Patents by Inventor Michael Roy Powell

Michael Roy Powell 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: 7922781
    Abstract: A compact hydrogen generator for use with fuel cells and other applications includes a hydrogen membrane reactor having a combustion chamber and a reaction chamber. The two chambers are have a fluid connection and a heat exchange relationship with one another. The hydrogen generation apparatus also includes a fuel supply, a fuel supply line for transporting fuel from the fuel supply to the reaction chamber, an oxygen supply, an oxygen supply line for transporting oxygen from the oxygen supply to the combustion chamber, as well as a tail gas supply line for transporting tail gas supply line for transporting tail gases from the reaction chamber, a combustion by-product line for transporting combustion by-products for the combustion chamber, and a reaction product line for transporting hydrogen from the reaction chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Inventors: Anand S. Chellappa, Michael Roy Powell, Charles J. Call
  • Patent number: 7875089
    Abstract: A hydrogen generation apparatus employs a thermocatalytic reactor (60) formed of a top plate (62), a bottom plate (66), and a reactor core (64) disposed between the top an bottom plates. The reactor core has a reaction surface (64a) and a combustion surface (64b), each surface having a raised periphery defining opposing ends (61a and 61b) and opposing sides (63a and 63b). The reaction surface (64a) and the top plate (62) together define a reaction chamber and the combustion surface (64b) and the bottom plate (66) together define a combustion chamber. The reaction core (64) has a first set of a plurality of spaced apart, substantially straight radiating fins (76a) extending from the reaction surface (64a) and a second set of a plurality of spaced part, substantially straight radiating fins (76b) extending from the combustion surface (64b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Intelligent Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Roy Powell, Charles J. Call
  • Patent number: 7867300
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides teachings relating to ammonia-based hydrogen generation apparatus and associated methods of use. Exemplary methods and apparatus comprise a thermocatalytic hydrogen generation reactor which includes a reaction chamber containing a catalyst-coated substrate, and a combustion chamber containing a catalyst-coated substrate. Exemplary catalyst-coated substrates include, but are not limited to, metal foam, monolith, mesh, ceramic foam or ceramic monolith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Intelligent Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Anand Chellappa, Michael Roy Powell
  • Patent number: 7527661
    Abstract: A hydrogen generator comprising a hydrogen membrane reactor, a fuel supply, a reaction fuel supply line, an air supply, an air supply line, a combustion fuel supply line, a tail gas supply line, a combustion by-product line for transporting combustion by-products from the combustion chamber, and a reaction product line. A membrane assembly to be joined to a reactor chamber of a hydrogen generator, which comprises a membrane; and a membrane support comprising a sintered porous metal. A reactor assembly comprising a reaction chamber containing a porous metal substrate, two membrane assemblies, a fuel supply, a reaction fuel supply line, and a tail gas supply line and a reaction product line. Methods associated with the hydrogen generator, membrane assembly and reactor assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Intelligent Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Anand Chellappa, Thomas R. Vencill, Michael Roy Powell, Ned A. Godshall
  • Publication number: 20040154223
    Abstract: A hydrogen generation apparatus employs a thermocatalytic reactor (60) formed of a top plate (62), a bottom plate (66), and a reactor core (64) disposed between the top an bottom plates. The reactor core has a reaction surface (64a) and a combustion surface (64b), each surface having a raised periphery defining opposing ends (61a and 61b) and opposing sides (63a and 63b). The reaction surface (64a) and the top plate (62) together define a reaction chamber and the combustion surface (64b) and the bottom plate (66) together define a combustion chamber. The reaction core (64) has a first set of a plurality of spaced apart, substantially straight radiating fins (76a) extending from the reaction surface (64a) and a second set of a plurality of spaced part, substantially straight radiating fins (76b) extending from the combustion surface (64b).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2004
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Inventors: Michael Roy Powell, Charles J Call
  • Publication number: 20040060447
    Abstract: Disclosed is a sorbent device that includes a and sorbent assembly containing a plurality of layered sorbent plates. Each sorbent plate has opposing sorbent surfaces formed of a layer of a sorbent material affixed to each side of a planar support sheet. The sorbent plates are layered so that each of the opposing sorbent surfaces is adjacent to one of the opposing sorbent surfaces on another of the sorbent plates and spaced apart from one another to form a channel between each pair of adjacent opposing sorbent surfaces. An inlet valve provides fluid communication between the sorbent assembly and a gas source, while a two-way outlet valve fluid communication between the sorbent assembly and a processor or a vacuum pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventors: Michael Roy Powell, Charles J. Call, Douglas M. Smith, Vinayan C. Menon, Ezra L. Merrill