Patents by Inventor Fred Pickard

Fred Pickard 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: 20160230699
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for optimizing operation of a combined cycle power plant which combines the use of both gas and steam turbines in a single power generating plant. In one embodiment there is provided a closed-loop hybrid neural network-first principles optimizer for optimally allocating fuel across power generation plant blocks and sub systems to minimize fuel costs while meeting capacity and ramp-rate commitments. Embodiments of the methods and apparatus include a steady state plant optimization model and a dynamic plant optimization model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Applicant: Neuco, Inc.
    Inventors: Doug Bartlett, Rob James, Fred Pickard, John McDermott, Peter Spinney, Steve Piche
  • Patent number: 8498746
    Abstract: A sootblowing control system that uses predictive models to bridge the gap between sootblower operation and boiler performance goals. The system uses predictive modeling and heuristics (rules) associated with different zones in a boiler to determine an optimal sequence of sootblower operations and achieve boiler performance targets. The system performs the sootblower optimization while observing any operational constraints placed on the sootblowers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: NeuCo, Inc.
    Inventors: John Robert James, John McDermott, Stephen Piche, Fred Pickard, Neel J. Parikh
  • Publication number: 20130018831
    Abstract: A sootblowing control system that uses predictive models to bridge the gap between sootblower operation and boiler performance goals. The system uses predictive modeling and heuristics (rules) associated with different zones in a boiler to determine an optimal sequence of sootblower operations and achieve boiler performance targets. The system performs the sootblower optimization while observing any operational constraints placed on the sootblowers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Inventors: John Robert James, John McDermott, Stephen Piche, Fred Pickard, Neel J. Parikh
  • Patent number: 8340824
    Abstract: A sootblowing control system that uses predictive models to bridge the gap between sootblower operation and boiler performance goals. The system uses predictive modeling and heuristics (rules) associated with different zones in a boiler to determine an optimal sequence of sootblower operations and achieve boiler performance targets. The system performs the sootblower optimization while observing any operational constraints placed on the sootblowers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: NeuCo, Inc.
    Inventors: John Robert James, John McDermott, Stephen Piche, Fred Pickard, Neel J. Parikh
  • Publication number: 20090090311
    Abstract: A sootblowing control system that uses predictive models to bridge the gap between sootblower operation and boiler performance goals. The system uses predictive modeling and heuristics (rules) associated with different zones in a boiler to determine an optimal sequence of sootblower operations and achieve boiler performance targets. The system performs the sootblower optimization while observing any operational constraints placed on the sootblowers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2007
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Inventors: John Robert James, John McDermott, Stephen Piche, Fred Pickard, Neel J. Parikh