Patents Examined by Maribel Medina
  • Patent number: 7118720
    Abstract: A method for removing elemental Hg and nitric oxide simultaneously from a gas stream is provided whereby the gas stream is reacted with gaseous chlorinated compound to convert the elemental mercury to soluble mercury compounds and the nitric oxide to nitrogen dioxide. The method works to remove either mercury or nitrogen oxide in the absence or presence of each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Marshall H. Mendelsohn, C. David Livengood
  • Patent number: 7067102
    Abstract: A method of producing ozone comprises the steps of generating intermittent bursts of corona discharge in an electrode region 20.2, and passing oxygen-containing fluid through the region, thereby to cause ionization of the oxygen. The electrode is energized by a train of voltage pulses. Each pulse has a rise time of better than 2 kV/100 ns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education
    Inventor: Barend Visser
  • Patent number: 7052671
    Abstract: A composition comprising a carrier liquid; a dispersant; and a chemical hydride. The composition can be used in a hydrogen generator to generate hydrogen for use, e.g., as a fuel. A regenerator recovers elemental metal from byproducts of the hydrogen generation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Safe Hydrogen, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew W. McClaine, Jonathan L. Rolfe, Christopher A. Larsen, Ravi K. Konduri
  • Patent number: 7033562
    Abstract: Silazanes and/or polysilazanes are prepared by ammonolysis reaction in liquid anhydrous ammonia by introducing at least one halosilane into the ammonia. In addition to the silazane and/or polysilazane, an ammonolysis by-product also results. A substantially more efficient process is disclosed for treating the by-product through the addition of a liquid, namely water, or a solution comprising a strong base, or an aqueous acid solution. The process may be employed for more efficient, economical recovery of ammonia from such waste stream solutions of ammonia halide, or acids thereof for use as recycle in the further production of silazanes and polysilazanes, and/or for producing a less hazardous, more readily disposable salt residue thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Kion Corporation
    Inventor: Gary Knasiak
  • Patent number: 7014827
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for the manufacture of silicoaluminophosphate (SAPO) and/or aluminophosphate (ALPO) molecular sieves. The method includes maintaining the slurry of the as crystallized molecular sieve under substantially static conditions when stored after substantially complete crystallization and prior to recovery of the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Inventors: Machteld Maria Mertens, Brita Engels
  • Patent number: 6984372
    Abstract: This invention relates to a sulfur tolerant, dynamic, compact, lightweight fuel process and system that is capable of converting sulfur bearing carbonaceous fuels to hydrogen rich gases suitable for fuel cells or chemical processing applications. The process and system is based on the AHR and WGS reactions, followed by cleanup of byproduct sulfur-containing gases and carbon oxides that would otherwise poison the fuel cell electrocatalyst. Advantageously, this is accomplished via an ASMS and a methanator or an AWMR. The process and system preferably uses a special sulfur tolerant catalysts and hardware designs that enable the conversion in an energy efficient manner while maintaining desirable performance characteristics such as rapid start-stop and fast response to load change capabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignees: Unitel Technologies, Inc., University of Kentucky Research Foundation
    Inventors: Surjit Randhava, W. S. Winston Ho, Richard L. Kao, Elias H. Camara
  • Patent number: 6979432
    Abstract: A process for the production of hydrogen cyanide is provided, wherein hydrogen cyanide is synthesized by reacting methane or methane-containing natural gas, ammonia and oxygen-enriched air or oxygen in the presence of a catalyst comprising platinum or a platinum alloy; wherein the reactants are present in the following molar ratios [ O 2 ] [ O 2 + N 2 ] = 0.25 ? ? to ? ? 1.0 ; [ CH 4 ] [ NH 3 ] = 0.95 ? ? to ? ? 1.05 ; and where a molar ratio of ammonia to the sum of oxygen and nitrogen obeys the following relationship: Y=m·X?a, wherein Y = [ NH 3 ] [ O 2 + N 2 ] X = [ O 2 ] [ O 2 + N 2 ] m=1.25 to 1.40; and a=0.05 to 0.14.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: Roehm GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Schaefer, Hermann Siegert
  • Patent number: 6969562
    Abstract: A hydrogen-containing gas suitable for use in a fuel cell, especially in a proton exchange membrane fuel cell, is produced from a digestion gas (b) yielded in methane fermentation of organic matter (a), and is then supplied to the fuel cell to generate electricity. A fuel cell power generation method comprises a methane fermentation step (A) for subjecting organic matter to methane fermentation, a pretreatment step (B) for pretreating digestion gas yielded in the methane fermentation step, a hydrogen production step (C) for producing hydrogen-containing gas (c) from the gas which has been pretreated in the pretreatment step, and a fuel cell power generation step (D) for supplying the hydrogen-containing gas produced in the hydrogen production step to a fuel cell to generate electricity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Qingquan Su, Kazuo Kinoshita, Yasuo Tanaka, Tomohiro Togo
  • Patent number: 6969506
    Abstract: Integrated Combustion Reactors (ICRs) and methods of making ICRs are described in which combustion chambers (or channels) are in direct thermal contact to reaction chambers for an endothermic reaction. Superior results were achieved for combustion chambers which contained a gap for free flow through the chamber. Particular reactor designs are also described. Processes of conducting reactions in integrated combustion reactors are described and results presented. Some of these processes are characterized by unexpected and superior results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Anna Lee Tonkovich, Gary L. Roberts, Steven T. Perry, Sean P. Fitzgerald
  • Patent number: 6969505
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for conducting an equilibrium limited chemical reaction in a single stage process channel. A process for conducting a water shift reaction is disclosed. A multichannel reactor with cross flow heat exchange is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Velocys, Inc.
    Inventors: Anna Lee Tonkovich, Wayne W. Simmons, Kai Tod Paul Jarosch, Terry Mazanec, Eric Daymo, Ying Peng, Jennifer Lynne Marco
  • Patent number: 6966941
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for treating organic waste sludge such as sewage sludge is disclosed wherein the sludge is first dewatered, moved to a day hopper for storage, and then successively passed through first and second reactors. As the sludge is passed through the first reactor, in a continuous fashion, the sludge and acid are thoroughly mixed and has the pH thereof substantially lowered due to the addition of acid in the first reactor. The sludge is then moved through the second reactor where the sludge is subjected to a base material to substantially raise the pH thereof. The treated sludge is then pumped from the second reactor to a pugmill and then to a dryer which dries the material. The dried material is then suitable for use as a fertilizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: BER Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Marius Grobler, John A. Bewsey, Oliver O. Hart
  • Patent number: 6955794
    Abstract: A plasma reactor including a first dielectric having at least one slot defined therethrough, and a segmented electrode including a plurality of electrode segments, each electrode segment is disposed proximate an associated slot. Each electrode segment may be formed in different shapes, for example, a plate, bar, rim, or plug. The electrode segment may be hollow, solid, or made from a porous material. The reactor may include a second electrode and dielectric with the first and second dielectrics separated by a predetermined distance to form a channel therebetween into which the plasma exiting from the slots defined in the first dielectric is discharged. The fluid to be treated is passed through the channel and exposed to the plasma discharge. If the electrode segment is hollow or made of a porous material, then the fluid/gas to be treated may be fed into the slots defined in the first dielectric and exposed therein to the maximum plasma density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Plasmasol Corporation
    Inventors: Edward J. Houston, Jr., Kurt Kovach, Richard Crowe, Seth Tropper, Michael Epstein
  • Patent number: 6953561
    Abstract: A device for selective oxidation of a substance stream comprises a selectively active catalyst. For improving the cold-starting characteristics, the device also has an oxidation catalyst that possesses high activity at low temperatures. The selectively active catalyst is applied as a coating onto one or more surfaces of interior walls of the device. A layer of oxidation catalyst is provided in at least the inlet region where the substance stream enters the device, between the layer of selectively active catalyst and the interior walls of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: Ballard Power Systems AG
    Inventor: Matthias Wolfsteiner
  • Patent number: 6951575
    Abstract: A method is provided for performing array microcrystallizations to determine suitable crystallization conditions for a molecule, the method comprising: forming an array of microcrystallizations, each microcrystallization comprising a drop comprising a mother liquor solution whose composition varies within the array and a molecule to be crystallized, the drop having a volume of less than 1 microliter; storing the array of microcrystallizations under conditions suitable for molecule crystals to form in the drops in the array; and detecting molecule crystal formation in the drops by taking images of the drops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Bernard D. Santarsiero, Raymond C. Stevens, Peter G. Schultz, Joseph M. Jaklevic, Derek T. Yegian, Earl W. Cornell, Robert A. Nordmeyer
  • Patent number: 6946112
    Abstract: Metal-N-based or metalloid-N-based materials absorb a substantial amount hydrogen and are useful as hydrogen storage materials for various applications such as hydrogen fuel cell technology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: National University of Singapore
    Inventors: Ping Chen, Zhitao Xiong, Jizhong Luo
  • Patent number: 6946114
    Abstract: Lanthanide-promoted rhodium-containing supported catalysts that are active for catalyzing the net partial oxidation of methane to CO and H2 are disclosed, along with their manner of making and high efficiency processes for producing synthesis gas employing the new catalysts. A preferred catalyst comprises highly dispersed, high surface area rhodium on a granular zirconia support with an intermediate coating of a lanthanide metal and/or oxide thereof and is thermally conditioned during catalyst preparation. In a preferred syngas production process a stream of methane-containing gas and O2 is passed over a thermally conditioned, high surface area Rh/Sm/zirconia granular catalyst in a short contact time reactor to produce a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: Joe D. Allison, Larry D. Swinney, Tianyan Niu, Kevin L. Ricketson, Daxiang Wang, Sriram Ramani, Gloria I. Straguzzi, David M. Minahan, Harold A. Wright, Baili Hu
  • Patent number: 6942843
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the process of preparation and characterization of novel sodium superionic conductor (NASICON) type niobium aluminium phosphate of formula Cu0.5NbAlP3O12 (CNP), HNbAlP3O12(HNP) and to study its Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) and Photo Acoustic (PA) spectra.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
    Inventors: M. Vithal, B. Srinivasulu, K. Koteswara Rao, Chandra Mohan Rao
  • Patent number: 6939529
    Abstract: A hydrogen generating system regulates its rate of hydrogen generation by monitoring one or more parameters of the hydrogen generation process and then providing relative movement between the fuel tank and the catalyst chamber so as to increase or decrease the rate of hydrogen generation. In the disclosed embodiments, the catalyst chamber is disposed in a tank containing the fuel. The relative movement provided moves the catalyst chamber toward the fuel solution so as to increase the rate of hydrogen generation and moves the catalyst chamber away from the fuel solution to decrease such generation. Advantageously, such self-regulation can be provided without an external power source and can be varied to meet the requirements of different commercial applications. The overall system can be readily fabricated using commercially available parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Millennium Cell, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Strizki, Shailesh Shah
  • Patent number: 6936185
    Abstract: The invention concerns a piece based on one or several metal hydrides capable of reversibly absorbing hydrogen. Said piece is in the form of a thin and dense band, having a thickness preferably not more than 1 mm and porosity preferably less than 20%. The piece is obtained by rolling a powder of selected hydride(s), with or without additional component(s), such as binders or heat-transfer elements. Said piece can easily be produced on an industrial scale. By its very nature, it is particularly adapted for use as a base element in a tank for storing and transporting hydrogen. It can also be used in a Ni-MH typre battery for storing and transporting energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Hydro-Quebec
    Inventors: Robert Schulz, Sabin Boily, Rene Dubuc, Marco Blouin, Guy Lalande
  • Patent number: 6936238
    Abstract: A compact autothermal (partial oxidation and steam reforming) fuel reactor is provided for implementation with a fuel cell system. The reactor includes a premixing chamber for premixing a volume of air, steam and fuel into an effluent, a thermal POX reactor, a first stage reforming segment, a post-premix chamber, and a second stage reforming segment. Further provided are a water/fuel vaporizer for supplying steam and fuel as a gas to the premix chamber and an airflow cavity disposed about the reactor for pre-heating air supplied to the premix chamber. The thermal POX segment operates during an initial start-up period for pre-heating the other components of the reactor. Once the other components achieve an operation temperature, the first and second stage reforming segments catalytically reform the effluent. The premix and post-premix chambers enable variance in the O/C and S/C ratios to be achieved as the effluent is reformed through the multiple stages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Mohammed E. H. Sennoun, William H. Pettit, Rodney L. Borup, Gerald E. Voecks