Patents by Inventor Kenneth Sprouse
Kenneth Sprouse 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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Publication number: 20070297958Abstract: A system for substantially continuously providing a solid material, for example pulverized coal, to a pressurized container. The system provides the solid material to a first container of a first pressure elevated above an initial pressure of the solid material. Generally, a screw conveyor augmented with a jet port is used to move the material where the jet port provides a gas to provide a make-up volume of the solid material. The system also provides the material to a second high pressure container after the material has been formed into a slurry. Therefore, the solid material may be substantially continuously provided in a system to a high pressure container.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 5, 2007Publication date: December 27, 2007Inventors: Kenneth Sprouse, David Matthews, Albert Stewart
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Publication number: 20070297877Abstract: A system for substantially continuously providing a solid material, for example pulverized coal, to a pressurized container. The system provides the solid material to a first container of a first pressure elevated above an initial pressure of the solid material. Generally, a screw conveyor augmented with a jet port is used to move the material where the jet port provides a gas to provide a make-up volume of the solid material. The system also provides the material to a second high pressure container after the material has been formed into a slurry. Therefore, the solid material may be substantially continuously provided in a system to a high pressure container.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 5, 2007Publication date: December 27, 2007Inventors: Kenneth Sprouse, David Matthews, Albert Stewart
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Publication number: 20070039326Abstract: A combustor and injector system to inject a selected fuel into a combustor of a gas powered turbine. Generally, the injector is able to inject a selected fuel into a stream of an oxidizer to substantially mix the fuel with the oxidizer stream before any of the fuel in the fuel fan reaches an auto ignition temperature. Therefore the fuel may be substantially combusted at once and without any substantial hot spots.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 5, 2006Publication date: February 22, 2007Inventors: Kenneth Sprouse, Shahram Farhangi, Alan von Arx, David Matthews
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Publication number: 20060242907Abstract: A gasifier injection module includes a two-stage slurry splitter and an injector face plate with a coolant system incorporated therein. The two-stage slurry splitter includes a main cavity into which a main slurry flow is provided. The main cavity includes a plurality of first stage flow dividers that divide the main slurry flow into a plurality of secondary slurry flows that flow into a plurality of secondary cavities that extend from the main cavity. Each secondary cavity includes a plurality of second stage flow dividers that divide each secondary slurry flow into a plurality of tertiary slurry flows that flow into a plurality of slurry injection tubes extending from the secondary cavities. The tertiary flows are injected as high pressure slurry streams into the gasification chamber via the slurry injection tubes. A reactant is impinged at high pressure, as an annular shaped spray, on each high pressure slurry stream via a plurality of annular impinging orifices incorporated into the injector face plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 29, 2005Publication date: November 2, 2006Inventors: Kenneth Sprouse, Shahram Farhangi, David Matthews
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Publication number: 20060243583Abstract: A system for providing highly pressurized raw fuel to a pressure reactor. The system includes an inlet for receiving the raw fuel and a roller system communicating with the inlet. The roller system includes a plurality of independent rollers arranged in two converging planes. The rollers of the roller system successively compress the raw fuel as the raw fuel passes through the roller system between the rollers, such that the fuel is highly pressurized when it reaches an output end of the roller system. An outlet is located adjacent the output end of the roller system to dispense the pressurized raw fuel to the pressure reactor.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 29, 2005Publication date: November 2, 2006Inventors: Kenneth Sprouse, David Matthews
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Publication number: 20060230743Abstract: A system, such as a turbine power production system, including a plurality of combustion chambers. The combustion chamber may be provided with an ignition system that allows for substantially simultaneous ignition of each of the plurality of the combustors. Generally, a detonation wave may be provided to each of the combustion chambers substantially simultaneously from a single ignition combustion wave chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 13, 2006Publication date: October 19, 2006Inventors: Kenneth Sprouse, Shahram Farhangi
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Publication number: 20060210457Abstract: A gasifier system is provided that includes a gasification chamber spool that has a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) liner adapted to form a solidified slag protective layer on an interior surface of the liner from molten slag flowing through the gasification chamber spool. The gasification system additionally includes a heat exchanger (HEX) quench spool that also includes a CMC liner adapted to form a solidified slag protective layer on an interior surface of the liner from molten slag flowing through the HEX quench spool. Additionally, the HEX quench spool includes a parallel plate HEX core having a plurality of CMC panels. The CMC panels are adapted to form a solidified slag protective layer on exterior surfaces of each respective CMC panel from molten slag flowing through the HEX quench spool.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2005Publication date: September 21, 2006Inventors: Kenneth Sprouse, Shahram Farhangi, David Matthews
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Publication number: 20060156729Abstract: A combustor for a gas powered turbine which employs a heat exchanger and a catalyst to combust a fuel without the emission of undesired chemical species. A gas powered turbine requires expanding gases to power the turbine blades. Fuel is combusted to produce the required gases. A catalyst is employed to lower the combustion temperature of the fuel. The catalyst is placed on a set of tubes in the heat exchanger such that a portion of the thermal energy may be transferred to the air before it engages the catalyst. After encountering the catalyst, the combusted fuel increases the temperature of the air to an auto-ignition temperature so that no other ignition source is needed to combust additional fuel.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2003Publication date: July 20, 2006Inventors: Kenneth Sprouse, Shahram Farhangi, Michael Moriarty, David Matthews
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Publication number: 20060045827Abstract: A method and apparatus for efficiently forming a gaseous material from a solid starting material. The produced gaseous material includes a CGE HHV having a high percentage of an original HHV of the starting material. The gaseous product may be used to form a plurality of materials for various purposes.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2004Publication date: March 2, 2006Inventor: Kenneth Sprouse
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Publication number: 20060045632Abstract: A screw feeder can be used to transport a high temperature particulate material. A housing contains the material within the screw feeder which includes an inlet and an outlet port. A screw is rotatably positioned within the housing to advance the material from the inlet port to the outlet port, which rotates axially. A labyrinth seal can be formed around and in communication with the screw to eliminate reverse movement of the material. A cooling medium can be directed into contact with at least the housing. A fluid can be injected through the screw to prevent blockage of the particulate material. A pressure differential is created from the inlet to the outlet port of at least 0.069 MPad.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2004Publication date: March 2, 2006Inventors: Kenneth Sprouse, Albert Stewart
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Publication number: 20050279058Abstract: A cyclone separator includes a body having a side entry fluid inlet, a first outlet and a second outlet both aligned substantially transverse to the fluid inlet, and has the first and second outlets opposing each other. A cyclone tube assembly is positioned within the body having at least a portion of the cyclone tube assembly positioned in a direct unobstructed alignment path with the fluid inlet. The cyclone tube assembly includes a plurality of cyclone tubes, each including a first tube section and a second tube section partially positioned within the first tube section. A ceramic material forms at least a portion of the second tube section of each cyclone tube. A first tube connection plate supports the first tube section of each of the cyclone tubes. A second tube connection plate supports the second tube section of each of the cyclone tubes. The first tube connection plate is angularly offset from the second tube connection plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2004Publication date: December 22, 2005Inventors: Albert Stewart, Jeffrey Mays, Kenneth Sprouse
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Publication number: 20050281720Abstract: A fluidized-bed reactor for producing hydrogen from methane by steam reforming includes a flow splitter that splits a dense-phase flow of a gas having entrained calcium oxide particles into a plurality of equal flow streams. The reactor also incorporates an orifice plate having at least one high-velocity, rocket-style impinging injector for injecting reactants into the reactor bed. The injector includes a central orifice extending perpendicularly through the plate, and one or more adjacent peripheral orifices that extend through the plate at such an angle that respective streams of reactants injected into the reactor bed through the peripheral orifices impinge on a stream of reactants injected vertically into the reactor bed through the central orifice. The injector cooperates with adjacent base-bleed orifices in the plate to provide a uniform distribution and rapid mixing of the calcium oxide particles with a steam/methane gas mixture across the entire bottom of the reactor bed.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2004Publication date: December 22, 2005Inventors: Kenneth Sprouse, Albert Stewart
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Publication number: 20050188703Abstract: An air/fuel pre-mixer for a gas turbine combustor and a method of pre-mixing air and fuel for a combustor are provided. In one embodiment the pre-mixer includes a first annular premix fuel manifold disposed upstream of the combustor and an annular member concentric with the first premix fuel manifold. Together the annular premix fuel manifold and the annular member define a first venturi shaped air/fuel pre-mix volume between them that has a throat. At or upstream from the throat, the first premix fuel manifold has a plurality of pores whereby the fuel is injected from the first premix fuel manifold to mix with air in the first pre-mix volume. In another embodiment, the annular member is an outer wall, whereas in yet another embodiment, the annular member is a second premix fuel manifold.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2004Publication date: September 1, 2005Inventors: Kenneth Sprouse, Shahram Farhangi, Mark Horn, David Matthews
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Publication number: 20050160717Abstract: A system, such as a turbine power production system, including a plurality of combustion chambers. The combustion chamber may be provided with an ignition system that allows for substantially simultaneous ignition of each of the plurality of the combustors. Generally, a detonation wave may be provided to each of the combustion chambers substantially simultaneously from a single ignition combustion wave chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2004Publication date: July 28, 2005Inventors: Kenneth Sprouse, Shahram Farhangi
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Publication number: 20050120717Abstract: A combustor and injector system to inject a selected fuel into a combustor of a gas powered turbine. Generally, the injector is able to inject a selected fuel into a stream of an oxidizer to substantially mix the fuel with the oxidizer stream before any of the fuel in the fuel fan reaches an auto ignition temperature. Therefore the fuel may be substantially combusted at once and without any substantial hot spots.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2003Publication date: June 9, 2005Inventors: Kenneth Sprouse, Shahram Farhangi, Alan von Arx, David Matthews
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Publication number: 20050072341Abstract: A coolant liner for a carbonaceous fuel (coal or petcoke) gasification vessel including a ceramic composite panel and a method of cooling a vessel. The panel includes at least two layers of woven yarns of fibrous material and walls extending between the layers. Accordingly, the layers and the walls define coolant channels that extend in a warp direction. Moreover, one of the layers may be less than about 0.08 inches thick. Materials used to create the composite panel may include alumina, chromia, silicon carbide, and carbon. Additionally, the liners may be shaped in an arc or have coolant channels which vary in diameter in the warp direction. Additionally, the liner may abut a structural closeout of the vessel. The coolant liner provides a significantly more durable component than previously employed liners and is especially well suited to demanding service environments.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 2, 2003Publication date: April 7, 2005Inventor: Kenneth Sprouse