Patents by Inventor Herng-Shinn Hwang

Herng-Shinn Hwang 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: 20230287287
    Abstract: An apparatus and method to desulfurize a biogas containing sulfur. Since biogas is produced by an anaerobic digester from human, animal, kitchen and agriculture's wastes, it is a short term recycled product from the photosynthesis of CO2, and has a net zero carbon emission. The sulfur compounds in the biogas can be removed by the following steps: (1) converting ail sulfur compounds into H2S by the hydrogen produced from the biogas over Pt group metal catalysts; (2) adsorbing the H2S at high temperature by the regenerable Pt group metal catalyst and adsorbents. The desulfurized biogas is further converted by an ATR/CPO reformer or a steam generating reformer to produce various reformates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2023
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Inventor: Herng Shinn Hwang
  • Publication number: 20220260009
    Abstract: An apparatus and method to desulfurize a biogas containing sulfur. Since biogas is produced by an anaerobic digester from human, animal, kitchen and agriculture's wastes, Itis a short term recycled product from the photosynthesis of CO2, and has a net zero carbon emission. The sulfur compounds in the biogas can be removed by the following steps: (1) converting all sulfur compounds into H2S by the hydrogen produced from the biogas over Pt group metal catalysts; (2) adsorbing the H2S at high temperature by the regenerable Pt group metal catalyst and adsorbents. The desulfurized biogas is further converted by an ATR/CPO reformer or a steam generating reformer to produce various reformates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2022
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Inventor: Herng Shinn Hwang
  • Patent number: 11293343
    Abstract: An apparatus and method to desulfurize a biogas containing sulfur. Since biogas is produced by an anaerobic digester from human, animal, kitchen and agriculture's wastes, it is a short term recycled product from the photosynthesis of CO2, and has a net zero carbon emission. The sulfur compounds in the biogas can be removed by the following steps: (1) converting all sulfur compounds into H2S by the hydrogen produced from the biogas over Pt group metal catalysts; (2) adsorbing the H2S at high temperature by the regenerable Pt group metal catalyst and adsorbents. The desulfurized biogas is further converted by an ATR/CPO reformer or a steam generating reformer to produce various reformates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Inventor: Herng Shinn Hwang
  • Patent number: 10865709
    Abstract: An on-board Flex-Fuel H2 reforming apparatus provides devices and the methods of operating these devices to produce a combustible reformate containing H2 and CO from hydrocarbons and bio-fuels. For this generator, one or more parallel autothermal reformers are used to convert the fuels into the reformate over Pt group metal catalysts, and the produced reformate is then cooled, compressed and stored in vessels at a pressure between 1 to 100 atmospheres. The reformate from the storage vessels is used either as the sole fuel or is mixed with other fuels as the fuel mixture for a lean burn engine/gas turbine. For this system, the pressure of the storage vessels and the flow control curves are used directly to control the amount of the reformers' reformate flow output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Inventor: Herng Shinn Hwang
  • Publication number: 20200123969
    Abstract: A distributed Biogas Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Generator can provide automatically hot water and electricity for local applications. Since biogas is produced by an anaerobic digester from human, animal, kitchen and agriculture's wastes, it is a short term recycled product from the photosynthesis of CO2, and has a net zero carbon emission. The sulfur compounds in the biogas can be removed by the following steps: (1). converting all sulfur compounds into H2S by the hydrogen produced from the biogas over Pt group metal catalysts; (2). adsorbing the H2S at high temperature by the regenerable Pt group metal catalyst and adsorbents. The desulfurized biogas is further converted by an ATR/CPO reformer or a steam generating reformer to produce various reformates, which can be connected to a downstream IC engine/gas turbine, and/or a steam turbine to drive electric generators for generating electricity. The hot reformate and the exhaust gases can be cooled in heat exchangers to produce hot water/hot air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventor: Herng Shinn Hwang
  • Patent number: 10626790
    Abstract: A distributed Biogas Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Generator can provide automatically hot water and electricity for local applications. Since biogas is produced by an anaerobic digester from human, animal, kitchen and agriculture's wastes, it is a short term recycled product from the photosynthesis of CO2, and has a net zero carbon emission. The sulfur compounds in the biogas can be removed by the following steps: (1), converting all sulfur compounds into H2S by the hydrogen produced from the biogas over Pt group metal catalysts; (2). adsorbing the H2S at high temperature by the regenerable Pt group metal catalyst and adsorbents. The desulfurized biogas is further converted by an ATR/CPO reformer or a steam generating reformer to produce various reformates, which can be connected to a downstream 1C engine/gas turbine, and/or a steam turbine to drive electric generators for generating electricity. The hot reformate and the exhaust gases can be cooled in heat exchangers to produce hot water/hot air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Inventor: Herng Shinn Hwang
  • Publication number: 20200116082
    Abstract: An on-board Flex-Fuel H2 reforming apparatus provides devices and the methods of operating these devices to produce H2 and CO from hydrocarbons and bio-fuels. One or more parallel autothermal reformers are used to convert the fuels into H2 over the Pt group metal catalysts without external heat and power. The produced reformate is then cooled and the dry gas is compressed and stored in vessels at a pressure between 1 to 100 atmospheres. For this system, the pressure of the storage vessels and the flow control curves are used directly to control the amount of the reformers' reformate output. To improve thermal efficiency of a mobile vehicle or a distributed power generator, portion of the reformate from the storage vessels is used to mix with the primary fuels and air as part of a lean burn fuel mixture for the engine/gas turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventor: Herng Shinn Hwang
  • Publication number: 20190383212
    Abstract: An apparatus and method to desulfurize a biogas containing sulfur. Since biogas is produced by an anaerobic digester from human, animal, kitchen and agriculture's wastes, it is a short term recycled product from the photosynthesis of CO2, and has a net zero carbon emission. The sulfur compounds in the biogas can be removed by the following steps: (1) converting all sulfur compounds into H2S by the hydrogen produced from the biogas over Pt group metal catalysts; (2) adsorbing the H2S at high temperature by the regenerable Pt group metal catalyst and adsorbents. The desulfurized biogas is further converted by an ATR/CPO reformer or a steam generating reformer to produce various reformates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Inventor: Herng Shinn Hwang
  • Publication number: 20190145310
    Abstract: A distributed Biogas Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Generator can provide automatically hot water and electricity for local applications. Since biogas is produced by an anaerobic digester from human, animal, kitchen and agriculture's wastes, it is a short term recycled product from the photosynthesis of CO2, and has a net zero carbon emission. The sulfur compounds in the biogas can be removed by the following steps: (1). converting all sulfur compounds into H2S by the hydrogen produced from the biogas over Pt group metal catalysts; (2). adsorbing the H2S at high temperature by the regenerable Pt group metal catalyst and adsorbents. The desulfurized biogas is further converted by an ATR/CPO reformer or a steam generating reformer to produce various reformates, which can be connected to a downstream IC engine/gas turbine, and/or a steam turbine to drive electric generators for generating electricity. The hot reformate and the exhaust gases can be cooled in heat exchangers to produce hot water/hot air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Inventor: Herng Shinn Hwang
  • Publication number: 20170292446
    Abstract: An on-board Flex-Fuel H2 reforming apparatus provides devices and the methods of operating these devices to produce H2 and CO from hydrocarbons and bio-fuels. One or more parallel autothermal reformers are used to convert the fuels into H2 over the Pt group metal catalysts without external heat and power. The produced reformate is then cooled and the dry gas is compressed and stored in vessels at a pressure between 1 to 100 atmospheres. For this system, the pressure of the storage vessels and the flow control curves are used directly to control the amount of the reformers' reformate output. To improve thermal efficiency of a mobile vehicle or a distributed power generator, portion of the reformate from the storage vessels is used to mix with the primary fuels and air as part of a lean burn fuel mixture for the engine/gas turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Publication date: October 12, 2017
    Inventor: Herng Shinn Hwang
  • Patent number: 9440851
    Abstract: An on-board Flex-Fuel H2 Generator provides devices and the methods of operating these devices to produce H2 and CO from hydrocarbons and bio-fuels. One or more parallel autothermal reformers are used to convert the fuels into H2 over the Pt group metal catalysts without external heat and power. The produced reformate is then cooled and the dry gas is compressed and stored in vessels at a pressure between 1 to 100 atmospheres. For this system, the pressure of the storage vessels and the flow control curves are used directly to control the amount of the reformers' reformate output. To improve thermal efficiency of a mobile vehicle or a distributed power generator, a portion of the reformate from the storage vessels is used to mix with the primary fuels and air as part of a lean burn fuel mixture for the engine/gas turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Inventor: Herng Shinn Hwang
  • Publication number: 20130312384
    Abstract: An on-board Flex-Fuel H2 Generator provides devices and the methods of operating these devices to produce H2 and CO from hydrocarbons and bio-fuels. One or more parallel autothermal reformers are used to convert the fuels into H2 over the Pt group metal catalysts without external heat and power. The produced reformate is then cooled and the dry gas is compressed and stored in vessels at a pressure between 1 to 100 atmospheres. For this system, the pressure of the storage vessels and the flow control curves are used directly to control the amount of the reformers' reformate output. To improve thermal efficiency of a mobile vehicle or a distributed power generator, portion of the reformate from the storage vessels is used to mix with the primary fuels and air as part of a lean burn fuel mixture for the engine/gas turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Inventor: Herng Shinn Hwang
  • Patent number: 8397509
    Abstract: A catalytic engine comprises a catalytic reformer and a turbine, and it employs the process steps of introducing a reactant mixture of fuel, air, water and recycled exhaust gas into a reaction zone, reacting said fuel mixture over oxidation catalysts in the reaction zone by adjusting the CO2/C, H2O/C, O2/C ratios and the % fuel of the reactant mixture to maintain the reactor at a temperature between 150-1100° C. and a pressure between 1 to 100 atmosphere, and feeding said refromate stream from said reaction zone to drive a downstream turbine, a turbocharger or any kind of gas turbine. This catalytic engine can be connected to an electrical generator to become a stationary or mobile power station, which can be used in transportation, industrial, utility and household applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Inventor: Herng Shinn Hwang
  • Patent number: 8061120
    Abstract: By using catalytic partial oxidation or autothermal reforming process, a catalytic oxidizer installed in the engine's Exhaust Gas Recycle (EGR) line can be used to produce from fossil fuels or bio-fuels a reformate gas containing H2 and CO for an IC engine or a gas turbine. Thus, a system consisting of an EGR Oxidizer and an IC engine/gas turbine can be used by itself as a driving device, or can be combined with an electric generator and a battery bank to produce, store and transmit electricity to be used in stationary or mobile power generation, transportation and utility etc. The Oxidizer can also be used to provide reducing gases to regenerate the NOx or diesel particulate traps, so that the traps can continuously be used for reducing emissions from IC engine, diesel truck, gas turbine, power plant etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Inventor: Herng Shinn Hwang
  • Publication number: 20090035192
    Abstract: By using catalytic partial oxidation or autothermal reforming process, a catalytic oxidizer installed in the engine's Exhaust Gas Recycle (EGR) line can be used to produce from fossil fuels or bio-fuels a reformate gas containing H2 and CO for an IC engine or a gas turbine. Thus, a system consisting of an EGR Oxidizer and an IC engine/gas turbine can be used by itself as a driving device, or can be combined with an electric generator and a battery bank to produce, store and transmit electricity to be used in stationary or mobile power generation, transportation and utility etc. The Oxidizer can also be used to provide reducing gases to regenerate the NOx or diesel particulate traps, so that the traps can continuously be used for reducing emissions from IC engine, diesel truck, gas turbine, power plant etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Inventor: Herng Shinn Hwang
  • Publication number: 20080302104
    Abstract: A catalytic engine comprises a catalytic reformer and a turbine, and it employs the process steps of introducing a reactant mixture of fuel, air, water and recycled exhaust gas into a reaction zone, reacting said fuel mixture over oxidation catalysts in the reaction zone by adjusting the CO2/C, H2O/C, O2/C ratios and the % fuel of the reactant mixture to maintain the reactor at a temperature between 150-1100° C. and a pressure between 1 to 100 atmosphere, and feeding said refromate stream from said reaction zone to drive a downstream turbine, a turbocharger or any kind of gas turbine. This catalytic engine can be connected to an electrical generator to become a stationary or mobile power station, which can be used in transportation, industrial, utility and household applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Applicant: Herng Shinn Hwang
    Inventor: Herng-Shinn Hwang
  • Publication number: 20070275278
    Abstract: There is a provided an integrated system and process for the generation of electricity. The integrated generator comprises the steps of introducing a fuel mixture into a reaction zone, reacting said fuel mixture by adjusting the H2O/C and O2/C ratios in the feed fuel mixture to maintain constantly the temperature between 150-1000° C. in said reaction zone to produce a first refromate stream comprising steam and other gases, feeding said first stream from said reaction zone to a turbine, and generating electricity with said turbine and a generator. There is a provided an Integrated System consists of several integrated generators combined in series. Additional air and/or fuel can be injected into the feed stream of each reformer. This integrated system can be used to generate additional electricity, improve overall thermal efficiency, recover the latent heats and remove pollution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2007
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Applicant: Dr. Herng Shinn Hwang
    Inventor: Herng-Shinn Hwang
  • Patent number: 4522894
    Abstract: A process for generating electricity from a fuel cell includes generating a hydrogen-rich gas as the fuel for the fuel cell by treating a hydrocarbon feed, which may be a normally liquid feed, in an autothermal reformer utilizing a first monolithic catalyst zone having palladium and platinum catalytic components therein and a second, platinum group metal steam reforming catalyst. Air is used as the oxidant in the hydrocarbon reforming zone and a low oxygen to carbon ratio is maintained to control the amount of dilution of the hydrogen-rich gas with nitrogen of the air without sustaining an insupportable amount of carbon deposition on the catalyst. Anode vent gas may be utilized as the fuel to preheat the inlet stream to the reformer. The fuel cell and the reformer are preferably operated at elevated pressures, up to about a pressure of 150 psia for the fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1985
    Assignee: Engelhard Corporation
    Inventors: Herng-Shinn Hwang, Ronald M. Heck, Robert M. Yarrington