Patents by Inventor Michael E. Wright

Michael E. Wright 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: 8697925
    Abstract: A process for making diesel and turbine fuels including, providing an effective amount of branched olefins, adding active heterogeneous acid catalyst(s) to said branched olefins to produce a solvent-free mixture, heating said solvent-free mixture greater than about 100° C. for a desired amount of time depending on various conditions, to produce C16 dimers/catalyst mixture, removing said catalysts from said dimers/catalyst mixture, and adding hydrogenation catalyst(s) to said dimers under hydrogen atmosphere to produce a mixture of stable fuels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Benjamin G. Harvey, Roxanne L. Quintana, Michael E. Wright
  • Publication number: 20140051898
    Abstract: A renewable biofuel based on a highly efficient batch catalysis methodology for conversion of 1-butene to a new class of potential jet fuel blends. By tuning the catalyst and then using the dimer produced, the carbon use is about 95% or greater. This latter point will be particularly important in the future, where the source of raw materials (i.e., biomass/biofeedstock) is limited.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: US GOVERNMENT AS REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY OF DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY
    Inventors: Michael E. Wright, Benjamin G. Harvey, Roxanne L. Quintana
  • Publication number: 20130253236
    Abstract: An approach that permits continuous batch conversion of alpha-olefins and internal-olefins to oligomeric materials without fouling the reaction vessel and provides a simple and highly efficient method for making very cost effective catalyst systems based on Zeigler-Natta Group 4 metallocenes. Embodiments of this invention produce diesel and turbine fuels that are 100% synthetic iso-paraffinic kerosenes with flashpoints greater than 61 deg C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Inventor: Michael E. Wright
  • Patent number: 8529846
    Abstract: A system, method and apparatus in the detection of a scent to locate the damage and its extent and to aid in the repair manually or self-repair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Department of Navy
    Inventor: Michael E. Wright
  • Patent number: 8518703
    Abstract: A system, method and apparatus in the detection of a scent to locate the damage and its extent and to aid in the repair manually or self-repair. A method for detecting damage in a device including, providing at least one first microcapsule having at least two scents in a composition detectable by a machine, human, and/or animal or any combination thereof, associating the scent(s), where the scent(s) is a device, releasing the scent(s) when damage has occurred to the device, and detecting the scent(s) to alert a detector of the damage and level of the damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Michael E. Wright
  • Publication number: 20130197279
    Abstract: A process for removal of water and other selected containments from butanol fermentation broths which is achieved by continuous extraction with a concentrated salt solution with a regulated pH value. This process greatly reduces distillation energy and losses for the final purification of butanol (normal or iso-). Furthermore, this process allows for generation of sufficiently pure biobutanol (>97%) for use in a subsequent chemical process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Inventor: Michael E. Wright
  • Patent number: 8395007
    Abstract: A renewable biofuel based on a highly efficient batch catalysis methodology for conversion of 1-butene to a new class of potential jet fuel blends. By tuning the catalyst and then using the dimer produced, the carbon use is about 95% or greater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Michael E. Wright, Benjamin G. Harvey, Roxanne L. Quintana
  • Patent number: 8350107
    Abstract: A process for converting alcohol feedstocks to diesel/turbine fuels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Benjamin G. Harvey, Michael E. Wright
  • Patent number: 8344196
    Abstract: A process from converting alcohol feedstock to diesel/turbine fuels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Benjamin G. Harvey, Michael E. Wright
  • Publication number: 20120271089
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for dehydrating bio-1-alcohols to bio-l-alkenes with high selectivity. The bio-1-alkenes are useful in preparing high flashpoint diesel and jet biofuels which are useful to civilian and military applications. Furthermore, the bio-1-alkenes may be converted to biolubricants useful in the transporation sector and other areas requiring high purity/thermally stable lubricants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Inventor: Michael E. Wright
  • Publication number: 20120238788
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for dehydrating bio-1-alcohols to bio-1-alkenes with high selectivity. The bio-1-alkenes are useful in preparing high flashpoint diesel and jet biofuels which are useful to civilian and military applications. Furthermore, the bio-1-alkenes may be converted to biolubricants useful in the transportation sector and other areas requiring high purity/thermally stable lubricants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Inventor: Michael E. Wright
  • Publication number: 20120209044
    Abstract: A process from converting alcohol feedstock to diesel/turbine fuels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Inventors: Benjamin G. Harvey, Michael E Wright
  • Publication number: 20120205284
    Abstract: An effective method for producing high density fuel candidates from pinenes is provided. MMT-K10 is an efficient catalyst for the reaction, although significant amounts of p-cymene and camphene produced as byproducts limit the overall yield to about 80%. Nafion is also an excellent catalyst for pinene dimerization and was capable of producing dimers in up to 90% yield. Pinene dimers synthesized with these heterogenous catalysts have a density and net heat of combustion comparable to JP-10. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope of the claims.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Inventors: Benjamin G. Harvey, Michael E. Wright, Roxanne L. Quintana
  • Publication number: 20120209045
    Abstract: A renewable biofuel based on a highly efficient batch catalysis methodology for conversion of 1-butene to a new class of potential jet fuel blends. By tuning the catalyst and then using the dimer produced, the carbon use is about 95% or greater. This latter point will be particularly important in the future, where the source of raw materials (i.e., biomass/biofeedstock) is limited. Also noteworthy, the batch catalysis approach disclosed requires a minimal input of energy and hydrogen to make fuels that possess useful flash points, coldflow properties, and solution density/energy content. This new process affords a saturated hydrocarbon fuel that has a high solution density and thus possesses a higher calculated power density (per volume) than similar fuels made by the GTL Fischer-Tropsch processes. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Inventors: Michael E. Wright, Benjamin G. Harvey, Roxanne L. Quintana
  • Publication number: 20120209046
    Abstract: A process from converting alcohol feedstock to diesel/turbine fuels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Inventors: Benjamin G. Harvey, Michael E Wright
  • Publication number: 20120209043
    Abstract: A process for converting alcohol feedstocks to diesel/turbine fuels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Inventors: Benjamin G. Harvey, Michael E Wright
  • Publication number: 20120209047
    Abstract: An approach that permits continuous batch conversion of alpha-olefins and internal- olefins to oligomeric materials without fouling the reaction vessel and provides a simple and highly efficient method for making very cost effective catalyst systems based on Zeigler-Natta Group 4 metallocenes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Inventor: Michael E. Wright
  • Publication number: 20120209040
    Abstract: An improved process and apparatus for the selective reaction of terpenes (including mono-, sesqui-, di-terpenes, and others in the terpene family), alpha-olefin oligomers (OOA's), and related olefins to their respective dimeric product in high purity using heterogeneous acid catalyst concurrent with full utilization of energy created in the process. Embodiments of the invention carry out a unique and highly efficient dimerization of terpenes, alpha-olefin oligomers (OOA's), and olefins using cost effective catalysts and low cost equipment that are ideally suited for commercialization of jet/turbine and diesel biofuel processes producing fuels with high flashpoints and superb cold flow properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Inventor: Michael E. Wright
  • Publication number: 20120207648
    Abstract: An improved process and apparatus for the selective reaction of terpenes (including mono-, sesqui-, di-terpenes, and others in the terpene family), alpha-olefin oligomers (OOA's), and related olefins to their respective dimeric product in high purity using heterogeneous acid catalyst concurrent with full utilization of energy created in the process. Embodiments of the invention carry out a unique and highly efficient dimerization of terpenes, alpha-olefin oligomers (OOA's), and olefins using cost effective catalysts and low cost equipment that are ideally suited for commercialization of jet/turbine and diesel biofuel processes producing fuels with high flashpoints and superb cold flow properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Inventor: Michael E. Wright
  • Publication number: 20120209039
    Abstract: An improved process and apparatus for the selective reaction of terpenes (including mono-, sesqui-, di-terpenes, and others in the terpene family), alpha-olefin oligomers (OOA's), and related olefins to their respective dimeric product in high purity using heterogeneous acid catalyst concurrent with full utilization of energy created in the process. Embodiments of the invention carry out a unique and highly efficient dimerization of terpenes, alpha-olefin oligomers (OOA's), and olefins using cost effective catalysts and low cost equipment that are ideally suited for commercialization of jet/turbine and diesel biofuel processes producing fuels with high flashpoints and superb cold flow properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Inventor: Michael E. Wright