Patents by Inventor Chad L. Felch

Chad L. Felch 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: 20230250004
    Abstract: A wet air oxidation system includes a reactor including an inlet and an outlet. The reactor is operable to oxidize a portion of a two-phase process fluid and to discharge a hot oxidized fluid from the outlet. A heat exchanger includes a plurality of tubes that extend along a long axis of the heat exchanger and cooperate to define a hot fluid inlet coupled to the outlet to receive the hot oxidized fluid and a hot fluid outlet, a shell that surrounds the plurality of tubes and defines a process fluid inlet arranged to receive the two-phase process fluid, and a process fluid outlet arranged to discharge a preheated two-phase process fluid to the inlet of the reactor, wherein the long axis of the heat exchanger is arranged in a non-horizontal direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2021
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Inventor: Chad L. Felch
  • Patent number: 11571638
    Abstract: There is disclosed processes and systems for improving the efficiency of the separation of insoluble contaminants from a fluid in a floatation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Shane P. Wiercinski, Curtis D. Cooley, Chad L. Felch
  • Publication number: 20230024923
    Abstract: A method of destroying a fluorocarbon compound includes regenerating an adsorbent to remove the fluorocarbon compound and to produce a regeneration fluid having a concentration of the fluorocarbon compound and directing the regeneration fluid to an electro-oxidation system. The method also includes applying a current to the electro-oxidation system to oxidize the fluorocarbon compound within the regeneration fluid and measuring a quantity of fluorides in the regeneration fluid to determine the progress of the removal of the fluorocarbon compound from the regeneration fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventors: Chad L. Felch, Philip A. Burclaff
  • Publication number: 20210362075
    Abstract: There is disclosed processes and systems for improving the efficiency of the separation of insoluble contaminants from a fluid in a floatation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2018
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: Shane P. Wiercinski, Curtis D. Cooley, Chad L. Felch
  • Patent number: 11131173
    Abstract: A pump system includes a centrifugal pump having an impeller, a first inlet arranged to receive a first flow of liquid, a second inlet arranged to receive a flow of gas at a first pressure, the gas being soluble in the liquid, and an outlet arranged to discharge a second flow of liquid that contains the flow of gas solubilized therein. An injection pump has an inlet arranged to receive the second flow of liquid. The injection pump is operable to increase the pressure of the second flow of liquid to produce a high-pressure flow of liquid, and includes a discharge arranged to discharge the high-pressure flow of liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Shane Broussard, Bruce M. Schertz, Chad L. Felch
  • Publication number: 20200256172
    Abstract: A pump system includes a centrifugal pump having an impeller, a first inlet arranged to receive a first flow of liquid, a second inlet arranged to receive a flow of gas at a first pressure, the gas being soluble in the liquid, and an outlet arranged to discharge a second flow of liquid that contains the flow of gas solubilized therein. An injection pump has an inlet arranged to receive the second flow of liquid. The injection pump is operable to increase the pressure of the second flow of liquid to produce a high-pressure flow of liquid, and includes a discharge arranged to discharge the high-pressure flow of liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Inventors: Shane Broussard, Bruce M. Schertz, Chad L. Felch
  • Patent number: 10654737
    Abstract: There are provided systems and processes which enable the efficient biological treatment of high salt concentration fluid streams, e.g., spent caustics, to reduce COD concentrations in the fluid streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Chad L. Felch, Bryan J. Kumfer, Eric Martin
  • Publication number: 20200131053
    Abstract: Systems and methods for treating a stream (12) from a chemical enhanced oil recovery (CEOR) process are disclosed. The method includes contacting the feed stream (12) with a plurality of media composite particles (20) to remove hydrocarbons from the feed stream (12); and generating a treated stream (40) comprising a reduced amount of the hydrocarbons and at least a majority of the viscosity-enhancing polymer remaining therein relative to the feed stream (12). The feed stream (12) includes the hydrocarbons, a concentration of a viscosity-enhancing polymer of at least about 10 mg/L, and an aqueous fluid. The media composite particles (20) each comprise a mixture of a cellulose-based material and a polymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2018
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Inventors: Matthew R. Patterson, Chad L. Felch, Shane P. Wiercinski
  • Patent number: 10618032
    Abstract: There are disclosed systems and processes that substantially prevent scaling in the treatment of a spent carbon material in a wet air oxidation (WAO) system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Bryan J. Kumfer, Eric Martin, Simon Larson, Chad L. Felch
  • Patent number: 10550009
    Abstract: Methods of treating a high suspended solids liquor having a waste stream and a suspended solids content including powdered activated carbon and biological material by contacting the high suspended solids liquor with a membrane unit are disclosed. Methods of treating a waste stream by combining the waste stream with powdered activated carbon and biological material to produce the high suspended solids liquor and contacting the high suspended solids liquor with a membrane unit are also disclosed. Treatment systems including a membrane unit fluidly connected to a source of a high suspended solids liquor are disclosed. Treatment systems including a bioreactor fluidly connected to a source of a waste stream and a membrane unit are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: William Cunningham, Philip A. Burclaff, Chad L. Felch, Andrea J. Larson, Duane R. Smith, Simon Larson
  • Patent number: 10472301
    Abstract: Catalytic systems and methods for treating process streams are disclosed. Catalytic wet oxidation and hydrolysis techniques may be used to treat one or more undesirable constituents. Methane may be produced in connection with at least some embodiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Chad L. Felch, Matthew R. Patterson, Bryan J. Kumfer
  • Publication number: 20190169047
    Abstract: The present invention enables a high suspended solids (SS) liquor (16) (at least about 10 g/L) comprising activated carbon (30) to be contacted with one or more membranes (14) of a membrane unit (12) to efficiently treat a waste stream (24) for contaminant removal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Inventors: William Cunningham, Philip A. Burclaff, Chad L. Felch, Andrea J. Larson, Duane R. Smith, Simon Larson
  • Publication number: 20190160452
    Abstract: There are disclosed systems and processes that substantially prevent scaling in the treatment of a spent carbon material in a wet air oxidation (WAO) system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Inventors: Bryan J. Kumfer, Eric Martin, Simon Larson, Chad L. Felch
  • Publication number: 20190161372
    Abstract: There are provided systems and processes which enable the efficient biological treatment of high salt concentration fluid streams, e.g., spent caustics, to reduce COD concentrations in the fluid streams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Inventors: Chad L. Felch, Bryan J. Kumfer, Eric Martin
  • Patent number: 10301207
    Abstract: There is provided a system and a method for regenerating a material that reduce the incidence of scaling due to scale forming contaminants. The method may include reducing a temperature of a treated material exiting a wet air oxidation unit in a scale reducing heat exchanger prior to delivery of the treated material to a second heat exchanger which heats a source waste material comprising a scale forming contaminant therein with heat from the first treated material to form a heated waste material comprising the scale forming contaminant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Curtis D. Cooley, Simon Larson, Chad L. Felch
  • Publication number: 20190152875
    Abstract: Catalytic systems and methods for treating process streams are disclosed. Catalytic wet oxidation and hydrolysis techniques may be used to treat one or more undesirable constituents. Methane may be produced in connection with at least some embodiments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventors: Chad L. Felch, Matthew R. Patterson, Bryan J. Kumfer
  • Patent number: 10246382
    Abstract: Catalytic systems and methods for treating process streams are disclosed. Catalytic wet oxidation and hydrolysis techniques may be used to treat one or more undesirable constituents such as HPAM and KHI. Methane may be produced in connection with at least some embodiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Chad L. Felch, Matthew R. Patterson, Bryan J. Kumfer
  • Patent number: 10189723
    Abstract: According to various aspects and embodiments, a system and method for treating a feed stream comprising hydrocarbons, suspended solids, and an aqueous-based liquid is provided. The systems and methods may utilize a stratified multi-media bed that includes at least one layer of a composite media comprising a mixture of a cellulose-based material and a polymer. According to certain aspects, contacting the feed stream with the stratified multi-media bed comprises coalescing and filtering the feed stream. According to at least one aspect, the systems and methods include a draft tube positioned within the stratified multi-media bed that may be utilized for backwashing the layers of filter media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Chad L. Felch, Eric A. Lorge, Shane P. Wiercinski, Matthew R. Patterson
  • Publication number: 20190002322
    Abstract: There is provided a system and a method for regenerating a material that reduce the incidence of scaling due to scale forming contaminants. The method may include reducing a temperature of a treated material exiting a wet air oxidation unit in a scale reducing heat exchanger prior to delivery of the treated material to a second heat exchanger which heats a source waste material comprising a scale forming contaminant therein with heat from the first treated material to form a heated waste material comprising the scale forming contaminant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Inventors: Curtis D. Cooley, Simon Larson, Chad L. Felch
  • Patent number: 10099953
    Abstract: There is provided a system and a method for regenerating a material that reduce the incidence of scaling due to scale forming contaminants. The method may include reducing a temperature of a treated material exiting a wet air oxidation unit in a scale reducing heat exchanger prior to delivery of the treated material to a second heat exchanger which heats a source waste material comprising a scale forming contaminant therein with heat from the first treated material to form a heated waste material comprising the scale forming contaminant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Curtis D. Cooley, Simon Larson, Chad L. Felch