Patents Assigned to Missing Link Technologies, L.L.C.
  • Patent number: 8759068
    Abstract: The system for fermentation using algae of the present invention includes a first reactor and a second reactor being in fluid communication with each other. A first valve placed between the first reactor and the second reactor controls the fluid connection between the reactors. A gas inlet, in fluid connection to the first reactor, is located at an end opposite the second reactor. A devolatization unit or cell lysis chamber is connected to the second reactor by a second valve. A biomass stream having gas, liquid and biosolids contents passes through the first reactor with gas. The biomass stream mixes and dissolves the gas in the reactors. The cellular structure of the biomass stream ruptures in the devolatization unit, allowing the processed materials, such as oil, gas, and biosolids, to be harvested for use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Missing Link Technologies, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Samuel L. Shepherd, Jerry McCall
  • Publication number: 20120226061
    Abstract: The present invention is a system for harvesting algae in continuous fermentation. There is a harvester including a main moving belt, a plurality of rollers, and a motor for driving the main motor belt. There is a reactor tank and a vacuum extractor for applying a vacuum over a width of the main moving belt to extract biomass and to dry the main moving belt. The main moving belt has one end in the reactor tanks and another end extended into the vacuum extractor. The algae contained in the reactor tank is collected for further processing, including oil extraction. With algae harvested in the large-scale manner of the present invention, a more efficient oil extraction method can be used because of the concentration, temperature, and pressure can be more easily controlled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: Missing Link Technologies, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Samuel L. SHEPHERD
  • Publication number: 20120064617
    Abstract: The present invention is a method for fermentation of algae or algaefaction method. The method includes feeding a hydrocarbon composition into a gasifier and pre-heating a biomass stream from a fermentation reactor. The biomass stream includes a liquid portion, a catalyst, and a biomass solids portion ranging between 15-92% by weight of the biomass stream. The biomass solids portion is algae or algal solids. The biomass stream is pre-heated to a temperature range between 200° F. and 500° F. Both the syngas and the pre-heated biomass stream are injected as a mixture into a reactor, where the mixture is separated into a gas component, liquid component, and solids component. The solids component is algal crude, which can be collected for processing as transportation fuels. The gas component is a lower temperature syngas, which can also be collected for processing as electricity or transportation fuels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: Missing Link Technologies, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Tommie MERIMON, Jerry McCall
  • Publication number: 20100144017
    Abstract: The present invention is a system for harvesting algae in continuous fermentation. There is a harvester including a main moving belt, a plurality of rollers, and a motor for driving the main moving belt. There is a reactor tank and a vacuum extractor for applying a vacuum over a width of the main moving belt to extract biomass and to dry the main moving belt. The main moving belt has one end in the reactor tanks and another end extended into the vacuum extractor. The algae contained in the reactor tank is collected for further processing, including oil extraction. With algae harvested in the large-scale manner of the present invention, a more efficient oil extraction method can be used because the concentration, temperature, and pressure can be more easily controlled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: Missing Link Technologies, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Samuel L. SHEPHERD
  • Publication number: 20100068791
    Abstract: The present invention is a method for fermentation of algae or algaefaction method. The method includes feeding a hydrocarbon composition into a gasifier and pre-heating a biomass stream from a fermentation reactor. The biomass stream includes a liquid portion, a catalyst, and a biomass solids portion ranging between 15-92% by weight ofthe biomass stream. The biomass solids portion is algae or algal solids. The biomass stream is pre-heated to a temperature range between 200° F. and 500° F. Both the syngas and the pre-heated biomass stream are injected as a mixture into a reactor, where the mixture is separated into a gas component, liquid component, and solids component. The solids component is algal crude, which can be collected for processing as transportation fuels. The gas component is a lower temperature syngas, which can also be collected for processing as electricity or transportation fuels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2009
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Applicant: Missing Link Technologies, L.L.C. (a corporation of Nevada)
    Inventors: Tommie MERIMON, Jerry McCall
  • Publication number: 20090170184
    Abstract: The system for fermentation using algae of the present invention includes a first reactor and a second reactor being in fluid communication with each other. A first valve placed between the first reactor and the second reactor controls the fluid connection between the reactors. A gas inlet, in fluid connection to the first reactor, is located at an end opposite the second reactor. A devolatization unit or cell lysis chamber is connected to the second reactor by a second valve. A biomass stream having gas, liquid and biosolids contents passes through the first reactor with gas. The biomass stream mixes and dissolves the gas in the reactors. The cellular structure of the biomass stream ruptures in the devolatization unit, allowing the processed materials, such as oil, gas, and biosolids, to be harvested for use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2008
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: Missing Link Technologies, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Samuel L. SHEPHERD, Jerry McCall