Patents by Inventor Michael J. Antal, Jr.

Michael J. Antal, Jr. 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: 8585867
    Abstract: A low-energy input process for the pyrolytic conversion of biomass to charcoal or carbonized charcoal is provided. The biomass is sealed in a container, pressurized, then air is introduced at the proximal end of the container and released at the distal end of the container. The biomass is ignited by a heater at the distal end. The operation of the heater is halted after initial ignition and the biomass is allowed to continue to burn in a proximal-to-distal end airflow to finish the conversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: University of Hawaii
    Inventor: Michael J. Antal, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20100193344
    Abstract: A low-energy input process for the pyrolytic conversion of biomass to charcoal or carbonized charcoal is provided. The biomass is sealed in a container, pressurized, then air is introduced at the proximal end of the container and released at the distal end of the container. The biomass is ignited by a heater at the distal end. The operation of the heater is halted after initial ignition and the biomass is allowed to continue to burn in a proximal-to-distal end airflow to finish the conversion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Inventor: Michael J. Antal, JR.
  • Patent number: 7405020
    Abstract: An apparatus (1) for use of carbonized charcoal powder as an electrode is provided. Charcoal is provided as a powder, carbonized, and placed in a container (16) by which compressive pressure is applied to the carbonized-charcoal powder via one or more sides of the container (16). As a result of the compressive pressure the packed-bed (11) of carbonized-charcoal powder manifests a resistivity of less than about 1 ohm-cm and is suitable for use as an electrode in a fuel cell, battery or electrolyzer. The apparatus is adapted with electrical contacts (8, 9, 10) to conduct electric flow to or from the electrode and adapted for communication of an electrolyte with the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: University of Hawaii
    Inventor: Michael J. Antal, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6790317
    Abstract: A low-energy input process for the pyrolytic conversion of biomass to charcoal or carbonized charcoal is provided. The biomass is sealed in a container, pressurized with air and heated to ignition. Control of pressure by input of air and release of gases to maintain successively lower pressure levels results in a typical time for the conversion of less than 30 minutes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: University of Hawaii
    Inventor: Michael J. Antal, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5551958
    Abstract: An improved batch process for the pyrolytic conversion of woody and herbaceous plant material is provided which yields charcoal, on a dry weight basis, in yields ranging from about 35% to about 50%, having volatile matter content of about 25% or less, and fuel value of 13000 BTU/pound. The batch process can be conducted in two hours or less per batch with virtually instantaneous reloading for subsequent batches without substantial cooling of the reactor utilized for the process and without exposing the hot processed charcoal to air or oxygen sufficient to cause combustion upon removal from the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1996
    Assignee: University of Hawaii
    Inventor: Michael J. Antal, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5435983
    Abstract: An improved batch process for the pyrolytic conversion of woody and herbaceous plant material is provided which yields charcoal, on a dry weight basis, in yields ranging from about 35% to about 50%, having volatile matter content of about 25% or less, and fuel value of 13000 BTU/pound. The batch process can be conducted in two hours or less per batch with virtually instantaneous reloading for subsequent batches without substantial cooling of the reactor utilized for the process and without exposing the hot processed charcoal to air or oxygen sufficient to cause combustion upon removal from the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1995
    Assignee: University of Hawaii
    Inventor: Michael J. Antal, Jr.
  • Patent number: 3993458
    Abstract: Organic solid wastes represented by the general chemical formula C.sub.X H.sub.Y O.sub.Z are reacted with steam at elevated temperatures to produce H.sub.2 and CO.sub.2. The overall process is represented by the reactionC.sub.X H.sub.Y O.sub.Z + 2(X-Z/2)H.sub.2 O.fwdarw..sup..delta.XCO.sub.2 + [(Y/2) + 2(X-Z/2)] H.sub.2 . (1)reaction (1) is endothermic and requires heat. This heat is supplied by a tower top solar furnace; alternatively, some of the solid wastes can be burned to supply heat for the reaction. The hydrogen produced by reaction (1) can be used as a fuel or a chemical feedstock. Alternatively, methanol can be produced by the commercial processCO.sub.2 + 3H.sub.2 .fwdarw. CH.sub.3 OH + H.sub.2 O . (2)since reaction (1) is endothermic, the system represents a method for storing heat energy from an external source in a chemical fuel produced from solid wastes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1975
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1976
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Energy Research and Development Administration
    Inventor: Michael J. Antal, Jr.