Patents by Inventor Keith L. Pronske
Keith L. Pronske 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: 8936080Abstract: A gas generator is provided with a combustion chamber into which oxygen and a hydrogen containing fuel are directed for combustion therein. The gas generator also includes water inlets and an outlet for a steam and CO2 mixture generated within the gas generator. The steam and CO2 mixture can be used for various different processes, with some such processes resulting in recirculation of water from the processor back to the water inlets of the gas generator. In one process a hydrocarbon containing subterranean space is accessed by a well and the steam and CO2 mixture is directed into the well to enhance removability of hydrocarbons within the subterranean space. Fluids are then removed from the subterranean space include hydrocarbons and water, with a portion of the hydrocarbons then removed in a separator/recovery step. The resulting hydrocarbon removal system can operate with no polluting emissions and with no water requirements.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2013Date of Patent: January 20, 2015Assignee: Clean Energy Systems, Inc.Inventors: Roger E. Anderson, Keith L. Pronske, Murray Propp
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Publication number: 20140137779Abstract: Substantially pure high pressure steam is produced within a high pressure heat exchanger. Heat for the high pressure heat exchanger is provided from an outlet of an oxy-fuel combustion gas generator which discharges a steam/CO2 mixture at high pressure and temperature. The gas generator combusts oxygen and hydrocarbon fuel and mixes with water which can include contaminates therein in the form of dissolved solids or hydrocarbons. A separator is typically provided downstream of the gas generator and upstream of the heat exchanger and the steam/CO2 mixture is discharged from the gas generator at saturation temperature. A water fraction of the steam/CO2 mixture is discharged from the separator along with dissolved solids in concentrated brine form. The water heated into steam by the heat exchanger can be at least partially water separated within a condenser downstream of the heat exchanger.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2013Publication date: May 22, 2014Applicant: Clean Energy Systems, Inc.Inventors: Keith L. Pronske, Roger A. Anderson, Bradley J. Anderson, Daniel A. Greisen
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Patent number: 8631658Abstract: A steam reheat process is provided to enhance a thermal power cycle, and particularly a renewable steam thermal cycle. An oxyfuel combustion gas generator is provided which combusts a hydrogen and/or carbon containing fuel with an oxidizer of primarily oxygen to generate products of combustion including steam and/or carbon dioxide. Water from the thermal cycle is directed to the reheater for mixing with the products of combustion within the reheater to generate a working fluid containing steam. This steam is routed through a turbine or other expander and power is outputted from the system. The water is optionally thereafter condensed and at least partially routed back to the thermal cycle. Any carbon dioxide within the working fluid can be separated in a condenser downstream of the expander for capture of the carbon dioxide, such that increased power output for the thermal power cycle is achieved without atmospheric emissions.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2009Date of Patent: January 21, 2014Assignee: Clean Energy Systems, Inc.Inventors: Scott MacAdam, Roger E. Anderson, Keith L. Pronske
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Publication number: 20140000880Abstract: A gas generator is provided with a combustion chamber into which oxygen and a hydrogen containing fuel are directed for combustion therein. The gas generator also includes water inlets and an outlet for a steam and CO2 mixture generated within the gas generator. The steam and CO2 mixture can be used for various different processes, with some such processes resulting in recirculation of water from the processor back to the water inlets of the gas generator. In one process a hydrocarbon containing subterranean space is accessed by a well and the steam and CO2 mixture is directed into the well to enhance removability of hydrocarbons within the subterranean space. Fluids are then removed from the subterranean space include hydrocarbons and water, with a portion of the hydrocarbons then removed in a separator/recovery step. The resulting hydrocarbon removal system can operate with no polluting emissions and with no water requirements.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 3, 2013Publication date: January 2, 2014Applicant: Clean Energy Systems, Inc.Inventors: Roger E. Anderson, Keith L. Pronske, Murray Propp
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Patent number: 8522871Abstract: A gas generator is provided with a combustion chamber into which oxygen and a hydrogen containing fuel are directed for combustion therein. The gas generator also includes water inlets and an outlet for a steam and CO2 mixture generated within the gas generator. The steam and CO2 mixture can be used for various different processes, with some such processes resulting in recirculation of water from the processor back to the water inlets of the gas generator. In one process a hydrocarbon containing subterranean space is accessed by a well and the steam and CO2 mixture is directed into the well to enhance removability of hydrocarbons within the subterranean space. Fluids are then removed from the subterranean space include hydrocarbons and water, with a portion of the hydrocarbons then removed in a separator/recovery step. The resulting hydrocarbon removal system can operate with no polluting emissions and with no water requirements.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2010Date of Patent: September 3, 2013Assignee: Clean Energy Systems, Inc.Inventors: Roger E. Anderson, Keith L. Pronske, Murray Propp
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Publication number: 20110126549Abstract: The power plant combusts a hydrocarbon fuel with oxygen to produce high temperature high pressure products of combustion. These products of combustion are routed through an expander to generate power. The products of combustion are substantially free of oxides of nitrogen because the oxidizer is oxygen rather than air. To achieve fast starting, oxygen, fuel and water diluent are preferably stored in quantities sufficient to allow the power plant to operate from these stored consumables. The fuel can be a gaseous or liquid fuel. The oxygen is preferably stored as liquid and routed through a vaporizer before combustion in a gas generator along with the hydrocarbon fuel. In one embodiment, the vaporizer gasifies the oxygen by absorption of heat from air before the air is routed into a separate heat engine, such as a gas turbine. The gas turbine thus operates on cooled air and has its power output increased.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2010Publication date: June 2, 2011Inventors: Keith L. Pronske, Fermin Viteri, Scott MacAdam, Lawrence C. Hoffman, Rebecca Hollis, Patrick A. Skutley, Cheryl Lynn Hoffman
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Patent number: 7882692Abstract: A fuel combustion power generation system is provided operating as a closed loop Rankine cycle and with zero atmospheric emissions. The fuel is combusted with oxygen in a combustor to generate high temperature products of combustion. The products of combustion are routed to a first side of a heat exchanger. A second side of the heat exchanger has a working fluid of the closed loop Rankine cycle passed therethrough to boil the working fluid into a gas. The working fluid is then expanded, condensed back to a liquid and pumped back to high pressure for return to the heat exchanger the products of combustion enter a condenser, where gases are collected and liquids recirculated or released. The products of combustion can be expanded upstream of the heat exchanger. The fuel can be a gaseous fuel or a solid or liquid fuel, such as coal or biomass, with gasification before combustion.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2007Date of Patent: February 8, 2011Assignee: Clean Energy Systems, Inc.Inventors: Keith L. Pronske, Roger E. Anderson, Fermin Viteri
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Publication number: 20100326084Abstract: An oxy-combustor is provided to combust oxygen with gaseous low heating value fuel. A compressor upstream of the combustor compresses the fuel. The combustor produces a drive gas including steam and carbon dioxide as well as other non-condensable gases in many cases, which pass through a turbine to output power. The drive gas can be recirculated to the combustor, either through the compressor, the oxygen inlet or directly to the combustor. Recirculation can occur before or after a condenser for separation of a portion of the water from the carbon dioxide. Excess carbon dioxide and steam is collected from the system. The turbine, combustor and compressor can be derived from an existing gas turbine with fuel and air/oxidizer lines swapped.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2010Publication date: December 30, 2010Inventors: Roger E. Anderson, Fermin Viteri, Lawrence C. Hoffman, Cheryl Lynn Hoffman, Keith L. Pronske
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Patent number: 7827794Abstract: The power plant combusts a hydrocarbon fuel with oxygen to produce high temperature high pressure products of combustion. These products of combustion are routed through an expander to generate power. The products of combustion are substantially free of oxides of nitrogen because the oxidizer is oxygen rather than air. To achieve fast starting, oxygen, fuel and water diluent are preferably stored in quantities sufficient to allow the power plant to operate from these stored consumables. The fuel can be a gaseous or liquid fuel. The oxygen is preferably stored as liquid and routed through a vaporizer before combustion in a gas generator along with the hydrocarbon fuel. In one embodiment, the vaporizer gasifies the oxygen by absorption of heat from air before the air is routed into a separate heat engine, such as a gas turbine. The gas turbine thus operates on cooled air and has its power output increased.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2006Date of Patent: November 9, 2010Assignee: Clean Energy Systems, Inc.Inventors: Keith L. Pronske, Fermin Viteri, Scott MacAdam, Lawrence C. Hoffman
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Publication number: 20100224363Abstract: A gas generator is provided with a combustion chamber into which oxygen and a hydrogen containing fuel are directed for combustion therein. The gas generator also includes water inlets and an outlet for a steam and CO2 mixture generated within the gas generator. The steam and CO2 mixture can be used for various different processes, with some such processes resulting in recirculation of water from the processor back to the water inlets of the gas generator. In one process a hydrocarbon containing subterranean space is accessed by a well and the steam and CO2 mixture is directed into the well to enhance removability of hydrocarbons within the subterranean space. Fluids are then removed from the subterranean space include hydrocarbons and water, with a portion of the hydrocarbons then removed in a separator/recovery step. The resulting hydrocarbon removal system can operate with no polluting emissions and with no water requirements.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2010Publication date: September 9, 2010Inventors: Roger E. Anderson, Keith L. Pronske, Murray Propp
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Publication number: 20100146970Abstract: A steam reheat process is provided to enhance a thermal power cycle, and particularly a renewable steam thermal cycle. An oxyfuel combustion gas generator is provided which combusts a hydrogen and/or carbon containing fuel with an oxidizer of primarily oxygen to generate products of combustion including steam and/or carbon dioxide. Water from the thermal cycle is directed to the reheater for mixing with the products of combustion within the reheater to generate a working fluid containing steam. This steam is routed through a turbine or other expander and power is outputted from the system. The water is optionally thereafter condensed and at least partially routed back to the thermal cycle. Any carbon dioxide within the working fluid can be separated in a condenser downstream of the expander for capture of the carbon dioxide, such that increased power output for the thermal power cycle is achieved without atmospheric emissions.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2009Publication date: June 17, 2010Inventors: Scott MacAdam, Roger E. Anderson, Keith L. Pronske