Patents Assigned to Institute of Gas Technology
  • Patent number: 6572912
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for cooking non-cured food products in which the non-cured food products are heated in an atmosphere comprising less than about 0.5 vppmd of NO2, producing a cooked food product having substantially no pink discoloration on its outer surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Institute of Gas Technology
    Inventors: Joseph K. Rabovitser, Sandeep Ahuja, Mark J. Khinkis, Robert Hanson, William Cummings, Daren Cornforth
  • Patent number: 6379833
    Abstract: A molten carbonate fuel cell having an anode electrode, a cathode electrode, and an electrolyte matrix disposed between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode. An electrode support constructed of a high porosity reticulated foam material is disposed on an anode electrode face of at least one of the anode electrode and the cathode electrode facing away from the electrolyte matrix and forming a plurality of pores. An electrolyte is disposed within at least a portion of the plurality of pores, whereby at least a portion of the electrolyte flows into the electrolyte matrix during initial conditioning of the fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Institute of Gas Technology
    Inventors: Andy H. Hill, Chakravarthy Sishtla, Leonard G. Marianowski
  • Patent number: 6321743
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for combustion of a fuel and oxidant in which at least a portion of a fuel and at least a portion of an oxidant are introduced into an annular region formed by an outer tubular member closed off at one end and an inner tubular member open at both ends concentrically disposed within the outer tubular member, forming a fuel/oxidant mixture. The fuel/oxidant mixture is ignited in the annular region, forming products of combustion therein. The products of combustion are then exhausted through the inner tubular member providing oxidant preheating prior to forming the fuel/oxidant mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Institute of Gas Technology
    Inventors: Mark J. Khinkis, Harry S. Kurek, Hamid A. Abbasi, Peter T. Wurm
  • Patent number: 6312499
    Abstract: A method for stabilization of liquid mercury in which powdered copper particles are cleaned with a chemically reactive fluid suitable for removing surface oxidation from the surface. “Clean” powdered copper particles are mixed with liquid mercury to form a powdered copper/liquid mercury mixture. The mixture is then hardened to form an amalgam. Amalgams in which the amount of mercury is greater than 50% by weight of the total amalgam may be produced in accordance with the method of this invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Institute of Gas Technology
    Inventors: Amirali G. Rehmat, Anil Goyal, Douglas H. Laird
  • Patent number: 6289851
    Abstract: A multi-stage heating apparatus having a first stage combustion chamber, a second stage combustion chamber, a primary porous matrix chamber disposed between the first and second stage combustion chambers, a secondary porous matrix chamber, heat exchanger tubes for transfer of heat from the combustion products to a working fluid, a recirculation device for recirculating combustion products in the first and second stage combustion chambers to the root of flames therein. A mixture of fuel and primary oxidant is introduced into the first stage combustion chamber, and the products of combustion therein are conveyed to the porous matrix chamber disposed between the first and second stage combustion chambers. After undergoing intensive heat transfer in the porous matrix chamber, the cooler products of combustion flow into the second stage combustion chamber forming additional products of combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Institute of Gas Technology
    Inventors: Iosif K. Rabovitser, Richard A. Knight, Hamid A. Abbasi
  • Patent number: 6261710
    Abstract: A separator plate for a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell stack constructed of at least two coextensive sheet metal elements shaped to promote the distribution of reactant gases to the electrodes of the fuel cell units of the fuel cell stack. The coextensive sheet metal elements are nestled together and form a coolant flow space therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: Institute of Gas Technology
    Inventor: Leonard G. Marianowski
  • Patent number: 6244200
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for low-NOx combustion of a pulverized solid fuel in which combustion products from a partial oxidation combustor are mixed with a pulverized solid fuel, thereby preheating the pulverized solid fuel and resulting in devolatilization of at least a portion of the pulverized solid fuel. The preheated pulverized solid fuel and the devolatilization products are then burned in a burner firing directly into a combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Institute of Gas Technology
    Inventors: Iosif K. Rabovitser, Richard Knight, Mark J. Khinkis, Hamid A. Abbasi, Stan Wohadlo
  • Patent number: 6203187
    Abstract: A method for mixing fluids in which a continuously variable flow rate stream of an injection fluid is introduced into a substantially constant flow rate stream of a primary fluid in a direction substantially transverse with respect to the direction of flow of the substantially constant flow rate stream of the primary fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Institute of Gas Technology
    Inventors: Hamid Ali Abbasi, Iosif Khaim Rabovitser, John Charles Wagner
  • Patent number: 6093234
    Abstract: A process for preparing uniform, agglomerate free, submicron/nanosize ceramic powders from a polymeric foam comprising metal cations homogeneously incorporated within a foam cell structure of the polymeric foam. The polymeric foam is heated to remove any solvent, and calcined at a temperature of about 400.degree. C. to about 1400.degree. C. for about 1 minute to about 96 hours to produce the desired ceramic or metal powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Assignee: Institute of Gas Technology
    Inventors: Yong S. Zhen, Kenneth Hrdina
  • Patent number: 5999107
    Abstract: A cathodic protection monitoring system for buried metal objects comprising a transponder hard-wire connected to a sacrificial anode and a reference electrode, each of the transponder, the sacrificial anode and the reference electrode being buried underground in close proximity to the buried metal object to be protected, thereby forming a first principal circuit between the sacrificial anode and the buried metal object and forming a second principal circuit between the reference electrode and the buried metal object. The system further comprises a portable transceiver disposed above ground tuned to a frequency of the transponder. Power for operation of the transponder is drawn from the cathodic protection circuit, thereby obviating the need for connections to above ground power supplies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Institute of Gas Technology
    Inventors: Joel Cooper, Albert W. Gershman, Joe W. McCarty, Arthur Shapiro, Christopher J. Ziolkowski
  • Patent number: 5955350
    Abstract: A process for remediation of contaminated solid materials comprising polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon contaminated solid materials, polychlorinated hydrocarbon contaminated materials, and mixtures thereof by sequential biological/chemical/biological treatment in which the contaminated solid materials are biodigested under suitable conditions by a first aerobic or anaerobic digestion, producing a first biodigestion product. The first biodigestion product is then contacted for chemical treatment with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of ferrous ion in amounts and under conditions suitable for chemical oxidation, forming a mixture and oxidizing the first biodigestion product, producing biodegradable hydrocarbon product materials having enhanced biodegradability. The product materials are then biodigested under suitable conditions by a second aerobic or anaerobic digestion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Institute of Gas Technology
    Inventors: Bhupendra K. Soni, Kevin Kayser, Robert L. Kelley, Vipul J. Srivastava
  • Patent number: 5942347
    Abstract: A gas impervious bi-polar separator plate for a proton exchange membrane fuel cell having at least one electronically conductive material in an amount in a range of about 50% to about 95% by weight of the separator plate, at least one resin in an amount of at least about 5% by weight of the separator plate, and at least one hydrophilic agent, where the electronically conductive material, the resin, and the hydrophilic agent are substantially uniformly dispersed throughout the separator plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: Institute of Gas Technology
    Inventors: Gerald J. Koncar, Leonard G. Marianowski
  • Patent number: 5937772
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for combustion in which a combustible material is introduced into a combustion chamber and oxidant is supplied to the combustion chamber. The combustible material is burned, and forming a primary combustion zone. A mixture of flue gases and flyash having an organic content is injected into the combustion chamber downstream of the primary combustion zone to create an oxygen-deficient reburn zone, thereby lowering the temperature of combustion, reducing the NO.sub.x content of the flue gases, and reducing the potential for NO.sub.x formation in a tertiary oxidizing combustion zone disposed downstream of the oxygen-deficient reburn zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Institute of Gas Technology
    Inventors: Mark J. Khinkis, Iosif K. Rabovitser, Michael J. Roberts
  • Patent number: 5934892
    Abstract: A process for combustion of a combustible material in which a primary combustible material is introduced into a combustion chamber having an upstream region and a downstream region, and ignited, forming a primary combustion zone. A secondary combustible material is partially combusted in a partial combustor, forming partial combustion products which are then injected into the combustion chamber downstream of the primary combustion zone, forming an oxygen deficient zone downstream of the primary combustion zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Institute of Gas Technology
    Inventors: Iosif K. Rabovitser, Mark J. Khinkis, Michael J. Roberts
  • Patent number: 5881756
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for premixing a gaseous fuel and air, the apparatus comprising a back plate having a plurality of back plate openings, a front plate having a plurality of front plate openings corresponding to and substantially aligned with the back plate openings, a gaseous fuel inlet through in which a gaseous fuel is introduced into the area between the back plate and the front plate, and a plurality of air jet tubes disposed between the back plate and the front plate, the air jet tubes conveying combustion air from said back plate openings through said front plate openings, resulting in aspiration of the fuel through the front plate openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: Institute of Gas Technology
    Inventors: Hamid A. Abbasi, Mark J. Khinkis, David F. Cygan
  • Patent number: 5874374
    Abstract: A method for producing engineered materials from salt/polymer aqueous solutions in which an aqueous continuous phase having at least one metal cation salt is mixed with a hydrophilic organic polymeric disperse phase so as to form a metal cation/polymer gel. The metal cation/polymer gel is then treated to form a structural mass precursor, which structural mass precursor is heated, resulting in formation of a structural mass having predetermined characteristics based upon the intended application of the structural mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Institute of Gas Technology
    Inventor: Estela Ong
  • Patent number: 5750065
    Abstract: A method for producing biosorbents for adsorption of PCB's in which at least one proteinaceous material is contacted with a molar excess of at least one PCB congener mixture, forming a protein/PCB congener mixture. The protein/PCB congener mixture is dried after which the PCB congeners are extracted from the dried protein/PCB congener mixture forming a biosorbent in the form of an imprinted protein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: Institute of Gas Technology
    Inventor: John J. Kilbane, II
  • Patent number: 5725366
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for combustion of a fuel/oxidant mixture in which at least a portion of the fuel is preheated and, thereafter, burned with any remaining portion of fuel in a flame having fuel-rich zones, thereby forming soot within the resulting flame to produce a luminous, high heat transfer, low NO.sub.x flame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: Institute of Gas Technology
    Inventors: Mark J. Khinkis, Hamid A. Abbasi, Roman E. Grosman
  • Patent number: 5698483
    Abstract: A process for producing nano size powders comprising the steps of mixing an aqueous continuous phase comprising at least one metal cation salt with a hydrophilic organic polymeric disperse phase, forming a metal cation salt/polymer gel, and heat treating the gel at a temperature sufficient to drive off water and organics within the gel, leaving as a residue a nanometer particle-size powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: Institute of Gas Technology
    Inventors: Estela T. Ong, Vahid Sendijarevic
  • Patent number: 5660202
    Abstract: A hot tap apparatus for insertion of a controllable device into an in-service pipeline comprising a housing adapted to be sealably secured to a pipe and enclose a portion of the pipe. The housing forms a chamber which is partitioned into an insertion chamber and a discharge chamber, the insertion chamber being disposed adjacent to an insertion end of the housing and the discharge chamber being disposed adjacent the discharge end of said housing. The insertion end of the housing is sealable. The apparatus further comprises a cutting apparatus for cutting an opening in the pipe sized to receive the controllable device disposed in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1997
    Assignee: Institute of Gas Technology
    Inventors: William F. Rush, Jr., Bruce K. Campbell, Kenneth C. Hardy, Lynn A. Sweetwood