Patents by Inventor John C. Cutting

John C. Cutting 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).

  • Method of and system for producing electrical power
    Patent number: 5260640
    Abstract: A method and system for converting the chemical energy of methane to electrical energy. Methane is thermally decomposed to hydrogen and carbon in a decomposing unit at a temperature not less than about 1200.degree. K. and at a pressure at least slightly above atmospheric pressure. Carbon and substantially pure oxygen and a cesium or potassium seed material is transmitted to a combustor which is maintained at a pressure of at least about 50 atmospheres to combust the carbon and oxygen and provide an ionized plasma having a temperature not less than about 2800.degree. K. The ionized plasma is accelerated to a velocity not less than about 1000 m/sec and transported through an MHD generator having a magnetic field in the range of from about 4 to about 6 Tesla to generate dc power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1993
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Ralph A. Carabetta, Gary E. Staats, John C. Cutting
  • Method of and system for producing electrical power
    Patent number: 5254934
    Abstract: A method and system for converting the chemical energy of methane to electrical energy. Methane is thermally decomposed to hydrogen and carbon in a decomposing unit at a temperature not less than 1200.degree. K. and at a pressure above atmospheric pressure. Carbon and substantially pure oxygen and a cesium or potassium seed material is transmitted to a combustor which is maintained at a pressure of at least 50 atmospheres to combust the carbon and oxygen and provide an ionized plasma having a temperature not less than 2900.degree. K. The ionized plasma is accelerated to a velocity not less than 1000 m/sec and transported through an MHD generator having a magnetic field in the range of from 4 to 6 Tesla to generate dc power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1993
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Ralph A. Carabetta, Gary E. Staats, John C. Cutting