Patents by Inventor Liyuan Liang

Liyuan Liang 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: 20040126302
    Abstract: Water is mixed with a hydrate-forming fluid (gas or liquid) within a pressurized, temperature-controlled continuous-flow reactor. Intense mixing of the hydrate-forming fluid with water forms many hydrate-encased water droplets of hydrate-forming fluid which are then allowed to consolidate into a solid-like hydrate/hydrate-forming fluid/water material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: Olivia R. West, Constantinos Tsouris, Liyuan Liang
  • Patent number: 6598407
    Abstract: A liquid CO2 injection system produces a negatively buoyant consolidated stream of liquid CO2, CO2 hydrate, and water that sinks upon release at ocean depths in the range of 700-1500 m. In this approach, seawater at a predetermined ocean depth is mixed with the liquid CO2 stream before release into the ocean. Because mixing is conducted at depths where pressures and temperatures are suitable for CO2 hydrate formation, the consolidated stream issuing from the injector is negatively buoyant, and comprises mixed CO2-hydrate/CO2-liquid/water phases. The “sinking” characteristic of the produced stream will prolong the metastability of CO2 ocean sequestration by reducing the CO2 dissolution rate into water. Furthermore, the deeper the CO2 hydrate stream sinks after injection, the more stable it becomes internally, the deeper it is dissolved, and the more dispersed is the resulting CO2 plume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: UT-Battelle, LLC
    Inventors: Olivia R. West, Constantinos Tsouris, Liyuan Liang
  • Publication number: 20030070435
    Abstract: A liquid CO2 injection system produces a negatively buoyant consolidated stream of liquid CO2, CO2 hydrate, and water that sinks upon release at ocean depths in the range of 700-1500 m. In this approach, seawater at a predetermined ocean depth is mixed with the liquid CO2 stream before release into the ocean. Because mixing is conducted at depths where pressures and temperatures are suitable for CO2 hydrate formation, the consolidated stream issuing from the injector is negatively buoyant, and comprises mixed CO2-hydrate/CO2-liquid/water phases. The “sinking” characteristic of the produced stream will prolong the metastability of CO2 ocean sequestration by reducing the CO2 dissolution rate into water. Furthermore, the deeper the CO2 hydrate stream sinks after injection, the more stable it becomes internally, the deeper it is dissolved, and the more dispersed is the resulting CO2 plume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2001
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Inventors: Olivia R. West, Constantinos Tsouris, Liyuan Liang