Patents by Inventor Kenneth J. Champagne

Kenneth J. Champagne 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: 8530375
    Abstract: Two new classes of amine-based sorbents are disclosed. The first class comprises new polymer-immobilized tertiary amine sorbents; the second class new polymer-bound amine sorbents. Both classes are tailored to facilitate removal of acid anhydrides, especially carbon dioxide (CO2), from effluent gases. The amines adsorb acid anhydrides in a 1:1 molar ratio. Both classes of amine sorbents adsorb in the temperature range from about 20° C. upwards to 90° C. and can be regenerated by heating upwards to 100° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignees: U.S. Department of Energy, University of Pittsburgh—Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
    Inventors: McMahan Gray, Kenneth J. Champagne, Daniel Fauth, Eric Beckman
  • Publication number: 20100292072
    Abstract: Two new classes of amine-based sorbents are disclosed. The first class comprises new polymer-immobilized tertiary amine sorbents; the second class new polymer-bound amine sorbents. Both classes are tailored to facilitate removal of acid anhydrides, especially carbon dioxide (CO2), from effluent gases. The amines adsorb acid anhydrides in a 1:1 molar ratio. Both classes of amine sorbents adsorb in the temperature range from about 20° C. upwards to 90° C. and can be regenerated by heating upwards to 100° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Inventors: McMahan . Gray, Kenneth J. Champagne, Daniel Fauth, Eric Beckman
  • Patent number: 7288136
    Abstract: A method is provided for making low-cost CO2 sorbents that can be used in large-scale gas-solid processes. The improved method entails treating an amine to increase the number of secondary amine groups and impregnating the amine in a porous solid support. The method increases the CO2 capture capacity and decreases the cost of utilizing an amine-enriched solid sorbent in CO2 capture systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: United States of America Department of Energy
    Inventors: McMahan L. Gray, Kenneth J. Champagne, Yee Soong, Thomas Filburn
  • Patent number: 6547854
    Abstract: A new method for making low-cost CO2 sorbents that can be used in large-scale gas-solid processes. The new method entails treating a solid substrate with acid or base and simultaneous or subsequent treatment with a substituted amine salt. The method eliminates the need for organic solvents and polymeric materials for the preparation of CO2 capture systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: McMahan L. Gray, Yee Soong, Kenneth J. Champagne
  • Patent number: 6126014
    Abstract: The carbon and mineral components of fly ash are effectively separated by a continuous air agglomeration method, resulting in a substantially carboree mineral stream and a highly concentrated carbon product. The method involves mixing the fly ash comprised of carbon and inorganic mineral matter with a liquid hydrocarbon to form a slurry, contacting the slurry with an aqueous solution, dispersing the hydrocarbon slurry into small droplets within the aqueous solution by mechanical mixing and/or aeration, concentrating the inorganic mineral matter in the aqueous solution, agglomerating the carbon and hydrocarbon in the form of droplets, collecting the droplets, separating the hydrocarbon from the concentrated carbon product, and recycling the hydrocarbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Department of Energy
    Inventors: McMahon L. Gray, Kenneth J. Champagne, Dennis H. Finseth
  • Patent number: 5379902
    Abstract: A single dose of additive contributes to three consecutive fine coal unit operations, i.e., flotation, dewatering and reconstitution, whereby the fine coal is first combined with water in a predetermined proportion so as to formulate a slurry. The slurry is then mixed with a heavy hydrocarbon-based emulsion in a second predetermined proportion and at a first predetermined mixing speed and for a predetermined period of time. The conditioned slurry is then cleaned by a froth flotation method to form a clean coal froth and then the froth is dewatered by vacuum filtration or a centrifugation process to form reconstituted products that are dried to dust-less clumps prior to combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1995
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Wu-Wey Wen, McMahan L. Gray, Kenneth J. Champagne