Patents by Inventor Francis A. Demers

Francis A. Demers 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: 20240094067
    Abstract: A system for determining an indicated turbine temperature (ITT) for a gas turbine engine includes an engine control system. The engine control system includes a processor in communication with a non-transitory memory storing instructions, which instructions when executed by the processor, cause the processor to: determine a first estimated outlet temperature value for a high-pressure turbine of the gas turbine engine, determine an estimated work ({dot over (W)}HPT) of the high-pressure turbine, determine an estimated inlet temperature value for the high-pressure turbine using the estimated work ({dot over (W)}HPT), and determine the ITT by calculating a second estimated outlet temperature value using the estimated inlet temperature value, the second estimated outlet temperature value different than the first estimated outlet temperature value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2022
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Inventors: Francis Demers, Alesandro M. Persechino, Cristina Crainic
  • Patent number: 11732657
    Abstract: Methods and systems for operating an engine, the engine having an engine core, an exhaust nozzle, and variable geometry mechanisms, are provided. A request for an increase in thrust generated by the engine is received. In response to receipt of the request, it is determined that at least one operating condition for engine degradation thrust is met. In response to this determination, the variable geometry mechanisms are modulated to degrade an efficiency of the engine, thereby increasing a temperature of core air flowing through the engine core. The increase in thrust is generated from the increased temperature of the core air flowing through the engine core and into the exhaust nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Francis Demers, Cristina Crainic
  • Patent number: 11713733
    Abstract: In a method for operating an engine, a request for an increase in thrust generated by the engine is received. In response to receipt of the request, a determination is made as to whether at least one operating condition for heat application-based thrust is met. If so, a heat source is applied to heat bypass air flowing through the bypass duct towards the exhaust nozzle and the increase in thrust is generated from an increased temperature of mixed bypass air and core air at the exhaust nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Martin Drolet, Francis Demers
  • Publication number: 20230046718
    Abstract: Methods and systems for operating an engine, the engine having an engine core, an exhaust nozzle, and variable geometry mechanisms, are provided. A request for an increase in thrust generated by the engine is received. In response to receipt of the request, it is determined that at least one operating condition for engine degradation thrust is met. In response to this determination, the variable geometry mechanisms are modulated to degrade an efficiency of the engine, thereby increasing a temperature of core air flowing through the engine core. The increase in thrust is generated from the increased temperature of the core air flowing through the engine core and into the exhaust nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2021
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: Francis DEMERS, Cristina CRAINIC
  • Publication number: 20230050939
    Abstract: In a method for operating an engine, a request for an increase in thrust generated by the engine is received. In response to receipt of the request, a determination is made as to whether at least one operating condition for heat application-based thrust is met. If so, a heat source is applied to heat bypass air flowing through the bypass duct towards the exhaust nozzle and the increase in thrust is generated from an increased temperature of mixed bypass air and core air at the exhaust nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2021
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: Martin DROLET, Francis DEMERS
  • Patent number: 8445738
    Abstract: A process is described for producing cumene comprising contacting a feed stream comprising benzene and a further feed stream comprising isopropanol or a mixture of isopropanol and propylene in the presence of an alkylation catalyst comprising at least a molecular sieve of the MCM-22, family in an alkylation zone under alkylation conditions of at least partial liquid phase and with a water concentration in the liquid phase of at least 50 ppm to react at least part of said isopropanol and benzene to produce an effluent stream containing cumene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Badger Licensing LLC
    Inventors: Shyh-Yuan Hwang, Dana E. Johnson, Joseph C. Peters, Chung-Ming Chi, Kevin J. Fallon, Francis A. Demers
  • Publication number: 20110201858
    Abstract: In a process for producing cumene from acetone and benzene, a feed stream comprising acetone is contacted with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst in a first reaction zone under hydrogenation conditions sufficient to convert at least part of the acetone to isopropanol and produce a first liquid effluent stream rich in isopropanol and a first vapor stream rich in unreacted hydrogen. Benzene is then added to at least part of the first liquid effluent stream, without intermediate purification of the first liquid effluent stream, and optionally to at least part of the first vapor stream, to form a second feed stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: BADGER LICENSING LLC
    Inventors: Shyh-Yuan Henry Hwang, Dana E. Johnson, Joseph C. Peters, Chung-Ming Chi, Kevin J. Fallon, Francis A. Demers
  • Publication number: 20110178342
    Abstract: A process is described for producing cumene comprising contacting a feed stream comprising benzene and a further feed stream comprising isopropanol or a mixture of isopropanol and propylene in the presence of an alkylation catalyst comprising at least a molecular sieve of the MCM-22 family in an alkylation zone under alkylation conditions of at least partial liquid phase and with a water concentration in the liquid phase of at least 50 ppm to react at least part of said isopropanol and benzene to produce an effluent stream containing cumene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Applicant: BADGER LICENSING LLC
    Inventors: Shyh-Yuan Henry Hwang, Dana E. Johnson, Joseph C. Peters, Chung-Ming Chi, Kevin J. Fallon, Francis A. Demers
  • Patent number: 7449420
    Abstract: Improved processes are provided for the production of alkyl aromatic compounds using zeolite catalyst(s) and for periodic reactivation in situ of zeolite catalyst(s) that have at least in part become deactivated. Processes according to this invention are typically carried out in a reaction section loaded with catalyst(s) wherein a desired alkyl aromatic compound is produced from feed aromatic and olefin compounds followed by a separation section in which the desired product is isolated and recovered. Alkylation, transalkylation, and/or isomerization reactions that occur in the reaction section are carried out in liquid phase or partial liquid phase over the said zeolite catalyst(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Stone & Webster Inc.
    Inventors: Shyh-Yuan Henry Hwang, Waheed A. Mukaddam, Francis A. Demers, Dana Johnson
  • Publication number: 20040242404
    Abstract: Improved processes are provided for the production of alkyl aromatic compounds using zeolite catalyst(s) and for periodic reactivation in situ of zeolite catalyst(s) that have at least in part become deactivated. Processes according to this invention are typically carried out in a reaction section loaded with catalyst(s) wherein a desired alkyl aromatic compound is produced from feed aromatic and olefin compounds followed by a separation section in which the desired product is isolated and recovered. Alkylation, transalkylation, and/or isomerization reactions that occur in the reaction section are carried out in liquid phase or partial liquid phase over the said zeolite catalyst(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Inventors: Shyh-Yuan Henry Hwang, Waheed A. Mukaddam, Francis A. Demers, Dana Johnson
  • Patent number: 5087349
    Abstract: An improved process for controlling desired product distribution in fluidized catalytic cracking of olefins is provided wherein riser reactor temperature profiles are controlled by means of atomized quench streams provided downstream of the hydrocarbon feedstock charge level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1992
    Assignee: Stone & Webster Engineering Corporation
    Inventors: Alan R. Goelzer, Francis A. Demers