Patents by Inventor Michael R. Thorson

Michael R. Thorson 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: 20240287390
    Abstract: A process where a liquid or supercritical CO2 co-solvent is used in a hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) process. The process improves yield of the HTL process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2024
    Publication date: August 29, 2024
    Inventors: Alan H. Zacher, Lisa A. Smith-Middleton, Todd R. Hart, Andrew J. Schmidt, Michael R. Thorson, Samuel P. Fox, Dylan J. Cronin
  • Publication number: 20240263319
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a system and method that combine carbon dioxide reduction and methanol oxidation to provide an efficient path to formaldehyde production. The system and method embodiments are designed to rely on methanol oxidation to formaldehyde to provide the electrons needed to drive carbon dioxide reduction to carbon monoxide. The carbon monoxide obtained by carbon dioxide reduction is converted to the methanol used in the system/method via hydrogenation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2022
    Publication date: August 8, 2024
    Applicant: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Michael R. Thorson, Uriah Kilgore, Udishnu Sanyal, Karthikeyan Kallupalayam Ramasamy
  • Patent number: 11661552
    Abstract: A hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) system can comprise a biomass slurry source, a first pump in fluid communication with the slurry source and configured to pressurize a biomass slurry stream from the slurry source to a first pressure, a first heat exchanger in fluid communication with the first pump and configured to heat a slurry stream received from the first pump to a first temperature, a second pump in fluid communication with the first heat exchanger and configured to pressurize a slurry stream received from the first heat exchanger to a second pressure higher than the first pressure, a second heat exchanger in fluid communication with the second pump and configured to heat a slurry stream received from the second pump to a second temperature higher than the first temperature, and a HTL reactor configured to produce biocrude from a slurry stream received from the second heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Michael R. Thorson, Lesley J. Snowden-Swan, Andrew J. Schmidt, Todd R. Hart, Justin M. Billing, Daniel B. Anderson, Richard T. Hallen
  • Publication number: 20220195308
    Abstract: A hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) system can comprise a biomass slurry source, a first pump in fluid communication with the slurry source and configured to pressurize a biomass slurry stream from the slurry source to a first pressure, a first heat exchanger in fluid communication with the first pump and configured to heat a slurry stream received from the first pump to a first temperature, a second pump in fluid communication with the first heat exchanger and configured to pressurize a slurry stream received from the first heat exchanger to a second pressure higher than the first pressure, a second heat exchanger in fluid communication with the second pump and configured to heat a slurry stream received from the second pump to a second temperature higher than the first temperature, and a HTL reactor configured to produce biocrude from a slurry stream received from the second heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2022
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Applicant: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Michael R. Thorson, Lesley J. Snowden-Swan, Andrew J. Schmidt, Todd R. Hart, Justin M. Billing, Daniel B. Anderson, Richard T. Hallen
  • Patent number: 11279882
    Abstract: A hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) system can comprise a biomass slurry source, a first pump in fluid communication with the slurry source and configured to pressurize a biomass slurry stream from the slurry source to a first pressure, a first heat exchanger in fluid communication with the first pump and configured to heat a slurry stream received from the first pump to a first temperature, a second pump in fluid communication with the first heat exchanger and configured to pressurize a slurry stream received from the first heat exchanger to a second pressure higher than the first pressure, a second heat exchanger in fluid communication with the second pump and configured to heat a slurry stream received from the second pump to a second temperature higher than the first temperature, and a HTL reactor configured to produce biocrude from a slurry stream received from the second heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Michael R. Thorson, Lesley J. Snowden-Swan, Andrew J. Schmidt, Todd R. Hart, Justin M. Billing, Daniel B. Anderson, Richard T. Hallen
  • Publication number: 20210214633
    Abstract: A hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) system can comprise a biomass slurry source, a first pump in fluid communication with the slurry source and configured to pressurize a biomass slurry stream from the slurry source to a first pressure, a first heat exchanger in fluid communication with the first pump and configured to heat a slurry stream received from the first pump to a first temperature, a second pump in fluid communication with the first heat exchanger and configured to pressurize a slurry stream received from the first heat exchanger to a second pressure higher than the first pressure, a second heat exchanger in fluid communication with the second pump and configured to heat a slurry stream received from the second pump to a second temperature higher than the first temperature, and a HTL reactor configured to produce biocrude from a slurry stream received from the second heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Applicant: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Michael R. Thorson, Lesley J. Snowden-Swan, Andrew J. Schmidt, Todd R. Hart, Justin M. Billing, Daniel B. Anderson, Richard T. Hallen
  • Publication number: 20040073434
    Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for estimating automobile damage susceptible of paintless dent repair (P.D.R.). The method includes characterizing damage susceptible of P.D.R. by inspection of the vehicle; communicating those characterizations to a central computer, processing the characterizations based on predetermined rules stored in the central computer, and generating a report including a estimation of repair costs for the vehicle. The communication can be over a global computer network, a WAN, a LAN, or other ways to communicate between remote and central devices. A template can be used to assist in the characterization of damage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2001
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Inventors: Jerry A. Volquardsen, Keith L. Volquardsen, Michael R. Thorson