Patents by Inventor Robert Henri Gauthier

Robert Henri Gauthier 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: 10619933
    Abstract: A syngas cooler system includes a pressure vessel, a conduit, a plenum, a plenum, a conduit, and a bellows assembly. The pressure vessel includes a throat and a dome adjacent to the throat. The throat includes an area of excess heat, and the dome includes an area of deficient heat. The plenum extends between the throat and the bellows assembly. The bellows assembly is coupled at least partially within the dome. The conduit is coupled to the plenum for channeling a flow of purge fluid from external to the pressure vessel into the plenum such that purge fluid transfers heat from the area of excess heat into the area of deficient heat to facilitate reducing temperature differential stresses within the dome and the pressure vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: James Michael Storey, Alex Clinton Solomon, Benjamin Campbell Steinhaus, Judeth Brannon Corry, Steven Craig Russell, Robert Henri Gauthier, Yasir Hafeez Abbasi, Lien-Yan Chen
  • Publication number: 20170336146
    Abstract: A syngas cooler system includes a pressure vessel, a conduit, a plenum, a plenum, a conduit, and a bellows assembly. The pressure vessel includes a throat and a dome adjacent to the throat. The throat includes an area of excess heat, and the dome includes an area of deficient heat. The plenum extends between the throat and the bellows assembly. The bellows assembly is coupled at least partially within the dome. The conduit is coupled to the plenum for channeling a flow of purge fluid from external to the pressure vessel into the plenum such that purge fluid transfers heat from the area of excess heat into the area of deficient heat to facilitate reducing temperature differential stresses within the dome and the pressure vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Inventors: James Michael Storey, Alex Clinton Solomon, Benjamin Campbell Steinhaus, Judeth Brannon Corry, Steven Craig Russell, Robert Henri Gauthier, Yasir Hafeez Abbasi, Lien-Yan Chen
  • Patent number: 9739539
    Abstract: A system for preheating a pressure vessel includes a throat including an area of excess heat and a dome having an area of deficient heat. The throat includes a conduit extending from a pressure vessel opening to the pressure vessel interior. A plenum is defined between the throat and a seal within the dome. The throat extends from the dome toward a dome floor. The floor is substantially perpendicular to the throat. A conduit is coupled to the plenum and channels a flow of purge fluid into the plenum wherein heat from the throat is transferred to the flow of purge fluid and carried by the flow of purge fluid into the area of deficient heat via a gap defined between the seal and the floor such that the flow of purge fluid reduces temperature differential stresses within the pressure vessel and purges the area of deficient heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Michael Storey, Alex Clinton Solomon, Benjamin Campbell Steinhaus, Judeth Brannon Corry, Steven Craig Russell, Robert Henri Gauthier, Yasir Hafeez Abbasi, Lien-Yan Chen
  • Patent number: 8959769
    Abstract: A method of assembling a syngas cooler is provided. The method includes coupling a supply line within a cooler shell, coupling a heat transfer panel within the cooler shell, and coupling a heat transfer enclosure within the cooler shell such that the heat transfer enclosure substantially isolates the heat transfer panel from the cooler shell. A manifold is coupled in flow communication with the supply line, the heat transfer enclosure, and the heat transfer panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert Henri Gauthier, James Michael Storey, Yasir Hafeez Abbasi
  • Publication number: 20140246175
    Abstract: A system for preheating a pressure vessel includes a throat including an area of excess heat and a dome having an area of deficient heat. The throat includes a conduit extending from a pressure vessel opening to the pressure vessel interior. A plenum is defined between the throat and a seal within the dome. The throat extends from the dome toward a dome floor. The floor is substantially perpendicular to the throat. A conduit is coupled to the plenum and channels a flow of purge fluid into the plenum wherein heat from the throat is transferred to the flow of purge fluid and carried by the flow of purge fluid into the area of deficient heat via a gap defined between the seal and the floor such that the flow of purge fluid reduces temperature differential stresses within the pressure vessel and purges the area of deficient heat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Michael Storey, Alex Clinton Solomon, Benjamin Campbell Steinhaus, Judeth Brannon Corry, Steven Craig Russell, Robert Henri Gauthier, Yasir Hafeez Abbasi, Lien-Yan Chen
  • Patent number: 8752615
    Abstract: Methods and systems for a vessel preheating system are provided. The system includes a pressure vessel including an area of excess heat and an area of deficient heat, a plenum defined between the area of excess heat and the area of deficient heat, and a conduit configured to couple a flow of purge fluid from external to the vessel into the plenum wherein heat from the area of excess heat is transferred to the flow of purge fluid in the plenum and the heat is carried by the flow of purge fluid into the area of deficient heat such that the flow of purge fluid purges the area of deficient heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Michael Storey, Alex Clinton Solomon, Benjamin Campbell Steinhaus, Judeth Brannon Corry, Steven Craig Russell, Robert Henri Gauthier, Yasir Hafeez Abbasi, Lien-Yan Chen
  • Patent number: 8371007
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system is provided, including a plug removal shield. The plug removal shield further includes a tube configured to surround a plug retaining a fluid volume, and a mount configured to hold the tube relative to the plug. The tube includes a port configured to pass a plug removal tool into proximity with the plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Lien-Yan Chen, James Michael Storey, Robert Henri Gauthier
  • Patent number: 8357215
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of removing a particulate layer from a gasification system component including locating a shedding apparatus in operable communication with the gasification system component. A force is transmitted from the shedding apparatus into the gasification system component and the particulate layer is shed from the gasification system component as a result of the force. Further disclosed is a syngas cooler for a gasification system including a vessel and a plurality of thermal energy transfer platens located in the vessel. A shedding apparatus is in operable communication with the plurality of platens and is capable of shedding a particulate layer from the plurality of platens by transmitting a force to the plurality of platens. The apparatus includes a manifold disposed between the shedding apparatus and the plurality of platens and connected to the plurality of platens via one or more struts capable of distributing the force to the plurality of platens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Steven Craig Russell, James Michael Storey, Robert Henri Gauthier
  • Publication number: 20120291246
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system is provided, including a plug removal shield. The plug removal shield further includes a tube configured to surround a plug retaining a fluid volume, and a mount configured to hold the tube relative to the plug. The tube includes a port configured to pass a plug removal tool into proximity with the plug.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Lien-Yan Chen, James Michael Storey, Robert Henri Gauthier
  • Patent number: 8287815
    Abstract: A method and system for preheating a vessel that includes an area of excess heat and a flow of purge fluid that is channeled to an area to be purged wherein the purge fluid is deficient of heat are provided. The system includes a cooling tube assembly positioned between the area of excess heat and the area to be purged and a first heat exchanger coupled in flow communication to the cooling tube assembly, the first heat exchanger configured to transfer heat between a flow of cooling fluid through the cooling tube assembly and the flow of purge fluid wherein the flow of cooling fluid through the cooling tube assembly is maintained sub-cooled and the flow of purge fluid is heated to facilitate reducing a thermal stress in the area purged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Steven Craig Russell, James Michael Storey, Robert Henri Gauthier
  • Publication number: 20100223847
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of removing a particulate layer from a gasification system component including locating a shedding apparatus in operable communication with the gasification system component. A force is transmitted from the shedding apparatus into the gasification system component and the particulate layer is shed from the gasification system component as a result of the force. Further disclosed is a syngas cooler for a gasification system including a vessel and a plurality of thermal energy transfer platens located in the vessel. A shedding apparatus is in operable communication with the plurality of platens and is capable of shedding a particulate layer from the plurality of platens by transmitting a force to the plurality of platens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Steven Craig Russell, James Michael Storey, Robert Henri Gauthier
  • Publication number: 20100031570
    Abstract: A method and system for an integrated gasifier and syngas cooler are provided. The system includes a gasifier including a reaction chamber, a syngas cooler integrally formed with the gasifier and including at least one heat exchanger element, and a transition portion integrally formed with the reaction chamber and the syngas cooler and extending therebetween, the transition portion further including a throat extending between the reaction chamber and the syngas cooler, the transition portion further including a heat exchanger circumscribing the throat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2008
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Inventors: Wei Chen, George Dodan, Robert Henri Gauthier, James Michael Storey
  • Publication number: 20090272513
    Abstract: A method and system for preheating a vessel that includes an area of excess heat and a flow of purge fluid that is channeled to an area to be purged wherein the purge fluid is deficient of heat are provided. The system includes a cooling tube assembly positioned between the area of excess heat and the area to be purged and a first heat exchanger coupled in flow communication to the cooling tube assembly, the first heat exchanger configured to transfer heat between a flow of cooling fluid through the cooling tube assembly and the flow of purge fluid wherein the flow of cooling fluid through the cooling tube assembly is maintained sub-cooled and the flow of purge fluid is heated to facilitate reducing a thermal stress in the area purged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2008
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Inventors: Steven Craig Russell, James Michael Storey, Robert Henri Gauthier
  • Publication number: 20090173484
    Abstract: Methods and systems for a vessel preheating system are provided. The system includes a pressure vessel including an area of excess heat and an area of deficient heat, a plenum defined between the area of excess heat and the area of deficient heat, and a conduit configured to couple a flow of purge fluid from external to the vessel into the plenum wherein heat from the area of excess heat is transferred to the flow of purge fluid in the plenum and the heat is carried by the flow of purge fluid into the area of deficient heat such that the flow of purge fluid purges the area of deficient heat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2008
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Inventors: James Michael Storey, Alex Clinton Solomon, Benjamin Campbell Steinhaus, Judeth Brannon Corry, Steven Craig Russell, Robert Henri Gauthier
  • Publication number: 20090025917
    Abstract: A method of assembling a syngas cooler is provided. The method includes coupling a supply line within a cooler shell, coupling a heat transfer panel within the cooler shell, and coupling a heat transfer enclosure within the cooler shell such that the heat transfer enclosure substantially isolates the heat transfer panel from the cooler shell. A manifold is coupled in flow communication with the supply line, the heat transfer enclosure, and the heat transfer panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Inventors: Robert Henri Gauthier, James Michael Storey, Yasir Hafeez Abbasi