Patents by Inventor Jerry D. Stephenson

Jerry D. Stephenson 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).

  • Patent number: 8765017
    Abstract: Gasification systems and associated processes are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a gasification process includes simultaneously supplying a carbonaceous material and steam to a gasifier, the gasifier containing a liquid volume containing at least about 10% by weight of iron oxide (FexOy where x and y are positive integers). The gasification process also includes performing a gasification reaction between the carbonaceous material and steam in the liquid volume, facilitating the gasification reaction with the iron oxide in the liquid volume, and producing a gas from the gasification reaction, the gas containing carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Inventors: Dale Nickels, Jerry D. Stephenson, Steven W. Schenk, Tom Weyand
  • Publication number: 20100283009
    Abstract: Gasification systems and associated processes are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a gasification process includes simultaneously supplying a carbonaceous material and steam to a gasifier, the gasifier containing a liquid volume containing at least about 10% by weight of iron oxide (FexOy where x and y are positive integers). The gasification process also includes performing a gasification reaction between the carbonaceous material and steam in the liquid volume, facilitating the gasification reaction with the iron oxide in the liquid volume, and producing a gas from the gasification reaction, the gas containing carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2009
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Inventors: Dale Nickels, Jerry D. Stephenson, Steven W. Schenk, Tom Weyand
  • Publication number: 20100170149
    Abstract: Algae production systems and associated methods are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, for example, an algae production system can include a plurality of elongated growth receptacles arranged in a desired configuration at a work site. The growth receptacles have a generally non-circular cross-sectional profile and are configured to hold an algae culture, and wherein the individual growth receptacles have a generally non-circular cross-sectional profile. The system can also include a carbon dioxide (CO2) subsystem configured to supply provide CO2-enriched air to the growth receptacles, a fresh medium subsystem configured to supply a fertility solution to the growth receptacles, and a harvesting subsystem.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Inventors: Christopher C. Keeler, Jerry D. Stephenson, Steven W. Schenk, George Benjamin Cloud, Souren Naradikian, Stephen W. Irwin
  • Patent number: 4880050
    Abstract: A thermal management system for a spacecraft includes a plurality of T-shaped pallets each having a radiator panel and mounting panel. The radiator panels are connected end to end to enclose an interior space including the mounting panels. The mounting panels have electronic equipment mounted thereon. L-shaped external heat pipes contact both the mounting panel and radiator panel of each pallet to provide heat transfer from the electronic equipment to the radiator panel when the radiator panel is facing away from the sun. In order to cool the electronic equipment mounted on a pallet facing the sun, a closed-loop heat pipe is disposed in the interior space and each pallet inclues L-shaped internal heat pipes contacting the closed-loop heat pipe and the mounting panel. Heat generated in the electronic equipment of the pallet facing the sun is transferred to the internal heat pipes via the mounting panel and then to the closed-loop heat pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1989
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Gary D. Nakamura, Jerry D. Stephenson