Patents Assigned to University of Wyoming Research Corporation
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Patent number: 10994252Abstract: In at least one embodiment, the inventive technology relates to in-vessel generation of a material from a solution of interest as part of a processing and/or analysis operation. Preferred embodiments of the in-vessel material generation (e.g., in-vessel solid material generation) include precipitation; in certain embodiments, analysis and/or processing of the solution of interest may include dissolution of the material, perhaps as part of a successive dissolution protocol using solvents of increasing ability to dissolve. Applications include, but are by no means limited to estimation of a coking onset and solution (e.g., oil) fractionating.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2019Date of Patent: May 4, 2021Assignee: The University of Wyoming Research CorporationInventors: John F. Schabron, Joseph F. Rovani
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Patent number: 10808183Abstract: The inventive technology, in at least one embodiment, may be described as a method of destabilizing an aqueous hydrocarbon emulsion comprising the steps of: effecting contact between a sorbent and said aqueous hydrocarbon emulsion; effecting relative motion between said sorbent and said aqueous hydrocarbon emulsion; and destabilizing (perhaps in continuous fashion) the aqueous hydrocarbon emulsion. Applications include but are not limited to oil spill clean up, manufacturing of emulsions, oil refinery and production operations (anywhere along the production chain).Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2013Date of Patent: October 20, 2020Assignee: The University of Wyoming Research CorporationInventors: John F. Schabron, Jeramie J. Adams, Joseph F. Rovani, Jean-Pascal Planche
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Patent number: 10662384Abstract: The present invention is generally related to the analysis of chemical compositions of hydrocarbons and hydrocarbon blends. This method applies specifically to the problem of analyzing extremely complex hydrocarbon-containing mixtures when the number and diversity of molecules makes it impossible to realistically identify and quantify them individually in a reasonable timeframe and cost. The advantage to this method over prior art is the ability to separate and identify chemical constituents and solvent fractions based on their solvent-solubility characteristics, their high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) adsorption and desorption behaviors, and their interactions with stationary phases; and subsequently identify and quantify them at least partially using various combinations of non-destructive HPLC, destructive HPLC, and stand-alone detectors presently not routinely used for HPLC but reconfigured to obtain spectra on the fly.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2018Date of Patent: May 26, 2020Assignee: The University of Wyoming Research CorporationInventors: Joseph F. Rovani, Jr., Jeramie Joseph Adams, Ryan Bradley Boysen, Jean-Pascal Planche, Nicholas David Bolton
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Patent number: 10557155Abstract: Methods and systems for the biological conversion of pretreated or solubilized coal or waste coal into biofuels. Coal (10) may be pretreated perhaps in a pretreatment reactor (13). Pretreated coal or even solubilized coal may be introduced into a processing reactor such as a bioreactor (16) containing a plurality of microorganisms (9) such as oleaginous microorganisms which can convert at least some of the pretreated or solubilized coal into lipids (19) or biomass (18), which then may be used directly or as a precursor for various products such as biofuels, feedstock, or the like.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2014Date of Patent: February 11, 2020Assignee: The University of Wyoming Research CorporationInventors: Karen E. Wawrousek, Patrick Richards, Alan E. Bland
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Patent number: 10507426Abstract: Methods and systems to achieve clean fuel processing systems in which carbon dioxide emissions (1) from sources (2) may be processed in at least one processing reactor (4) containing a plurality of chemoautotrophic bacteria (5) which can convert the carbon dioxide emissions into biomass (6) which may then be used for various products (21) such as biofuels, fertilizer, feedstock, or the like. Sulfate reducing bacteria (13) may be used to supply sulfur containing compounds to the chemoautotrophic bacteria (5).Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2017Date of Patent: December 17, 2019Assignee: The University of Wyoming Research CorporationInventors: Song Jin, Paul Fallgren, Jeffrey M Morris, Alan E Bland, Patrick Richards, Jesse D Newcomer, Patricia Colberg
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Patent number: 10376837Abstract: Methods and systems to achieve clean fuel processing systems in which carbon dioxide emissions (1) from sources (2) may be processed in at least one processing reactor (4) containing a plurality of chemoautotrophic bacteria (5) which can convert the carbon dioxide emissions into biomass (6) which may then be used for various products (21) such as biofuels, fertilizer, feedstock, or the like. Bacteria that reduce oxidized nitrogenous species (13) may be used to supply reduced nitrogenous compounds to the chemoautotrophic bacteria (5).Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2014Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignee: The University of Wyoming Research CorporationInventors: Karen E. Wawrousek, Patrick Richards, Tengyan Zhang, Alan E. Bland
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Patent number: 10221363Abstract: The inventive technology may involve, in particular embodiments, novel use of a non-porous, high surface energy stationary phase to adsorb, in reversible fashion, the most polar component of a resins fraction of an input hydrocarbon when a mobile phase is passed over the stationary phase. Such reversible adsorption prevents irreversibly adsorption of such components on active stationary phase(s) downflow of the non-porous, high surface energy stationary phase, thereby conserving stationary phase costs and increasing resolution of resins elutions, and accuracy of hydrocarbon component results. Aspects of the inventive technology may also involve a novel combination of a solubility based asphaltene component fractionating and analysis method and an adsorption chromatography method for separating and/or analyzing saturate, aromatics and resins components of an input hydrocarbon.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2016Date of Patent: March 5, 2019Assignee: The University of Wyoming Research CorporationInventors: John F. Schabron, Ryan B. Boysen, Eric W. Kalberer, Joseph F. Rovani, Jr.
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Patent number: 9764279Abstract: Methods and systems to achieve clean fuel processing systems in which carbon dioxide emissions (1) from sources (2) may be processed in at least one processing reactor (4) containing a plurality of chemoautotrophic bacteria (5) which can convert the carbon dioxide emissions into biomass (6) which may then be used for various products (21) such as biofuels, fertilizer, feedstock, or the like. Sulfate reducing bacteria (13) may be used to supply sulfur containing compounds to the chemoautotrophic bacteria (5).Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2013Date of Patent: September 19, 2017Assignee: The University of Wyoming Research CorporationInventors: Song Jin, Paul Fallgren, Jeffrey M. Morris, Alan E. Bland, Patrick Richards, Jesse D. Newcomer, Patricia Colberg
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Patent number: 9598653Abstract: Efficient coal pre-processing systems (69) integrated with gasification, oxy-combustion, and power plant systems include a drying chamber (28), a volatile metal removal chamber (30), recirculated gases, including recycled carbon dioxide (21), nitrogen (6), and gaseous exhaust (60) for increasing the efficiencies and lowering emissions in various coal processing systems.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2015Date of Patent: March 21, 2017Assignee: The University of Wyoming Research CorporationInventors: Alan E. Bland, Kumar Muthusami Sellakumar, Jesse D. Newcomer
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Patent number: 9458389Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of estimating a property of a hydrocarbon comprising the steps of: preparing a liquid sample of a hydrocarbon, the hydrocarbon having asphaltene fractions therein; precipitating at least some of the asphaltenes of a hydrocarbon from the liquid sample with one or more precipitants in a chromatographic column; dissolving at least two of the different asphaltene fractions from the precipitated asphaltenes during a successive dissolution protocol; eluting the at least two different dissolved asphaltene fractions from the chromatographic column; monitoring the amount of the fractions eluted from the chromatographic column; using detected signals to calculate a percentage of a peak area for a first of the asphaltene fractions and a peak area for a second of the asphaltene fractions relative to the total peak areas, to determine a parameter that relates to the property of the hydrocarbon; and estimating the property of the hydrocarbon.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2014Date of Patent: October 4, 2016Assignee: The University of Wyoming Research CorporationInventors: John F. Schabron, Joseph F. Rovani, Jr.
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Publication number: 20160272899Abstract: The inventive technology may involve, in particular embodiments, novel use of a non-porous, high surface energy stationary phase to adsorb, in reversible fashion, the most polar component of a resins fraction of an input hydrocarbon when a mobile phase is passed over the stationary phase. Such reversible adsorption prevents irreversibly adsorption of such components on active stationary phase(s) downflow of the non-porous, high surface energy stationary phase, thereby conserving stationary phase costs and increasing resolution of resins elutions, and accuracy of hydrocarbon component results. Aspects of the inventive technology may also involve a novel combination of a solubility based asphaltene component fractionating and analysis method and an adsorption chromatography method for separating and/or analyzing saturate, aromatics and resins components of an input hydrocarbon.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2016Publication date: September 22, 2016Applicant: University of Wyoming Research Corporation d/b/a Western Research InstituteInventors: John F. Schabron, Ryan B. Boysen, Eric W. Kalberer, Joseph F. Rovani, JR.
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Patent number: 9353317Abstract: The inventive technology may involve, in particular embodiments, novel use of a non-porous, high surface energy stationary phase to adsorb, in reversible fashion, the most polar component of a resins fraction of an input hydrocarbon when a mobile phase is passed over the stationary phase. Such reversible adsorption prevents irreversibly adsorption of such components on active stationary phase(s) downflow of the non-porous, high surface energy stationary phase, thereby conserving stationary phase costs and increasing resolution of resins elutions, and accuracy of hydrocarbon component results. Aspects of the inventive technology may also involve a novel combination of a solubility based asphaltene component fractionating and analysis method and an adsorption chromatography method for separating and/or analyzing saturate, aromatics and resins components of an input hydrocarbon.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2011Date of Patent: May 31, 2016Assignee: The University of Wyoming Research CorporationInventors: John F. Schabron, Ryan B. Boysen, Eric W. Kalberer, Joseph F. Rovani, Jr.
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Patent number: 9181509Abstract: Efficient coal pre-processing systems (69) integrated with gasification, oxy-combustion, and power plant systems include a drying chamber (28), a volatile metal removal chamber (30), recirculated gases, including recycled carbon dioxide (21), nitrogen (6), and gaseous exhaust (60) for increasing the efficiencies and lowering emissions in various coal processing systems.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2010Date of Patent: November 10, 2015Assignee: University of Wyoming Research CorporationInventors: Alan E. Bland, Kumar Muthusami Sellakumar, Jesse D. Newcomer
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Publication number: 20150218461Abstract: At least one embodiment of the inventive technology may involve the intentional changing of the stability of an emulsion from a first stability to a more desired, second stability upon the addition of a more aromatic asphaltene subfraction (perhaps even a most aromatic asphaltene subfraction), or a less aromatic asphaltene subfraction (perhaps even a least aromatic asphaltene subfraction) to a emulsion hydrocarbon of an oil emulsion, thereby increasing emulsion stability or decreasing emulsion stability, respectively. Precipitation and redissolution or sorbent-based techniques may be used to isolate a selected asphaltene subfraction before its addition to an emulsion hydrocarbon when that hydrocarbon is part of an emulsion or an ingredient of a yet-to-be-formed emulsion.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2012Publication date: August 6, 2015Applicant: The University of Wyoming Research Corporation d/b/a Western Research InstituteInventors: John F. Schabron, Jeramie J. Adams, Joseph F. Rovani, JR., Jean-Pascal Planche
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Patent number: 9045699Abstract: A hydrocarbonaceous material upgrading method may involve a novel combination of heating, vaporizing and chemically reacting hydrocarbonaceous feedstock that is substantially unpumpable at pipeline conditions, and condensation of vapors yielded thereby, in order to upgrade that feedstock to a hydrocarbonaceous material condensate that meets crude oil pipeline specification.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2011Date of Patent: June 2, 2015Assignee: The University of Wyoming Research CorporationInventors: Charles G. Mones, Frank D. Guffey, Phyllis J. Brecher
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Patent number: 8969236Abstract: A preferred embodiment of the process involves a generate a catalyst that comprises molybdenum carbide nickel material. Steps may involve heating a surface that comprises molybdenum oxide and a nickel salt while passing thereover a gaseous mixture that comprises a reductant and a carburizer. In certain embodiments, the reductant and the carburizer may both be carbon monoxide, or both be a saturated hydrocarbon. In others, the reductant may be carbon monoxide and the carburizer may be a saturated hydrocarbon.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2011Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: University of Wyoming Research CorporationInventors: Vijay K. Sethi, Yulong Zhang
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Patent number: 8904810Abstract: Embodiments of the inventive technology may involve the use of layered, insulated PCM assemblage that itself comprises: modular insulating foam material 8 that, upon establishment as part of the assemblage, defines inner foam material sides 9 and outer foam material sides 10; thin reflective material 11 established against (whether directly in contact with or not) at least either the inner foam material sides or the outer foam materials sides, and modular, enclosed PCM sections 12 established between the modular insulating foam material and the interior center.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2009Date of Patent: December 9, 2014Assignee: University of Wyoming Research CorporationInventors: John F. Schabron, Greg Wong
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Publication number: 20140021101Abstract: In accordance with particular descriptions provided herein, certain embodiments of the inventive technology may be described as a hydrocarbon viscosity reduction method that comprises the steps of: treating a hydrocarbon having asphaltenes therein to generate a treated hydrocarbon, wherein said hydrocarbon has a first viscosity; contacting said treated hydrocarbon with a sorbent (whether as a result of pouring or other means); and adsorbing at least a portion of said asphaltenes onto said sorbent, thereby removing said at least a portion of said asphaltenes from said hydrocarbon so as to generate a viscosity reduced hydrocarbon having a second viscosity that is lower than said first viscosity.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2012Publication date: January 23, 2014Applicant: The University of Wyoming Research Corporation d/b/a Western Research InstituteInventors: John F. Schabron, Joseph F. Rovani, JR.
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Patent number: 8628970Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method involving the steps of (a) precipitating an amount of asphaltenes from a liquid sample of a first hydrocarbon-containing feedstock having solvated asphaltenes therein with one or more first solvents in a column; (b) determining one or more solubility characteristics of the precipitated asphaltenes; (c) analyzing the one or more solubility characteristics of the precipitated asphaltenes; and (d) correlating a measurement of feedstock reactivity for the first hydrocarbon-containing feedstock sample with a mathematical parameter derived from the results of analyzing the one or more solubility characteristics of the precipitated asphaltenes. Determined parameters and processabilities for a plurality of feedstocks can be used to generate a mathematical relationship between parameter and processability; this relationship can be used to estimate the processability for hydroprocessing for a feedstock of unknown processability.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2013Date of Patent: January 14, 2014Assignee: The University of Wyoming Research CorporationInventors: John F. Schabron, Joseph F. Rovani, Jr.
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Patent number: 8530240Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method involving the steps of (a) precipitating an amount of asphaltenes from a liquid sample of a first hydrocarbon-containing feedstock having solvated asphaltenes therein with one or more first solvents in a column; (b) determining one or more solubility characteristics of the precipitated asphaltenes; (c) analyzing the one or more solubility characteristics of the precipitated asphaltenes; and (d) correlating a measurement of feedstock reactivity for the first hydrocarbon-containing feedstock sample with a mathematical parameter derived from the results of analyzing the one or more solubility characteristics of the precipitated asphaltenes.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2012Date of Patent: September 10, 2013Assignee: The University of Wyoming Research CorporationInventors: John F. Schabron, Joseph F. Rovani, Jr.