Patents by Inventor Erik Kroo

Erik Kroo 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: 7794862
    Abstract: The method for generating a hydrogen-rich stream from hydrocarbon fuels, ultimately to produce hydrogen gas, involves the following two steps performed in a cyclic fashion: (1) pyrolysis of the hydrocarbon fuel to obtain a carbon-rich fraction and a hydrogen-rich fraction; and (2) oxidation of the carbon-rich fraction, or a portion of it, for heat generation. The method involves the following optional steps: (3) steam gasification of part of the carbon-rich fraction to produce additional amounts of hydrogen and carbon monoxide; (4) water-gas shift reaction to convert carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide with the simultaneous formation of additional amounts of hydrogen; and (5) steam reforming of light hydrocarbons that may be produced in step (1) to produce more hydrogen and carbon monoxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Advanced Fuel Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Marek A. Wojtowicz, Michael A. Serio, Erik Kroo, Eric M. Suuberg
  • Publication number: 20080171246
    Abstract: The method for generating a hydrogen-rich stream from hydrocarbon fuels, ultimately to produce hydrogen gas, involves the following two steps performed in a cyclic fashion: (1) pyrolysis of the hydrocarbon fuel to obtain a carbon-rich fraction and a hydrogen-rich fraction; and (2) oxidation of the carbon-rich fraction, or a portion of it, for heat generation. The method involves the following optional steps: (3) steam gasification of part of the carbon-rich fraction to produce additional amounts of hydrogen and carbon monoxide; (4) water-gas shift reaction to convert carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide with the simultaneous formation of additional amounts of hydrogen; and (5) steam reforming of light hydrocarbons that may be produced in step (1) to produce more hydrogen and carbon monoxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2008
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Inventors: Marek A. Wojtowicz, Michael A. Serio, Erik Kroo, Eric M. Suuberg
  • Patent number: 7241323
    Abstract: Solid waste resource recovery in space is effected by pyrolysis processing, to produce light gases as the main products (CH4, H2, CO2, CO, H2O, NH3) and a reactive carbon-rich char as the main byproduct. Significant amounts of liquid products are formed under less severe pyrolysis conditions, and are cracked almost completely to gases as the temperature is raised. A primary pyrolysis model for the composite mixture is based on an existing model for whole biomass materials, and an artificial neural network models the changes in gas composition with the severity of pyrolysis conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Advanced Fuel Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Serio, Erik Kroo, Marek A. Wojtowicz, Eric M. Suuberg
  • Patent number: 7169197
    Abstract: Solid waste resource recovery in space is effected by pyrolysis processing, to produce light gases as the main products (CH4, H2, CO2, CO, H2O, NH3) and a reactive carbon-rich char as the main byproduct. Significant amounts of liquid products are formed under less severe pyrolysis conditions, and are cracked almost completely to gases as the temperature is raised. A primary pyrolysis model for the composite mixture is based on an existing model for whole biomass materials, and an artificial neural network models the changes in gas composition with the severity of pyrolysis conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Advanced Fuel Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Serio, Erik Kroo, Marek A. Wojtowicz, Eric M. Suuberg
  • Publication number: 20060185245
    Abstract: Solid waste resource recovery in space is effected by pyrolysis processing, to produce light gases as the main products (CH4, H2, CO2, CO, H2O, NH3) and a reactive carbon-rich char as the main byproduct. Significant amounts of liquid products are formed under less severe pyrolysis conditions, and are cracked almost completely to gases as the temperature is raised. A primary pyrolysis model for the composite mixture is based on an existing model for whole biomass materials, and an artificial neural network models the changes in gas composition with the severity of pyrolysis conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2006
    Publication date: August 24, 2006
    Inventors: Michael Serio, Erik Kroo, Marek Wojtowicz, Eric Suuberg
  • Publication number: 20050191531
    Abstract: The method for generating a hydrogen-rich stream from hydrocarbon fuels, ultimately to produce hydrogen gas, involves the following two steps performed in a cyclic fashion: (1) pyrolysis of the hydrocarbon fuel to obtain a carbon-rich fraction and a hydrogen-rich fraction; and (2) oxidation of the carbon-rich fraction, or a portion of it, for heat generation. The method involves the following optional steps: (3) steam gasification of part of the carbon-rich fraction to produce additional amounts of hydrogen and carbon monoxide; (4) water-gas shift reaction to convert carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide with the simultaneous formation of additional amounts of hydrogen; and (5) steam reforming of light hydrocarbons that may be produced in step (1) to produce more hydrogen and carbon monoxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2005
    Publication date: September 1, 2005
    Inventors: Marek Wojtowicz, Michael Serio, Erik Kroo, Eric Suuberg
  • Patent number: 6869580
    Abstract: The method for generating a hydrogen-rich stream from hydrocarbon fuels, ultimately to produce hydrogen gas, involves the following two steps performed in a cyclic fashion: (1) pyrolysis of the hydrocarbon fuel to obtain a carbon-rich fraction and a hydrogen-rich fraction; and (2) oxidation of the carbon-rich fraction, or a portion of it, for heat generation. The method involves the following optional steps: (3) steam gasification of part of the carbon-rich fraction to produce additional amounts of hydrogen and carbon monoxide; (4) water-gas shift reaction to convert carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide with the simultaneous formation of additional amounts of hydrogen; and (5) steam reforming of light hydrocarbons that may be produced in step (1) to produce more hydrogen and carbon monoxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Advanced Fuel Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Marek A. Wojtowicz, Michael A. Serio, Erik Kroo, Eric M. Suuberg
  • Publication number: 20020040864
    Abstract: Solid waste resource recovery in space is effected by pyrolysis processing, to produce light gases as the main products (CH4, H2, CO2, CO, H2O, NH3) and a reactive carbon-rich char as the main byproduct. Significant amounts of liquid products are formed under less severe pyrolysis conditions, and are cracked almost completely to gases as the temperature is raised. A primary pyrolysis model for the composite mixture is based on an existing model for whole biomass materials, and an artificial neural network models the changes in gas composition with the severity of pyrolysis conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2001
    Publication date: April 11, 2002
    Inventors: Michael A. Serio, Erik Kroo, Marek A. Wojtowicz, Eric M. Suuberg
  • Publication number: 20020041986
    Abstract: The method for generating a hydrogen-rich stream from hydrocarbon fuels, ultimately to produce hydrogen gas, involves the following two steps performed in a cyclic fashion: (1) pyrolysis of the hydrocarbon fuel to obtain a carbon-rich fraction and a hydrogen-rich fraction; and (2) oxidation of the carbon-rich fraction, or a portion of it, for heat generation. The method involves the following optional steps: (3) steam gasification of part of the carbon-rich fraction to produce additional amounts of hydrogen and carbon monoxide; (4) water-gas shift reaction to convert carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide with the simultaneous formation of additional amounts of hydrogen; and (5) steam reforming of light hydrocarbons that may be produced in step (1) to produce more hydrogen and carbon monoxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2001
    Publication date: April 11, 2002
    Inventors: Marek A. Wojtowicz, Michael A. Serio, Erik Kroo, Eric M. Suuberg
  • Patent number: 4425219
    Abstract: The invention relates to an improved method for the production of liquid carbon compounds from coal. According to the invention coal is oxidized at 80.degree. to 300.degree. C. in the presence of the vapors of a C.sub.1-5 aliphatic alcohol, optionally under the introduction of steam, and then the liquid carbon compounds are separated from the resulting product mixture.The process according to the invention can also be performed under atmospheric pressure, 50-80% of the carbon content of the coal converted appear in the liquid product. The liquid product contains the more valuable fraction, boiling below 300.degree. C., as major component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1984
    Assignee: Tatabanyai Szenbanyak
    Inventors: Erik Kroo, Laszlo Kovacs, Istvan Nemes, Katalin Szabo nee Mogyorosi, Geza Szentgyorgyi, Galina Moger nee Eremineva, Andras Nemeth, Dezso Gal, Szilard Riederauer, Janos Szepvolgyi
  • Patent number: 4368333
    Abstract: The invention relates to an improved method for the liquid phase oxidation of coal performed with oxygen optionally in the presence of water. According to the invention oxidation is performed in the presence of a cooxidation partner selected from the group of liquid hydrocarbons and oxygen-containing liquid hydrocarbons, and if water is also present, the pH of the homogeneous solution formed from the cooxidation partner and water is maintained at a slightly acidic value.By the method of the invention the formation of carbon dioxide can be suppressed significantly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1983
    Assignee: Tatabanyai Szenbanyak
    Inventors: Laszlo Kovacs, Galina Moger nee Eremineva, Dezso Gal, Peter Hajdu, Julia Lukacs, Erik Kroo, Istvan Nemes, Andras Nemeth, Katalin Szabo nee Mogyorosi, Geza Szentgyorgyi, Szilard Riederauer, Janos Szepvolgyi