Patents by Inventor Eric L. Wells

Eric L. Wells 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: 10429062
    Abstract: A boiler is disclosed in which the furnace is divided into a lower furnace and an upper furnace. The lower furnace uses water-cooled membrane walls, while the upper furnace uses steam-cooled membrane walls that act as superheating surfaces. A transition section is present between the lower furnace and the upper furnace. The boiler is a high temperature sub-critical natural circulation boiler which is completely top supported. The lower furnace is supported through the transition section by the upper furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: The Babcock & Wilcox Company
    Inventors: Eric L Wells, Roger A Detzel, Albert J Bennett, Steven D Thayer
  • Patent number: 10415825
    Abstract: Energy is generated from cellulosic biofuel waste streams, specifically a lignin filter cake and a waste syrup, by combusting these waste products in a fluidized bed combustor under specified conditions. The heat and steam generated can be used to generate electricity and/or in cellulosic biofuel production processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: The Babcock & Wilcox Company
    Inventors: James F DeSellem, Thomas J Flynn, Karl M Heil, Eric L Wells
  • Patent number: 10415819
    Abstract: A boiler is disclosed in which the furnace is divided into a lower furnace and an upper furnace. The lower furnace uses water-cooled membrane walls, while the upper furnace uses steam-cooled membrane walls that act as superheating surfaces. The upper furnace and the convection pass are also located next to each other, so that they share a common steam-cooled wall. There is no open pass between the furnace and the convection pass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: The Babcock & Wilcox Company
    Inventors: Eric L Wells, Roger A Detzel, Albert J Bennett, Steven D Thayer
  • Patent number: 10253972
    Abstract: Transition castings are disclosed which comprise a steam tube and a water tube, which are joined together by membranes. A heat transfer fin extends from the membrane and abuts the water tube. The steam tube bends such that an upper end is on one side of the water tube, and a lower end is on an opposite side of the water tube. The transition castings are used in a transition section of a boiler in which the furnace is divided into a lower furnace and an upper furnace. The lower furnace uses water-cooled membrane walls, while the upper furnace uses steam-cooled membrane walls that act as superheating surfaces. The transition casting joins the lower furnace and the upper furnace together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: The Babcock & Wilcox Company
    Inventors: Eric L Wells, Roger A Detzel, Albert J Bennett, Steven D Thayer, Kevin L Brewster
  • Patent number: 10234169
    Abstract: Transition castings are disclosed which comprise a steam tube, a water tube, and a pass-through tube, which are joined together by membranes. The ends of the tubes on one vertical end are aligned in a plane, while the ends of the tubes on the other vertical end are aligned in alternating planes, or put another way are angled instead of being in a straight line. The transition castings are used in a transition section of a boiler in which the furnace is divided into a lower furnace and an upper furnace. The lower furnace uses water-cooled membrane walls, while the upper furnace uses steam-cooled membrane walls that act as superheating surfaces. The transition section joins the lower furnace and the upper furnace together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: The Babcock & Wilcox Company
    Inventors: Eric L Wells, Roger A Detzel, Albert J Bennett, Steven D Thayer
  • Patent number: 9920924
    Abstract: A boiler is disclosed in which the furnace is divided into a lower furnace and an upper furnace. The lower furnace uses water-cooled membrane walls, while the upper furnace uses steam-cooled membrane walls that act as superheating surfaces. A steam-cooled circuit includes a steam separator, a primary superheater, and the steam-cooled membrane walls of the upper furnace. During start-up, a diversion path is opened that reduces dry steam flow through the primary superheater and increases dry steam flow through the steam-cooled membrane walls of the upper furnace. This protects the steam-cooled membrane walls from excessive thermal stresses during start-up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: The Babcock & Wilcox Company
    Inventors: Eric L. Wells, Albert J Bennett, Jeremy L. Remus
  • Publication number: 20170350593
    Abstract: Energy is generated from cellulosic biofuel waste streams, specifically a lignin filter cake and a waste syrup, by combusting these waste products in a fluidized bed combustor under specified conditions. The heat and steam generated can be used to generate electricity and/or in cellulosic biofuel production processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventors: JAMES F. DESELLEM, THOMAS J. FLYNN, KARL M. HEIL, ERIC L. WELLS
  • Publication number: 20170299172
    Abstract: Transition castings are disclosed which comprise a steam tube and a water tube, which are joined together by membranes. A heat transfer fin extends from the membrane and abuts the water tube. The steam tube bends such that an upper end is on one side of the water tube, and a lower end is on an opposite side of the water tube. The transition castings are used in a transition section of a boiler in which the furnace is divided into a lower furnace and an upper furnace. The lower furnace uses water-cooled membrane walls, while the upper furnace uses steam-cooled membrane walls that act as superheating surfaces. The transition casting joins the lower furnace and the upper furnace together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Inventors: Eric L. Wells, Roger A. Detzel, Albert J. Bennett, Steven D. Thayer, Kevin L. Brewster
  • Publication number: 20170284656
    Abstract: A boiler is disclosed in which the furnace is divided into a lower furnace and an upper furnace. The lower furnace uses water-cooled membrane walls, while the upper furnace uses steam-cooled membrane walls that act as superheating surfaces. The upper furnace and the convection pass are also located next to each other, so that they share a common steam-cooled wall. There is no open pass between the furnace and the convection pass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2016
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Eric L. Wells, Roger A. Detzel, Albert J. Bennett, Steven D. Thayer
  • Publication number: 20170284658
    Abstract: A boiler is disclosed in which the furnace is divided into a lower furnace and an upper furnace. The lower furnace uses water-cooled membrane walls, while the upper furnace uses steam-cooled membrane walls that act as superheating surfaces. A steam-cooled circuit includes a steam separator, a primary superheater, and the steam-cooled membrane walls of the upper furnace. During start-up, a diversion path is opened that reduces dry steam flow through the primary superheater and increases dry steam flow through the steam-cooled membrane walls of the upper furnace. This protects the steam-cooled membrane walls from excessive thermal stresses during start-up.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2016
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Eric L. Wells, Albert J. Bennett, Jeremy L. Remus
  • Publication number: 20170284700
    Abstract: Transition castings are disclosed which comprise a steam tube, a water tube, and a pass-through tube, which are joined together by membranes. The ends of the tubes on one vertical end are aligned in a plane, while the ends of the tubes on the other vertical end are aligned in alternating planes, or put another way are angled instead of being in a straight line. The transition castings are used in a transition section of a boiler in which the furnace is divided into a lower furnace and an upper furnace. The lower furnace uses water-cooled membrane walls, while the upper furnace uses steam-cooled membrane walls that act as superheating surfaces. The transition section joins the lower furnace and the upper furnace together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2016
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Eric L. Wells, Roger A. Detzel, Albert J. Bennett, Steven D. Thayer
  • Publication number: 20170284657
    Abstract: A boiler is disclosed in which the furnace is divided into a lower furnace and an upper furnace. The lower furnace uses water-cooled membrane walls, while the upper furnace uses steam-cooled membrane walls that act as superheating surfaces. A transition section is present between the lower furnace and the upper furnace. The boiler is a high temperature sub-critical natural circulation boiler which is completely top supported. The lower furnace is supported through the transition section by the upper furnace.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2016
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Eric L Wells, Roger A Detzel, Albert J Bennett, Steven D Thayer
  • Patent number: 9587827
    Abstract: A carbon monoxide (CO) boiler or steam generator having a water cooled CO boiler floor with screen gas distribution inlet to enhance distribution of CO gas in a CO boiler. Either the front or rear wall tubes of the steam generator form an integral screen and the tubes continue, forming a membraned, gas tight enclosure. The floor has a “knee” to redirect the incoming waste CO gas up into the integral screen. The screen may be provided with tube erosion shields to prevent erosion of the screen tubes and to control the distribution of waste gas across the plan area of the furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: The Babcock & Wilcox Company
    Inventors: Eric L Wells, John A Kulig, Daniel E Knopsnider, Jr., Richard A Wessel
  • Publication number: 20140202400
    Abstract: A carbon monoxide (CO) boiler or steam generator having a water cooled CO boiler floor with screen gas distribution inlet to enhance distribution of CO gas in a CO boiler. Either the front or rear wall tubes of the steam generator form an integral screen and the tubes continue, forming a membraned, gas tight enclosure. The floor has a “knee” to redirect the incoming waste CO gas up into the integral screen. The screen may be provided with tube erosion shields to prevent erosion of the screen tubes and to control the distribution of waste gas across the plan area of the furnace.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Inventors: Eric L. Wells, John A. Kulig, Daniel E. Knopsnider, JR., Richard A. Wessel