Patents by Inventor Gerald C. Blount

Gerald C. Blount 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: 20230241550
    Abstract: A hybrid aqueous gas separation/gas compression/potential energy storage system designed to be operated in flowing water systems with aqueous gas separation and aqueous downflow compression arranged between upper and lower discharge elevations (water head), or in a simple pump around scenario where circulation is provided by water circulation pumps. The flowing water assists in reducing/eliminating power demand for compression of gases to be separated aqueously and supports circulation within the aqueous gas separation system. The overall system helps support lower cost carbon dioxide (CO2) capture from various sources achieving net-zero-carbon, net-negative-carbon configurations, and beneficial reuse of CO2. The system can be configured on-land (in well/shaft, with circulation pumps, or coupled with pumped storage) or off-shore (partly submerged, using circulation pumps).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Inventor: Gerald C. Blount
  • Patent number: 10415469
    Abstract: A hybrid compressed air/water energy storage system is described. The system includes a series of water containers and a plurality of inflatable bladders held within each container. An air compression facility is used to inflate the bladders upon which water is forced out of the containers to a water storage facility at a higher potential energy. The system includes a water powered turbine and an expansion turbine. Thus, the system can produce power from both the water powered turbine (e.g., as a component of a hydroelectric plant) and from the expansion turbine (e.g., as a component of a CAES plant). The system can be utilized in a subsurface land-based system or a submerged water-based system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Gerald C. Blount, Maximillian B. Gorensek
  • Publication number: 20190063316
    Abstract: A hybrid compressed air/water energy storage system is described. The system includes a series of water containers and a plurality of inflatable bladders held within each container. An air compression facility is used to inflate the bladders upon which water is forced out of the containers to a water storage facility at a higher potential energy. The system includes a water powered turbine and an expansion turbine. Thus, the system can produce power from both the water powered turbine (e.g., as a component of a hydroelectric plant) and from the expansion turbine (e.g., as a component of a CAES plant). The system can be utilized in a subsurface land-based system or a submerged water-based system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: Gerald C. Blount, Maximillian B. Gorensek
  • Patent number: 9868084
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for separating components of a source gas is provided in which more soluble components of the source gas are dissolved in an aqueous solvent at high pressure. The system can utilize hydrostatic pressure to increase solubility of the components of the source gas. The apparatus includes gas recycle throughout multiple mass transfer stages to improve mass transfer of the targeted components from the liquid to gas phase. Separated components can be recovered for use in a value added application or can be processed for long-term storage, for instance in an underwater reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Gerald C. Blount, Maximilian Boris Gorensek, Luther L. Hamm
  • Publication number: 20150375165
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for separating components of a source gas is provided in which more soluble components of the source gas are dissolved in an aqueous solvent at high pressure. The system can utilize hydrostatic pressure to increase solubility of the components of the source gas. The apparatus includes gas recycle throughout multiple mass transfer stages to improve mass transfer of the targeted components from the liquid to gas phase. Separated components can be recovered for use in a value added application or can be processed for long-term storage, for instance in an underwater reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Publication date: December 31, 2015
    Inventor: Gerald C. Blount
  • Patent number: 9155992
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for separating components of a source gas is provided in which more soluble components of the source gas are dissolved in an aqueous solvent at high pressure. The system can utilize hydrostatic pressure to increase solubility of the components of the source gas. The apparatus includes gas recycle throughout multiple mass transfer stages to improve mass transfer of the targeted components from the liquid to gas phase. Separated components can be recovered for use in a value added application or can be processed for long-term storage, for instance in an underwater reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, LLC
    Inventor: Gerald C. Blount
  • Publication number: 20150075375
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for separating components of a source gas is provided in which more soluble components of the source gas are dissolved in an aqueous solvent at high pressure. The system can utilize hydrostatic pressure to increase solubility of the components of the source gas. The apparatus includes gas recycle throughout multiple mass transfer stages to improve mass transfer of the targeted components from the liquid to gas phase. Separated components can be recovered for use in a value added application or can be processed for long-term storage, for instance in an underwater reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventor: Gerald C. Blount
  • Patent number: 7976628
    Abstract: A process of manufacturing cement clinker is provided in which a clean supply of CO2 gas may be captured. The process also involves using an open loop conversion of CaO/MgO from a calciner to capture CO2 from combustion flue gases thereby forming CaCO3/CaMg(CO3)2. The CaCO3/CaMg(CO3)2 is then returned to the calciner where CO2 gas is evolved. The evolved CO2 gas, along with other evolved CO2 gases from the calciner are removed from the calciner. The reactants (CaO/MgO) are feed to a high temperature calciner for control of the clinker production composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignees: Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, LLC, Clemson University
    Inventors: Gerald C. Blount, Ronald W. Falta, Alvin A. Siddall