Patents Assigned to Gas Technology Institute
  • Portable microbiological testing device for gases
    Patent number: 8143019
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for microbiological testing of biogas and other gaseous streams in which a liquid bacteria growth medium disposed within a lower region of a portable sampling vessel is contacted with a gas sample of interest. The gas sample is passed through a hydrophobic filter element which retains microorganisms in the gas sample. The sampling vessel is then inverted, thereby submerging the hydrophobic filter element in the liquid bacteria growth medium. The sampling vessel is incubated for a predetermined period of time at a predetermined temperature following which a presence or absence of microorganisms is determined based on turbidity and/or color of the liquid bacteria growth medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
    Inventors: Xiangyang Zhu, Kristine Mila H. Cruz, Diane Saber
  • Pressure controlled spectroscopic heating value sensor
    Patent number: 8139222
    Abstract: A method and system for measuring a physical property of a fluid in which light having wavelengths in the near-infrared is directed into a test cell containing the fluid and portions of the light not absorbed by the fluid and passing out of the cell are spatially dispersed by wavelength, forming a light spectrum that is projected onto a detector. The light spectrum is digitized and inputted into a data processing unit in which it is compared to the actual spectrum of the light source stored in the system to determine the absorbance spectrum of the fluid. The system is spectrally calibrated by identifying known spectral features of the fluid absorbance spectrum. To correct for deviations in the original light source spectrum, a calibration method in which the pressure of the fluid in the test cell is alternated between a first positive pressure and a second positive pressure is employed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
    Inventors: Alexei Saveliev, Serguei Zelepouga, David M. Rue
  • X-ray backscatter device for wellbore casing and pipeline inspection
    Patent number: 8138471
    Abstract: An apparatus for inspection in situ of a wellbore casing and a pipeline from inside the wellbore or pipeline. The apparatus includes a penetrating radiation source such as x-rays, a rotatable beam collimator adapted to collimate the penetrating radiation source and produce at least one pencil radiation beam rotatable about the radiation source, an arcuate radiation detector suitable for detecting radiation scattered off a target, and a housing containing the radiation source, the rotatable beam collimator, and the radiation detector. The housing is provided with at least one exit point for exiting of the at least one pencil radiation beam from the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
    Inventors: Daniel Shedlock, Andrew Hammerschmidt
  • Cased pipe internal cathodic protection apparatus and method
    Patent number: 8133381
    Abstract: A method and system for protecting underground gas carrier pipes housed within an outer casing pipe in which a gas carrier pipe section disposed within an outer casing pipe section and having opposed ends is electrically isolated from a remaining gas carrier pipe section proximate each of the ends. An annular space between the gas carrier pipe section and the outer casing pipe section is filled with an electrolyte. At least one anode electrode is inserted into the annular space distal from each of the gas carrier pipe section and the outer casing pipe section and connected with a positive voltage lead of a cathodic protection rectifier. A negative voltage lead of the cathodic protection rectifier is connected to the gas carrier pipe section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
    Inventor: Daniel Allen Ersoy
  • Sediment sampler for in-situ measurement of soluble contaminant flux rates
    Patent number: 8127626
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for in-situ measurement of soluble contaminant flux rates from sediments in which an inverted desorption chamber containing a sorbent system is filled with water and placed over an area of sediment, whereby the interior of the chamber is isolated from the exterior of the chamber above the sediment. Soluble contaminants released from the sediment are sorbed onto the surface of a sorbent material disposed within a plurality of semipermeable membrane bags disposed within the chamber. Each semipermeable membrane bag is removed from the chamber in a pre-defined sequence over a period of time and the sorbent material in each bag is analyzed to determine an amount of the soluble contaminant sorbed by the sorbent material. From the results of the analyses, the mass of the soluble contaminant removed from the sediment over time can be calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
    Inventor: Thomas David Hayes
  • Mechanically driven centrifugal pyrolyzer
    Patent number: 8128717
    Abstract: An apparatus for fast pyrolysis of biomass and other solid organic materials including a vertically oriented cylindrical vessel having a solids outlet proximate the bottom thereof, a vapor outlet, a top wall forming at least one opening, and an adjacent heated side wall. Disposed within the cylindrical vessel and extending through the at least one opening in the top wall is a rotor having a rotatable shaft coincident with the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical vessel to which is attached at least one substantially vertically oriented blade having one edge connected directly or indirectly with the rotatable shaft and having an opposite edge spaced apart from the heated side wall, whereby a non-radial, preferably tangential, force is imparted on the feedstock in the cylindrical vessel. Also disclosed is a method for fast pyrolysis of biomass and other solid organic materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
    Inventors: Martin Brendan Linck, Phillip Vann Bush
  • PIPE FUSION FITTING AND INSTALLATION METHOD
    Publication number: 20120031542
    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: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: GAS TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Daniel Allen Ersoy, Ernest Lever
  • Photo-electro-refining of bio-oil to biofuel and hydrogen
    Patent number: 8105474
    Abstract: An electrochemical device having a proton exchange membrane disposed between an anode electrode and a cathode electrode, an anode plate adjacent the anode electrode and forming at least one anode flow channel, and a cathode plate adjacent the cathode electrode and forming at least one cathode flow channel, in which a bio-oil is introduced into the at least one anode flow channel, and a carbohydrate is introduced into the at least one cathode flow channel. The bio-oil is oxidized at the anode, producing the biofuel, and protons from the anode electrode migrate to the cathode electrode and are reduced to hydrogen and/or reacted with the carbohydrate at the cathode, producing hydrogen and carbon-hydrogen biofuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
    Inventor: Qinbai Fan
  • OXYGEN ENRICHMENT USING SMALL-PORE SILICOALUMINOPHOSPHATE MEMBRANES
    Publication number: 20120012001
    Abstract: A method of oxygen enrichment in which a gaseous mixture containing O2 molecules and N2 molecules is provided to a feed side of a SAPO molecular sieve, oxygen enrichment membrane having pore sizes suitable for discriminating between O2 molecules and N2 molecules, resulting in selective transport of the O2 molecules through the membrane to a permeate side of the membrane. Also disclosed is a method for producing the membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: GAS TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Shiguang Li, Qinbai Fan
  • Video and thermal imaging system for monitoring interiors of high temperature reaction vessels
    Patent number: 8094301
    Abstract: A system and method for real-time monitoring of the interior of a combustor or gasifier wherein light emitted by the interior surface of a refractory wall of the combustor or gasifier is collected using an imaging fiber optic bundle having a light receiving end and a light output end. Color information in the light is captured with primary color (RGB) filters or complimentary color (GMCY) filters placed over individual pixels of color sensors disposed within a digital color camera in a BAYER mosaic layout, producing RGB signal outputs or GMCY signal outputs. The signal outputs are processed using intensity ratios of the primary color filters or the complimentary color filters, producing video images and/or thermal images of the interior of the combustor or gasifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignees: Gas Technology Institute, The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
    Inventors: Alexei V. Saveliev, Serguei A. Zelepouga, David M. Rue
  • CuC1 thermochemical cycle for hydrogen production
    Patent number: 8088261
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell for producing copper having a dense graphite anode electrode and a dense graphite cathode electrode disposed in a CuCl solution. An anion exchange membrane made of poly(ethylene vinyl alcohol) and polyethylenimine cross-linked with a cross-linking agent selected from the group consisting of acetone, formaldehyde, glyoxal, glutaraldehyde, and mixtures thereof is disposed between the two electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
    Inventors: Qinbai Fan, Renxuan Liu
  • INTEGRATED CONTACT CONDENSING WATER HEATER
    Publication number: 20110303164
    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: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Applicant: GAS TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Paul Eric Glanville, Mark Jacob Khinkis, Aleksandr Pavlovich Kozlov, David Charles Kalensky
  • SELF-ORIENTING, TWO-WHEEL PIPE CRAWLER
    Publication number: 20110303116
    Abstract: An apparatus for conveying a payload through a pipe having the ability to automatically self-stabilize and orient itself inside the pipe by controlling two pipe tracking contactors so as to maintain contact between the pipe tracking contactors and the pipe wall and maintain the apparatus in a functional orientation. The apparatus includes tilt sensor arrays for continuously monitoring the position of the apparatus with respect to the pipe wall, variable speed drive motors operably connected with the pipe contactors for rotating the contactors, tilt motors operably connected with the pipe tracking contactors to enable movement of the contactors between a non-functional orientation and a functional orientation, and a controller for controlling the motors based upon information provided by the tilt sensor arrays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Applicant: GAS TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE
    Inventor: James Louis
  • Supported metal membrane with internal cooling for Hseparation
    Patent number: 8075671
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for separation of H2 gas from a gaseous mixture utilizing an H2 gas permeable metallic membrane supported directly on a porous substrate made up of at least one porous polymeric hollow fiber. In accordance with one preferred embodiment, the porous substrate is made up of a plurality of porous polymeric hollow fibers, forming a porous hollow fiber membrane. In accordance with one embodiment, a cooling fluid is disposed in contact with the hollow fiber, thereby enabling advantageous operation of the H2 gas separation process at elevated temperatures in the range of about 200° F. to about 800° F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
    Inventors: Shaojun James Zhou, Howard S. Meyer
  • CASED PIPE INTERNAL CATHODIC PROTECTION APPARATUS AND METHOD
    Publication number: 20110290664
    Abstract: A method and system for protecting underground gas carrier pipes housed within an outer casing pipe in which a gas carrier pipe section disposed within an outer casing pipe section and having opposed ends is electrically isolated from a remaining gas carrier pipe section proximate each of the ends. An annular space between the gas carrier pipe section and the outer casing pipe section is filled with an electrolyte. At least one anode electrode is inserted into the annular space distal from each of the gas carrier pipe section and the outer casing pipe section and connected with a positive voltage lead of a cathodic protection rectifier. A negative voltage lead of the cathodic protection rectifier is connected to the gas carrier pipe section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: GAS TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE
    Inventor: Daniel Allen Ersoy
  • BATTERIES, FUEL CELLS, AND OTHER ELECTROCHEMICAL DEVICES
    Publication number: 20110274988
    Abstract: An electrochemical device having an anode electrode, a cathode electrode, and an electrolyte.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: GAS TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Qinbai Fan, Ronald Stanis
  • DEVICE FOR MARKING OUT BURIED OBJECTS
    Publication number: 20110273178
    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: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2010
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: GAS TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Nickolas Daniels, Christopher Ziolkowski, Frank Hennessey
  • Robust pipe-strike pulse detector
    Patent number: 8050414
    Abstract: A method for discriminating a noise pulse from a background noise in which a signal of interest is converted to an envelope signal using an entropy-based envelope generator, which envelope signal is then integrated over a plurality of consecutive integrative periods, producing an integrated envelope signal for each of the integration periods. The ratio of the envelope signal at the end of each of the integration periods corresponding to each corresponding said integrated envelope signal is determined and compared with a predetermined threshold signal for each of the integration periods, resulting in a comparison value. The integration period in which the comparison value exceeds the predetermined threshold signal and which is preceded by two integration periods in which the comparison value does not exceed the threshold value represents the point in time at which the noise pulse is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
    Inventor: Maurice Givens
  • Submerged combustion melter
    Publication number: 20110236846
    Abstract: A submerged combustion melter having a plurality of side walls, a bottom wall adjacent the side walls, and a top wall adjacent the side walls, the walls collectively enclosing a melting chamber, and the bottom wall forming a plurality of openings, each of which is adapted to receive a submerged combustion burner. Each of the submerged combustion burners is positioned at least 4 inches from the side walls, at least twice as far apart from each other as the distance between the submerged combustion burners and the side walls, and less than or equal to about 20 inches apart.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: GAS TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE
    Inventors: David M. Rue, Grigory I. Aronchik, Mark J. Khinkis, Walter Kunc
  • COMBINED FUEL AND AIR STAGED POWER GENERATION SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20110232292
    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: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: GAS TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Iosif K. Rabovitser, John M. Pratapas, Dmitri Boulanov