Patents by Inventor Alexis Smith

Alexis Smith has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Preferential oxidation reactor temperature regulation
    Patent number: 7507384
    Abstract: According to the present invention, a temperature profile within a preferential oxidation reactor is controlled using a two phase water/steam system to provide a temperature range within the reactor (10) which favors the selective oxidation of CO in a hydrogen rich reformate stream. The reformate is flowed in a mixture with oxygen over a preferential oxidation catalyst (17). The temperature profile is controlled by flowing a stream of water proximate to the preferential oxidation catalyst (17) so as the stream of water and the reformate stream passing over the catalyst (17) are in a heat transfer arrangement. The stream of water is maintained as a two phase stream from a point at which the water reaches its boiling temperature to a point proximate an outlet from which the stream of water exits the reactor (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Nuvera Fuel Cells, Inc.
    Inventors: Darryl Pollica, William F. Northrop, Chunming (Frank C.) Qi, Mark R. Hagan, Alexis Smith, Lawrence Clawson
  • Preferential oxidation reactor temperature regulation
    Publication number: 20040037758
    Abstract: According to the present invention, a temperature profile within a preferential oxidation reactor is controlled using a two phase water/steam system to provide a temperature range within the reactor (10) which favors the selective oxidation of CO in a hydrogen rich reformate stream. The reformate is flowed in a mixture with oxygen over a preferential oxidation catalyst (17). The temperature profile is controlled by flowing a stream of water proximate to the preferential oxidation catalyst (17) so as the stream of water and the reformate stream passing over the catalyst (17) are in a heat transfer arrangement. The stream of water is maintained as a two phase stream from a point at which the water reaches its boiling temperature to a point proximate an outlet from which the stream of water exits the reactor (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2003
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Inventors: Darryl Pollica, William F. Northrop, Chunming Qi, Mark R. Hagan, Alexis Smith, Lawrence G. Clawson