Patents Assigned to Gas Technology Institute
  • Hydraulic fracturing system and method
    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
  • PRESSURE VESSEL AND METHOD
    Publication number: 20180023809
    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 on dimension that is adjustable to facilitate forming a dynamic seal that limits backflow of gas through the passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2017
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Applicant: GAS TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE
    Inventor: Timothy SAUNDERS
  • CATALYTIC MEMBRANE REACTOR FOR DIMETHYL ETHER SYNTHESIS FROM CARBON DIOXIDE AND HYDROGEN
    Publication number: 20180016218
    Abstract: Methods and systems or devices for synthesis of dimethyl ether (DME) from carbon dioxide and hydrogen are provided. A high surface area hollow fiber catalytic membrane reactor such as with hollow fibers coated with a water permeable membrane material is used. The reactor also contains a bi-functional methanol synthesis component and dehydration catalyst component such that the two-step reaction takes place on the catalyst surface. Produced water permeates through the membrane, exiting the reactor immediately after it is formed. Unreacted reactants and products flow to the reactor exit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Applicant: GAS TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Naomi KLINGHOFFER, Shiguang LI
  • Steam generator film cooling using produced water
    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
  • Electrolyte chemistry control in electrodialysis processing
    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
  • PROCESSES AND MEDIA FOR HIGH TEMPERATURE HEAT TRANSFER, TRANSPORT AND/OR STORAGE
    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
  • METHODS AND DEVICES FOR EVEN DISTRIBUTION OF SOLID FUEL MATERIALS
    Publication number: 20170356644
    Abstract: Methods, devices and systems for processing of solid materials, particularly fuel material solids such as carbonaceous fuel solids such as of granular form, to provide or result in an even distribution of the solid material. Hoppers are provided with plurality of outlet orifices, each of the outlet orifices adapted to flow therethrough a combination of gas and the solid material to pneumatically convey the solid material to a distribution manifold. The distribution manifold includes a plurality of tubes with each tube having a plurality of exit orifices wherein each exit orifice passes an equal portion of the combination of the gas and the solid material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Applicant: GAS TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE
    Inventor: Mark FITZSIMMONS
  • SMART FRAC BALL
    Publication number: 20170335644
    Abstract: A frac stage isolation device including instruments for measuring pressure, temperature, salinity, pH, electromagnetic waves and/or other physical parameters such as vibrations from acoustic energy emissions during a hydraulic fracturing process. The frac stage isolation device blocks a flow passage in a frac plug to isolate a previously fracked section of a wellbore. The frac stage isolation device may also be used without a frac plug in applications requiring data acquisition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Applicant: GAS TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE
    Inventor: Jordan CIEZOBKA
  • SMART FRAC PLUG
    Publication number: 20170335678
    Abstract: A smart frac plug assembly including an instrument plug module with a sensor for collecting data during a hydraulic fracturing process. This assembly when used in conjunction with a wireless or tubing conveyed data logger and other related recording/processing systems, provides direct measurements of pressure, temperature, observed velocity field and/or observed acceleration field in a subsurface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Applicant: GAS TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Jordan CIEZOBKA, Debotyam MAITY, Kent PERRY
  • Radiant non-catalytic recuperative reformer
    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
  • Reactor system and solid fuel composite therefor
    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
  • HYDRAULIC FRACTURING SYSTEM AND METHOD
    Publication number: 20170298719
    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: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Applicant: GAS TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Jordan CIEZOBKA, Iraj SALEHI
  • HYDRAULIC FRACTURING SYSTEM AND METHOD
    Publication number: 20170284181
    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: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Applicant: GAS TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Jordan Ciezobka, Debotyam Maity
  • Pressure vessel and method therefor
    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
  • HYDRAULIC FRACTURING SYSTEM AND METHOD
    Publication number: 20170226838
    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: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Applicant: GAS TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Jordan CIEZOBKA, Debotyam MAITY
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REMOVING HIGH CONCENTRATION ACID GAS FROM NATURAL GAS
    Publication number: 20170225116
    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: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Applicant: GAS TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Shaojun ZHOU, Howard S. MEYER
  • Porous metal foam burner
    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
  • UTILITY SITUATIONAL AWARENESS SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20170185698
    Abstract: A method and software-implemented system that provides a situational awareness tool for infrastructure operators and government agencies to assess vulnerabilities, and optimize the deployment of prevention and mitigation technologies. The invention automatically obtains current supply information from each of more than one participating utility provider. The supply information from the different sources is standardized and combined with geographic information to provide a building level map of utility service and outages. The service locations, e.g., residential and commercial buildings, are represented as building polygons corresponding to building footprint, and can be color-coded to indicate service status.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Applicant: GAS TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE
    Inventors: James Marean, William Gale
  • Hydropyrolysis of biomass-containing feedstocks
    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
  • Method and apparatus for removing high concentration acid gas from natural gas
    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