Patents Assigned to Gas Technology Institute
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Patent number: 10151508Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 28, 2016Date of Patent: December 11, 2018Assignee: Gas Technology InstituteInventors: James H. Irvin, William E. Farthing, Larry G. Felix, Todd R. Snyder
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Publication number: 20180335205Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 15, 2018Publication date: November 22, 2018Applicant: Gas Technology InstituteInventor: William W. Follett
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Publication number: 20180208475Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 22, 2018Publication date: July 26, 2018Applicant: Gas Technology InstituteInventors: Ronald J. STANIS, Jeffrey A. MAYS
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Publication number: 20180161739Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2017Publication date: June 14, 2018Applicant: Gas Technology InstituteInventors: Jeffrey A. MAYS, John C. Vega, III, Anthony Eastland
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Patent number: 9963399Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 7, 2016Date of Patent: May 8, 2018Assignee: Gas Technology InstituteInventors: Terry Marker, Martin Linck, Jim Wangerow, Pedro Ortiz-Toral, Naomi Klinghoffer
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Patent number: 9938466Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 5, 2014Date of Patent: April 10, 2018Assignee: Gas Technology InstituteInventors: Martin B. Linck, Terry L. Marker, Michael J. Roberts, Larry G. Felix
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Patent number: 9932974Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 5, 2014Date of Patent: April 3, 2018Assignee: Gas Technology InstituteInventor: Kenneth M. Sprouse
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Patent number: 9926501Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 2, 2014Date of Patent: March 27, 2018Assignee: Gas Technology InstituteInventors: Stephen Arthur Yows, Steven P. Fusselman
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Patent number: 9901846Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 21, 2014Date of Patent: February 27, 2018Assignee: Gas Technology InstituteInventors: Shaojun Zhou, Howard S. Meyer, Shiguang Li
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Patent number: 9879514Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 19, 2017Date of Patent: January 30, 2018Assignee: Gas Technology InstituteInventors: Jordan Ciezobka, Debotyam Maity
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Patent number: 9849426Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 6, 2015Date of Patent: December 26, 2017Assignee: Gas Technology InstituteInventors: Thomas D. Hayes, Blaine F. Severin
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Patent number: 9851096Abstract: An exemplary steam generator assembly includes a wall. Produced water acts as film cooling to at least a portion of the wall.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2012Date of Patent: December 26, 2017Assignee: Gas Technology InstituteInventors: John Vega, Jeffrey A. Mays
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Publication number: 20170362484Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2016Publication date: December 21, 2017Applicant: Gas Technology InstituteInventors: Hamid ABBASI, David CYGAN, David M. RUE, William E. LISS
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Patent number: 9803512Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 30, 2016Date of Patent: October 31, 2017Assignee: Gas Technology InstituteInventors: Albert E. Stewart, Ganesan Subbaraman, Jeffrey A. Mays, James A. Hartung
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Patent number: 9803153Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 21, 2015Date of Patent: October 31, 2017Assignee: Gas Technology InstituteInventors: Mark J. Khinkis, Aleksandr P. Kozlov
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Patent number: 9752776Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 31, 2010Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: Gas Technology InstituteInventor: Timothy Saunders
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Patent number: 9709265Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 7, 2014Date of Patent: July 18, 2017Assignee: Gas Technology InstituteInventors: Brian Sutherland, Michael Johnson, Chakravarthy Sishtla
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Patent number: 9650574Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 1, 2014Date of Patent: May 16, 2017Assignee: Gas Technology InstituteInventors: Larry G. Felix, Martin B. Linck, Terry L. Marker, Michael J. Roberts
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Patent number: 9631154Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 14, 2014Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignee: Gas Technology InstituteInventors: Shaojun Zhou, Howard S. Meyer
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Patent number: 9593282Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 13, 2014Date of Patent: March 14, 2017Assignee: Gas Technology InstituteInventors: Terry L. Marker, Larry G. Felix, Martin B. Linck, Michael J. Roberts