Patents by Inventor Benjamin Kumfer

Benjamin Kumfer 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).

  • Radiant boiler for pressurized oxy-combustion and method of radiant trapping to control heat flux in high temperature particle-laden flows at elevated pressure
    Patent number: 10731847
    Abstract: A boiler has a shell surrounding a vertical centerline. The shell defines an inner surface having an inner diameter and an inner length extending between an upper upstream end and a lower downstream end. The inner surface defines a hollow interior, the boiler having a pre-combustion zone, a combustion zone downstream from the pre-combustion zone, and a post-combustion zone downstream from the combustion zone. The shell is tapered outward along its length in at least a portion of the combustion zone. An oxidizer inlet is in fluid communication with the pre-combustion zone, and a fuel nozzle introduces fuel into the combustion zone. A tube assembly is mounted in the hollow interior of the shell for transferring heat to fluid flowing through the tube assembly. A flue duct is in fluid communication with the post-combustion zone for transporting flue gases from the hollow interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Washington University
    Inventors: Richard Axelbaum, Fei Xia, Benjamin Kumfer
  • BURNER AND BOILER/FURNACE FOR PRESSURIZED OXY-COMBUSTION BOILERS AND FURNACES
    Publication number: 20200049343
    Abstract: The present disclosure is generally directed to a burner and boiler/furnace for pressurized oxy-combustion boilers and furnaces. The disclosure includes a design of a burner and boiler for a staged, pressurized oxy-combustion (SPOC) technology process and designs that affect wall heat flux. The disclosure further includes the introduction of wall rings to increase, for example, advection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Applicant: Washington University
    Inventors: Richard L. Axelbaum, Zhiwei Yang, Akshay Gopan, Benjamin Kumfer, Adewale Adeosun
  • RADIANT BOILER FOR PRESSURIZED OXY-COMBUSTION AND METHOD OF RADIANT TRAPPING TO CONTROL HEAT FLUX IN HIGH TEMPERATURE PARTICLE-LADEN FLOWS AT ELEVATED PRESSURE
    Publication number: 20170363284
    Abstract: A boiler has a shell surrounding a vertical centerline. The shell defines an inner surface having an inner diameter and an inner length extending between an upper upstream end and a lower downstream end. The inner surface defines a hollow interior, the boiler having a pre-combustion zone, a combustion zone downstream from the pre-combustion zone, and a post-combustion zone downstream from the combustion zone. The shell is tapered outward along its length in at least a portion of the combustion zone. An oxidizer inlet is in fluid communication with the pre-combustion zone, and a fuel nozzle introduces fuel into the combustion zone. A tube assembly is mounted in the hollow interior of the shell for transferring heat to fluid flowing through the tube assembly. A flue duct is in fluid communication with the post-combustion zone for transporting flue gases from the hollow interior.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: Richard Axelbaum, Fei Xia, Benjamin Kumfer