Patents by Inventor Pedro T. Santos

Pedro T. Santos 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: 11872518
    Abstract: A portable pressure swing adsorption method and system for fuel gas conditioning. A fuel gas conditioning system includes a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) system fluidly coupled to a rich gas stream, the PSA system including a plurality of adsorbent beds and configured to condition the rich natural gas stream and produce therefrom a high-quality fuel gas and gaseous separated heavier hydrocarbons, a product end of the adsorbent beds fluidly coupled to a fuel gas line, wherein the high-quality fuel gas is discharged from the product end and supplied to the fuel gas line, and a feed end of the adsorbent beds configured to be fluidly coupled to the rich natural gas stream or a raw natural gas stream, wherein the produced gaseous separated heavier hydrocarbons are recirculated into the rich natural gas stream or the raw natural gas stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Coldstream Energy IP, LLC
    Inventors: Jason G. S. Ho, Gerald Bowen Gump, Pedro T. Santos, Xuepei Yuan
  • Publication number: 20230332744
    Abstract: A system for storing and transporting compressed natural gas includes source and destination facilities and a vehicle, each of which includes pressure vessels. The pressure vessels and gas therein may be maintained in a cold state by a carbon-dioxide-based refrigeration unit. Hydraulic fluid (and/or nitrogen) ballast may be used to fill the pressure vessels as the pressure vessels are emptied so as to maintain the pressure vessels in a substantially isobaric state that reduces vessel fatigue and lengthens vessel life. The pressure vessels may be hybrid vessels with carbon fiber and fiber glass wrappings. Dip tubes may extend into the pressure vessels to selectively expel/inject gas from/into the top of the vessels or hydraulic fluid from/into the bottom of the vessels. Impingement deflectors are disposed adjacent to the dip tubes inside the vessels to discourage fluid-induced erosion of vessel walls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2023
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Applicant: NEARSHORE NATURAL GAS, LLC
    Inventors: Pedro T. SANTOS, David I. SCOTT
  • Publication number: 20230321586
    Abstract: A natural gas adsorptive separation system and method is described. A method of separating natural gas includes directing a natural gas mixture through an activated carbon adsorption tower until the adsorption tower is saturated, collecting methane from the output of the adsorption tower, heating the saturated carbon adsorption tower with adsorbate using a heater and/or a vacuum pump in a closed loop circuit with the carbon adsorption tower until the input to the vacuum pump is within a specified temperature of the output of the heater, lowering the pressure in the heated activated carbon adsorption tower using the vacuum pump to desorb at least one hydrocarbon compound of the plurality of different hydrocarbon compounds, compressing and cooling the desorbed hydrocarbon compound, separating the cooled and compressed hydrocarbon compound into gas and liquid in a fluid separator, and collecting the liquid from the fluid separator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2023
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Applicant: Solid State Separation Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Pedro T. Santos, Xuepei Yuan
  • Patent number: 11725780
    Abstract: A system for storing and transporting compressed natural gas includes source and destination facilities and a vehicle, each of which includes pressure vessels. The pressure vessels and gas therein may be maintained in a cold state by a carbon-dioxide-based refrigeration unit. Hydraulic fluid (and/or nitrogen) ballast may be used to fill the pressure vessels as the pressure vessels are emptied so as to maintain the pressure vessels in a substantially isobaric state that reduces vessel fatigue and lengthens vessel life. The pressure vessels may be hybrid vessels with carbon fiber and fiber glass wrappings. Dip tubes may extend into the pressure vessels to selectively expel/inject gas from/into the top of the vessels or hydraulic fluid from/into the bottom of the vessels. Impingement deflectors are disposed adjacent to the dip tubes inside the vessels to discourage fluid-induced erosion of vessel walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: NEARSHORE NATURAL GAS, LLC
    Inventors: Pedro T. Santos, David I. Scott
  • Patent number: 11717784
    Abstract: A natural gas adsorptive separation system and method is described. A method of separating natural gas includes directing a natural gas mixture through an activated carbon adsorption tower until the adsorption tower is saturated, collecting methane from the output of the adsorption tower, heating the saturated carbon adsorption tower with adsorbate using a heater and/or a vacuum pump in a closed loop circuit with the carbon adsorption tower until the input to the vacuum pump is within a specified temperature of the output of the heater, lowering the pressure in the heated activated carbon adsorption tower using the vacuum pump to desorb at least one hydrocarbon compound of the plurality of different hydrocarbon compounds, compressing and cooling the desorbed hydrocarbon compound, separating the cooled and compressed hydrocarbon compound into gas and liquid in a fluid separator, and collecting the liquid from the fluid separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Inventors: Pedro T. Santos, Xuepei Yuan
  • Publication number: 20230101201
    Abstract: A portable pressure swing adsorption method and system for fuel gas conditioning. A fuel gas conditioning system includes a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) system fluidly coupled to a rich gas stream, the PSA system including a plurality of adsorbent beds and configured to condition the rich natural gas stream and produce therefrom a high-quality fuel gas and gaseous separated heavier hydrocarbons, a product end of the adsorbent beds fluidly coupled to a fuel gas line, wherein the high-quality fuel gas is discharged from the product end and supplied to the fuel gas line, and a feed end of the adsorbent beds configured to be fluidly coupled to the rich natural gas stream or a raw natural gas stream, wherein the produced gaseous separated heavier hydrocarbons are recirculated into the rich natural gas stream or the raw natural gas stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventors: Jason G. S. Ho, Gerald Bowen Gump, Pedro T. Santos, Xuepei Yuan
  • Publication number: 20230082278
    Abstract: A portable pressure swing adsorption method and system for fuel gas conditioning. A fuel gas conditioning system includes a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) system fluidly coupled to a rich gas stream, the PSA system including a plurality of adsorbent beds and configured to condition the rich natural gas stream and produce therefrom a high-quality fuel gas and gaseous separated heavier hydrocarbons, a product end of the adsorbent beds fluidly coupled to a fuel gas line, wherein the high-quality fuel gas is discharged from the product end and supplied to the fuel gas line, and a feed end of the adsorbent beds configured to be fluidly coupled to the rich natural gas stream or a raw natural gas stream, wherein the produced gaseous separated heavier hydrocarbons are recirculated into the rich natural gas stream or the raw natural gas stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2022
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Inventors: Jason G. S. Ho, Gerald Bowen Gump, Pedro T. Santos, Xuepei Yuan
  • Patent number: 11577191
    Abstract: A portable pressure swing adsorption method and system for fuel gas conditioning. A fuel gas conditioning system includes a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) system fluidly coupled to a rich gas stream, the PSA system including a plurality of adsorbent beds and configured to condition the rich natural gas stream and produce therefrom a high-quality fuel gas and gaseous separated heavier hydrocarbons, a product end of the adsorbent beds fluidly coupled to a fuel gas line, wherein the high-quality fuel gas is discharged from the product end and supplied to the fuel gas line, and a feed end of the adsorbent beds configured to be fluidly coupled to the rich natural gas stream or a raw natural gas stream, wherein the produced gaseous separated heavier hydrocarbons are recirculated into the rich natural gas stream or the raw natural gas stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Coldstream Energy IP, LLC
    Inventors: Jason G. S. Ho, Gerald Bowen Gump, Pedro T. Santos, Xuepei Yuan
  • Patent number: 11371445
    Abstract: A vehicle may include: a genset including: an engine configured to combust light fuel such as natural gas, a generator linked to the engine and configured to convert mechanical energy provided by the engine into electrical energy; one or more light fuel storage containers; one or more electrical storage devices such as batteries; a plurality of wheels; a plurality of electric motors configured to drive the plurality of wheels; a first power bus configured to electrically connect the generator of the genset, the one or more electrical storage devices, and the plurality of electric motors. Each of the one or more electrical storage devices may be disposed lower than each of the one or more light fuel storage containers with respect to a vertically extending reference axis that is perpendicular to a reference plane parallel to ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: CNGMOTIVE, INC.
    Inventors: David I. Scott, Pedro T. Santos
  • Publication number: 20220041191
    Abstract: A railroad car including a plurality of penetration resistant and protective structures including a penetration resistant and protective underframe, penetration resistant and protective first end, second end, and center bulkheads, penetration resistant and protective first, second, third, and fourth side walls, and protective first and second roof hatches, all configured to protect internal cylinder assemblies, the pipes that communicate the gas from the cylinders of the cylinder assemblies, and the safety critical valves, regulators, and other equipment connected to such cylinders and pipes of the railroad car in an accident (such as a derailment, crash and/or roll-over).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2021
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Inventors: David I. Scott, Pedro T. Santos, Robert Thomas Scott
  • Patent number: 11142224
    Abstract: A railroad car including a plurality of penetration resistant and protective structures including a penetration resistant and protective underframe, penetration resistant and protective first end, second end, and center bulkheads, penetration resistant and protective first, second, third, and fourth side walls, and protective first and second roof hatches, all configured to protect internal cylinder assemblies, the pipes that communicate the gas from the cylinders of the cylinder assemblies, and the safety critical valves, regulators, and other equipment connected to such cylinders and pipes of the railroad car in an accident (such as a derailment, crash and/or roll-over).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: CNGMotive, Inc.
    Inventors: David I. Scott, Pedro T. Santos, Robert Thomas Scott
  • Patent number: 11052753
    Abstract: A dual-fuel tank houses one or more compressed natural gas (CNG) vessels and one or more diesel fuel vessels. The diesel fuel vessels are generally disposed laterally outwardly from the CNG vessels to provide a buffer that protects the CNG vessels from side impacts. The dual-fuel tank may be retrofit onto a diesel locomotive in place of the locomotive's diesel fuel tank to convert the locomotive into a dual-fuel locomotive. The dual-fuel tank may be provided in a ship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: CNGMOTIVE, INC.
    Inventors: David I. Scott, Pedro T. Santos
  • Publication number: 20210131614
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide an end-to-end gaseous fuel transportation solution without using physical pipelines. A virtual pipeline system and methods thereof may involve transportation of gaseous fuels including compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), and/or adsorbed natural gas (ANG). An exemplary pipeline system may include a gas supply station, a mother station for treating gaseous fuels from the gas supply station, a mobile transport system for receiving and transporting the gaseous fuels, and user site for unloading the gaseous fuels from the mobile transport system. The unloaded gaseous fuels can be further used or distributed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2021
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventors: Pedro T. SANTOS, Scott RACKEY, Jeremy PITTS, Aaron HILBER, Kolar L. SESHASAI, Pedro VERGEL, Jimmy ROMANOS
  • Patent number: 10890294
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide an end-to-end gaseous fuel transportation solution without using physical pipelines. A virtual pipeline system and methods thereof may involve transportation of gaseous fuels including compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), and/or adsorbed natural gas (ANG). An exemplary pipeline system may include a gas supply station, a mother station for treating gaseous fuels from the gas supply station, a mobile transport system for receiving and transporting the gaseous fuels, and user site for unloading the gaseous fuels from the mobile transport system. The unloaded gaseous fuels can be further used or distributed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: NEARSHORE NATURAL GAS, LLC
    Inventors: Pedro T. Santos, Scott Rackey, Jeremy Pitts, Aaron Hilber, Kolar L. Seshasai, Pedro Vergel, Jimmy Romanos
  • Publication number: 20190344808
    Abstract: A vehicle may include: a genset including: an engine configured to combust light fuel such as natural gas, a generator linked to the engine and configured to convert mechanical energy provided by the engine into electrical energy; one or more light fuel storage containers; one or more electrical storage devices such as batteries; a plurality of wheels; a plurality of electric motors configured to drive the plurality of wheels; a first power bus configured to electrically connect the generator of the genset, the one or more electrical storage devices, and the plurality of electric motors. Each of the one or more electrical storage devices may be disposed lower than each of the one or more light fuel storage containers with respect to a vertically extending reference axis that is perpendicular to a reference plane parallel to ground.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Publication date: November 14, 2019
    Inventors: David I. Scott, Pedro T. Santos
  • Publication number: 20190338886
    Abstract: A system for storing and transporting compressed natural gas includes source and destination facilities and a vehicle, each of which includes pressure vessels. The pressure vessels and gas therein may be maintained in a cold state by a carbon-dioxide-based refrigeration unit. Hydraulic fluid (and/or nitrogen) ballast may be used to fill the pressure vessels as the pressure vessels are emptied so as to maintain the pressure vessels in a substantially isobaric state that reduces vessel fatigue and lengthens vessel life. The pressure vessels may be hybrid vessels with carbon fiber and fiber glass wrappings. Dip tubes may extend into the pressure vessels to selectively expel/inject gas from/into the top of the vessels or hydraulic fluid from/into the bottom of the vessels. Impingement deflectors are disposed adjacent to the dip tubes inside the vessels to discourage fluid-induced erosion of vessel walls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Applicant: NEARSHORE NATURAL GAS, LLC
    Inventors: Pedro T. SANTOS, David I. SCOTT
  • Publication number: 20190283570
    Abstract: A dual-fuel tank houses one or more compressed natural gas (CNG) vessels and one or more diesel fuel vessels. The diesel fuel vessels are generally disposed laterally outwardly from the CNG vessels to provide a buffer that protects the CNG vessels from side impacts. The dual-fuel tank may be retrofit onto a diesel locomotive in place of the locomotive's diesel fuel tank to convert the locomotive into a dual-fuel locomotive. The dual-fuel tank may be provided in a ship.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: David I. Scott, Pedro T. Santos
  • Publication number: 20190176853
    Abstract: A railroad car including a plurality of penetration resistant and protective structures including a penetration resistant and protective underframe, penetration resistant and protective first end, second end, and center bulkheads, penetration resistant and protective first, second, third, and fourth side walls, and protective first and second roof hatches, all configured to protect internal cylinder assemblies, the pipes that communicate the gas from the cylinders of the cylinder assemblies, and the safety critical valves, regulators, and other equipment connected to such cylinders and pipes of the railroad car in an accident (such as a derailment, crash and/or roll-over).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Inventors: David I. Scott, Pedro T. Santos, Robert Thomas Scott
  • Patent number: 10245940
    Abstract: A dual-fuel tank houses one or more compressed natural gas (CNG) vessels and one or more diesel fuel vessels. The diesel fuel vessels are generally disposed laterally outwardly from the CNG vessels to provide a buffer that protects the CNG vessels from side impacts. The dual-fuel tank may be retrofit onto a diesel locomotive in place of the locomotive's diesel fuel tank to convert the locomotive into a dual-fuel locomotive. The dual-fuel tank may be provided in a ship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: CNGMOTIVE, INC.
    Inventors: David I. Scott, Pedro T. Santos
  • Publication number: 20180094772
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide an end-to-end gaseous fuel transportation solution without using physical pipelines. A virtual pipeline system and methods thereof may involve transportation of gaseous fuels including compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), and/or adsorbed natural gas (ANG). An exemplary pipeline system may include a gas supply station, a mother station for treating gaseous fuels from the gas supply station, a mobile transport system for receiving and transporting the gaseous fuels, and user site for unloading the gaseous fuels from the mobile transport system. The unloaded gaseous fuels can be further used or distributed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Inventors: Pedro T. SANTOS, Scott Rackey, Jeremy Pitts, Aaron Hilber, Kolar L. Seshasai, Pedro Vergel, Jimmy Romansos