Patents by Inventor Margaret Swain

Margaret Swain 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: 8372169
    Abstract: A low-temperature gasification system comprising a horizontally oriented gasifier is provided that optimizes the extraction of gaseous molecules from carbonaceous feedstock while minimizing waste heat. The system comprises a plurality of integrated subsystems that work together to convert municipal solid waste (MSW) into electricity. The subsystems comprised by the low-temperature gasification system are: a Municipal Solid Waste Handling System; a Plastics Handling System; a Horizontally Oriented Gasifier with Lateral Transfer Units System; a Gas Reformulating System; a Heat Recycling System; a Gas Conditioning System; a Residue Conditioning System; a Gas Homogenization System and a Control System.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Plasco Energy Group Inc.
    Inventors: Andreas Tsangaris, Scott Douglas Basham, Kenneth Craig Campbell, Ashish Chotaliya, Mao Pei Cui, Geofrey Dobbs, Douglas Michael Feasby, Pascale Bonnie Marceau, Alisdair Alan McLean, Zhiyuan Shen, Nipun Soni, Thomas Edward Wagler, Xiaoping Zou, Margaret Swain
  • Patent number: 8128728
    Abstract: A system and process for gas homogenization is disclosed. This has application in the areas of generation of gas and its conversion to electricity in downstream applications. The homogenization system minimizes variance in the gas characteristics (composition, flow, pressure, temperature), thereby rendering a steady stream of gas of consistent quality to the downstream machinery. This homogenization system can be adjusted to optimize the output gas stream for specific end-applications, or to optimize the output gas stream for different input feedstocks. This ensures that overall conversion efficiencies are maximized while keeping the process cost-effective. Such a uniform, steady output gas stream has a wide range of applications in the broad areas of generation of electricity (e.g. using internal combustion engines and combustion turbine engines), chemical synthesis (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Plasco Energy Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Andreas Tsangaris, Margaret Swain
  • Patent number: 8070863
    Abstract: The present invention provides a gas conditioning system for processing an input gas from a low temperature gasification system to an output gas of desired characteristics. The system comprises a two-stage process, the first stage separating heavy metals and particulate matter in a dry phase, and the second stage including further processing steps of removing acid gases, and/or other contaminants. Optional processes include adjusting the humidity and temperature of the input gas as it passes through the gas conditioning system. The presence and sequence of processing steps is determined by the composition of the input gas, the desired composition of output gas for downstream applications, and by efficiency and waste minimization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Plasco Energy Group Inc.
    Inventors: Andreas Tsangaris, Margaret Swain
  • Publication number: 20110078952
    Abstract: The present invention provides a vertically oriented gasifier comprising vertically successive processing regions for conversion of carbonaceous feedstock into gas. The gasifier comprises of: one or more processing chambers with two or more vertically successive processing regions being distributed within said one or more processing chambers, within each one of which a respective process selected from the group consisting of drying, volatilization and carbon conversion is at least partially favoured. The processing regions are identified by temperature ranges respectively enabling each said respective process. One or more additive input elements are associated with the processing regions for inputting additives to promote each said at least partially favoured process therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Applicant: Plasco Energy Group Inc.
    Inventors: Andreas TSANGARIS, Margaret Swain
  • Publication number: 20100275781
    Abstract: The present invention provides a gas conditioning system for processing an input gas from a low temperature gasification system to an output gas of desired characteristics. The system comprises a two-stage process, the first stage separating heavy metals and particulate matter in a dry phase, and the second stage including further processing steps of removing acid gases, and/or other contaminants. Optional processes include adjusting the humidity and temperature of the input gas as it passes through the gas conditioning system. The presence and sequence of processing steps is determined by the composition of the input gas, the desired composition of output gas for downstream applications, and by efficiency and waste minimization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Inventors: Andreas Tsangaris, Margaret Swain
  • Publication number: 20080210089
    Abstract: The present invention provides a gas conditioning system for processing an input gas from a low temperature gasification system to an output gas of desired characteristics. The system comprises a two-stage process, the first stage separating heavy metals and particulate matter in a dry phase, and the second stage including further processing steps of removing acid gases, and/or other contaminants. Optional processes include adjusting the humidity and temperature of the input gas as it passes through the gas conditioning system. The presence and sequence of processing steps is determined by the composition of the input gas, the desired composition of output gas for downstream applications, and by efficiency and waste minimization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Inventors: Andreas Tsangaris, Margaret Swain
  • Publication number: 20080209807
    Abstract: A low-temperature gasification system comprising a horizontally oriented gasifier is provided that optimizes the extraction of gaseous molecules from carbonaceous feedstock while minimizing waste heat. The system comprises a plurality of integrated subsystems that work together to convert municipal solid waste (MSW) into electricity. The subsystems comprised by the low-temperature gasification system are: a Municipal Solid Waste Handling System; a Plastics Handling System; a Horizontally Oriented Gasifier with Lateral Transfer Units System; a Gas Reformulating System; a Heat Recycling System; a Gas Conditioning System; a Residue Conditioning System; a Gas Homogenization System and a Control System.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Inventors: Andreas Tsangaris, Margaret Swain
  • Publication number: 20080147241
    Abstract: The present invention provides a control system for the conversion of carbonaceous feedstock into a gas. In particular, the control system is designed to be configurable for use in controlling one or more processes implemented in, and/or by, a gasification system for the conversion of such feedstock into a gas, which may be used for one or more downstream applications. Gasification processes controllable by different embodiments of the disclosed control system may include in various combinations, a converter, a residue conditioner, a recuperator and/or heat exchanger system, one or more gas conditioners, a gas homogenization system and one or more downstream applications. The control system operatively controls various local, regional and/or global processes related to the overall gasification process, and thereby adjusts various control parameters thereof adapted to affect these processes for a selected result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Applicant: Placso Energy Group Inc.
    Inventors: Andreas Tsangaris, Margaret Swain
  • Publication number: 20080104887
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system for converting the residue of a carbonaceous feedstock gasification or incineration process into an inert slag and a gas having a heating value. The residue is converted by plasma heating in a refractory-lined residue conditioning chamber. The gas produced is optionally passed through a gas conditioning system for cooling and cleaning to provide a product gas that is suitable for use in downstream applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2007
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Inventors: Andreas Tsangaris, Margaret Swain
  • Publication number: 20070289216
    Abstract: The present invention provides a vertically oriented gasifier comprising vertically successive processing regions for conversion of carbonaceous feedstock into gas. The gasifier comprises of: one or more processing chambers with two or more vertically successive processing regions being distributed within said one or more processing chambers, within each one of which a respective process selected from the group consisting of drying, volatilization and carbon conversion is at least partially favoured, The processing regions are identified by temperature ranges respectively enabling each said respective process. One or more additive input elements are associated with the processing regions for inputting additives to promote each said at least partially favoured process therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: Plasco Energy Group Inc.
    Inventors: Andreas Tsangaris, Margaret Swain
  • Publication number: 20070284453
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system that recycles heat recovered from hot products of a carbonaceous feedstock gasification process back into the gasification process. The hot gaseous products are used to heat working fluids such as air and water to produce hot air, hot water or steam. The heated fluids are used to return heat back to the gasification process. The system also comprises a control system to optimize the efficiency of a gasification process by minimizing energy consumption of the process, while also maximizing energy production.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Publication date: December 13, 2007
    Inventors: Andreas Tsangaris, Margaret Swain
  • Publication number: 20070266632
    Abstract: A system and process for gas homogenization is disclosed. This has application in the areas of generation of gas and its conversion to electricity in downstream applications. The homogenization system minimizes variance in the gas characteristics (composition, flow, pressure, temperature), thereby rendering a steady stream of gas of consistent quality to the downstream machinery. This homogenization system can be adjusted to optimize the output gas stream for specific end-applications, or to optimize the output gas stream for different input feedstocks. This ensures that overall conversion efficiencies are maximised while keeping the process cost-effective. Such a uniform, steady output gas stream has a wide range of applications in the broad areas of generation of electricity (e.g. using internal combustion engines and combustion turbine engines), chemical synthesis (e.g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Publication date: November 22, 2007
    Inventors: Andreas Tsangaris, Margaret Swain
  • Publication number: 20070266634
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is described for the efficient conversion of carbonaceous feedstock including municipal solid waste into a product gas through gasification. More specifically, a horizontally-oriented gasifier having one or more lateral transfer system for moving material through the gasifier is provided thereby allowing for the horizontal expansion of the gasification process such that there is sequential promotion of feedstock drying, volatization and char-to-ash conversions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Publication date: November 22, 2007
    Inventors: Andreas Tsangaris, Margaret Swain
  • Publication number: 20070266633
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is described for reformulating of an input gas from a gasification reaction into a reformulated gas. More specifically, a gas reformulating system having a gas reformulating chamber, one or more plasma torches, one or more oxygen source(s) inputs and control system is provided thereby allowing for the conversion of an input gas from a gasification reaction into a gas of desired composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Publication date: November 22, 2007
    Inventors: Andreas Tsangaris, Margaret Swain
  • Publication number: 20070258869
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system for converting the residue of a carbonaceous feedstock gasification or incineration process into an inert slag and a gas having a heating value. The residue is converted by plasma heating in a refractory-lined residue conditioning chamber. The gas produced is optionally passed through a gas conditioning system for cooling and cleaning to provide a product gas that is suitable for use in downstream applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Publication date: November 8, 2007
    Inventors: Andreas Tsangaris, Margaret Swain