Patents by Inventor John E. Dec

John E. Dec 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: 11814595
    Abstract: According to various aspects, an additive for a hydrocarbon-based fuel has a formula (I), in which R1, R2, and R3 are each independently selected from —H, —CH3, or —CH2CH3, and at least one of R1, R2, or R3 is not —H. The additive improves an autoignition reactivity of the hydrocarbon-based fuel. The additive can be present in the fuel composition including the additive and the hydrocarbon-based fuel in an amount of 0.1% by volume to 5% by volume. The hydrocarbon-based fuel can comprise gasoline or diesel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventors: Dario Lopez Pintor, John E. Dec
  • Patent number: 11674099
    Abstract: A fuel or fuel blending agent for an internal combustion engine includes a ketone compound that is a C4 to C10 branched acyclic ketone, cyclopentanone, or a derivative of cyclopentanone. The ketone compound may be blended with a majority portion of a fuel selected from the group consisting of: gasoline, diesel, alcohol fuel, biofuel, renewable fuel, Fischer-Tropsch fuel, or combinations thereof. The ketone compound may be derived from biological sources. A method for powering an internal combustion engine with a fuel comprising the ketone compound is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventors: John E. Dec, Yi Yang
  • Publication number: 20220081631
    Abstract: A fuel or fuel blending agent for an internal combustion engine includes a ketone compound that is a C4 to C10 branched acyclic ketone, cyclopentanone, or a derivative of cyclopentanone. The ketone compound may be blended with a majority portion of a fuel selected from the group consisting of: gasoline, diesel, alcohol fuel, biofuel, renewable fuel, Fischer-Tropsch fuel, or combinations thereof. The ketone compound may be derived from biological sources. A method for powering an internal combustion engine with a fuel comprising the ketone compound is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2021
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventors: John E. Dec, Yi Yang
  • Patent number: 11261391
    Abstract: A fuel or fuel blending agent for an internal combustion engine includes a ketone compound that is a C4 to C10 branched acyclic ketone, cyclopentanone, or a derivative of cyclopentanone. The ketone compound may be blended with a majority portion of a fuel selected from the group consisting of: gasoline, diesel, alcohol fuel, biofuel, renewable fuel, Fischer-Tropsch fuel, or combinations thereof. The ketone compound may be derived from biological sources. A method for powering an internal combustion engine with a fuel comprising the ketone compound is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventors: John E. Dec, Yi Yang
  • Patent number: 10202929
    Abstract: A system and method for fast control of the timing of combustion in an internal combustion engine, comprising actuating a fast-acting fuel-additive supply valve to meter a variable amount of fuel additive into a fuel stream, thereby forming an additive-enhanced fuel with an additive concentration that can be dynamically adjusted as fast as each engine cycle; injecting the additive-enhanced fuel directly or indirectly into a combustion chamber or into an intake port; and combusting the additive-enhanced fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventors: John E. Dec, Ronald F. Renzi
  • Patent number: 9562206
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for increasing the high load (knock) limit of an internal combustion engine operated in a low temperature combustion ignition mode, the method comprising operating the engine with a fuel composition comprising (a) gasoline having a Research Octane Number (RON) greater than 85 and (b) one or more cetane improvers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: William James Cannella, Amir Gamal Maria, John E. Dec, Chunsheng Ji
  • Publication number: 20140331953
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for increasing the high load (knock) limit of an internal combustion engine operated in a low temperature combustion ignition mode, the method comprising operating the engine with a fuel composition comprising (a) gasoline having a Research Octane Number (RON) greater than 85 and (b) one or more cetane improvers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: CHEVRON U.S. A. INC.
    Inventors: William James Cannella, Amir Gamal Maria, John E. Dec, Chunsheng Ji
  • Patent number: 8689767
    Abstract: A method for the operation of homogeneous charge compression ignition engines (HCCI) using gasoline or similar single-stage ignition fuels. Partial fuel stratification (PFS), intake pressure boosting and controlled BDC-intake temperatures, typically in the range of 95° C. to about 125° C., are used to reduce combustion pressure rise rates (PRR), and therefore, the knocking propensity of homogeneous charge compression ignition engines operating on gasoline or similar fuels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: John E. Dec, Yi Yang, Nicolas Dronniou
  • Patent number: 7128046
    Abstract: A method for slowing the heat-release rate in homogeneous charge compression ignition (“HCCI”) engines that allows operation without excessive knock at higher engine loads than are possible with conventional HCCI. This method comprises injecting a fuel charge in a manner that creates a stratified fuel charge in the engine cylinder to provide a range of fuel concentrations in the in-cylinder gases (typically with enough oxygen for complete combustion) using a fuel with two-stage ignition fuel having appropriate cool-flame chemistry so that regions of different fuel concentrations autoignite sequentially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Sandia National Laboratories
    Inventors: John E. Dec, Carl-Magnus G. Sjöberg