Patents by Inventor Kenton Robert HEIDEL

Kenton Robert HEIDEL 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: 20230331576
    Abstract: Techniques for growing crystalline calcium carbonate solids such that the crystalline calcium carbonate solids include a volume of 0.0005 mm3 to 5 mm3, include a slaker to react quicklime (CaO) and a low carbonate content fluid to yield a slurry of primarily slaked lime (Ca(OH)2); a fluidized-bed reactive crystallizer that encloses a solid bed mass and includes an input for a slurry of primarily slaked lime, an input for an alkaline solution and carbonate, and an output for crystalline calcium carbonate solids that include particles and an alkaline carbonate solution; a dewatering apparatus that includes an input coupled to the crystallizer and an output to discharge a plurality of separate streams that each include a portion of the crystalline calcium carbonate solids and alkaline carbonate solution; and a seed transfer apparatus to deliver seed material into the crystallizer to maintain a consistent mass of seed material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2023
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Inventors: Kenton Robert HEIDEL, David William Keith, Jane Anne Ritchie, Nicholas Vollendorf, Eric Fessler
  • Publication number: 20230322554
    Abstract: Techniques for converting carbonate material to carbon monoxide include transferring heat and at least one feed stream that includes a carbonate material and at least one of hydrogen, oxygen, water, or a hydrocarbon, into an integrated calcination and syngas production system that includes a syngas generating calciner (SGC) reactor; calcining the carbonate material to produce a carbon dioxide product and a solid oxide product; initiating a syngas production reaction; producing, from the syngas production reaction, at least one syngas product that includes at least one of a carbon monoxide product, a water product or a hydrogen product; and transferring at least one of the solid oxide product or the at least one syngas product out of the SGC reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2023
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Inventors: Jenny Sara Jean McCahill, Douglas Edward Olmstead, Kenton Robert Heidel, Navjot Kaur Sandhu
  • Patent number: 11667538
    Abstract: Techniques for growing crystalline calcium carbonate solids such that the crystalline calcium carbonate solids include a volume of 0.0005 mm3 to 5 mm3, include a slaker to react quicklime (CaO) and a low carbonate content fluid to yield a slurry of primarily slaked lime (Ca(OH)2); a fluidized-bed reactive crystallizer that encloses a solid bed mass and includes an input for a slurry of primarily slaked lime, an input for an alkaline solution and carbonate, and an output for crystalline calcium carbonate solids that include particles and an alkaline carbonate solution; a dewatering apparatus that includes an input coupled to the crystallizer and an output to discharge a plurality of separate streams that each include a portion of the crystalline calcium carbonate solids and alkaline carbonate solution; and a seed transfer apparatus to deliver seed material into the crystallizer to maintain a consistent mass of seed material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Carbon Engineering Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenton Robert Heidel, David William Keith, Jane Anne Ritchie, Nicholas Vollendorf, Eric Fessler
  • Publication number: 20230158446
    Abstract: A carbon dioxide capture facility is disclosed comprising packing formed as a slab, and at least one liquid source. The slab has opposed dominant faces, the opposed dominant faces being at least partially wind penetrable to allow wind to flow through the packing. The at least one liquid source is oriented to direct carbon dioxide absorbent liquid into the packing to flow through the slab. The slab is disposed in a wind flow that has a non-zero incident angle with one of the opposed dominant faces. A method of carbon dioxide capture is also disclosed. Carbon dioxide absorbing liquid is applied into packing in a series of pulses. A gas containing carbon dioxide is flowed through the packing to at least partially absorb the carbon dioxide from the gas into the carbon dioxide absorbing liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2022
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Inventors: David Keith, Maryam Mahmoudkhani, Alessandro Biglioli, Brandon Hart, Kenton Robert Heidel, Michal Foniok
  • Patent number: 11623863
    Abstract: Techniques for converting carbonate material to carbon monoxide include transferring heat and at least one feed stream that includes a carbonate material and at least one of hydrogen, oxygen, water, or a hydrocarbon, into an integrated calcination and syngas production system that includes a syngas generating calciner (SGC) reactor; calcining the carbonate material to produce a carbon dioxide product and a solid oxide product; initiating a syngas production reaction; producing, from the syngas production reaction, at least one syngas product that includes at least one of a carbon monoxide product, a water product or a hydrogen product; and transferring at least one of the solid oxide product or the at least one syngas product out of the SGC reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Carbon Engineering Ltd.
    Inventors: Jenny Sara Jean McCahill, Douglas Edward Olmstead, Kenton Robert Heidel, Navjot Kaur Sandhu
  • Patent number: 11504667
    Abstract: A carbon dioxide capture facility is disclosed comprising packing formed as a slab, and at least one liquid source. The slab has opposed dominant faces, the opposed dominant faces being at least partially wind penetrable to allow wind to flow through the packing. The at least one liquid source is oriented to direct carbon dioxide absorbent liquid into the packing to flow through the slab. The slab is disposed in a wind flow that has a non-zero incident angle with one of the opposed dominant faces. A method of carbon dioxide capture is also disclosed. Carbon dioxide absorbing liquid is applied into packing in a series of pulses. A gas containing carbon dioxide is flowed through the packing to at least partially absorb the carbon dioxide from the gas into the carbon dioxide absorbing liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Carbon Engineering Ltd.
    Inventors: David Keith, Maryam Mahmoudkhani, Alessandro Biglioli, Brandon Hart, Kenton Robert Heidel, Michal Foniok
  • Publication number: 20220096998
    Abstract: Techniques for drift elimination in a liquid-gas contactor system include configuring a pre-fabricated mechanical frame coupled to a drift eliminator material to produce a framed drift eliminator assembly with substantially no air gaps between the drift eliminator material and the pre-fabricated mechanical frame, and coupling the framed drift eliminator assembly to the liquid-gas contactor system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Kenton Robert Heidel, Geoffrey James Holmes, David W. Keith
  • Publication number: 20210380475
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a fluidized bed vessel with inlet ports arranged to receive at least one feed stream comprising calcium oxide, calcium carbonate, water, and a fluidizing gas into a fluidized bed vessel. The calcium oxide contacts the water to initiate a hydrating reaction to produce calcium hydroxide and heat. The fluidized bed vessel is configured to operate with a fluidization velocity that fluidizes and separates at least a portion of the calcium carbonate and at least a portion of the calcium oxide into a first fluidization regime, and at least a portion of the calcium hydroxide and at least another portion of the calcium oxide into a second fluidization regime. The apparatus further includes a heat transfer assembly configured to transfer heat of the hydrating reaction to the calcium carbonate, and a cyclone configured to separate a portion of the fluidization gas from a portion of at least one of the calcium hydroxide, calcium carbonate or calcium oxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2021
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Inventors: Kenton Robert Heidel, Robert A. Rossi
  • Publication number: 20210284545
    Abstract: Techniques for growing crystalline calcium carbonate solids such that the crystalline calcium carbonate solids include a volume of 0.0005 mm3 to 5 mm3, include a slaker to react quicklime (CaO) and a low carbonate content fluid to yield a slurry of primarily slaked lime (Ca(OH)2); a fluidized-bed reactive crystallizer that encloses a solid bed mass and includes an input for a slurry of primarily slaked lime, an input for an alkaline solution and carbonate, and an output for crystalline calcium carbonate solids that include particles and an alkaline carbonate solution; a dewatering apparatus that includes an input coupled to the crystallizer and an output to discharge a plurality of separate streams that each include a portion of the crystalline calcium carbonate solids and alkaline carbonate solution; and a seed transfer apparatus to deliver seed material into the crystallizer to maintain a consistent mass of seed material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2021
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Inventors: Kenton Robert HEIDEL, David William Keith, Jane Anne Ritchie, Nicholas Vollendorf, Eric Fessler
  • Patent number: 11014043
    Abstract: Techniques for drift elimination in a liquid-gas contactor system include configuring a pre-fabricated mechanical frame coupled to a drift eliminator material to produce a framed drift eliminator assembly with substantially no air gaps between the drift eliminator material and the pre-fabricated mechanical frame, and coupling the framed drift eliminator assembly to the liquid-gas contactor system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Carbon Engineering Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenton Robert Heidel, Geoffrey James Holmes, David W. Keith
  • Patent number: 11014823
    Abstract: Techniques for growing crystalline calcium carbonate solids such that the crystalline calcium carbonate solids include a volume of 0.0005 mm3 to 5 mm3, include a slaker to react quicklime (CaO) and a low carbonate content fluid to yield a slurry of primarily slaked lime (Ca(OH)2); a fluidized-bed reactive crystallizer that encloses a solid bed mass and includes an input for a slurry of primarily slaked lime, an input for an alkaline solution and carbonate, and an output for crystalline calcium carbonate solids that include particles and an alkaline carbonate solution; a dewatering apparatus that includes an input coupled to the crystallizer and an output to discharge a plurality of separate streams that each include a portion of the crystalline calcium carbonate solids and alkaline carbonate solution; and a seed transfer apparatus to deliver seed material into the crystallizer to maintain a consistent mass of seed material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Carbon Engineering Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenton Robert Heidel, David William Keith, Jane Anne Ritchie, Nicholas Vollendorf, Eric Fessler
  • Publication number: 20210101107
    Abstract: Techniques for humidifying a gas stream using a hydration system includes directing a gas stream through a contact zone of at least one hydration system; directing a hydration solution into the contact zone using a pump; contacting the gas stream with the hydration solution; evaporating water from the hydration solution into the gas stream to form a humidified gas stream, transporting the humidified gas stream out of the at least one hydration system; and collecting the remaining hydration solution in a hydration solution collection basin below the contact zone. The at least one hydration system is fluidly coupled to at least one downstream process and the humidified gas stream from the at least one hydration system is transported as a feed stream to the at least one downstream process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Inventors: Kenton Robert Heidel, David St. Angelo, Jane Anne Ritchie
  • Publication number: 20200299132
    Abstract: Techniques for converting carbonate material to carbon monoxide include transferring heat and at least one feed stream that includes a carbonate material and at least one of hydrogen, oxygen, water, or a hydrocarbon, into an integrated calcination and syngas production system that includes a syngas generating calciner (SGC) reactor; calcining the carbonate material to produce a carbon dioxide product and a solid oxide product; initiating a syngas production reaction; producing, from the syngas production reaction, at least one syngas product that includes at least one of a carbon monoxide product, a water product or a hydrogen product; and transferring at least one of the solid oxide product or the at least one syngas product out of the SGC reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Inventors: Jenny Sara Jean MCCAHILL, Douglas Edward OLMSTEAD, Kenton Robert HEIDEL, Navjot Kaur SANDHU
  • Publication number: 20200109059
    Abstract: Techniques for growing crystalline calcium carbonate solids such that the crystalline calcium carbonate solids include a volume of 0.0005 mm3 to 5 mm3, include a slaker to react quicklime (CaO) and a low carbonate content fluid to yield a slurry of primarily slaked lime (Ca(OH)2); a fluidized-bed reactive crystallizer that encloses a solid bed mass and includes an input for a slurry of primarily slaked lime, an input for an alkaline solution and carbonate, and an output for crystalline calcium carbonate solids that include particles and an alkaline carbonate solution; a dewatering apparatus that includes an input coupled to the crystallizer and an output to discharge a plurality of separate streams that each include a portion of the crystalline calcium carbonate solids and alkaline carbonate solution; and a seed transfer apparatus to deliver seed material into the crystallizer to maintain a consistent mass of seed material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Publication date: April 9, 2020
    Inventors: Kenton Robert HEIDEL, David William Keith, Jane Anne Ritchie, Nicholas Vollendorf, Eric Fessler
  • Patent number: 10519041
    Abstract: Techniques for growing crystalline calcium carbonate solids such that the crystalline calcium carbonate solids include a volume of 0.0005 mm3 to 5 mm3, include a slaker to react quicklime (CaO) and a low carbonate content fluid to yield a slurry of primarily slaked lime (Ca(OH)2); a fluidized-bed reactive crystallizer that encloses a solid bed mass and includes an input for a slurry of primarily slaked lime, an input for an alkaline solution and carbonate, and an output for crystalline calcium carbonate solids that include particles and an alkaline carbonate solution; a dewatering apparatus that includes an input coupled to the crystallizer and an output to discharge a plurality of separate streams that each include a portion of the crystalline calcium carbonate solids and alkaline carbonate solution; and a seed transfer apparatus to deliver seed material into the crystallizer to maintain a consistent mass of seed material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Carbon Engineering Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenton Robert Heidel, David William Keith, Jane Anne Ritchie, Nicholas Vollendorf, Eric Fessler
  • Publication number: 20190344217
    Abstract: Techniques for drift elimination in a liquid-gas contactor system include configuring a pre-fabricated mechanical frame coupled to a drift eliminator material to produce a framed drift eliminator assembly with substantially no air gaps between the drift eliminator material and the pre-fabricated mechanical frame, and coupling the framed drift eliminator assembly to the liquid-gas contactor system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Publication date: November 14, 2019
    Inventors: Kenton Robert Heidel, Geoffrey James Holmes, David W. Keith
  • Publication number: 20190336909
    Abstract: A carbon dioxide capture facility is disclosed comprising packing formed as a slab, and at least one liquid source. The slab has opposed dominant faces, the opposed dominant faces being at least partially wind penetrable to allow wind to flow through the packing. The at least one liquid source is oriented to direct carbon dioxide absorbent liquid into the packing to flow through the slab. The slab is disposed in a wind flow that has a non-zero incident angle with one of the opposed dominant faces. A method of carbon dioxide capture is also disclosed. Carbon dioxide absorbing liquid is applied into packing in a series of pulses. A gas containing carbon dioxide is flowed through the packing to at least partially absorb the carbon dioxide from the gas into the carbon dioxide absorbing liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2019
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Inventors: David Keith, Maryam Mahmoudkhani, Alessandro Biglioli, Brandon Hart, Kenton Robert Heidel, Michal Foniok
  • Patent number: 10421039
    Abstract: Techniques for distributing a liquid in a liquid-gas system include flowing a liquid into a system of nozzles and basin of the liquid-gas contacting system; and operating the nozzles and basin system with a distribution sub-assembly configured to operate the nozzles under a plurality of liquid flow rates and maintaining a consistent spatial liquid distribution of the liquid within the distribution sub-assembly at the plurality of liquid flow rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Carbon Engineering Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenton Robert Heidel, Geoffrey James Holmes, David W. Keith
  • Publication number: 20190144333
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a fluidized bed vessel with inlet ports arranged to receive at least one feed stream comprising calcium oxide, calcium carbonate, water, and a fluidizing gas into a fluidized bed vessel. The calcium oxide contacts the water to initiate a hydrating reaction to produce calcium hydroxide and heat. The fluidized bed vessel is configured to operate with a fluidization velocity that fluidizes and separates at least a portion of the calcium carbonate and at least a portion of the calcium oxide into a first fluidization regime, and at least a portion of the calcium hydroxide and at least another portion of the calcium oxide into a second fluidization regime. The apparatus further includes a heat transfer assembly configured to transfer heat of the hydrating reaction to the calcium carbonate, and a cyclone configured to separate a portion of the fluidization gas from a portion of at least one of the calcium hydroxide, calcium carbonate or calcium oxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2019
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Inventors: Kenton Robert Heidel, Robert A. Rossi
  • Patent number: 10214448
    Abstract: A method includes transferring at least one feed stream including calcium oxide, calcium carbonate, water, and a fluidizing gas into a fluidized bed; contacting the calcium oxide with the water; based on contacting the calcium oxide with the water, initiating a hydrating reaction; producing, from the hydrating reaction, calcium hydroxide and heat; transferring a portion of the heat of the hydrating reaction to the calcium carbonate; and fluidizing the calcium oxide, calcium hydroxide, and the calcium carbonate into a first fluidization regime and a second fluidization regime. The first fluidization regime includes at least a portion of the calcium carbonate and at least a portion of the calcium oxide, and the second fluidization regime includes at least a portion of the calcium hydroxide and at least another portion of the calcium oxide. The first fluidization regime is different than the second fluidization regime.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Carbon Engineering Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenton Robert Heidel, Robert A. Rossi