Patents by Inventor Brian S. Appel

Brian S. Appel 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).

  • Publication number: 20160200987
    Abstract: In later stage hydrocarbon fuel refining processes involving cracking reactions for upgrading hydrocarbon containing feeds into liquid and gaseous hydrocarbon fuels, the ration of liquid to gaseous recovery is advantageously increased by forced recirculation of non-condensing gas into cracking reaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Inventors: Brian S. Appel, Jonathan Appel, James H. Freiss
  • Publication number: 20150060258
    Abstract: The present invention addresses the processing of waste and low-value products to produce useful materials in reliable purities and compositions, at acceptable cost, without producing malodorous emissions, and with high energy efficiency. In particular, the invention comprises a multi-stage process that converts various feedstocks such as offal, animal manures, municipal sewage sludge, tires, and plastics, that otherwise have little commercial value, to useful materials including gas, oil, specialty chemicals, and carbon solids. The process subjects the feedstock to heat and pressure, separates out various components, then further applies heat and pressure to one or more of those components. Various materials produced at different points in the process may be recycled and used to play other roles within the process. The invention further comprises an apparatus for performing a multi-stage process of converting waste products into useful materials, and at least one oil product that arises from the process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Brian S. Appel, Terry N. Adams, Michael J. Roberts, William F. Lange, James H. Freiss, Craig Timothy Einfeldt, Michael Charles Carnesi
  • Patent number: 8877992
    Abstract: Conversion of waste and other organic feedstock into sustainable energy, feed, fertilizer, and other useful products of reliable purities is accomplished using water, heat, and pressure. More specifically, the invention provides methods and apparatus that handle mixed streams of various feedstocks, e.g. agricultural waste, biological waste, municipal solid waste, municipal sewage sludge, and shredder residue, to yield gas, oil, specialty chemicals, and carbon solids that can be used as is or are further processed. Useful products can be diverted at various points of the process or internalized to enhance the efficiency of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: AB-CWT LLC
    Inventors: Brian S. Appel, Terry N. Adams, James H. Freiss, Craig T. Einfeldt, William F. Lange, Shannon M. Jones
  • Patent number: 8809606
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for processing of waste and low-value products to produce useful materials in reliable purities and compositions, at acceptable cost, without producing malodorous emissions, and with high energy efficiency are disclosed. In particular, multi-stage processes are disclosed to convert various feedstocks such as offal, animal manures, municipal sewage sludge, tires, and plastics, that otherwise have little commercial value, to useful materials including gas, oil, specialty chemicals, and carbon solids. Disclosed processes subject the feedstock to heat and pressure, separates out various components, then further applies heat and pressure to one or more of those components. Various materials produced at different points in the process may be recycled and used to play other roles within the process. Also disclosed are apparatus for performing multi-stage processes of converting waste products into useful materials, and at least one oil product that arises from the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: AB-CWT LLC
    Inventors: Brian S. Appel, Terry N. Adams, Michael J. Roberts, William F. Lange, James H. Freiss, Craig T. Einfeldt, Michael Charles Carnesi
  • Publication number: 20110306808
    Abstract: The present invention addresses the processing of waste and low-value products to produce useful materials in reliable purities and compositions, at acceptable cost, without producing malodorous emissions, and with high energy efficiency. In particular, the invention comprises a multi-stage process that converts various feedstocks such as offal, animal manures, municipal sewage sludge, tires, and plastics, that otherwise have little commercial value, to useful materials including gas, oil, specialty chemicals, and carbon solids. The process subjects the feedstock to heat and pressure, separates out various components, then further applies heat and pressure to one or more of those components. Various materials produced at different points in the process may be recycled and used to play other roles within the process. The invention further comprises an apparatus for performing a multi-stage process of converting waste products into useful materials, and at least one oil product that arises from the process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Applicant: AB-CWT, LLC
    Inventors: Brian S. Appel, Terry N. Adams, Michael J. Roberts, William F. Lange, James H. Freiss, Craig Timothy Einfeldt, Michael Charles Carnesi
  • Patent number: 8003833
    Abstract: The present invention addresses the processing of waste and low-value products to produce useful materials in reliable purities and compositions, at acceptable cost, without producing malodorous emissions, and with high energy efficiency. In particular, the invention comprises a multi-stage process that converts various feedstocks such as offal, animal manures, municipal sewage sludge, tires, and plastics, that otherwise have little commercial value, to useful materials including gas, oil, specialty chemicals, and carbon solids. The process subjects the feedstock to heat and pressure, separates out various components, then further applies heat and pressure to one or more of those components. Various materials produced at different points in the process may be recycled and used to play other roles within the process. The invention further comprises an apparatus for performing a multi-stage process of converting waste products into useful materials, and at least one oil product that arises from the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: AB-CWT, LLC
    Inventors: Brian S. Appel, Terry N. Adams, Michael J. Roberts, William F. Lange, James H. Freiss, Craig Timothy Einfeldt, Michael Charles Carnesi
  • Patent number: 7771699
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the conversion of waste and low-value materials into useful products in reliable purities in a cost-effective and energy-efficient manner. More specifially, the invention provides processes that can handle mixed streams of various feedstocks, e.g. shredder residue, offal, animal manures, municipal sewage sludge, tires, and plastics, that otherwise have little commercial value, to useful products including gas, oil, specialty chemicals, and carbon solids. The process subjects the feedstock to heat and pressure, separates out various components, then further applies heat and pressure to one or more of those components, according to processes based on thermal or catalytic cracking. The invention further comprises an apparatus for performing a multi-stage process of converting waste materials into useful materials, and at least one oil product that arises from the process. Useful products can also be obtained or derived from materials diverted at different points of the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: AB-CWT, LLC
    Inventors: Terry N. Adams, Brian S. Appel, Craig Timothy Einfeldt, James H. Freiss
  • Patent number: 7692050
    Abstract: The present invention addresses the processing of waste and low-value products that contain bone material to produce useful materials in reliable purities and compositions, at acceptable cost, and with high energy efficiency. In particular, the invention comprises a process that converts various feedstocks such as offal, animal manures, and municipal sewage sludge, to useful materials including gas, oil, specialty chemicals, and carbon solids. The process heats the feedstock in order to breakdown proteins and separate organic material from bone material, applies further heat and pressure to the resulting liquid mixture, separates out various components, then further applies heat and pressure to one or more of those components. The invention further comprises an apparatus for performing a process of converting waste products into useful materials, and an oil product that arises from the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: AB-CWT, LLC
    Inventors: Terry N. Adams, Brian S. Appel, Craig Timothy Einfeldt, James H. Freiss
  • Publication number: 20090062581
    Abstract: Conversion of waste and other organic feedstock into sustainable energy, feed, fertilizer, and other useful products of reliable purities is accomplished using water, heat, and pressure. More specifically, the invention provides methods and apparatus that handle mixed streams of various feedstocks, e.g. agricultural waste, biological waste, municipal solid waste, municipal sewage sludge, and shredder residue, to yield gas, oil, specialty chemicals, and carbon solids that can be used as is or are further processed. Useful products can be diverted at various points of the process or internalized to enhance the efficiency of the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventors: Brian S. Appel, Terry N. Adams, James H. Freiss, Craig T. Einfeldt, William F. Lange, Shannon M. Jones
  • Patent number: 7476296
    Abstract: The present invention provides for an apparatus for converting an organic liquor into a mixture of hydrocarbons and carbon solids, comprising: a heater for heating the organic liquor, thereby producing a mixture of liquid and vaporized oil; a reactor for converting the mixture of liquid and vaporized oil into carbon solids, and a mixture of hydrocarbons and gases; a first cooler for accepting the carbon solids; and a second cooler for accepting the mixture of hydrocarbons and gases. The apparatus of the present invention finds application in the processing of waste and low-value products to produce useful materials in reliable purities and compositions, at acceptable cost, without producing malodorous emissions, and with high energy efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: AB-CWT, LLC
    Inventors: Brian S. Appel, William F. Lange
  • Patent number: 7301060
    Abstract: The present invention addresses the processing of waste and low-value products to produce useful materials in reliable purities and compositions, at acceptable cost, and with high energy efficiency. In particular, the invention comprises a multi-stage process that converts various feedstocks such as offal, animal manures, municipal sewage sludge, that otherwise have little commercial value, to useful materials including gas, oil, specialty chemicals, and carbon solids. The process subjects the feedstock to heat and pressure in a reducing environment accomplished by controlled addition of sulfur and sodium, separates out various components, then further applies heat and pressure to one or more of those components. The invention further comprises an apparatus for performing a multi-stage process of converting waste products into useful materials, and at least one oil product that arises from the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: AB-CWT, LLC
    Inventors: Brian S. Appel, James H. Freiss, William F. Lange
  • Patent number: 7179379
    Abstract: The present invention includes an apparatus for separating particulates from a fluid in a suspension, comprising: a housing defining a frusto-conically shaped inner chamber with an inner wall, an inlet and a first outlet communicating with the chamber, and a second outlet; and a spinning assembly with a hollow interior mounted in the chamber, the assembly being shaped to define an annular gap with the chamber inner wall, the hollow interior communicating with the second outlet, and the hollow interior communicating with the annular gap for flow of fluid materials from the gap into the interior and out of the second outlet in response to rotation of the spinning assembly. The separator finds application in the preparation of waste products such as municipal sewage sludge for processes that produce useful materials including gas, oil, specialty chemicals, fertilizer, and carbon solids, in reliable purities and compositions, and with high energy efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: AB-CWT, LLC
    Inventors: Brian S. Appel, William F. Lange
  • Publication number: 20040188340
    Abstract: The present invention includes an apparatus for separating particulates from a fluid in a suspension, comprising: a housing defining a frusto-conically shaped inner chamber with an inner wall, an inlet and a first outlet communicating with the chamber, and a second outlet; and a spinning assembly with a hollow interior mounted in the chamber, the assembly being shaped to define an annular gap with the chamber inner wall, the hollow interior communicating with the second outlet, and the hollow interior communicating with the annular gap for flow of fluid materials from the gap into the interior and out of the second outlet in response to rotation of the spinning assembly. The separator finds application in the preparation of waste products such as municipal sewage sludge for processes that produce useful materials including gas, oil, specialty chemicals, fertilizer, and carbon solids, in reliable purities and compositions, and with high energy efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2003
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Inventors: Brian S. Appel, William F. Lange
  • Publication number: 20040192981
    Abstract: The present invention provides for an apparatus for converting an organic liquor into a mixture of hydrocarbons and carbon solids, comprising: a heater for heating the organic liquor, thereby producing a mixture of liquid and vaporized oil; a reactor for converting the mixture of liquid and vaporized oil into carbon solids, and a mixture of hydrocarbons and gases; a first cooler for accepting the carbon solids; and a second cooler for accepting the mixture of hydrocarbons and gases. The apparatus of the present invention finds application in the processing of waste and low-value products to produce useful materials in reliable purities and compositions, at acceptable cost, without producing malodorous emissions, and with high energy efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2003
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Inventors: Brian S. Appel, William F. Lange
  • Publication number: 20040192980
    Abstract: The present invention addresses the processing of waste and low-value products to produce useful materials in reliable purities and compositions, at acceptable cost, without producing malodorous emissions, and with high energy efficiency. In particular, the invention comprises a multi-stage process that converts various feedstocks such as offal, animal manures, municipal sewage sludge, tires, and plastics, that otherwise have little commercial value, to useful materials including gas, oil, specialty chemicals, and carbon solids. The process subjects the feedstock to heat and pressure, separates out various components, then further applies heat and pressure to one or more of those components. Various materials produced at different points in the process may be recycled and used to play other roles within the process. The invention further comprises an apparatus for performing a multi-stage process of converting waste products into useful materials, and at least one oil product that arises from the process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2003
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Inventors: Brian S. Appel, Terry N. Adams, Michael J. Roberts, William F. Lange, James H. Freiss, Craig Timothy Einfeldt, Michael Charles Carnesi