Patents by Inventor John Duckett Winter

John Duckett Winter 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: 9879191
    Abstract: A method of start-up for a gasification system includes establishing a flow of a start-up fuel external to the gasifier prior to ignition of the gasifier. The method also includes establishing a start-up liquid feed external to the gasifier during gasifier start-up. The method further includes channeling the start-up liquid feed and the start-up fuel to the gasifier during gasifier start-up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Frederick Leininger, Aaron John Avagliano, John Saunders Stevenson, John Duckett Winter
  • Publication number: 20150175913
    Abstract: A method of start-up for a gasification system includes establishing a flow of a start-up fuel external to the gasifier prior to ignition of the gasifier. The method also includes establishing a start-up liquid feed external to the gasifier during gasifier start-up. The method further includes channeling the start-up liquid feed and the start-up fuel to the gasifier during gasifier start-up.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Inventors: Thomas Frederick Leininger, Aaron John Avagliano, John Saunders Stevenson, John Duckett Winter
  • Patent number: 8951314
    Abstract: A fuel feed system for use in a gasification system includes a feed preparation section, a pressurization and conveyance section, and a slag additive section. The feed preparation section is configured to grind the fuel to a predetermined size and to adjust the moisture content within the particulate fuel. The pressurization and conveyance section is coupled in flow communication with the feed preparation section, and includes at least one solids pump configured to receive a flow of the particulate fuel at a first pressure and discharge the particulate fuel at a second pressure. The slag additive section is configured to feed a slag additive mixture into the gasifier and to substantially control the total water content within the gasification system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Frederick Leininger, Aaron John Avagliano, John Saunders Stevenson, John Duckett Winter
  • Patent number: 8828109
    Abstract: A method of assembling a gasification reactor includes extending an injection device at least partially into the gasification reactor. The injection device includes a plurality of substantially concentric conduits coupled to a modular tip and at least one outer surface. The modular tip includes a plurality of cooling channels and a plurality of substantially annular nozzles defined therein. The method further includes forming at least one layer of insulation about at least a portion of the at least one outer surface to facilitate insulating at least a portion of the injection device from heat within the gasification reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Saunders Stevenson, John Duckett Winter, Constantin Bugescu, Kenneth M. Sprouse, David R. Matthews
  • Patent number: 8480790
    Abstract: Method of producing syngas in an IGCC system, comprising compressing and heating carbon dioxide-rich gas to produce heated compressed carbon dioxide-rich gas, mixing the heated compressed carbon dioxide-rich gas with oxygen and feedstock to form a feedstock mixture, subjecting the feedstock mixture to gasification to produce syngas, cooling the syngas in a radiant syngas cooler, contacting syngas cooled in the radiant syngas cooler with compressed carbon dioxide-rich gas to further cool the syngas, and removing an amount of carbon dioxide-rich gas from the product mixture and compressing the removed carbon dioxide-rich gas prior to mixing with oxygen and feedstock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Duckett Winter, Paul Steven Wallace, George Gulko, Pradeep S. Thacker
  • Publication number: 20120267578
    Abstract: Method of producing syngas in an IGCC system, comprising compressing and heating carbon dioxide-rich gas to produce heated compressed carbon dioxide-rich gas, mixing the heated compressed carbon dioxide-rich gas with oxygen and feedstock to form a feedstock mixture, subjecting the feedstock mixture to gasification to produce syngas, cooling the syngas in a radiant syngas cooler, contacting syngas cooled in the radiant syngas cooler with compressed carbon dioxide-rich gas to further cool the syngas, and removing an amount of carbon dioxide-rich gas from the product mixture and compressing the removed carbon dioxide-rich gas prior to mixing with oxygen and feedstock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Inventors: John Duckett Winter, Paul Steven Wallace, George Gulko, Pradeep S. Thacker
  • Patent number: 8241404
    Abstract: Method of producing syngas in an IGCC system, comprising compressing and heating carbon dioxide-rich gas to produce heated compressed carbon dioxide-rich gas, mixing the heated compressed carbon dioxide-rich gas with oxygen and feedstock to form a feedstock mixture, subjecting the feedstock mixture to gasification to produce syngas, cooling the syngas in a radiant syngas cooler, contacting syngas cooled in the radiant syngas cooler with compressed carbon dioxide-rich gas to further cool the syngas, and removing an amount of carbon dioxide-rich gas from the product mixture and compressing the removed carbon dioxide-rich gas prior to mixing with oxygen and feedstock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Duckett Winter, Paul Steven Wallace, George Gulko, Pradeep S. Thacker
  • Publication number: 20120036776
    Abstract: A method of assembling a gasification reactor includes extending an injection device at least partially into the gasification reactor. The injection device includes a plurality of substantially concentric conduits coupled to a modular tip and at least one outer surface. The modular tip includes a plurality of cooling channels and a plurality of substantially annular nozzles defined therein. The method further includes forming at least one layer of insulation about at least a portion of the at least one outer surface to facilitate insulating at least a portion of the injection device from heat within the gasification reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Inventors: John Saunders Stevenson, John Duckett Winter, Constantin Bugescu, Kenneth M. Sprouse, David R. Matthews
  • Publication number: 20100324156
    Abstract: Method of producing syngas in an IGCC system, comprising compressing and heating carbon dioxide-rich gas to produce heated compressed carbon dioxide-rich gas, mixing the heated compressed carbon dioxide-rich gas with oxygen and feedstock to form a feedstock mixture, subjecting the feedstock mixture to gasification to produce syngas, cooling the syngas in a radiant syngas cooler, contacting syngas cooled in the radiant syngas cooler with compressed carbon dioxide-rich gas to further cool the syngas, and removing an amount of carbon dioxide-rich gas from the product mixture and compressing the removed carbon dioxide-rich gas prior to mixing with oxygen and feedstock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Inventors: John Duckett Winter, Paul Steven Wallace, George Gulko, Pradeep S. Thacker
  • Patent number: 7655213
    Abstract: A method for removing hydrogen sulfide to produce elemental sulfur from a synthesis gas feed stream containing hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide, hydrogen, carbon dioxide and water using direct oxidation of hydrogen sulfide by contacting a feed stream containing synthesis gas with oxygen in the presence of a catalyst comprised of metal oxides to convert a substantial fraction of the hydrogen sulfide present in the feed stream into sulfur and water, followed by cooling the reaction products to a temperature below the dew point temperature of the water and sulfur, separating the reaction products into two streams, with the first stream containing elemental sulfur and water in liquid form and the second stream containing unreacted components from the synthesis gas, hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide, hydrogen, carbon dioxide and water, and then recycling a portion of the unreacted components to the feed stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Duckett Winter, Raymond D. Steele
  • Publication number: 20090285738
    Abstract: A method for removing hydrogen sulfide to produce elemental sulfur from a synthesis gas feed stream containing hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide, hydrogen, carbon dioxide and water using direct oxidation of hydrogen sulfide by contacting a feed stream containing synthesis gas with oxygen in the presence of a catalyst comprised of metal oxides to convert a substantial fraction of the hydrogen sulfide present in the feed stream into sulfur and water, followed by cooling the reaction products to a temperature below the dew point temperature of the water and sulfur, separating the reaction products into two streams, with the first stream containing elemental sulfur and water in liquid form and the second stream containing unreacted components from the synthesis gas, hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide, hydrogen, carbon dioxide and water, and then recycling a portion of the unreacted components to the feed stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2008
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Duckett Winter, Raymond D. Steele
  • Publication number: 20090107046
    Abstract: A fuel feed system for use in a gasification system includes a feed preparation section, a pressurization and conveyance section, and a slag additive section. The feed preparation section is configured to grind the fuel to a predetermined size and to adjust the moisture content within the particulate fuel. The pressurization and conveyance section is coupled in flow communication with the feed preparation section, and includes at least one solids pump configured to receive a flow of the particulate fuel at a first pressure and discharge the particulate fuel at a second pressure. The slag additive section is configured to feed a slag additive mixture into the gasifier and to substantially control the total water content within the gasification system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Inventors: Thomas Frederick Leininger, Aaron John Avagliano, John Saunders Stevenson, John Duckett Winter
  • Patent number: 5904879
    Abstract: An integrated liquefaction and gasification process converts bulk particulate halogen-containing waste plastic materials with minimal particle size reduction into a synthesis gas and a non-leachable, vitreous environmentally nontoxic slag. The process involves melting and cracking bulk particulate halogen-containing waste plastic material to form a lower boiling point, lower molecular weight halogen-containing oil composition which then undergoes partial oxidation in a quench gasifier to produce a synthesis gas. Any hazardous gases, liquids or solids that are produced can be purified into commercially valuable byproducts or recycled to the process, which does not release hazardous materials to the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Assignee: Texaco Inc
    Inventors: John Duckett Winter, Paul Ellis Brickhouse, Ronald Frederick Tyree, John S. Stevenson, Gregory Joseph Mayotte, Jerrold Samuel Kassman, Byron Von Klock
  • Patent number: 5866091
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for minimizing hydrogen halide corrosion in quench gasifier during the non-catalytic partial oxidation reaction of a halogen-containing hydrocarbonaceous feed, to produce a hydrogen halide-containing synthesis gas, finely divided particulate solids, and a nontoxic slag. The hydrogen halide-containing synthesis gas is contacted with water in the quench zone of the gasifier. The quench water contains a neutralizing agent, in excess of the amount necessary to neutralize hydrogen halide acids present therein, to thereby form halide salts. The quench water containing the halide salts is purified to recover the halide salts. The salt-free water is essentially environmentally non-toxic and can either be recycled to the process or discarded in conformity with environmental regulations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Texaco Inc
    Inventors: John Saunders Stevenson, Byron Von Klock, John Duckett Winter, Jerrold Samuel Kassman, George Henry Webster, Jr., Paul Ellis Brickhouse
  • Patent number: 5837037
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for removing high molecular weight high melting point hydrocarbon vapors from a hydrocarbon vapor offgas stream produced during the liquefaction of a solid waste plastic material to produce an oil that serves as a liquid feedstock for a partial oxidation reaction. The hydrocarbon vapor offgas stream is directly contacted with a water spray at a condensation temperature above the melting point of the high molecular weight hydrocarbons contained in the offgas. This results in the condensation and convenient removal of the high melting point hydrocarbons, referred to as "waxes." One or more subsequent condensation steps can be conducted at lower condensation temperatures to remove the lower temperature condensable hydrocarbons. The remaining uncondensed vapors are then recycled to serve as a heater fuel for the liquefaction of the waste plastic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: Texaco Inc
    Inventor: John Duckett Winter
  • Patent number: 5647876
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for recovering condensed solidified volatile metals from the slag that exits the reactor section of a partial oxidation reactor. In a partial oxidation reactor, condensed solidified volatile metals become adsorbed to the surface of the slag particles and other particulate matter associated with the gasification reaction, such as ash and soot. These particulate materials can be removed and recovered. Finely divided slag particles can be separated and contacted with a mineral acid to dissolve the adsorbed condensed volatile metals. An acid liquor results which contains dissolved volatile metal salts of the acid. The acid liquor containing the dissolved volatile metal acid salts is then electrolyzed to reduce the dissolved volatile metal acid salts to the corresponding elemental metal for recovery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: John Duckett Winter, John Saunders Stevenson, Jerrold Samuel Kassman, Harry Clarence Wiese, George Neal Richter, Lisa Marie Kocsis, Rinaldo Ibbarola Salvaleon