Patents Assigned to Gas Technology Institute
  • Patent number: 10151508
    Abstract: A compact, on-demand system to produce high pressure (?5,000 psig) and high temperature (?450° C.) water or other liquids which maintains single-phase flow throughout the system utilizing low-cost, thick-wall tubing and thereby negate the requirement to design the unit as a boiler or adhere to coded pressure vessel design requirements. This design can also replace a conventional boiler for the generation of hot water as well as low and high pressure steam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
    Inventors: James H. Irvin, William E. Farthing, Larry G. Felix, Todd R. Snyder
  • Publication number: 20180335205
    Abstract: Systems and methods for generating electrical power combine pressurized fluidized bed combustors (PFBC) and molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFC) to provide a low cost solution for electricity generation with CO2 capture. A solid fuel is introduced fuel into a pressurized fluidized bed combustor to produce steam, a first quantity of electrical power, and a flue gas including CO2. Air, natural gas, at least a portion of the steam and at least a portion of the flue gas including CO2 are introduced to a molten carbonate fuel cell to produce a second quantity of electrical power and an output stream comprising primarily CO2. The pressurized fluidized bed combustor can desirably be air-fired and the solid fuel introduced there into can desirably be in a finely pulverized form.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Publication date: November 22, 2018
    Applicant: Gas Technology Institute
    Inventor: William W. Follett
  • Publication number: 20180208475
    Abstract: A system and method for producing ammonia at high conversion rates. The system having a fluidized bed reactor with a fluidized zone with catalyst particles. The fluidized bed reactor is preferably configured to receive a continuous flow of solid sorbent particles, nitrogen, and hydrogen, with the catalyst particles being at least ten times larger than the sorbent particles. The method allows for the nitrogen and hydrogen react on a surface of the catalyst in order to generate ammonia that is adsorbed by the sorbent particles. The method extracts the adsorbed ammonia from the sorbent particles with a sorbent regenerator to product a pure ammonia product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2018
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Applicant: Gas Technology Institute
    Inventors: Ronald J. STANIS, Jeffrey A. MAYS
  • Publication number: 20180161739
    Abstract: A mixer for separate streams of gas includes a center stream of a first gas and a co-axial stream of a second gas injected at an angle to the center stream and filling an annulus around the center stream. The mixer may further include a feed zone wherein the first gas is introduced into the mixer as the center stream and the second gas is introduced into the mixer as the co-axial stream filling the annulus around the center stream; a mixing zone wherein the first gas and the second gas mix with no recirculation zones to form a mixture; and a diffusion zone for advancing the mixture from the mixing zone. Corresponding or associated methods for mixing materials are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Applicant: Gas Technology Institute
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. MAYS, John C. Vega, III, Anthony Eastland
  • Patent number: 9963399
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention are associated with the discovery of processes for converting methane (CH4), present in a methane-containing feedstock that may be obtained from a variety of sources such as natural gas, to higher hydrocarbons (e.g., C4+ hydrocarbons) such as gasoline, diesel fuel, or jet fuel boiling-range hydrocarbons, which may optionally be separated (e.g., by fractionation) for use as transportation fuels, or otherwise as blending components for such fuels. Particular aspects of the invention are associated with advantages arising from maintaining reaction conditions that improve the yield of C4+ hydrocarbons. Further aspects relate to the advantages gained by integration of the appropriate reactions to carry out the methane conversion, with downstream separation to recover and recycle desirable components of the reaction effluent, thereby improving process economics to the extent needed for commercial viability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
    Inventors: Terry Marker, Martin Linck, Jim Wangerow, Pedro Ortiz-Toral, Naomi Klinghoffer
  • Patent number: 9938466
    Abstract: A hydropyrolysis process comprises feeding both (i) hydrogen and (ii) a biomass-containing feedstock or a biomass-derived feedstock, to a hydropyrolysis reactor vessel. The process comprises producing a CO2-containing vapor stream and at least one liquid product. A CO2 product, separated from the CO2-containing vapor stream, is advantageously used for at least one inertization function of the hydropyrolysis process. Representative inertization functions include operation of solids transport equipment, blanketing of liquid containers, drying of biomass-containing feedstock or biomass-derived feedstock, conveying or separating solids, and combinations thereof. Importantly, CO2 products utilized for these inertization functions may be obtained predominantly, if not completely (depending on the nature of the feedstock), from renewable carbon in biomass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
    Inventors: Martin B. Linck, Terry L. Marker, Michael J. Roberts, Larry G. Felix
  • Patent number: 9932974
    Abstract: A pump system includes a particulate consolidator pump that has a pump outlet. A duct is coupled to the pump outlet. The duct has a wall that is coupled with an oscillator. The oscillator is operable to oscillate the wall at a controlled frequency. The controlled frequency is selected with respect to breaking static bridging of particulate in the duct due, at least in part, to consolidation of the particulate from a downstream check valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
    Inventor: Kenneth M. Sprouse
  • Patent number: 9926501
    Abstract: An entrained-flow gasifier reactor includes a vessel and a first liner within the vessel. The first liner extends around a reaction zone in the vessel and has an inlet end and an exit end with respect to the reaction zone. The first liner includes a drip lip at the exit end. An isolator is arranged near the drip lip. The isolator is operable to thermally isolate the drip lip from a quench zone downstream from the reaction zone such that molten slag at the drip lip remains molten.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
    Inventors: Stephen Arthur Yows, Steven P. Fusselman
  • Patent number: 9901846
    Abstract: A process for removing carbon dioxide from a carbon dioxide-loaded solvent uses two stages of flash apparatus. Carbon dioxide is flashed from the solvent at a higher temperature and pressure in the first stage, and a lower temperature and pressure in the second stage, and is fed to a multi-stage compression train for high pressure liquefaction. Because some of the carbon dioxide fed to the compression train is already under pressure, less energy is required to further compress the carbon dioxide to a liquid state, compared to conventional processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
    Inventors: Shaojun Zhou, Howard S. Meyer, Shiguang Li
  • Patent number: 9879514
    Abstract: A hydraulic fracturing system and method for enhancing effective permeability of earth formations to increase hydrocarbon production, enhance operation efficiency by reducing fluid entry friction due to tortuosity and perforation, and to open perforations that are either unopened or not effective using traditional techniques, by varying a pump rate and/or a flow rate to a wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
    Inventors: Jordan Ciezobka, Debotyam Maity
  • Patent number: 9849426
    Abstract: Methods for controlling electrolyte chemistry in electrodialysis units having an anode and a cathode each in an electrolyte of a selected concentration and a membrane stack disposed therebetween. The membrane stack includes pairs of cationic selective and anionic membranes to segregate increasingly dilute salts streams from concentrated salts stream. Electrolyte chemistry control is via use of at least one of following techniques: a single calcium exclusionary cationic selective membrane at a cathode cell boundary, an exclusionary membrane configured as a hydraulically isolated scavenger cell, a multivalent scavenger co-electrolyte and combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
    Inventors: Thomas D. Hayes, Blaine F. Severin
  • Patent number: 9851096
    Abstract: An exemplary steam generator assembly includes a wall. Produced water acts as film cooling to at least a portion of the wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
    Inventors: John Vega, Jeffrey A. Mays
  • Publication number: 20170362484
    Abstract: A thermal energy conveyance process involving at least one of transferring heat to a first heat transfer fluid and recovering heat from a second heat transfer fluid, wherein the first and the second heat transfer fluids include a gaseous carrier containing a quantity of micron sized solid particles and wherein the at least one of transferring heat and recovering heat is conducted to involve at least one of a) a temperature in excess of 1000° F. and b) a dilute-to-dense phase of the micron sized solid particles. Also provided is a media adapted for such heat conveyance operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Applicant: Gas Technology Institute
    Inventors: Hamid ABBASI, David CYGAN, David M. RUE, William E. LISS
  • Patent number: 9803512
    Abstract: A reactor system includes a fluidized-bed. A fuel and a sulfur absorbent material are eluted through the fluidized-bed. The reactor system may include a heat exchanger having a heat-exchanging portion within a heating zone of the reactor that is hermetically sealed from the heating zone. The reactor may include loose particles of an inert bed material for forming the fluidized-bed. A feed system may be provided to inject a solid fuel composite that includes a mixture of a solid, carbonaceous fuel and a solid reagent into the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
    Inventors: Albert E. Stewart, Ganesan Subbaraman, Jeffrey A. Mays, James A. Hartung
  • Patent number: 9803153
    Abstract: A radiant, non-catalytic recuperative reformer has a flue gas flow path for conducting hot exhaust gas from a thermal process and a reforming mixture flow path for conducting a reforming mixture. At least a portion of the reforming mixture flow path is positioned adjacent to the flue gas flow path to permit heat transfer from the hot exhaust gas to the reforming mixture. The reforming mixture flow path contains substantially no material commonly used as a catalyst for reforming hydrocarbon fuel (e.g., nickel oxide, platinum group elements or rhenium), but instead the reforming mixture is reformed into a higher calorific fuel via reactions due to the heat transfer and residence time. In a preferred embodiment, a portion of the reforming mixture flow path is positioned outside of flue gas flow path for a relatively large residence time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
    Inventors: Mark J. Khinkis, Aleksandr P. Kozlov
  • Patent number: 9752776
    Abstract: A pressure vessel includes a pump having a passage that extends between an inlet and an outlet. A duct at the pump outlet includes at least one dimension that is adjustable to facilitate forming a dynamic seal that limits backflow of gas through the passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
    Inventor: Timothy Saunders
  • Patent number: 9709265
    Abstract: A gas burner including a gas distribution element and a metal foam matrix burner covering the distribution element. A heat sink partially surrounds, and is spaced apart from, the metal foam matrix. The heat sink has an open end to vent exhaust emissions. The gas burner provides reduced nitrous oxide and carbon monoxide emissions and effective heat transfer modes (conduction, convection and radiation) compared to state-of-the-art burner technologies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
    Inventors: Brian Sutherland, Michael Johnson, Chakravarthy Sishtla
  • Patent number: 9650574
    Abstract: Various techniques are disclosed for pretreating municipal solid waste (MSW) and other biomass-containing feedstocks that may be of a poorer quality and consequently more difficult, or even impossible, to convert to higher value liquid products (e.g., transportation fuels) using conventional processes. Such conventional processes may otherwise be satisfactory for the conversion of the biomass portion of the feedstock alone. The pretreatment of biomass-containing feedstocks may generally include steps carried out prior to a hydropyrolysis step and optionally further steps, in order to change one or more characteristics of the feedstock, rendering it more easily upgradable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
    Inventors: Larry G. Felix, Martin B. Linck, Terry L. Marker, Michael J. Roberts
  • Patent number: 9631154
    Abstract: A multi-stage process for recovering acid gas from natural gas having high acid gas contents utilizes two or more membrane absorption contactors arranged in series. The first membrane absorption contactor uses a physical solvent to remove a high volume of acid gas transferred across a membrane, and to reduce the acid gas content in the natural gas to a lower level that can be managed using chemical solvents. The second and, if needed, subsequent membrane absorption contactors can use a chemical solvent to remove acid gas transferred across the respective membranes and reduce the acid gas content in the natural gas to very low levels, if needed, depending on product specifications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
    Inventors: Shaojun Zhou, Howard S. Meyer
  • Patent number: 9593282
    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: October 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
    Inventors: Terry L. Marker, Larry G. Felix, Martin B. Linck, Michael J. Roberts