Patents by Inventor Lance Lobban

Lance Lobban 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: 6524536
    Abstract: A method of enhancing oxidation of air contaminants on an ultra-low density, UV light accessible aerogel photocatalyst is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a photocatalytic reactor system broadly comprising a photocatalytic reactor cell, a UV light source, and a pump to force the contaminated air stream through the photocatalytic reactor cell. The photocatalytic reactor cell includes glass cell. A catalyst bed formed of a titanium dioxide aerogel is provided in the glass cell whereby a high fraction of the titanium dioxide aerogel is accessible to UV light and gas. The catalyst bed is exposed to UV light from the UV light source and a contaminated air stream is introduced into the photocatalytic reactor cell such that the air stream passes through the catalyst bed causing oxidation of the contaminants of the air stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: The Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma
    Inventors: Gerard K. Newman, Jeffrey H. Harwell, Lance Lobban
  • Publication number: 20020074221
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method of using the apparatus are provided for converting a gas stream containing hydrocarbons to a reaction product containing effluent molecules having at least one carbon atom, having at least one interior surface and at least one exterior surface, a first electrode and a second electrode with the first and second electrodes being selectively movable in relation to each other and positioned within the housing so as to be spatially disposed a predetermined distance from each other, a plasma discharge generator between the first and second electrodes, gas stream introducer and a collector for collecting the reaction product effluent produced by the reaction of the gas stream containing hydrocarbons with the plasma discharge between the first and second electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Inventors: Richard G. Mallinson, Lance Lobban, Chang-Jun Liu
  • Publication number: 20020050450
    Abstract: A method of enhancing oxidation of air contaminants on an ultra-low density, UV light accessible aerogel photocatalyst is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a photocatalytic reactor system broadly comprising a photocatalytic reactor cell, a UV light source, and a pump to force the contaminated air stream through the photocatalytic reactor cell. The photocatalytic reactor cell includes glass cell. A catalyst bed formed of a titanium dioxide aerogel is provided in the glass cell whereby a high fraction of the titanium dioxide aerogel is accessible to UV light and gas. The catalyst bed is exposed to UV light from the UV light source and a contaminated air stream is introduced into the photocatalytic reactor cell such that the air stream passes through the catalyst bed causing oxidation of the contaminants of the air stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2001
    Publication date: May 2, 2002
    Inventors: Gerard K. Newman, Jeffrey H. Harwell, Lance Lobban
  • Publication number: 20020035162
    Abstract: A method of enhancing oxidation of air contaminants on an ultra-low density, UV light accessible aerogel photocatalyst is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a photocatalytic reactor system broadly comprising a photocatalytic reactor cell, a UV light source, and a pump to force the contaminated air stream through the photocatalytic reactor cell. The photocatalytic reactor cell includes glass cell. A catalyst bed formed of a titanium dioxide aerogel is provided in the glass cell whereby a high fraction of the titanium dioxide aerogel is accessible to UV light and gas. The catalyst bed is exposed to UV light from the UV light source and a contaminated air stream is introduced into the photocatalytic reactor cell such that the air stream passes through the catalyst bed causing oxidation of the contaminants of the air stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2001
    Publication date: March 21, 2002
    Inventors: Gerard K. Newman, Jeffrey H. Harwell, Lance Lobban
  • Patent number: 6241856
    Abstract: A method of enhancing oxidation of air contaminants on an ultra-low density, UV light accessible aerogel photocatalyst is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a photocatalytic reactor system broadly comprising a photocatalytic reactor cell, a UV light source, and a pump to force the contaminated air stream through the photocatalytic reactor cell. The photocatalytic reactor cell includes glass cell. A catalyst bed formed of a titanium dioxide aerogel is provided in the glass cell whereby a high fraction of the titanium dioxide aerogel is accessible to UV light and gas. The catalyst bed is exposed to UV light from the UV light source and a contaminated air stream is introduced into the photocatalytic reactor cell such that the air stream passes through the catalyst bed causing oxidation of the contaminants of the air stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: The Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma
    Inventors: Gerard K. Newman, Jeffrey H. Harwell, Lance Lobban
  • Patent number: 6159432
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method of using the apparatus are provided for converting a gas stream containing hydrocarbons to a reaction product containing effluent molecules having at least one carbon atom, having at least one interior surface and at least one exterior surface, a first electrode and a second electrode with the first and second electrodes being selectively movable in relation to each other and positioned within the housing so as to be spatially disposed a predetermined distance from each other, a plasma discharge generator between the first and second electrodes, gas stream introducer and a collector for collecting the reaction product effluent produced by the reaction of the gas stream containing hydrocarbons with the plasma discharge between the first and second electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: The Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma
    Inventors: Richard G. Mallinson, Lance Lobban, Chang-jun Liu