor impedance which is detected at a location proximate the location at which the continuous alternating electrical current is imparted onto the pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
    Inventors: Christopher John Ziolkowski, James Emerson Huebler, Michael Christian Mensinger, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8981903
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for marking the location of a buried object in which the location of the buried object is determined and a barhole driver or plunger bar having a detachable plug element and a marking material for marking the location of the buried object is driven into the ground proximate the location of the buried object. The detachable plug element detaches from the plunger bar as the plunger bar is removed from the ground, leaving a substantially continuous path of the marking material in the ground extending substantially continuously from proximate the detachable plug element to the ground surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
    Inventors: Nickolas Daniels, Christopher Ziolkowski, Frank Hennessey
  • Patent number: 8967298
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for transmitting light through a light absorbing medium in which a light transmissive fluid column or channel contiguous with the light absorbing medium is formed in the light absorbing medium. The light is introduced into a light inlet end of the column of light transmissive fluid, whereby the light is transmitted in the column of light transmissive fluid through the light absorbing medium until exiting a light outlet end of the column. The invention has applicability to the field of fiber optics and downhole applications of lasers, such as for wellbore drilling and completion activities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
    Inventors: Hamid Ali Abbasi, Colin John Hawthorn, Mark Kleefisch
  • Patent number: 8932426
    Abstract: A method for connecting a pipe fitting with a buried pipe from above ground in which the top, outer wall surface of the buried pipe is exposed to an aboveground location, producing an exposed outer wall surface. An opening into the pipeline is formed at the exposed outer wall surface following which a fitting to be connected with the pipeline is inserted through the opening into the pipeline and connected with a circumferential pipe surface encircling the opening into the pipeline. Preferably, keyholing techniques are used to carry out the steps of the method so as to substantially limit the amount of excavation required compared with conventional pipe fitting connection procedures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
    Inventors: Daniel Allen Ersoy, Ernest Lever
  • Patent number: 8927133
    Abstract: An electrochemical device having a liquid electrolyte which includes a protic solvent, an anode electrode disposed in contact with the liquid electrolyte, and a cathode electrode disposed in contact with the liquid electrolyte. A membrane which interrupts the transport of ions between the electrodes at a predetermined temperature is disposed in the liquid electrolyte between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode. In this way, electrochemical devices such as batteries, fuel cells, electrolyzers, and sensors, which may overheat during use and cause a fire or explosion, are precluded from overheating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
    Inventor: Qinbai Fan
  • Patent number: 8915981
    Abstract: A multi-stage method and apparatus for producing methane from biomass in which the biomass is hydropyrolyzed in a reactor vessel containing molecular hydrogen and a deoxygenating catalyst, the output of which is hydrogenated using a hydroconversion catalyst. The output from the hydroconversion step is provided to a water-gas-shift process providing a mixture of H2O and product gases including CO2, H2, and methane. The mixture components are separated, resulting in a product stream comprising substantially only methane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
    Inventors: Terry L. Marker, Larry G. Felix, Martin B. Linck, Howard S. Meyer, Dennis Leppin
  • Patent number: 8899969
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for combustion in which a pressurized preheated liquid fuel is atomized and a portion thereof flash vaporized, creating a mixture of fuel vapor and liquid droplets. The mixture is mixed with primary combustion oxidant, producing a fuel/primary oxidant mixture which is then injected into a primary combustion chamber in which the fuel/primary oxidant mixture is partially combusted, producing a secondary gaseous fuel containing hydrogen and carbon oxides. The secondary gaseous fuel is mixed with a secondary combustion oxidant and injected into the second combustion chamber wherein complete combustion of the secondary gaseous fuel is carried out. The resulting second stage flue gas containing very low amounts of NOx is then vented from the second combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
    Inventors: Vincent Gard, Dennis A. Chojnacki, Ioseph K. Rabovitser
  • Patent number: 8901178
    Abstract: A method and system for co-production of electric power, fuel, and chemicals in which a synthesis gas at a first pressure is expanded using a turbo-expander, simultaneously producing electric power and an expanded synthesis gas at a second pressure after which the expanded synthesis gas is converted to a fuel and/or a chemical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
    Inventors: Iosif K. Rabovitser, Arunabha Basu
  • Patent number: 8859831
    Abstract: A system and method for processing biomass into hydrocarbon fuels that includes processing a biomass in a hydropyrolysis reactor resulting in hydrocarbon fuels and a process vapor stream and cooling the process vapor stream to a condensation temperature resulting in an aqueous stream. The aqueous stream is sent to a catalytic reactor where it is oxidized to obtain a product stream containing ammonia and ammonium sulfate. A resulting cooled product vapor stream includes non-condensable process vapors comprising H2, CH4, CO, CO2, ammonia and hydrogen sulfide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
    Inventors: Terry L. Marker, Larry G. Felix, Martin B. Linck, Michael J. Roberts
  • Patent number: 8844471
    Abstract: An apparatus for heating water having three vertically aligned water heating process sections. The upper section includes an annular water storage tank disposed around a combustion chamber having a downward firing burner. The intermediate section, disposed vertically below the upper section receives flue gas from the combustion chamber, which flue gas is cooled and dehumidified, producing a hot condensate which collects in a passive condensate flow control device disposed proximate the bottom of the intermediate section. The lower section, disposed vertically below the intermediate and separated therefrom by the passive condensate flow control device receives hot condensate from the flow control device, which is used to preheat and humidify air, such as room air, which is then recycled to the combustion process of the upper section for use as combustion air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
    Inventors: Paul Eric Glanville, Mark Jacob Khinkis, Aleksandr Pavlovich Kozlov, David Charles Kalensky
  • Patent number: 8841495
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for thermochemically transforming biomass or other oxygenated feedstocks into high quality liquid hydrocarbon fuels. In particular, a catalytic hydropyrolysis reactor, containing a deep bed of fluidized catalyst particles is utilized to accept particles of biomass or other oxygenated feedstocks that are significantly smaller than the particles of catalyst in the fluidized bed. The reactor features an insert or other structure disposed within the reactor vessel that inhibits slugging of the bed and thereby minimizes attrition of the catalyst. Within the bed, the biomass feedstock is converted into a vapor-phase product, containing hydrocarbon molecules and other process vapors, and an entrained solid char product, which is separated from the vapor stream after the vapor stream has been exhausted from the top of the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
    Inventors: Terry L. Marker, Larry G. Felix, Martin B. Linck, Michael J. Roberts
  • Publication number: 20140262727
    Abstract: A system for the production of carbonized biomass that includes an infeed for accepting biomass feed material and an associated twin screw extruder. A water heater is connected with respect to at least one inlet along a length of the twin screw extruder and a pressure sustaining valve is connected at an outlet of the twin screw extruder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Gas Technology Institute
    Inventors: Larry G. Felix, William E. Farthing, James H. Irvin, Todd R. Snyder, Wei Yan
  • Patent number: 8816144
    Abstract: Multistage processing of biomass to produce at least two separate fungible fuel streams, one dominated by gasoline boiling-point range liquids and the other by diesel boiling-point range liquids. The processing involves hydrotreating the biomass to produce a hydrotreatment product including a deoxygenated hydrocarbon product of gasoline and diesel boiling materials, followed by separating each of the gasoline and diesel boiling materials from the hydrotreatment product and each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
    Inventors: Larry G. Felix, Martin B. Linck, Terry L. Marker, Michael J. Roberts
  • Patent number: 8807218
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for wellbore perforation in which a laser beam at a downhole location of a wellbore is directed to a target area of a wellbore wall to be perforated. The laser beam is guided through a longitudinally extensible nozzle onto the target area and a purge fluid is introduced into the longitudinally extensible nozzle, thereby longitudinally extending the nozzle toward the target area. The purge fluid in the longitudinally extensible nozzle is passed through a purge fluid outlet of the nozzle onto the target area, thereby removing debris from the target area generated by the laser beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
    Inventors: Mark S Kleefisch, Iraj Salehi
  • Patent number: 8764967
    Abstract: A method and system for regenerating used cooking oil in which the used cooking oil is introduced into a cooking oil regenerator, which includes an electrochemical device having a high temperature proton exchange membrane disposed between an anode electrode and a cathode electrode. A voltage is applied between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode using an external electricity source, producing regenerated cooking oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
    Inventor: Qinbai Fan
  • Publication number: 20140174423
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for humidifying residential and commercial buildings in which a flue gas generated by a residential of commercial furnace is provided to one side of a porous liquid water transport membrane and habitable space air is provided to an opposite side of the porous liquid water transport membrane in an amount sufficient to provide a habitable space air to flue gas volume flow rate ratio of at least 8.3:1. At least a portion of the water vapor in the flue gas is condensed, providing condensed liquid water which is passed through the porous liquid water transport membrane to the habitable space air side of the porous liquid water transport membrane. On the habitable space air side of the membrane, the condensed liquid water is evaporated into the habitable space air, producing humidified habitable space air which is provided to the rooms of the residential and commercial buildings. Beneficially, no supplemental water source is required for the humidification process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: Gas Technology Institute
    Inventors: Dexin WANG, William E. Liss, Richard A. Knight
  • Patent number: 8733384
    Abstract: A method and system for boosting pipeline gas pressure in a low-pressure gas pipeline in which a supplemental gas supply pipe in fluid communication with a supplemental pipeline gas supply is provided to an interior of a gas pipeline containing a pressurized pipeline gas, where the pressure of the supplemental pipeline gas supply is greater than the pressure of the pressurized pipeline gas. The gas pressure differential between the pressurized pipeline gas and the supplemental pipeline gas supply pressure is measured. When the pressure differential reaches a certain predetermined set value, supplemental pipeline gas is provided from the supplemental pipeline gas supply through the supplemental gas supply pipe into a pipeline space between the gas pipeline and the supplemental gas supply pipe. The flow of supplemental pipeline gas is halted upon achievement of a second predetermined set differential pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
    Inventors: Daniel Allen Ersoy, Daniel Thomas Germata
  • Patent number: 8733109
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for generation of electric power employing fuel and air staging in which a first stage gas turbine and a second stage partial oxidation gas turbine power operated in parallel. A first portion of fuel and oxidant are provided to the first stage gas turbine which generates a first portion of electric power and a hot oxidant. A second portion of fuel and oxidant are provided to the second stage partial oxidation gas turbine which generates a second portion of electric power and a hot syngas. The hot oxidant and the hot syngas are provided to a bottoming cycle employing a fuel-fired boiler by which a third portion of electric power is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
    Inventors: Iosif K. Rabovitser, John M. Pratapas, Dmitri Boulanov