Patents by Inventor John R. Budge
John R. Budge 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).
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Patent number: 10381669Abstract: A fuel cell system and method is provided to control the volumetric ratio of a reformate and unreformed hydrocarbon fuel supplied to a fuel cell configured for in-stack reforming. The system includes a reformer having a number of high and low steam reforming activity channels which provide a full equilibrated fuel stream and a fuel stream having hydrocarbon levels slight lower than the hydrocarbon levels of the hydrocarbon fuel supplied to the reformer, respectively. The fuel streams can be mixed and supplied to the fuel cell to provide in-stack reforming while reducing or inhibiting the formation of carbon in the fuel stack.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2016Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignee: LG FUEL CELL SYSTEMS INC.Inventors: Gerry D. Agnew, John R. Budge, Robert H. Cunningham, Eric Dean
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Patent number: 10267230Abstract: A fuel conditioning apparatus for de-oxygenating a liquid hydrocarbon fuel has a catalyst portion which, in turn, has an inlet portion and an outlet portion. A hydrocarbon fuel stream is fed through the inlet portion and into the catalyst portion where it passes over a catalytically active component. The catalytically active component promotes the reaction of the fuel with the dissolved oxygen in the fuel stream, converting it into less chemically reactive forms and thereby reducing the fuel's propensity to form carbonaceous deposits.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2013Date of Patent: April 23, 2019Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plcInventor: John R. Budge
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Patent number: 10158139Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a unique fuel cell system. Another embodiment is a unique desulfurization system. Yet another embodiment is a method of operating a fuel cell system. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for fuel cell systems and desulfurization systems. Further embodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits, and advantages of the present application will become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2017Date of Patent: December 18, 2018Assignee: LG FUEL CELL SYSTEMS INC.Inventor: John R. Budge
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Patent number: 10109875Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a unique fuel cell system. Another embodiment is a unique desulfurization system. Yet another embodiment is a method of operating a fuel cell system. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for fuel cell systems and desulfurization systems. Further embodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits, and advantages of the present application will become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2017Date of Patent: October 23, 2018Assignee: LG FUEL CELL SYSTEMS INC.Inventor: John R. Budge
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Publication number: 20180108929Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a unique method for operating a fuel cell system. Another embodiment is a unique system for reforming a hydrocarbon fuel. Another embodiment is a unique fuel cell system. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for fuel cell systems and steam reforming systems. Further embodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits, and advantages of the present application will become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2017Publication date: April 19, 2018Applicant: LG Fuel Cell Systems, Inc.Inventor: John R. Budge
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Publication number: 20180086636Abstract: In some examples, a method for treating a reforming catalyst, the method comprising heating a catalyst metal used for reforming hydrocarbon in a reducing gas mixture environment. The reducing gas mixture comprises hydrogen and at least one sulfur-containing compound. The at least one sulfur-containing compound includes one or more of hydrogen sulfide, carbonyl sulfide, carbonyl disulfide and organic sulfur-containing compounds such as thiophenes, thiophanes, sulfides (RSH), disulfides (RS2R?), tri-sulfides (RS3R?) and mercaptans (RSR?).Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2017Publication date: March 29, 2018Inventor: John R. Budge
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Patent number: 9876244Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a unique method for operating a fuel cell system. Another embodiment is a unique system for reforming a hydrocarbon fuel. Another embodiment is a unique fuel cell system. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for fuel cell systems and steam reforming systems. Further embodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits, and advantages of the present application will become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2013Date of Patent: January 23, 2018Assignee: LG Fuel Cell Systems, Inc.Inventor: John R. Budge
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Publication number: 20180019490Abstract: A fuel cell system and method is provided to control the volumetric ratio of a reformate and unreformed hydrocarbon fuel supplied to a fuel cell configured for in-stack reforming. The system includes a reformer having a number of high and low steam reforming activity channels which provide a full equilibrated fuel stream and a fuel stream having hydrocarbon levels slight lower than the hydrocarbon levels of the hydrocarbon fuel supplied to the reformer, respectively. The fuel streams can be mixed and supplied to the fuel cell to provide in-stack reforming while reducing or inhibiting the formation of carbon in the fuel stack.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 13, 2016Publication date: January 18, 2018Applicant: LG Fuel Cell Systems Inc.Inventors: Gerry D. Agnew, John R. Budge, Robert H. Cunningham, Eric Dean
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Patent number: 9809453Abstract: In some examples, a method for treating a reforming catalyst, the method comprising heating a catalyst metal used for reforming hydrocarbon in a reducing gas mixture environment. The reducing gas mixture comprises hydrogen and at least one sulfur-containing compound. The at least one sulfur-containing compound includes one or more of hydrogen sulfide, carbonyl sulfide, carbonyl disulfide and organic sulfur-containing compounds such as thiophenes, thiophanes, sulfides (RSH), disulfides (RS2R?), tri-sulfides (RS3R?) and mercaptans (RSR?).Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: November 7, 2017Assignee: LG Fuel Cell Systems, Inc.Inventor: John R. Budge
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Publication number: 20170301939Abstract: A fuel cell system including a hydrocarbon fuel stream including a sulfur compound; a passive sorbent bed including a selective sulfur sorbent configured to remove the sulfur compound from the hydrocarbon fuel stream; a SCSO reactor, and an active sorbent bed comprising a sulfur oxide sorbent, wherein the active sorbet bed is configured to receive an effluent stream from the SCSO reactor and remove at least a portion of the sulfur oxides via the sulfur oxide sorbent. During start-up of the fuel cell system, the hydrocarbon fuel stream may be directed along a first flow pathway through the passive sorbent bed to remove the sulfur compound from the fuel stream during a first time period and then directed along a second flow pathway during a second time period that does not pass through the passive sorbent bed, e.g., once the SCSO reactor/active sorbent bed have reached operating temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 13, 2017Publication date: October 19, 2017Inventors: Anant K. Upadhyayula, Greg C. Rush, Mark Anthony Perna, Mark Vincent Scotto, Cris DeBellis, John R. Budge
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Publication number: 20170237100Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a unique fuel cell system. Another embodiment is a unique desulfurization system. Yet another embodiment is a method of operating a fuel cell system. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for fuel cell systems and desulfurization systems. Further embodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits, and advantages of the present application will become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2017Publication date: August 17, 2017Applicant: LG Fuel Cell Systems, Inc.Inventor: John R. Budge
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Publication number: 20170237099Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a unique fuel cell system. Another embodiment is a unique desulfurization system. Yet another embodiment is a method of operating a fuel cell system. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for fuel cell systems and desulfurization systems. Further embodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits, and advantages of the present application will become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2017Publication date: August 17, 2017Applicant: LG Fuel Cell Systems, Inc.Inventor: John R. Budge
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Patent number: 9640822Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a unique fuel cell system. Another embodiment is a unique desulfurization system. Yet another embodiment is a method of operating a fuel cell system. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for fuel cell systems and desulfurization systems. Further embodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits, and advantages of the present application will become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2016Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: LG Fuel Cell Systems Inc.Inventor: John R. Budge
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Publication number: 20170054168Abstract: In some examples, a solid oxide fuel cell system including a solid oxide fuel cell; an ejector, wherein the ejector is configured to receive a fuel recycle stream from a fuel side outlet of the solid oxide fuel cell and also receive a primary fuel stream, wherein the ejector is configured such that the flow of the primary fuel stream draws the fuel recycle stream into the ejector and mix the fuel recycle and primary fuel stream to form a mixed fuel stream including methane and higher hydrocarbons; and a higher hydrocarbon reduction unit configured to receive the mixed fuel stream from the ejector and remove a portion of the higher hydrocarbons via a catalytic conversion process to form a reduced higher hydrocarbon fuel stream, wherein a fuel side inlet of the solid oxide fuel cell is configured to receive the reduced higher hydrocarbon fuel stream from a reduction unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 18, 2016Publication date: February 23, 2017Inventors: John R. Budge, Gerard D. Agnew
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Publication number: 20170054169Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a unique fuel cell system. Another embodiment is a unique desulfurization system. Yet another embodiment is a method of operating a fuel cell system. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for fuel cell systems and desulfurization systems. Further embodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits, and advantages of the present application will become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 2, 2016Publication date: February 23, 2017Applicant: LG Fuel Cell Systems Inc.Inventor: John R. Budge
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Patent number: 9515338Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a unique fuel cell system. Another embodiment is a unique desulfurization system. Yet another embodiment is a method of operating a fuel cell system. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for fuel cell systems and desulfurization systems. Further embodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits, and advantages of the present application will become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2015Date of Patent: December 6, 2016Assignee: LG Fuel Cell Systems Inc.Inventor: John R. Budge
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Publication number: 20150221967Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a unique fuel cell system. Another embodiment is a unique desulfurization system. Yet another embodiment is a method of operating a fuel cell system. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for fuel cell systems and desulfurization systems. Further embodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits, and advantages of the present application will become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2015Publication date: August 6, 2015Inventor: John R. Budge
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Patent number: 9034527Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a unique fuel cell system. Another embodiment is a unique desulfurization system. Yet another embodiment is a method of operating a fuel cell system. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for fuel cell systems and desulfurization systems. Further embodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits, and advantages of the present application will become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2010Date of Patent: May 19, 2015Assignee: LG Fuel Cell Systems Inc.Inventor: John R. Budge
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Publication number: 20140272642Abstract: In some examples, a method for treating a reforming catalyst, the method comprising heating a catalyst metal used for reforming hydrocarbon in a reducing gas mixture environment. The reducing gas mixture comprises hydrogen and at least one sulfur-containing compound. The at least one sulfur-containing compound includes one or more of hydrogen sulfide, carbonyl sulfide, carbonyl disulfide and organic sulfur-containing compounds such as thiophenes, thiophanes, sulfides (RSH), disulfides (RS2R?), tri-sulfides (RS3R?) and mercaptans (RSR?).Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: LG FUEL CELL SYSTEMS, INC.Inventor: John R. Budge
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Publication number: 20140087281Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a unique method for operating a fuel cell system. Another embodiment is a unique system for reforming a hydrocarbon fuel. Another embodiment is a unique fuel cell system. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for fuel cell systems and steam reforming systems. Further embodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits, and advantages of the present application will become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 27, 2013Publication date: March 27, 2014Applicant: LG Fuel Cell Systems Inc.Inventor: John R. Budge