Patents by Inventor John Schwalbe

John Schwalbe 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).

  • Publication number: 20240132354
    Abstract: Provided herein are systems and methods for producing nitrophosphates and mineralized carbon. Advantageously, the systems and methods are capable of sequestering carbon from the atmosphere. The systems generally include a first reactor for producing nitric acid; a mixer for mixing the nitric acid produced in the first reactor with a phosphate source, thereby producing nitro-phosphoric acid; and a second reactor for producing a solution comprising nitrophosphates and mineralized carbon, wherein the second reactor is operable to receive: the nitro-phosphoric acid from the mixer, ammonia, water, and carbon dioxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2023
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Inventors: Nicolas H. PINKOWSKI, Joshua M. MCENANEY, John A. SCHWALBE, Motahare ATHARIBOROUJENY
  • Publication number: 20230219052
    Abstract: A microwave-plasma system for generating fixed-nitrogen products comprises a microwave generator operably coupled with a gas chamber where the microwave generator provides microwave power to the gas chamber. The system further includes a source of gas, which may be for example oxygen, nitrogen and/or air, operably coupled with the plasma chamber. The microwave power produces a plasma of the gas within the chamber. The system further includes an absorber unit fluidically connected to the gas chamber to capture product from the plasma in the gas chamber. The captured product may include fixed nitrogen gaseous products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2023
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Inventors: Joshua M. MCENANEY, John A. SCHWALBE, Sreekumar CHOCKALINGAM, Nicolas H. PINKOWSKI
  • Publication number: 20230191356
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure involve a power supply circuit for powering a plasma reactor and more specifically initiating and maintain a plasma therein, and that can operate with power from an intermittent power source. The power supply may include an auxiliary-power supply or trigger circuit, in addition to a primary-power supply circuit, which can reduce the need for high-voltage equipment in the high-power section of the power supply. In one particular use, the power supply includes a high-voltage power output that may be used for generating a plasma between electrodes, for example, in a nitrogen-fixation plasma system. The power supply circuit may provide the flexibility to power a plasma reactor using an intermittent power source, such as solar, wind, and/or a periodic low-cost power grid, while reducing wasteful power conditioning, lowering the cost of operation, and increasing the efficiency of chemical production from the renewable energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2022
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: William C. King, John A. Schwalbe, Joshua M. McEnaney, Nicolas H. Pinkowski
  • Publication number: 20230126050
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure involve a gliding-arc type plasma reactor for use in nitrogen-based fertilizer production. The plasma reactor may include a pair of electrodes oriented in a plane within an enclosure. A pair of sheaths may attach to a corresponding electrode, with each included a strike point surface oriented to face the other sheath. The electrodes may further include an inner channel through which a cooling fluid may be pumped for heat control. A gas injection system may also be included to inject a gas into the chamber for interacting with the plasma arc and may or may not include an adjustable nozzle. The nozzle may direct air flow, including the gas, at a location at which the plasma arc may occur. The device provides for a long lifetime of components within the device and easy replacement and maintenance of the components of high-wear items.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2022
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Inventors: John A. SCHWALBE, Joshua M. Mcenaney, Nicolas H. Pinkowski
  • Publication number: 20210301408
    Abstract: A method of ammonia production is provided that includes holding a nitrate source in an electrolyte solution, using a reaction chamber, reducing the nitrate into ammonia or ammonium, whereby producing water or hydroxide ions, using a cathode in the reaction chamber, oxidizing the water or hydroxide ions into protons and oxygen or water and oxygen, using an anode in the reaction chamber, and separating the ammonia and the ammonium from the reaction chamber, using an ammonia and ammonium output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventors: Joshua M. McEnaney, Adam Christopher Nielander, Sarah Jane Blair, John Schwalbe, Thomas Francisco Jaramillo
  • Patent number: 10479693
    Abstract: An electro-thermochemical cycling system for producing ammonia is provided that includes a reaction chamber having a metal compound input port, an anode suitable for oxidation in contact with the metal compound and configured for oxidation of hydroxide ions to water and oxygen, a cathode suitable for plating in contact with the metal compound and configured to electrolyze the metal compound to metal, a voltage source connecting the cathode and anode, a nitrogen port to the reaction chamber that combines nitrogen with the electrolyzed metal on the cathode to form a metal-nitrogen compound proximal to the nitrogen input, an atomic hydrogen port to the reaction chamber that combines with the metal-nitrogen compound to form ammonia, and an ammonia output port from the reaction chamber, where a metal compound input port inputs the metal compound to the reaction chamber according to a depletion rate of the metal compound in the reaction chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Joshua M. McEnaney, John Schwalbe, Aayush Ranjan Singh, John Lin, Jakob Kibsgaard, Thomas F. Jaramillo, Matteo Cargnello, Jens K. Nørskov
  • Publication number: 20180029895
    Abstract: An electro-thermochemical cycling system for producing ammonia is provided that includes a reaction chamber having a metal compound input port, an anode suitable for oxidation in contact with the metal compound and configured for oxidation of hydroxide ions to water and oxygen, a cathode suitable for plating in contact with the metal compound and configured to electrolyze the metal compound to metal, a voltage source connecting the cathode and anode, a nitrogen port to the reaction chamber that combines nitrogen with the electrolyzed metal on the cathode to form a metal-nitrogen compound proximal to the nitrogen input, an atomic hydrogen port to the reaction chamber that combines with the metal-nitrogen compound to form ammonia, and an ammonia output port from the reaction chamber, where a metal compound input port inputs the metal compound to the reaction chamber according to a depletion rate of the metal compound in the reaction chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: Joshua M. McEnaney, John Schwalbe, Aayush Ranjan Singh, John Lin, Jakob Kibsgaard, Thomas F. Jaramillo, Matteo Cargnello, Jens K. Nørskov
  • Patent number: 7422393
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for creating, managing and staging aerobic and/or anaerobic landfills. Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for collecting liquids from and recirculating liquids into landfills and systems and methods for collecting gases from and introducing gases into landfills. Embodiments of the invention also provide a novel conduit for conveying liquids and gases which comprises a first pipe coaxially disposed within a second pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Casella Waste Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: John Schwalbe
  • Publication number: 20070189856
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for creating, managing and staging aerobic and/or anaerobic landfills. Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for collecting liquids from and recirculating liquids into landfills and systems and methods for collecting gases from and introducing gases into landfills. Embodiments of the invention also provide a novel conduit for conveying liquids and gases which comprises a first pipe coaxially disposed within a second pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2007
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Applicant: Casella Waste Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: John Schwalbe
  • Patent number: 7168888
    Abstract: The invention provides systems and methods for creating, managing and staging aerobic and/or anaerobic landfills. The invention provides systems and methods for collecting liquids from and recirculating liquids into landfills and systems and methods for collecting gases from and introducing gases into landfills. The invention also provides a novel conduit for conveying liquids and gases which comprises a first pipe coaxially disposed within a second pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Casella Waste Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: John Schwalbe
  • Publication number: 20060222464
    Abstract: The invention provides systems and methods for creating, managing and staging aerobic and/or anaerobic landfills. The invention provides systems and methods for collecting liquids from and recirculating liquids into landfills and systems and methods for collecting gases from and introducing gases into landfills. The invention also provides a novel conduit for conveying liquids and gases which comprises a first pipe coaxially disposed within a second pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2005
    Publication date: October 5, 2006
    Applicant: Casella Waste Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: John Schwalbe