Patents by Inventor Francis Michael Ferraro

Francis Michael Ferraro 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).

  • Pretreatment of biomass using steam explosion methods before gasification
    Patent number: 9447326
    Abstract: An integrated plant that includes a steam explosion process unit and biomass gasifier to generate syngas from biomass is discussed. A steam explosion process unit applies a combination of heat, pressure, and moisture to the biomass to make the biomass into a moist fine particle form. The steam explosion process unit applies steam with a high pressure to heat and pressurize any gases and fluids present inside the biomass to internally blow apart the bulk structure of the biomass via a rapid depressurization of the biomass with the increased moisture content. Those produced moist fine particles of biomass are subsequently fed to a feed section of the biomass gasifier, which reacts the biomass particles in a rapid biomass gasification reaction to produce syngas components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Sundrop Fuels, Inc.
    Inventors: Francis Michael Ferraro, Jerrod Wayne Hohman, Robert S. Ampulski
  • PRETREATMENT OF BIOMASS USING STEAM EXPLOSION METHODS BEFORE GASIFICATION
    Publication number: 20140249237
    Abstract: An integrated plant that includes a steam explosion process unit and biomass gasifier to generate syngas from biomass is discussed. A steam explosion process unit applies a combination of heat, pressure, and moisture to the biomass to make the biomass into a moist fine particle form. The steam explosion process unit applies steam with a high pressure to heat and pressurize any gases and fluids present inside the biomass to internally blow apart the bulk structure of the biomass via a rapid depressurization of the biomass with the increased moisture content. Those produced moist fine particles of biomass are subsequently fed to a feed section of the biomass gasifier, which reacts the biomass particles in a rapid biomass gasification reaction to produce syngas components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: Sundrop Fuels, Inc.
    Inventors: Francis Michael Ferraro, Jerrod Wayne Hohman, Robert S. Ampulski