Patents by Inventor Michael Kai Mayeda

Michael Kai Mayeda 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: 9855540
    Abstract: Fuel converters configured to convert a transportation fuel to a low-C hydrocarbon fuel, along with methods of their use, are provided. The fuel converter can comprise: an evaporator configured to receive a transportation fuel from a fuel tank in a liquid state, wherein the evaporator converts the transportation fuel from a liquid to a gas; a fuel burner configured to heat the evaporator; a catalyst cartridge in fluid communication with the evaporator so as to receive the gas from the evaporator; and a condenser in fluid communication with the catalyst cartridge so as to receive the reaction product mixture from the catalyst cartridge. The catalyst cartridge comprises a catalyst configured to convert the transportation fuel into a reaction product mixture comprising a low-C hydrocarbon fuel. The condenser is configured to separate the low-C hydrocarbon fuel from a condensed fuel in the reaction product mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: University of South Carolina
    Inventors: Jochen Lauterbach, Erdem Sasmaz, Sungtak Kim, Michael Kai Mayeda
  • Publication number: 20150086438
    Abstract: Fuel converters configured to convert a transportation fuel to a low-C hydrocarbon fuel, along with methods of their use, are provided. The fuel converter can comprise: an evaporator configured to receive a transportation fuel from a fuel tank in a liquid state, wherein the evaporator converts the transportation fuel from a liquid to a gas; a fuel burner configured to heat the evaporator; a catalyst cartridge in fluid communication with the evaporator so as to receive the gas from the evaporator; and a condenser in fluid communication with the catalyst cartridge so as to receive the reaction product mixture from the catalyst cartridge. The catalyst cartridge comprises a catalyst configured to convert the transportation fuel into a reaction product mixture comprising a low-C hydrocarbon fuel. The condenser is configured to separate the low-C hydrocarbon fuel from a condensed fuel in the reaction product mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Jochen Lauterbach, Erdem Sasmaz, Sungtak Kim, Michael Kai Mayeda