Patents by Inventor Richard F. Zheng

Richard F. Zheng 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: 20230226513
    Abstract: Reactors are provided that can include a first set of fluid channels and a second set of fluid channels oriented in thermal contact with the first set of fluid channels. The reactor assemblies can also provide where the channels of either one or both of the first of the set of fluid channels are non-linear. Other implementations provide for at least one of the first set of fluid channels being in thermal contact with a plurality of other channels of the second set of fluid channels. Reactor assemblies are also provided that can include a first set of fluid channels defining at least one non-linear channel having a positive function, and a second set of fluid channels defining at least another non-linear channel having a negative function in relation to the positive function of the one non-linear channel of the first set of fluid channels. Processes for distributing energy across a reactor are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2023
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Inventors: Richard F. Zheng, Robert S. Wegeng, Paul H. Humble, Dustin D. Caldwell, Richard B. Diver, Ward E. TeGrotenhuis, Christopher K. Clayton, Timothy G. Veldman
  • Patent number: 11596920
    Abstract: Chemical processors are configured to reduce mass, work in conjunction with solar concentrators, and/or house porous inserts in microchannel or mesochannel devices made by additive manufacturing. Methods of making chemical processors containing porous inserts by additive manufacturing are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Ward E. TeGrotenhuis, Paul H. Humble, Christopher K. Clayton, Timothy G. Veldman, Robert S. Wegeng, Richard F. Zheng
  • Publication number: 20220305453
    Abstract: Reactors are provided that can include a first set of fluid channels and a second set of fluid channels oriented in thermal contact with the first set of fluid channels. The reactor assemblies can also provide where the channels of either one or both of the first of the set of fluid channels are non-linear. Other implementations provide for at least one of the first set of fluid channels being in thermal contact with a plurality of other channels of the second set of fluid channels. Reactor assemblies are also provided that can include a first set of fluid channels defining at least one non-linear channel having a positive function, and a second set of fluid channels defining at least another non-linear channel having a negative function in relation to the positive function of the one non-linear channel of the first set of fluid channels. Processes for distributing energy across a reactor are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2022
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventors: Richard F. Zheng, Robert S. Wegeng, Paul H. Humble, Dustin D. Caldwell, Richard B. Diver
  • Patent number: 11358111
    Abstract: Reactors are provided that can include a first set of fluid channels and a second set of fluid channels oriented in thermal contact with the first set of fluid channels where the channels of either one or both of the first of the set of fluid channels are non-linear. Reactor assemblies are also provided that can include a first set of fluid channels defining at least one non-linear channel having a positive function, and a second set of fluid channels defining at least another non-linear channel having a negative function in relation to the positive function of the one non-linear channel of the first set of fluid channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute, Pacific Northwest National Laboratories
    Inventors: Richard F. Zheng, Robert S. Wegeng, Paul H. Humble, Dustin D. Caldwell, Richard B. Diver
  • Publication number: 20210237025
    Abstract: Chemical processors are configured to reduce mass, work in conjunction with solar concentrators, and/or house porous inserts in microchannel or mesochannel devices made by additive manufacturing. Methods of making chemical processors containing porous inserts by additive manufacturing are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2021
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Inventors: Ward E. TeGrotenhuis, Paul H. Humble, Christopher K. Clayton, Timothy G. Veldman, Robert S. Wegeng, Richard F. Zheng
  • Patent number: 10981141
    Abstract: Chemical processors are configured to reduce mass, work in conjunction with solar concentrators, and/or house porous inserts in microchannel or mesochannel devices made by additive manufacturing. Methods of making chemical processors containing porous inserts by additive manufacturing are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Ward E. TeGrotenhuis, Paul H. Humble, Christopher K. Clayton, Timothy G. Veldman, Robert S. Wegeng, Richard F. Zheng
  • Publication number: 20200298197
    Abstract: Reactors are provided that can include a first set of fluid channels and a second set of fluid channels oriented in thermal contact with the first set of fluid channels. The reactor assemblies can also provide where the channels of either one or both of the first of the set of fluid channels are non-linear. Other implementations provide for at least one of the first set of fluid channels being in thermal contact with a plurality of other channels of the second set of fluid channels. Reactor assemblies are also provided that can include a first set of fluid channels defining at least one non-linear channel having a positive function, and a second set of fluid channels defining at least another non-linear channel having a negative function in relation to the positive function of the one non-linear channel of the first set of fluid channels. Processes for distributing energy across a reactor are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Inventors: Richard F. Zheng, Robert S. Wegeng, Paul H. Humble, Dustin D. Caldwell, Richard B. Diver
  • Publication number: 20200001265
    Abstract: Chemical processors are configured to reduce mass, work in conjunction with solar concentrators, and/or house porous inserts in microchannel or mesochannel devices made by additive manufacturing. Methods of making chemical processors containing porous inserts by additive manufacturing are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2019
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Inventors: Ward E. TeGrotenhuis, Paul H. Humble, Christopher K. Clayton, Timothy G. Veldman, Robert S. Wegeng, Richard F. Zheng