Patents by Inventor Raymond Douglas STEELE

Raymond Douglas STEELE 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: 9784121
    Abstract: A continuous slag processing system includes a rotating parallel disc pump, coupled to a motor and a brake. The rotating parallel disc pump includes opposing discs coupled to a shaft, an outlet configured to continuously receive a fluid at a first pressure, and an inlet configured to continuously discharge the fluid at a second pressure less than the first pressure. The rotating parallel disc pump is configurable in a reverse-acting pump mode and a letdown turbine mode. The motor is configured to drive the opposing discs about the shaft and against a flow of the fluid to control a difference between the first pressure and the second pressure in the reverse-acting pump mode. The brake is configured to resist rotation of the opposing discs about the shaft to control the difference between the first pressure and the second pressure in the letdown turbine mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Thomas Frederick Leininger, Raymond Douglas Steele, Hsien-Chin William Yen, Stephen Michael Cordes
  • Patent number: 9702372
    Abstract: A system includes a first pump having a first outlet and a first inlet, and a controller. The first pump is configured to continuously receive a flow of a slurry into the first outlet at a first pressure and to continuously discharge the flow of the slurry from the first inlet at a second pressure less than the first pressure. The controller is configured to control a first speed of the first pump against the flow of the slurry based at least in part on the first pressure, wherein the first speed of the first pump is configured to resist a backflow of the slurry from the first outlet to the first inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Thomas Frederick Leininger, Raymond Douglas Steele, Stephen Michael Cordes
  • Patent number: 9447337
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to systems and methods for heating a slurry to increase a solids concentration of the slurry while maintaining the viscosity of the slurry below a threshold viscosity. For example, in one embodiment, a system includes a fuel slurry preparation system having a slurry tank configured to hold a fuel slurry, the fuel slurry having a solid fuel and a liquid. The fuel slurry preparation system also includes a heat source and a controller configured to control the heat source to heat the fuel slurry to decrease a viscosity of the slurry below a threshold viscosity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Raymond Douglas Steele, Sivaguru Kanniappan, Raul Eduardo Ayala, Zhaohui Yang, Dejia Wang, Yan Zhou, Karunagaran Sivagurunathan, Murugaraja Sengottaiyan
  • Patent number: 9228740
    Abstract: An annular injector is described. The injector includes a first bayonet assembly and a second bayonet assembly each including a terminal end and a tip end. The second bayonet assembly is configured to be concentrically coupled at least partially about the first bayonet assembly. An outer diameter of the first bayonet assembly and an inner diameter of the second bayonet assembly vary at the tip end to define a first substantially annular nozzle. The first bayonet assembly includes a maximum outer diameter that is greater than a minimum inner diameter of the second bayonet assembly and at least a portion of at least one of the first bayonet assembly and the second bayonet assembly extends from the tip end to the terminal end. The injector includes a third bayonet assembly configured to be concentrically coupled at least partially about the second bayonet assembly to define a second substantially annular nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Saunders Stevenson, Robert Michael Zirin, Raymond Douglas Steele, Constantin Bugescu, Roger Ma, David R. Matthews, Kenneth M. Sprouse
  • Patent number: 9222040
    Abstract: A system includes a slurry depressurizing system that includes a liquid expansion system configured to continuously receive a slurry at a first pressure and continuously discharge the slurry at a second pressure. For example, the slurry depressurizing system may include an expansion turbine to expand the slurry from the first pressure to the second pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Raymond Douglas Steele, Judith Pauline Oppenheim
  • Patent number: 9170174
    Abstract: A method for monitoring functionality of a seal assembly within an injector feed assembly is described. The method includes providing a buffer fluid to the seal assembly, measuring at least one of a pressure and a flow rate of the buffer fluid, and determining a functionality of the seal assembly based at least partially on the at least one of a pressure and a flow rate of the buffer fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Anthony Holmes Furman, John Saunders Stevenson, Raymond Douglas Steele, Beth Etta McCracken
  • Publication number: 20150159654
    Abstract: A system includes a first pump having a first outlet and a first inlet, and a controller. The first pump is configured to continuously receive a flow of a slurry into the first outlet at a first pressure and to continuously discharge the flow of the slurry from the first inlet at a second pressure less than the first pressure. The controller is configured to control a first speed of the first pump against the flow of the slurry based at least in part on the first pressure, wherein the first speed of the first pump is configured to resist a backflow of the slurry from the first outlet to the first inlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Frederick Leininger, Raymond Douglas Steele, Stephen Michael Cordes
  • Publication number: 20150159503
    Abstract: A continuous slag processing system includes a rotating parallel disc pump, coupled to a motor and a brake. The rotating parallel disc pump includes opposing discs coupled to a shaft, an outlet configured to continuously receive a fluid at a first pressure, and an inlet configured to continuously discharge the fluid at a second pressure less than the first pressure. The rotating parallel disc pump is configurable in a reverse-acting pump mode and a letdown turbine mode. The motor is configured to drive the opposing discs about the shaft and against a flow of the fluid to control a difference between the first pressure and the second pressure in the reverse-acting pump mode. The brake is configured to resist rotation of the opposing discs about the shaft to control the difference between the first pressure and the second pressure in the letdown turbine mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Inventors: Thomas Frederick Leininger, Raymond Douglas Steele, Hsien-Chin William Yen, Stephen Michael Cordes
  • Publication number: 20150159097
    Abstract: A system includes a quench chamber configured to continuously receive a mixture of a gas and slag, and a downstream end portion coupled to the quench chamber. The quench chamber includes a quench sump configured to continuously separate the gas from the slag in the mixture via a quench liquid. The downstream end portion is configured to continuously convey a slag slurry to a depressurization system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Hsien-Chin William Yen, Whitney Tolbert Norris, Raymond Douglas Steele
  • Patent number: 9028568
    Abstract: A system includes a carbon dioxide treatment system that includes a catalyst configured to treat carbon dioxide to produce a treated carbon dioxide. The system also includes a gasifier injector configured to inject the treated carbon dioxide, a fuel, and oxygen into a gasifier. The gasifier injector may be coupled to or located inside the gasifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Raymond Douglas Steele, Pradeep Stanley Thacker
  • Publication number: 20150123040
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to systems and methods for heating a slurry to increase a solids concentration of the slurry while maintaining the viscosity of the slurry below a threshold viscosity. For example, in one embodiment, a system includes a fuel slurry preparation system having a slurry tank configured to hold a fuel slurry, the fuel slurry having a solid fuel and a liquid. The fuel slurry preparation system also includes a heat source and a controller configured to control the heat source to heat the fuel slurry to decrease a viscosity of the slurry below a threshold viscosity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Raymond Douglas Steele, Sivaguru Kanniappan, Raul Eduardo Ayala, Zhaohui Yang, Dejia Wang, Yan Zhou, Karunagaran Sivagurunathan, Murugaraja Sengottaiyan
  • Publication number: 20150008670
    Abstract: A method for monitoring functionality of a seal assembly within an injector feed assembly is described. The method includes providing a buffer fluid to the seal assembly, measuring at least one of a pressure and a flow rate of the buffer fluid, and determining a functionality of the seal assembly based at least partially on the at least one of a pressure and a flow rate of the buffer fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Anthony Holmes Furman, John Saunders Stevenson, Raymond Douglas Steele, Beth Etta McCracken
  • Patent number: 8869598
    Abstract: A method for monitoring functionality of a seal assembly within an injector feed assembly is described. The method includes providing a buffer fluid to the seal assembly, measuring at least one of a pressure and a flow rate of the buffer fluid, and determining a functionality of the seal assembly based at least partially on the at least one of a pressure and a flow rate of the buffer fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Anthony Holmes Furman, John Saunders Stevenson, Raymond Douglas Steele, Beth Etta McCracken
  • Patent number: 8776531
    Abstract: The present application provides an integrated gasification combined cycle system. The integrated gasification combined cycle system may include a gas turbine engine, a syngas system for producing a syngas for the gas turbine engine and having a compressor therein, and a second gas engine in communication with the syngas system. The second gas engine dives the compressor via the syngas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Raymond Douglas Steele, Anindra Mazumdar, Pradeep S. Thacker, Richard DePuy, Gary D. Miller
  • Patent number: 8771550
    Abstract: A system includes a slag additive slurry feed system configured to combine a slurrying agent, a mineral slag additive, and a liquid slurrying medium to generate a stabilized mineral slurry. The slurrying agent is configured to increase a viscosity of the stabilized mineral slurry. The system also includes a partial oxidation system configured to receive the stabilized mineral slurry, a feedstock, and oxygen into a gasifier reaction chamber. The partial oxidation system is configured to partially oxidize the feedstock to produce a gaseous product and a solid product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Raymond Douglas Steele, Thomas Frederick Leininger, Shiguang Li
  • Publication number: 20140124604
    Abstract: An annular injector is described. The injector includes a first bayonet assembly and a second bayonet assembly each including a terminal end and a tip end. The second bayonet assembly is configured to be concentrically coupled at least partially about the first bayonet assembly. An outer diameter of the first bayonet assembly and an inner diameter of the second bayonet assembly vary at the tip end to define a first substantially annular nozzle. The first bayonet assembly includes a maximum outer diameter that is greater than a minimum inner diameter of the second bayonet assembly and at least a portion of at least one of the first bayonet assembly and the second bayonet assembly extends from the tip end to the terminal end. The injector includes a third bayonet assembly configured to be concentrically coupled at least partially about the second bayonet assembly to define a second substantially annular nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2014
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Inventors: John Saunders Stevenson, Robert Michael Zirin, Raymond Douglas Steele, Constantin Bugescu, Roger Ma, David R. Matthews, Kenneth M. Sprouse
  • Patent number: 8696797
    Abstract: A method for removing CO2 from a pressurized gas stream with the effluent CO2 remaining at system pressure or higher is disclosed. Specifically, the removal method provides near isothermal absorption of CO2 from a gas stream in a suitable solvent at an elevated pressure and relatively low temperature. The solvent is then removed from contact with the gas stream, and the temperature is increased to such an extent that the CO2 will flash from the solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Raymond Douglas Steele
  • Patent number: 8662408
    Abstract: An annular injector is described. The injector includes a first bayonet assembly and a second bayonet assembly each including a terminal end and a tip end. The second bayonet assembly is configured to be concentrically coupled at least partially about the first bayonet assembly. An outer diameter of the first bayonet assembly and an inner diameter of the second bayonet assembly vary at the tip end to define a first substantially annular nozzle. The first bayonet assembly includes a maximum outer diameter that is greater than a minimum inner diameter of the second bayonet assembly and at least a portion of at least one of the first bayonet assembly and the second bayonet assembly extends from the tip end to the terminal end. The injector includes a third bayonet assembly configured to be concentrically coupled at least partially about the second bayonet assembly to define a second substantially annular nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Saunders Stevenson, Robert Michael Zirin, Raymond Douglas Steele, Constantin Bugescu, Roger Ma, David R. Matthews, Kenneth M. Sprouse
  • Publication number: 20130327028
    Abstract: A system includes a slurry depressurizing system that includes a liquid expansion system configured to continuously receive a slurry at a first pressure and continuously discharge the slurry at a second pressure. For example, the slurry depressurizing system may include an expansion turbine to expand the slurry from the first pressure to the second pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Raymond Douglas Steele, Judith Pauline Oppenheim
  • Publication number: 20130277615
    Abstract: A system includes a slag additive slurry feed system configured to combine a slurrying agent, a mineral slag additive, and a liquid slurrying medium to generate a stabilized mineral slurry. The slurrying agent is configured to increase a viscosity of the stabilized mineral slurry. The system also includes a partial oxidation system configured to receive the stabilized mineral slurry, a feedstock, and oxygen into a gasifier reaction chamber. The partial oxidation system is configured to partially oxidize the feedstock to produce a gaseous product and a solid product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Raymond Douglas Steele, Thomas Frederick Leininger, Shiguang Li