Patents by Inventor Lien-Yan Chen

Lien-Yan Chen 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: 10619933
    Abstract: A syngas cooler system includes a pressure vessel, a conduit, a plenum, a plenum, a conduit, and a bellows assembly. The pressure vessel includes a throat and a dome adjacent to the throat. The throat includes an area of excess heat, and the dome includes an area of deficient heat. The plenum extends between the throat and the bellows assembly. The bellows assembly is coupled at least partially within the dome. The conduit is coupled to the plenum for channeling a flow of purge fluid from external to the pressure vessel into the plenum such that purge fluid transfers heat from the area of excess heat into the area of deficient heat to facilitate reducing temperature differential stresses within the dome and the pressure vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: James Michael Storey, Alex Clinton Solomon, Benjamin Campbell Steinhaus, Judeth Brannon Corry, Steven Craig Russell, Robert Henri Gauthier, Yasir Hafeez Abbasi, Lien-Yan Chen
  • Patent number: 10234210
    Abstract: A system includes a radiant syngas cooler which receives and cools syngas generated in a gasifier. The radiant syngas cooler includes an outer shell of the radiant syngas cooler defining an annular space of the radiant syngas cooler and a heat exchange tube of the radiant syngas cooler positioned within the annular space and configured to flow a cooling medium. The heat exchange tube is configured to enable heat exchange between the syngas and the cooling medium to cool the syngas. The radiant syngas cooler includes a downcomer tube of the radiant syngas cooler which supplies the cooling medium to the heat exchange tube, where the downcomer tube includes a downflow portion positioned outside of the annular space of the radiant syngas cooler. The downflow portion is fluidly coupled to a header, and the header fluidly couples the downcomer tube to the heat exchange tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Pallab Karmakar, Lien-Yan Chen, Qiong Zhou
  • Patent number: 10221067
    Abstract: A syngas cooler is configured to cool a syngas. The syngas cooler includes a superheater heat exchanger, which further includes a first header configured to receive saturated steam, a second header configured to discharge superheated steam, and a first group of tubes directly coupled to and vertically extending between the first and second headers. Each tube of the first group of tubes includes an outer surface that interfaces with the syngas and a respective length between the first and second headers, and each tube of the first group of tubes does not contact another tube along the respective length to enable a flow of the syngas around each tube's outer surface along its respective length and between each tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Lien-Yan Chen, Qiong Zhou, Rajeshwar Sripada
  • Publication number: 20180187108
    Abstract: A syngas cooler is configured to cool a syngas. The syngas cooler includes a superheater heat exchanger, which further includes a first header configured to receive saturated steam, a second header configured to discharge superheated steam, and a first group of tubes directly coupled to and vertically extending between the first and second headers. Each tube of the first group of tubes includes an outer surface that interfaces with the syngas and a respective length between the first and second headers, and each tube of the first group of tubes does not contact another tube along the respective length to enable a flow of the syngas around each tube's outer surface along its respective length and between each tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2017
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Inventors: Lien-Yan Chen, Qiong Zhou, Rajeshwar Sripada
  • Publication number: 20180058762
    Abstract: A system includes a radiant syngas cooler which receives and cools syngas generated in a gasifier. The radiant syngas cooler includes an outer shell of the radiant syngas cooler defining an annular space of the radiant syngas cooler and a heat exchange tube of the radiant syngas cooler positioned within the annular space and configured to flow a cooling medium. The heat exchange tube is configured to enable heat exchange between the syngas and the cooling medium to cool the syngas. The radiant syngas cooler includes a downcomer tube of the radiant syngas cooler which supplies the cooling medium to the heat exchange tube, where the downcomer tube includes a downflow portion positioned outside of the annular space of the radiant syngas cooler. The downflow portion is fluidly coupled to a header, and the header fluidly couples the downcomer tube to the heat exchange tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Pallab Karmakar, Lien-Yan Chen, Qiong Zhou
  • Publication number: 20170336146
    Abstract: A syngas cooler system includes a pressure vessel, a conduit, a plenum, a plenum, a conduit, and a bellows assembly. The pressure vessel includes a throat and a dome adjacent to the throat. The throat includes an area of excess heat, and the dome includes an area of deficient heat. The plenum extends between the throat and the bellows assembly. The bellows assembly is coupled at least partially within the dome. The conduit is coupled to the plenum for channeling a flow of purge fluid from external to the pressure vessel into the plenum such that purge fluid transfers heat from the area of excess heat into the area of deficient heat to facilitate reducing temperature differential stresses within the dome and the pressure vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Inventors: James Michael Storey, Alex Clinton Solomon, Benjamin Campbell Steinhaus, Judeth Brannon Corry, Steven Craig Russell, Robert Henri Gauthier, Yasir Hafeez Abbasi, Lien-Yan Chen
  • Patent number: 9739539
    Abstract: A system for preheating a pressure vessel includes a throat including an area of excess heat and a dome having an area of deficient heat. The throat includes a conduit extending from a pressure vessel opening to the pressure vessel interior. A plenum is defined between the throat and a seal within the dome. The throat extends from the dome toward a dome floor. The floor is substantially perpendicular to the throat. A conduit is coupled to the plenum and channels a flow of purge fluid into the plenum wherein heat from the throat is transferred to the flow of purge fluid and carried by the flow of purge fluid into the area of deficient heat via a gap defined between the seal and the floor such that the flow of purge fluid reduces temperature differential stresses within the pressure vessel and purges the area of deficient heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Michael Storey, Alex Clinton Solomon, Benjamin Campbell Steinhaus, Judeth Brannon Corry, Steven Craig Russell, Robert Henri Gauthier, Yasir Hafeez Abbasi, Lien-Yan Chen
  • Patent number: 9688927
    Abstract: A system includes a syngas cooler configured to cool a syngas. The syngas cooler includes a vessel with a head portion and a first opening and a first pipe that extends through the first opening. The first pipe is configured to convey a heated fluid out of the vessel. A first flanged connection is disposed about the first opening, wherein the first pipe extends through the first flanged connection and is coupled to the flanged connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Lien-Yan Chen, Jay Christopher Schleicher
  • Patent number: 9321975
    Abstract: A vessel for use in a gasification system is provided. The vessel includes a shell and a heat exchange structure positioned within the shell. The heat exchange structure defines a central cavity configured to receive and to direct a syngas to a quenching portion positioned downstream of the central cavity along a syngas path. A passageway is disposed between the shell and the heat exchange structure. A liquid seal is positioned upstream of the quenching portion, and the liquid seal is configured to block transport of at least one of the syngas between from the quenching portion into the passageway and inert gas from the passageway into the quenching portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Lien-Yan Chen, John Saunders Stevenson, Jay Christopher Schleicher
  • Publication number: 20150159098
    Abstract: A vessel for use in a gasification system is provided. The vessel includes a shell and a heat exchange structure positioned within the shell. The heat exchange structure defines a central cavity configured to receive and to direct a syngas to a quenching portion positioned downstream of the central cavity along a syngas path. A passageway is disposed between the shell and the heat exchange structure. A liquid seal is positioned upstream of the quenching portion, and the liquid seal is configured to block transport of at least one of the syngas between from the quenching portion into the passageway and inert gas from the passageway into the quenching portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Lien-Yan Chen, John Saunders Stevenson, Jay Christopher Schleicher
  • Patent number: 8875384
    Abstract: A system, comprising a seal segment including a cable fastener. The system also includes a syngas cooler component that includes a cable guide, where the cable guide may route a cable coupled to the cable fastener to enable the cable to pull the seal segment into a mounting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Michael Storey, Lien-Yan Chen, Anna Ziombra, Karol Rzepniewski
  • Patent number: 8834584
    Abstract: A syngas cooler for use in a gasification system is described that includes a head portion including a plurality of conduit headers. The syngas cooler also includes an annular shell portion including a plurality of conduits, the plurality of conduits configured to be coupled in flow communication with the plurality of conduit headers. The syngas cooler also includes a quench portion configured to remove particulates entrained in a flow of syngas flowing through the syngas cooler. The head portion and the shell portion are configured to be coupled together with a circumferential seam weld.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Lien-Yan Chen, James Michael Storey, Yasir H. Abbasi, George Dodan
  • Publication number: 20140246175
    Abstract: A system for preheating a pressure vessel includes a throat including an area of excess heat and a dome having an area of deficient heat. The throat includes a conduit extending from a pressure vessel opening to the pressure vessel interior. A plenum is defined between the throat and a seal within the dome. The throat extends from the dome toward a dome floor. The floor is substantially perpendicular to the throat. A conduit is coupled to the plenum and channels a flow of purge fluid into the plenum wherein heat from the throat is transferred to the flow of purge fluid and carried by the flow of purge fluid into the area of deficient heat via a gap defined between the seal and the floor such that the flow of purge fluid reduces temperature differential stresses within the pressure vessel and purges the area of deficient heat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Michael Storey, Alex Clinton Solomon, Benjamin Campbell Steinhaus, Judeth Brannon Corry, Steven Craig Russell, Robert Henri Gauthier, Yasir Hafeez Abbasi, Lien-Yan Chen
  • Patent number: 8752615
    Abstract: Methods and systems for a vessel preheating system are provided. The system includes a pressure vessel including an area of excess heat and an area of deficient heat, a plenum defined between the area of excess heat and the area of deficient heat, and a conduit configured to couple a flow of purge fluid from external to the vessel into the plenum wherein heat from the area of excess heat is transferred to the flow of purge fluid in the plenum and the heat is carried by the flow of purge fluid into the area of deficient heat such that the flow of purge fluid purges the area of deficient heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Michael Storey, Alex Clinton Solomon, Benjamin Campbell Steinhaus, Judeth Brannon Corry, Steven Craig Russell, Robert Henri Gauthier, Yasir Hafeez Abbasi, Lien-Yan Chen
  • Publication number: 20140069612
    Abstract: A system includes a syngas cooler configured to cool a syngas. The syngas cooler includes a vessel with a head portion and a first opening and a first pipe that extends through the first opening. The first pipe is configured to convey a heated fluid out of the vessel. A first flanged connection is disposed about the first opening, wherein the first pipe extends through the first flanged connection and is coupled to the flanged connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Lien-Yan Chen, Jay Christopher Schleicher
  • Patent number: 8371007
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system is provided, including a plug removal shield. The plug removal shield further includes a tube configured to surround a plug retaining a fluid volume, and a mount configured to hold the tube relative to the plug. The tube includes a port configured to pass a plug removal tool into proximity with the plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Lien-Yan Chen, James Michael Storey, Robert Henri Gauthier
  • Publication number: 20120291246
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system is provided, including a plug removal shield. The plug removal shield further includes a tube configured to surround a plug retaining a fluid volume, and a mount configured to hold the tube relative to the plug. The tube includes a port configured to pass a plug removal tool into proximity with the plug.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Lien-Yan Chen, James Michael Storey, Robert Henri Gauthier
  • Publication number: 20110072721
    Abstract: A syngas cooler for use in a gasification system is described that includes a head portion including a plurality of conduit headers. The syngas cooler also includes an annular shell portion including a plurality of conduits, the plurality of conduits configured to be coupled in flow communication with the plurality of conduit headers. The syngas cooler also includes a quench portion configured to remove particulates entrained in a flow of syngas flowing through the syngas cooler. The head portion and the shell portion are configured to be coupled together with a circumferential seam weld.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventors: Lien-Yan Chen, James Michael Storey, Yasir H. Abbasi, George Dodan
  • Patent number: 7846226
    Abstract: A method of assembling a spray quench apparatus is provided. The method includes coupling a first end of an exit tube to a quench chamber such that the exit tube end is in flow communication with the quench chamber, coupling at least one spray nozzle to an opposite second end of the exit tube such that water emitted from the spray nozzle fills the exit tube and forms a film of water across an inner surface of the exit tube, coupling a water source to the quench chamber for providing a substantially continuous water film along an inner surface of the quench chamber, and coupling at least one discharge apparatus to the quench chamber for providing water spray into the quench chamber, wherein the water of the water film and water sprays drains into a water sump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Frederick Leininger, Allyson Joy Jimenez-Huyke, Judeth Brannon Corry, Fulton Jose Lopez, Aaron John Avagliano, John Saunders Stevenson, Lien-Yan Chen
  • Publication number: 20100299915
    Abstract: A system, comprising a seal segment including a cable fastener. The system also includes a syngas cooler component that includes a cable guide, where the cable guide may route a cable coupled to the cable fastener to enable the cable to pull the seal segment into a mounting position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: James Michael Storey, Lien-Yan Chen, Anna Ziombra, Karol Rzepniewski