Patents by Inventor Gary R. Friggens

Gary R. Friggens 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).

  • Slurry atomizer for a coal-feeder and dryer used to provide coal at gasifier pressure
    Patent number: 4341530
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a coal-water slurry atomizer for use a high-pressure dryer employed in a pumping system utilized to feed coal into a pressurized coal gasifier. The slurry atomizer is provided with a venturi, constant area slurry injection conduit, and a plurality of tangentially disposed steam injection ports. Superheated steam is injected into the atomizer through these ports to provide a vortical flow of the steam, which, in turn, shears slurry emerging from the slurry injection conduit. The droplets of slurry are rapidly dispersed in the dryer through the venturi where the water is vaporized from the slurry by the steam prior to deleterious heating of the coal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1982
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Department of Energy
    Inventors: John L. Loth, William C. Smith, Gary R. Friggens
  • Apparatus and method for feeding coal into a coal gasifier
    Patent number: 4153427
    Abstract: This invention is directed to a system for feeding coal into a gasifier operating at high pressures. A coal-water slurry is pumped to the desired pressure and then the coal is "dried" prior to feeding the coal into the gasifier by contacting the slurry with superheated steam in an entrained bed dryer for vaporizing the water in the slurry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1978
    Date of Patent: May 8, 1979
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Larry A. Bissett, Gary R. Friggens, James P. McGee