Patents by Inventor Michael Bowe

Michael Bowe 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: 20050123472
    Abstract: Hydrogen is produced from a hydrocarbon fuel such as diesel, the process comprising: subjecting a mixture of the fuel with oxygen gas to plasma treatment in a dielectric barrier plasma reactor to generate oxygenated molecules; mixing the resulting oxygenated molecules with steam and subjecting them to steam reforming in a compact catalytic reactor at elevated temperature, and then to a water gas shift reaction (possibly with additional steam) at an elevated temperature. The resulting gases may then be mixed with a small quantity of oxygen gas, and subjected to selective oxidation to convert any carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide. This process avoids diluting the gases with nitrogen from the atmosphere, and can achieve very high yields. The hydrogen may be subsequently used in a fuel cell to generate electricity. Such a process may be used at an offshore facility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Publication date: June 9, 2005
    Inventors: Stephen Hall, Anthony Martin, Michael Bowe
  • Publication number: 20050054737
    Abstract: Methane is reacted with steam, to generate carbon monoxide and hydrogen in a first catalytic reactor, the resulting gas mixture can then be used to perform Fisher-Tropsch synthesis in a second catalytic reactor. In performing the steam/methane reforming, the gas mixture is passed through a narrow flow channel containing a catalyst structure on a metal substrate, and adjacent to a source of heat, in a time less than 0.5 s, so that only those reactions that have comparatively rapid kinetics will occur. Both the average temperature and the exit temperature of the channel are in the range 750° to 900° C. The ratio of steam to methane should preferably be 1.4 to 1.6, for example about 1.5. Almost all the methane will undergo the reforming reaction, almost entirely forming carbon monoxide. After performing Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, the remaining hydrogen is preferably used to provide heat for the reforming reaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2002
    Publication date: March 10, 2005
    Inventors: Clive Lee-Tuffnell, Ian Zimmerman, Michael Bowe, Jason Maude
  • Publication number: 20050020736
    Abstract: A two-pack cementitious composition consisting of iii) an alkaline component comprising gypsum, an alkaline polymer, water and a hydration inhibitor, which is stable in a fluid state and which can be set and hardened upon the addition of an hydration activator, and iv) an acidic component comprising an acid soluble hydration activator, is suitable for forming a self-levelling floor composition. The self-levelling floor composition may be used in a method of levelling a floor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2004
    Publication date: January 27, 2005
    Inventors: Michael Bowe, Bernadette Corujo, Yves Vandenberghe
  • Publication number: 20050013769
    Abstract: A catalytic reactor (20) comprises a plurality of sheets (21) defining flow channels (22) between them. Within each flow channel (22) is a foil (24) of corrugated material whose surfaces are coated with catalytic material. Flow channels (22, 22a) for a first gas extend in oblique directions relative to the flow channels (22b) for a second gas. The reactor (20) incorporates header chambers (26, 28) to supply gas mixtures to the flow channels (22), the headers communicating with adjacent channels being separate. The reactor (20) enables different gas mixtures to be supplied to adjacent channels (22), which may be at different pressures, and the corresponding chemical reactions are also different. Where one of the reactions is endothermic while the other reaction is exothermic, heat is transferred through the sheets (21) separating the endothermic reaction. When the catalyst is one set of flow channels becomes spent, it can be replaced by removing a header.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2002
    Publication date: January 20, 2005
    Inventors: Michael Bowe, Clive Lee-Tuffnell
  • Patent number: 5885982
    Abstract: A method of treating or preventing hypertrophic scar tissue in human skin comprising applying topically an effective amount of a non-toxic amine compound that is a transglutaminase inhibitor having a free amino group is disclosed. The amine compound that is a transglutaminase inhibitor is also selective for inhibiting Type III collagen peptide cross-linking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Inventors: Kenneth Nicholis Dolynchuk, John Michael Bowness