Patents by Inventor Dwain F. Spencer

Dwain F. Spencer 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: 20100021361
    Abstract: The present invention provides for methods for selectively removing CO2 from a multi-component gaseous stream to provide a CO2 depleted gaseous stream. In practicing the subject methods, an initial multi-component gaseous stream is contacted with an aqueous fluid under high-pressure CO2 hydrate-formation reaction conditions to produce a mixture of a CO2 hydrate slurry and a CO2 depleted gaseous stream. Aspects of the subject methods is that the mixture of the CO2 hydrate slurry and the CO2 depleted gaseous stream is transferred directly to a second step hydrate formation reactor in a one-stage, two-step process for further removal of CO2. Also provided are systems that find use in practicing the subject methods. The subject methods and systems find use in a variety of applications where it is desired to selectively remove CO2 from a multi-component gaseous stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2008
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Inventor: DWAIN F. SPENCER
  • Patent number: 7128777
    Abstract: Methods are provided for the selective removal of CO2 from a multicomponent gaseous stream to provide a CO2 depleted gaseous stream. In practicing the subject methods, an initial multicomponent gaseous stream is contacted with an aqueous fluid under conditions of selective CO2 clathrate formation to produce a CO2 clathrate slurry and CO2 depleted gaseous stream. A feature of the subject methods is that the CO2 clathrate slurry is then compressed to high pressure to produce a high-pressure CO2 product. Also provided are systems that find use in practicing the subject methods. The subject methods and systems find use in a variety of applications where it is desired to selectively remove CO2 from a multicomponent gaseous stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Inventor: Dwain F. Spencer
  • Patent number: 6797039
    Abstract: Methods are provided for the selective removal of CO2 from a multicomponent gaseous stream to provide a CO2 depleted gaseous stream. In practicing the subject methods, an initial multicomponent gaseous stream that includes a gaseous CO2 hydrate promoter is contacted with an aqueous fluid, e.g., CO2 nucleated water, in a hydrate formation reactor under conditions of selective CO2 clathrate formation to produce a CO2 clathrate slurry and CO2 depleted gaseous stream. Also provided are systems that find use in practicing the subject methods. The subject methods and systems find use in a variety of applications where it is desired to selectively remove CO2 from a multicomponent gaseous stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Inventor: Dwain F. Spencer
  • Publication number: 20040123738
    Abstract: Methods are provided for the selective removal of CO2 from a multicomponent gaseous stream to provide a CO2 depleted gaseous stream. In practicing the subject methods, an initial multicomponent gaseous stream that includes a gaseous CO2 hydrate promoter is contacted with an aqueous fluid, e.g., CO2 nucleated water, in a hydrate formation reactor under conditions of selective CO2 clathrate formation to produce a CO2 clathrate slurry and CO2 depleted gaseous stream. In certain embodiments, a feature of the subject invention is that additional gaseous CO2 hydrate promoter is introduced into the process stream at some point prior the output of the hydrate reactor. In certain embodiments, a feature of the subject invention is that the hydrate formation reactor is a tubular finned reactor. Also provided are systems that find use in practicing the subject methods. The subject methods and systems find use in a variety of applications where it is desired to selectively remove CO2 from a multicomponent gaseous stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2002
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventor: Dwain F. Spencer
  • Patent number: 6352576
    Abstract: Methods are provided for the selective removal of CO2 from a multicomponent gaseous stream to provide a CO2 depleted gaseous stream having at least a reduction, e.g. 30 to 90%, in the concentration of CO2 relative to the untreated multicomponent gaseous stream. In practicing the subject methods, the multicomponent gaseous stream is contacted with an aqueous fluid, e.g. CO2 nucleated water, under conditions of selective CO2 clathrate formation to produce a CO2 clathrate slurry and CO2 depleted gaseous stream. A feature of the subject invention is that a CO2 hydrate promoter is employed, where the CO2 hydrate promoter is included in the multicomponent gaseous stream and/or the aqueous fluid. The CO2 hydrate promoter serves to reduce the minimum CO2 partial pressure required for hydrate formation as compared to a control. The subject methods find use in a variety of applications where it is desired to selectively remove CO2 from a multicomponent gaseous stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Dwain F. Spencer, Robert P. Currier
  • Patent number: 6235092
    Abstract: Systems are provided for the selective removal of CO2 from a multicomponent gaseous stream to provide a CO2 depleted gaseous stream having at least a reduction in the concentration of CO2 relative to the untreated multicomponent gaseous stream. In the subject systems, the multicomponent gaseous stream is contacted with CO2 nucleated water under conditions of selective CO2 clathrate formation, where the CO2 nucleated water serves as liquid solvent to produce a CO2 clathrate slurry and CO2 depleted gaseous stream. In a preferred embodiment, the CO2 clathrate slurry is then decomposed to produce CO2 gas and nucleated water. The subject systems find use in a variety of applications where it is desired to selectively remove CO2 from a multicomponent gaseous stream, including chemical feedstock processing applications and air emissions control applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Inventor: Dwain F. Spencer
  • Patent number: 6235091
    Abstract: Systems are provided for the selective removal of CO2 from a multicomponent gaseous stream to provide a CO2 depleted gaseous stream having at least a reduction in the concentration of CO2 relative to the untreated multicomponent gaseous stream. In the subject systems, the multicomponent gaseous stream is contacted with CO2 nucleated water under conditions of selective CO2 clathrate formation, where the CO2 nucleated water serves as a liquid absorbent or adsorbent to produce a CO2 clathrate slurry and CO2 depleted gaseous stream. In a preferred embodiment, the CO2 clathrate slurry is then decomposed to produce CO2 gas and nucleated water. The subject systems find use in a variety of applications where it is desired to selectively remove CO2 from a multicomponent gaseous stream, including chemical feedstock processing applications and air emissions control applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Inventor: Dwain F. Spencer
  • Patent number: 6106595
    Abstract: Methods are provided for the selective removal of CO.sub.2 from a multicomponent gaseous stream to provide a CO.sub.2 depleted gaseous stream having at least a reduction in the concentration of CO.sub.2 relative to the untreated multicomponent gaseous stream. In the subject methods, the multicomponent gaseous stream is contacted with CO.sub.2 nucleated water under conditions of selective CO.sub.2 clathrate formation, where the CO.sub.2 nucleated water serves as a liquid absorbent or adsorbent to produce a CO.sub.2 clathrate slurry and CO.sub.2 depleted gaseous stream. In a preferred embodiment, the CO.sub.2 clathrate slurry is then decomposed to produce CO.sub.2 gas and nucleated water. The subject methods find use in a variety of applications where it is desired to selectively remove CO.sub.2 from a multicomponent gaseous stream, including chemical feedstock processing applications and air emissions control applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Inventor: Dwain F. Spencer
  • Patent number: 6090186
    Abstract: Methods are provided for the selective removal of CO.sub.2 from a multicomponent gaseous stream to provide a CO.sub.2 depleted gaseous stream having at least a reduction in the concentration of CO.sub.2 relative to the untreated multicomponent gaseous stream. In the subject methods, the multicomponent gaseous stream is contacted with CO.sub.2 nucleated water under conditions of selective CO.sub.2 clathrate formation, where the CO.sub.2 nucleated water serves as liquid solvent to produce a CO.sub.2 clathrate slurry and CO.sub.2 depleted gaseous stream. In a preferred embodiment, the CO.sub.2 clathrate slurry is then decomposed to produce CO.sub.2 gas and nucleated water. The subject methods find use in a variety of applications where it is desired to selectively remove CO.sub.2 from a multicomponent gaseous stream, including chemical feedstock processing applications and air emissions control applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Inventor: Dwain F. Spencer
  • Patent number: 5700311
    Abstract: Methods are provided for the selective removal of CO.sub.2 from a multicomponent gaseous stream to provide a CO.sub.2 depleted gaseous stream having at least a reduction in the concentration of CO.sub.2 relative to the untreated multicomponent gaseous stream. In the subject methods, the multicomponent gaseous stream is contacted with CO.sub.2 nucleated water under conditions of selective CO.sub.2 clathrate formation, where the CO.sub.2 nucleated water serves as liquid solvent. The subject methods find use in a variety of applications where it is desired to selectively remove CO.sub.2 from a multicomponent gaseous stream, including chemical feedstock processing applications and air emissions control applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Inventor: Dwain F. Spencer
  • Patent number: 5562891
    Abstract: A method is provided for producing CO.sub.2 hydrates. In the subject method, CO.sub.2 is first dissolved in water to produce a CO.sub.2 hydrate precursor. The CO.sub.2 hydrate precursor is then mixed with CO.sub.2 gas, resulting in hydrate production. Between the first and second steps, the CO.sub.2 hydrate precursor may optionally be cooled to at least 0.degree. C. and/or CO.sub.2 hydrate nuclei may be introduced into the CO.sub.2 hydrate precursor. The method is carried out in a continuous hydrate production reactor. The subject method finds use in sequestering CO.sub.2 gas emissions in the form of hydrates, where the hydrates are deposited in high pressure, low temperature environments, such as in the ocean at depths greater than 1000 m or in subterranean fresh water aquifers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignees: The California Institute of Technology, Electric Power Research Institute
    Inventors: Dwain F. Spencer, Wheeler J. North
  • Patent number: 5397553
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system for sequestering carbon dioxide by combining sub-cooled carbon dioxide gas phase and liquid water (fresh or salt) in a reactor to form carbon dioxide clathrates in a continuous process at pressures from 3 to 20 atmospheres. The seawater feed for the clathrate reactor is pumped to the surface from a depth of approximately 1000 meters. A slip stream of the reactor feed water is used to pre-cool the carbon dioxide gases. The pre-cooled gaseous, or liquid carbon dioxide and the reactor surfaces are then sub-cooled by refrigeration to temperatures of -40.degree. C. to 0.degree. C., which is typically only 5.degree. to 45.degree. C. below ambient sea water temperatures at depths of 1000 meters. Forming clathrates in this manner is considerably less energy-intensive than CO.sub.2 compression and liquefaction at high pressures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1995
    Assignee: Electric Power Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventor: Dwain F. Spencer
  • Patent number: 5309672
    Abstract: Disclosed is an open ocean farm structure for attachment of macroalgal plants. The farm structure is made up of linear elements connected with nodes to form a three dimensional truss. The linear elements are composed of tubes containing solid rods which are screw connected to the nodes. The ends of the tubes abut the nodes so that screwing the rods into the nodes puts the tubes in compression. The truss structure thus formed is strong and flexible. Because the truss structure is made of tubes having minimal cross-sectional area, the structure is relatively transparent to the forces of wave motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Assignee: Electric Power Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: Dwain F. Spencer, Larry L. Lewis