Patents by Inventor Andrei Colibaba-Evulet

Andrei Colibaba-Evulet 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).

  • Patent number: 7803426
    Abstract: An appliance that uses a substantially carbon-free hydrogen is disclosed. The appliance includes a converter, a hydrogen storage container including a carbon-based nanostructured material, a charger, a discharger and, optionally, a controller is disclosed. The hydrogen storage container is capable of storing the substantially carbon-free hydrogen in a condensed state. In addition to the carbon-based nanostructured material, the container may include a metal capable of acting as both a seed for the formation of the nanostructured material and a facilitator for promoting the storage in the condensed state of the substantially carbon-free gaseous hydrogen provided to the storage container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Andrei Colibaba-Evulet
  • Patent number: 7752848
    Abstract: A system for co-production of hydrogen and electrical energy comprising a reformer configured to receive a reformer fuel and steam and produce a reformate rich in hydrogen. The system further comprises a separation unit in fluid communication with the reformer wherein the separation unit is configured to receive the reformate to separate hydrogen from the reformate and produce an off gas. The system also includes a combustor configured to receive a fuel for combustion and produce heat energy and a hot compressed gas, wherein the combustor is coupled with the reformer. A gas turbine expands the hot compressed gas and produces electrical energy and an expanded gas; wherein at least a part of the heat energy from the combustor is used to produce the reformate in the reformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Chellappa Balan, Andrei Colibaba-Evulet
  • Patent number: 7572432
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method comprising combusting a feed stream to form combustion products; and reforming the combustion products to produce a gaseous composition comprising hydrogen. Disclosed herein too is a method for producing hydrogen comprising introducing a feed stream comprising natural gas and air or oxygen into a cyclical compression chamber; compressing the feed stream in the cyclical compression chamber; combusting the feed stream in the cyclical compression chamber to produce combustion products; discharging the combustion products from the cyclical compression chamber into a reforming section; and reforming the combustion products with steam in the reforming section to produce a gaseous composition comprising hydrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sauri Gudlavalleti, Michael Bowman, Chellappa Balan, Shailesh Singh Bhaisora, Andrei Colibaba-Evulet, Narayan Ramesh
  • Publication number: 20080272008
    Abstract: An appliance that uses a substantially carbon-free hydrogen is disclosed. The appliance includes a converter, a hydrogen storage container including a carbon-based nanostructured material, a charger, a discharger and, optionally, a controller is disclosed. The hydrogen storage container is capable of storing the substantially carbon-free hydrogen in a condensed state. In addition to the carbon-based nanostructured material, the container may include a metal capable of acting as both a seed for the formation of the nanostructured material and a facilitator for promoting the storage in the condensed state of the substantially carbon-free gaseous hydrogen provided to the storage container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Andrei Colibaba-Evulet
  • Patent number: 7416583
    Abstract: An appliance that uses a substantially carbon-free hydrogen is disclosed. The appliance includes a converter, a hydrogen storage container including a carbon-based nanostructured material, a charger, a discharger and, optionally, a controller is disclosed. The hydrogen storage container is capable of storing the substantially carbon-free hydrogen in a condensed state. In addition to the carbon-based nanostructured material, the container may include a metal capable of acting as both a seed for the formation of the nanostructured material and a facilitator for promoting the storage in the condensed state of the substantially carbon-free gaseous hydrogen provided to the storage container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Andrei Colibaba-Evulet
  • Patent number: 7384620
    Abstract: A hydrogen reforming system includes a cyclical compression chamber having an entry port for receiving hydrogen-containing gas and an exit port for delivering reformed hydrogen-containing gas, an arrangement for heating the hydrogen-containing gas to a non-combustible temperature, and a drive system for cycling the cyclical compression chamber. The cyclical compression chamber has an operational cycle with an internal pressure and temperature absent combustion effective for reforming the hydrogen-containing gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael John Bowman, Chellappa Balan, Andrei Colibaba-Evulet, Narayan Ramesh
  • Publication number: 20080016876
    Abstract: A low emission turbine includes a reverse flow can-type combustor that generally includes a primary and secondary fuel delivery system that can be independently controlled to produce low CO, UHC, and NOx emissions at design set point and at conditions other than design set point. The reverse flow can-type combustor generally includes an annularly arranged array of swirler and mixer assemblies within the combustor, wherein each swirler and mixer in the array includes a primary and secondary fuel delivery system that can be independently controlled. Also disclosed herein is a can-type combustor that includes fluid passageways that perpendicularly impinge the backside of a heat shield. Processes for operating the can-type combustors are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2007
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Andrei Colibaba-Evulet, Michael Bowman, Simon Sanderson, Anthony Dean
  • Patent number: 7260935
    Abstract: A low emission turbine includes a reverse flow can-type combustor that generally includes a primary and secondary fuel delivery system that can be independently controlled to produce low CO, UHC, and NOx emissions at design set point and at conditions other than design set point. The reverse flow can-type combustor generally includes an annularly arranged array of swirler and mixer assemblies within the combustor, wherein each swirler and mixer in the array includes a primary and secondary fuel delivery system that can be independently controlled. Also disclosed herein is a can-type combustor that includes fluid passageways that perpendicularly impinge the outer surface of a heat shield. Processes for operating the can-type combustors are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Andrei Colibaba-Evulet, Michael John Bowman, Simon Ralph Sanderson, Anthony John Dean
  • Patent number: 6968693
    Abstract: A low emission turbine includes a reverse flow can-type combustor that generally includes a primary and secondary fuel delivery system that can be independently controlled to produce low CO, UHC, and NOx emissions at design set point and at conditions other than design set point. The reverse flow can-type combustor generally includes an annularly arranged array of swirler and mixer assemblies within the combustor, wherein each swirler and mixer in the array includes a primary and secondary fuel delivery system that can be independently controlled. Also disclosed herein is a can-type combustor that includes fluid passageways that perpendicularly impinge the outer surface of a heat shield. Processes for operating the can-type combustors are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Andrei Colibaba-Evulet, Michael John Bowman, Simon Ralph Sanderson, Anthony John Dean
  • Publication number: 20050226809
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method comprising combusting a feed stream to form combustion products; and reforming the combustion products to produce a gaseous composition comprising hydrogen. Disclosed herein too is a method for producing hydrogen comprising introducing a feed stream comprising natural gas and air or oxygen into a cyclical compression chamber; compressing the feed stream in the cyclical compression chamber; combusting the feed stream in the cyclical compression chamber to produce combustion products; discharging the combustion products from the cyclical compression chamber into a reforming section; and reforming the combustion products with steam in the reforming section to produce a gaseous composition comprising hydrogen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2004
    Publication date: October 13, 2005
    Inventors: Sauri Gudlavalleti, Michael Bowman, Chellappa Balan, Shailesh Bhaisora, Andrei Colibaba-Evulet, Narayan Ramesh
  • Publication number: 20050217276
    Abstract: A low emission turbine includes a reverse flow can-type combustor that generally includes a primary and secondary fuel delivery system that can be independently controlled to produce low CO, UHC, and NOx emissions at design set point and at conditions other than design set point. The reverse flow can-type combustor generally includes an annularly arranged array of swirler and mixer assemblies within the combustor, wherein each swirler and mixer in the array includes a primary and secondary fuel delivery system that can be independently controlled. Also disclosed herein is a can-type combustor that includes fluid passageways that perpendicularly impinge the backside of a heat shield. Processes for operating the can-type combustors are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2005
    Publication date: October 6, 2005
    Inventors: Andrei Colibaba-Evulet, Michael Bowman, Simon Sanderson, Anthony Dean
  • Publication number: 20050210881
    Abstract: A system for co-production of hydrogen and electrical energy comprising a reformer configured to receive a reformer fuel and steam and produce a reformate rich in hydrogen. The system further comprises a separation unit in fluid communication with the reformer wherein the separation unit is configured to receive the reformate to separate hydrogen from the reformate and produce an off gas. The system also includes a combustor configured to receive a fuel for combustion and produce heat energy and a hot compressed gas, wherein the combustor is coupled with the reformer. A gas turbine expands the hot compressed gas and produces electrical energy and an expanded gas; wherein at least a part of the heat energy from the combustor is used to produce the reformate in the reformer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2004
    Publication date: September 29, 2005
    Inventors: Chellappa Balan, Andrei Colibaba-Evulet
  • Publication number: 20050144961
    Abstract: A system for the cogeneration of electricity and hydrogen comprising at least one primary combustion system for burning a fuel rich mixture and producing partially oxidized combustion products rich in hydrogen. The system further comprises at least one injection system for injecting fuel and steam into the partially oxidized combustion products producing a mixed product stream. The mixed product stream is reformed in a reformer to produce a hydrogen enriched stream. At least a portion of the hydrogen enriched stream is burned in a secondary combustion system to produce electricity, and at least a second portion of the hydrogen enriched stream is sent to a hydrogen processing system to produce hydrogen therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2003
    Publication date: July 7, 2005
    Inventors: Andrei Colibaba-Evulet, Balachandar Varatharajan, Chellappa Balan
  • Publication number: 20050092241
    Abstract: An appliance that uses a substantially carbon-free hydrogen is disclosed. The appliance includes a converter, a hydrogen storage container including a carbon-based nanostructured material, a charger, a discharger and, optionally, a controller is disclosed. The hydrogen storage container is capable of storing the substantially carbon-free hydrogen in a condensed state. In addition to the carbon-based nanostructured material, the container may include a metal capable of acting as both a seed for the formation of the nanostructured material and a facilitator for promoting the storage in the condensed state of the substantially carbon-free gaseous hydrogen provided to the storage container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2003
    Publication date: May 5, 2005
    Inventor: Andrei Colibaba-Evulet
  • Publication number: 20050061004
    Abstract: A low emission turbine includes a reverse flow can-type combustor that generally includes a primary and secondary fuel delivery system that can be independently controlled to produce low CO, UHC, and NOx emissions at design set point and at conditions other than design set point. The reverse flow can-type combustor generally includes an annularly arranged array of swirler and mixer assemblies within the combustor, wherein each swirler and mixer in the array includes a primary and secondary fuel delivery system that can be independently controlled. Also disclosed herein is a can-type combustor that includes fluid passageways that perpendicularly impinge the backside of a heat shield. Processes for operating the can-type combustors are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2003
    Publication date: March 24, 2005
    Inventors: Andrei Colibaba-Evulet, Michael Bowman, Simon Sanderson, Anthony Dean
  • Publication number: 20050008566
    Abstract: A hydrogen reforming system includes a cyclical compression chamber having an entry port for receiving hydrogen-containing gas and an exit port for delivering reformed hydrogen-containing gas, an arrangement for heating the hydrogen-containing gas to a non-combustible temperature, and a drive system for cycling the cyclical compression chamber. The cyclical compression chamber has an operational cycle with an internal pressure and temperature absent combustion effective for reforming the hydrogen-containing gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2003
    Publication date: January 13, 2005
    Inventors: Michael Bowman, Chellappa Balan, Andrei Colibaba-Evulet, Narayan Ramesh