Patents Assigned to Sustainable Energy Solutions, LLC
  • Patent number: 11628451
    Abstract: Methods and systems for separating liquid components are disclosed. A vessel is provided containing a solids conveyance device. At least a first portion of the vessel acts as an indirect-contact heat exchanger and a second portion of the vessel contains a filter. A process liquid stream, containing a first component and a second component, is passed into the first portion of the vessel. A portion of the second component is frozen and entrained in the first portion of the vessel into the process liquid stream, resulting in a process slurry stream. The process slurry stream is passed into a second portion of the vessel by the solids conveyance device. The process slurry stream is separated into a solid product stream and a primary liquid product stream by passing the primary liquid product stream through the filter and out of the vessel while separately removing the solid product stream out of the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Sustainable Energy Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Larry Baxter, Stephanie Burt
  • Publication number: 20200318900
    Abstract: Methods and systems for separating components are disclosed. A process liquid stream is provided that contains a first component and a second component. The process liquid stream is cooled to near a temperature at which the second component forms a solid. The process liquid stream is expanded into a vessel such that the first component and a first portion of the second component vaporize to form a process vapor stream and a second portion of the second component forms a solid to form a solid product stream. The process vapor stream and the solid product stream are passed out of the vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Applicant: Sustainable Energy Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Larry Baxter, Stephanie Burt
  • Publication number: 20200318899
    Abstract: A method and a system for separating components is disclosed. A process liquid stream, containing a first component and a second component, is passed into an expansion device. The process liquid stream is expanded such that the first component and a first portion of the second component vaporize to form a process vapor stream and a second portion of the second component freezes to form a first solid product stream. The first solid product stream passes out of the expansion device. The process vapor stream passes into a direct-contact heat exchanger against a contact liquid stream. The first portion of the second component desublimates into the contact liquid stream as a second solid product stream. The contact liquid stream and the second solid product stream leave the direct-contact heat exchanger as a slurry stream. The process vapor stream leaves the direct-contact heat exchanger as a stripped process vapor stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Applicant: Sustainable Energy Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Larry Baxter, Stephanie Burt
  • Publication number: 20200316547
    Abstract: A method, system, and device for separating components is disclosed. A vessel is provided. A first volume of a process liquid, containing a first component and a second component, is passed into an inner chamber. The piston retracts to a first position. The fluid inlet is closed. The piston is retracted to a second position, causing the first component and a first portion of the second component to flash to form a vapor stream while a second portion of the second component freezes to form a solid product stream. The fluid outlet is then opened. The piston is advanced to a third position that results in a third volume, smaller than the first volume, such that the vapor stream is expelled. The fluid outlet is closed. The piston is fully closed such that the solid product stream is pressed into and extruded through the solids outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Applicant: Sustainable Energy Solutions, LLC
    Inventor: Larry Baxter
  • Publication number: 20200306768
    Abstract: Methods and systems for separating liquid components are disclosed. A vessel is provided containing a solids conveyance device. At least a first portion of the vessel acts as an indirect-contact heat exchanger and a second portion of the vessel contains a filter. A process liquid stream, containing a first component and a second component, is passed into the first portion of the vessel. A portion of the second component is frozen and entrained in the first portion of the vessel into the process liquid stream, resulting in a process slurry stream. The process slurry stream is passed into a second portion of the vessel by the solids conveyance device. The process slurry stream is separated into a solid product stream and a primary liquid product stream by passing the primary liquid product stream through the filter and out of the vessel while separately removing the solid product stream out of the vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Applicant: Sustainable Energy Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Larry Baxter, Stephanie Burt
  • Publication number: 20200298179
    Abstract: A device, system, and method for removing a component from a gas are disclosed. A bead consisting of a core and an outer layer is provided. The outer layer consists of a first impermeable material. The core consists of a second material. A carrier gas, containing a vapor, is passed across the bead, desublimating or desublimating and condensing a portion of the vapor onto the bead. In some embodiments, the beads are passed into the column at a first temperature and the carrier gas is passed across the beads. A portion of the vapor desublimates or desublimates and condenses onto the beads as a solid product, causing the beads to expand in volume as they are warmed to a second temperature. The beads with the solid product are passed out of the column.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Applicant: Sustainable Energy Solutions, LLC
    Inventor: Larry Baxter
  • Patent number: 10537828
    Abstract: A method for preventing fouling of a demister is disclosed. A process fluid is provided into a vessel. A gas is provided to a gas inlet of the vessel. The gas comprises a component that desublimates, crystallizes, solidifies, reacts, or a combination thereof, in the process fluid, forming a first solid. The gas is passed through the process fluid, the component of the gas forming the first solid, resulting in a component-depleted gas. The component-depleted gas is passed out of the process fluid, causing splashing or spurting of the process fluid and the first solid. The diverter section is provided between the demister and the gas inlet, the diverter section comprising a physical obstruction preventing the process fluid and the first solid from splashing or spurting onto the demister. In this manner, fouling of the demister is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Sustainable Energy Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Larry Baxter, Andrew Baxter, Kyler Stitt, Aaron Sayre, Stephanie Burt, David Frankman, Nathan Davis
  • Patent number: 10399092
    Abstract: An air-sparged hydrocyclone for separating a vapor from a carrier gas is disclosed. The cyclone comprises a porous sparger covered by an outer gas plenum. A cryogenic liquid is injected to a tangential feed inlet at a velocity that induces a tangential flow and a cyclone vortex in the air-sparged hydrocyclone. The carrier gas is injected into the cyclone through the porous sparger. The vapor dissolves, condenses, desublimates, or a combination thereof, forming a vapor-depleted carrier gas and a vapor-enriched cryogenic liquid. The vapor-depleted carrier gas is drawn through a vortex finder and the vapor-enriched cryogenic liquid is drawn through an apex nozzle outlet. In this manner, the vapor is removed from the carrier gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Sustainable Energy Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Larry Baxter, Christopher Hoeger, Aaron Sayre, Skyler Chamberlain, Kyler Stitt, Eric Mansfield, Stephanie Burt, Jacom Chamberlain, Andrew Baxter, Nathan Davis
  • Patent number: 10376907
    Abstract: A device for producing droplets is disclosed. A disk assembly comprising a first disk mounted to a second disk is provided. The first disk comprises first openings. The second disk comprises second openings. The first openings and the second openings alternately align with one another such that, as a liquid passes through the first openings and the second openings, the liquid falls as a droplet as the first openings and the second openings skew apart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Sustainable Energy Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Larry Baxter, Aaron Sayre, David Frankman, Nathan Davis
  • Patent number: 10358901
    Abstract: A carbon dioxide to hydrocarbon conversion device and method are disclosed. A partially produced hydrocarbon subterranean reservoir comprising residual hydrocarbons is provided. A carbon dioxide source is provided, positioned on a surface proximate to the reservoir. A surface mounted high-pressure fluid injector system connecting the carbon dioxide source and the reservoir is provided. A backflow preventer is disposed in-line between the injector system and the reservoir. The injector system injects a catalyst-free feed stream, comprising carbon dioxide, into the reservoir up to an operating pressure. The backflow preventer maintains the operating pressure in the reservoir and sequesters the feed stream in the reservoir. The sequestered carbon dioxide reacts with water and at least a portion of the residual hydrocarbons over a time period to produce additional hydrocarbons. The water is present in the reservoir, provided by the feed stream, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Sustainable Energy Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Larry Baxter, Nathan A. Davis
  • Patent number: 10335711
    Abstract: A process to prevent fouling using a desublimating heat exchanger is disclosed. An outlet stream from the desublimating heat exchanger may be split into a plurality of parallel streams. The parallel streams may be sent through other devices for performing a unit operation, and the devices for performing a unit operation may change the temperature of at least one of the parallel streams. Parallel streams of differing temperature may emerge from the devices for performing a unit operation. The parallel streams of differing temperature may be sent to a mixing chamber. A mixed stream of uniform temperature may emerge from the mixing chamber, and the mixed stream may be recycled back to the desublimating heat exchanger. The mixing chamber may be separate from the desublimating heat exchanger, or the parallel streams of differing temperature may be mixed in the desublimating heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Sustainable Energy Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Larry Baxter, Kyler Stitt, Aaron Sayre, Christopher Hoeger
  • Patent number: 10328384
    Abstract: A hydrocyclone for separating a vapor from a carrier gas is disclosed. The hydrocyclone comprises one or more nozzles. A cryogenic liquid is injected to a tangential feed inlet at a velocity that induces a tangential flow and a cyclone vortex in the hydrocyclone. The carrier gas is injected into the cryogenic liquid, causing the vapor to dissolve, condense, desublimate, or a combination thereof, forming a vapor-depleted carrier gas and a vapor-enriched cryogenic liquid. The vapor-depleted carrier gas is drawn through a vortex finder and the vapor-enriched cryogenic liquid is drawn through an apex nozzle outlet. In this manner, the vapor is removed from the carrier gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Sustainable Energy Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Larry Baxter, Christopher Hoeger, Aaron Sayre, Skyler Chamberlain, Kyler Stitt, Eric Mansfield, Stephanie Burt, Andrew Baxter, Jacom Chamberlain, Nathan Davis
  • Patent number: 10329182
    Abstract: A method of separating solids from a slurry or suspension is disclosed. The method includes: providing a slurry or suspension containing solids and liquid to an input port of a first side of a filter, the filter providing a filtering size between 2 microns and 70 microns; providing a liquid discharge port on a second side of the filter which receives the liquid that passes through the filter; and separating the solids from the liquid by pressing the solids into a pressure regulating solids discharge port on the first side of the filter, thereby compacting solids on the first side of the filter, forcing at least some of the liquid of the slurry or suspension through the first side of the filter to the second side of the filter causing pressure regulated solids to be discharged through a pressure regulating solids discharge port into a pressurized chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Sustainable Energy Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Larry Baxter, Andrew Baxter, David Frankman, Skyler Chamberlain, Kyler Stitt
  • Patent number: 10307709
    Abstract: A method for continuously removing water vapor from a carrier gas is disclosed. This method includes, first, causing direct contact of the carrier gas with a liquid mixture in a separation chamber, the carrier gas condensing at a lower temperature than the water vapor. A combination of chemical effects cause the water vapor to condense, complex, or both condense and complex with the liquid mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Sustainable Energy Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Larry Baxter, Aaron Sayre, Stephanie Burt, Nathan Davis
  • Patent number: 10293297
    Abstract: A method for removal of a foulant from a carrier gas is disclosed. A solids conveyance device that spans a vessel is provided, comprising an enclosed section and a filtering section. A cryogenic liquid and the carrier gas are provided to the enclosed section. The foulant condenses, dissolves, or desublimates into the cryogenic liquid, forming a cryogenic slurry and a foulant-depleted carrier gas entrained in the cryogenic slurry. The solids conveyance device advances the cryogenic slurry into the filtering section. The foulant-depleted carrier gas leaves the vessel through an upper portion of the permeable exterior wall and a warmed cryogenic liquid is removed from the cryogenic slurry through a lower portion of the permeable exterior wall, resulting in a solid foulant that is passed out of the solids outlet. In this manner, the foulant is removed from the carrier gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Sustainable Energy Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Larry Baxter, Kyler Stitt, Christopher Hoeger, Aaron Sayre, Eric Mansfield, Nathan Davis
  • Patent number: 10247494
    Abstract: A method for preventing fouling of an operating heat exchanger is disclosed. A carrier liquid is provided to the heat exchanger. The carrier liquid contains a potential fouling agent. The potential fouling agent is entrained in the carrier liquid, dissolved in the carrier liquid, or a combination thereof. The potential fouling agent fouls the heat exchanger by condensation, crystallization, solidification, desublimation, reaction, deposition, or combinations thereof. A gas-injection device is provided on the inlet of the heat exchanger. A non-reactive gas is injected into the carrier liquid through the gas-injection device. The non-reactive gas will not foul the heat exchanger surface and will not condense into the carrier liquid. The non-reactive gas creates a disturbance by increasing flow velocity and creating a shear discontinuity, thereby breaking up crystallization and nucleation sites on the surface of the heat exchanger. In this manner, fouling of the operating heat exchanger is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Sustainable Energy Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Larry Baxter, David Frankman, Nathan Davis
  • Patent number: 10213731
    Abstract: A method for continuously removing carbon dioxide vapor from a carrier gas is disclosed. This method includes, first, causing direct contact of the carrier gas with a liquid mixture in a separation chamber, the carrier gas condensing at a lower temperature than the carbon dioxide vapor. A combination of chemical effects cause the carbon dioxide to condense, complex, or both condense and complex with the liquid mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Sustainable Energy Solutions LLC, LLC
    Inventors: Larry Baxter, Aaron Sayre, Stephanie Burt, Nathan Davis
  • Patent number: 10195615
    Abstract: A method for separating a vapor from a carrier gas is disclosed. An air-sparged hydrocyclone is provided with a porous sparger covered by an outer gas plenum. A cryogenic liquid is provided to the tangential feed inlet at a velocity that induces a tangential flow and a cyclone vortex in the cyclone. The carrier gas is injected into the air-sparged hydrocyclone through the porous sparger. The vapor dissolves, condenses, desublimates, or a combination thereof, forming a vapor-depleted carrier gas and a vapor-enriched cryogenic liquid. The vapor-depleted gas is drawn through a vortex finder while the vapor-enriched cryogenic liquid is drawn through an apex nozzle outlet. In this manner, the vapor is removed from the carrier gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Sustainable Energy Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Larry Baxter, Christopher Hoeger, Aaron Sayre, Skyler Chamberlain, Kyler Stitt, Stephanie Burt, Eric Mansfield, Jacom Chamberlain, Andrew Baxter, Nathan Davis
  • Patent number: 10197329
    Abstract: A method for separating a vapor from a carrier gas is disclosed. A hydrocyclone is provided with one or more nozzles on the wall of the hydrocyclone. A cryogenic liquid is provided to the tangential feed inlet at a velocity that induces a tangential flow and a cyclone vortex in the hydrocyclone. The carrier gas is injected into the hydrocyclone through the one or more nozzles. The vapor dissolves, condenses, desublimates, or a combination thereof, forming a vapor-depleted carrier gas and a vapor-enriched cryogenic liquid. The vapor-depleted gas is drawn through the vortex finder while the vapor-enriched cryogenic liquid is drawn through the apex nozzle outlet. In this manner, the vapor is removed from the carrier gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Sustainable Energy Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Larry Baxter, Christopher Hoeger, Aaron Sayre, Skyler Chamberlain, Kyler Stitt, Eric Mansfield, Jacom Chamberlain, Stephanie Burt, Andrew Baxter, Nathan Davis
  • Patent number: 9410736
    Abstract: The systems and methods integrate energy storage with cryogenic carbon capture, providing effective grid management and energy-efficient carbon capture capabilities to power plants. The systems store energy during off-peak demand by using off-peak energy to compress natural gas to form liquefied natural gas (LNG) and storing the LNG for use as a refrigerant. The systems use the stored LNG as a refrigerant in a cryogenic carbon capture (CCC) process to isolate carbon dioxide from light gases in a flue gas. The systems supply energy during peak demand by burning the natural gas warmed by the CCC process to generate power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: SUSTAINABLE ENERGY SOLUTIONS, LLC
    Inventor: Larry L. Baxter