Patents by Inventor Mark Wherrett

Mark Wherrett 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: 20170341008
    Abstract: A device and method for producing a reformate fuel from a hydrocarbon gas source. The invention enables the conversion of a dilute hydrocarbon gas into a more easily consumable reformate fuel. Gases having low concentrations of hydrocarbons are concentrated using a concentrator into a gaseous or liquid concentrated VOC fuel. The concentrated VOC fuel is then converted into a reformate using a reformer. The reformate is more easily consumed by an energy conversion device such as a combustion engine, fuel cell, sterling engine or similar device that converts chemical energy into kinetic or electrical energy. The reformer enables complex hydrocarbon fuels that are not normally suitable for use in an energy conversion device to be converted into a reformate. The reformate may be directly supplied into the energy conversion device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Inventors: Patrick Ryan, Jeffrey White, Mark Wherrett
  • Patent number: 9675922
    Abstract: A device and method for producing a reformate fuel from a hydrocarbon gas source. The invention enables the conversion of a dilute hydrocarbon gas into a more easily consumable reformate fuel. Gases having low concentrations of hydrocarbons are concentrated using a concentrator into a gaseous or liquid concentrated VOC fuel. The concentrated VOC fuel is then converted into a reformate using a reformer. The reformate is more easily consumed by an energy conversion device such as a combustion engine, fuel cell, sterling engine or similar device that converts chemical energy into kinetic or electrical energy. The reformer enables complex hydrocarbon fuels that are not normally suitable for use in an energy conversion device to be converted into a reformate. The reformate may be directly supplied into the energy conversion device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: DTE Energy
    Inventors: Patrick Ryan, Jeffery White, Mark Wherrett
  • Patent number: 9555360
    Abstract: A device and method for producing a reformate fuel from a hydrocarbon gas source. The invention enables the conversion of a dilute hydrocarbon gas into a more easily consumable reformate fuel. Gases having low concentrations of hydrocarbons are concentrated using a concentrator into a gaseous or liquid concentrated VOC fuel. The concentrated VOC fuel is then converted into a reformate using a reformer. The reformate is more easily consumed by an energy conversion device such as a combustion engine, fuel cell, sterling engine or similar device that converts chemical energy into kinetic or electrical energy. The reformer enables complex hydrocarbon fuels that are not normally suitable for use in an energy conversion device to be converted into a reformate. The reformate may be directly supplied into the energy conversion device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: DTE Energy
    Inventors: Patrick Ryan, Jeffery White, Mark Wherrett
  • Patent number: 9352265
    Abstract: A device and method for producing a reformate fuel from a hydrocarbon gas source. The invention enables the conversion of a dilute hydrocarbon gas into a more easily consumable reformate fuel. Gases having low concentrations of hydrocarbons are concentrated using a concentrator into a gaseous or liquid concentrated VOC fuel. The concentrated VOC fuel is then converted into a reformate using a reformer. The reformate is more easily consumed by an energy conversion device such as a combustion engine, fuel cell, sterling engine or similar device that converts chemical energy into kinetic or electrical energy. The reformer enables complex hydrocarbon fuels that are not normally suitable for use in an energy conversion device to be converted into a reformate. The reformate may be directly supplied into the energy conversion device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: DTE Energy
    Inventors: Patrick Ryan, Jeffery White, Mark Wherrett
  • Patent number: 9352266
    Abstract: A device and method for producing a reformate fuel from a hydrocarbon gas source. The invention enables the conversion of a dilute hydrocarbon gas into a more easily consumable reformate fuel. Gases having low concentrations of hydrocarbons are concentrated using a concentrator into a gaseous or liquid concentrated VOC fuel. The concentrated VOC fuel is then converted into a reformate using a reformer. The reformate is more easily consumed by an energy conversion device such as a combustion engine, fuel cell, sterling engine or similar device that converts chemical energy into kinetic or electrical energy. The reformer enables complex hydrocarbon fuels that are not normally suitable for use in an energy conversion device to be converted into a reformate. The reformate may be directly supplied into the energy conversion device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: DTE Energy
    Inventors: Patrick Ryan, Jeffery White, Mark Wherrett
  • Publication number: 20110232257
    Abstract: A device and method for producing a reformate fuel from a hydrocarbon gas source. The invention enables the conversion of a dilute hydrocarbon gas into a more easily consumable reformate fuel. Gases having low concentrations of hydrocarbons are concentrated using a concentrator into a gaseous or liquid concentrated VOC fuel. The concentrated VOC fuel is then converted into a reformate using a reformer. The reformate is more easily consumed by an energy conversion device such as a combustion engine, fuel cell, sterling engine or similar device that converts chemical energy into kinetic or electrical energy. The reformer enables complex hydrocarbon fuels that are not normally suitable for use in an energy conversion device to be converted into a reformate. The reformate may be directly supplied into the energy conversion device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: DETROIT EDISON COMPANY
    Inventors: Patrick Ryan, Jeffery White, Mark Wherrett
  • Publication number: 20110232277
    Abstract: A device and method for producing a reformate fuel from a hydrocarbon gas source. The invention enables the conversion of a dilute hydrocarbon gas into a more easily consumable reformate fuel. Gases having low concentrations of hydrocarbons are concentrated using a concentrator into a gaseous or liquid concentrated VOC fuel. The concentrated VOC fuel is then converted into a reformate using a reformer. The reformate is more easily consumed by an energy conversion device such as a combustion engine, fuel cell, sterling engine or similar device that converts chemical energy into kinetic or electrical energy. The reformer enables complex hydrocarbon fuels that are not normally suitable for use in an energy conversion device to be converted into a reformate. The reformate may be directly supplied into the energy conversion device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: DETROIT EDISON COMPANY
    Inventors: Patrick Ryan, Jeffery White, Mark Wherrett
  • Publication number: 20110232171
    Abstract: A device and method for producing a reformate fuel from a hydrocarbon gas source. The invention enables the conversion of a dilute hydrocarbon gas into a more easily consumable reformate fuel. Gases having low concentrations of hydrocarbons are concentrated using a concentrator into a gaseous or liquid concentrated VOC fuel. The concentrated VOC fuel is then converted into a reformate using a reformer. The reformate is more easily consumed by an energy conversion device such as a combustion engine, fuel cell, sterling engine or similar device that converts chemical energy into kinetic or electrical energy. The reformer enables complex hydrocarbon fuels that are not normally suitable for use in an energy conversion device to be converted into a reformate. The reformate may be directly supplied into the energy conversion device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: DETROIT EDISON COMPANY
    Inventors: Patrick Ryan, Jeffery White, Mark Wherrett
  • Publication number: 20110200898
    Abstract: A device and method for producing a reformate fuel from a hydrocarbon gas source. The invention enables the conversion of a dilute hydrocarbon gas into a more easily consumable reformate fuel. Gases having low concentrations of hydrocarbons are concentrated using a concentrator into a gaseous or liquid concentrated VOC fuel. The concentrated VOC fuel is then converted into a reformate using a reformer. The reformate is more easily consumed by an energy conversion device such as a combustion engine, fuel cell, sterling engine or similar device that converts chemical energy into kinetic or electrical energy. The reformer enables complex hydrocarbon fuels that are not normally suitable for use in an energy conversion device to be converted into a reformate. The reformate may be directly supplied into the energy conversion device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: DETROIT EDISON COMPANY
    Inventors: Patrick Ryan, Jeffery White, Mark Wherrett
  • Patent number: 7640739
    Abstract: A device and method for producing energy from a dilute VOC gas stream. The device includes a concentrator that concentrates a dilute VOC gas stream into a concentrated VOC fuel. The concentrated VOC fuel is supplied to the fuel intake of an engine. The device is operated by adsorbing the dilute VOC onto an adsorbing media within a concentrator. The concentrator increases the concentration of VOC per unit volume. The adsorbed VOC are then desorbed to form a concentrated VOC fuel stream. The concentrated VOC fuel stream may be either liquefied VOC or a more concentrated VOC gas stream. The concentrated VOC fuel stream is then directed to an engine to produce kinetic or electrical energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Inventors: Jeffery White, Mark Wherrett, Patrick Ryan
  • Publication number: 20070079816
    Abstract: A device and method for producing energy from a dilute VOC gas stream. The device includes a concentrator that concentrates a dilute VOC gas stream into a concentrated VOC fuel. The concentrated VOC fuel is supplied to the fuel intake of an engine. The device is operated by adsorbing the dilute VOC onto an adsorbing media within a concentrator. The concentrator increases the concentration of VOC per unit volume. The adsorbed VOC are then desorbed to form a concentrated VOC fuel stream. The concentrated VOC fuel stream may be either liquefied VOC or a more concentrated VOC gas stream. The concentrated VOC fuel stream is then directed to an engine to produce kinetic or electrical energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2003
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Inventors: Jeffery White, Mark Wherrett, Patrick Ryan
  • Publication number: 20060260193
    Abstract: A device and method for producing a reformate fuel from a hydrocarbon gas source. Gases (102) having low concentrations of hydrocarbons are concentrated using a concentrator (120) into a gaseous (123) or liquid (131) concentrated VOC fuel. The concentrated VOC fuel is then converted into a reformate (145) using a reformer (140). The reformate (145) is more easily consumed by an energy conversion device (160) such as a combustion engine, fuel cell, sterling engine or similar device that converts chemical energy into kinetic or electrical energy. The reformer (140) enables complex hydrocarbon fuels that are not normally suitable for use in an energy conversion device (160) to be converted into a reformate (145). The reformate (145) may be directly supplied into the energy conversion device (160).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2003
    Publication date: November 23, 2006
    Inventors: Patrick Ryan, Jeffery White, Mark Wherrett