Patents by Inventor Rommel M. Oates

Rommel M. Oates 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: 10315846
    Abstract: A novel method for storing high purity hydrogen into a salt cavern is provided. Particularly, the storage process involves confining the high purity hydrogen at a certain pressure in a salt cavern without seepage or leakage of the stored hydrogen through the salt cavern walls. The pressure in the cavern is maintained during storage of the high purity hydrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: PRAXAIR TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: Rommel M. Oates
  • Patent number: 10173840
    Abstract: A novel system for operating a hydrogen storage cavern is provided. Particularly, the system involves storing high purity hydrogen into a salt cavern without seepage or leakage of the stored hydrogen through the salt cavern walls, by confining the high purity hydrogen gas within the storage cavern under certain pressure conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: PRAXAIR TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: Rommel M. Oates
  • Patent number: 9950927
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a method for supplying high purity hydrogen through a hydrogen supply system comprising in fluid communication one or more storage caverns, multiple hydrogen production sources, and a pipeline distribution system capable of delivering hydrogen to a plurality of hydrogen demand points which coordinates the operation of the cavern, hydrogen plants, and pipeline distribution system to meet the real time dynamic demand profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: PRAXAIR TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Rommel M. Oates, Solomon A. Dadebo, Douglas Prior
  • Publication number: 20170219168
    Abstract: A method and system for supplying additional hydrogen from a reservoir of stored hydrogen in a salt cavern to a hydrogen pipeline to assist in meeting customer demand for hydrogen is provided. Contaminants introduced while the stored hydrogen stream is in the salt cavern may cause the crude hydrogen stream to not have the required product purity specification. The stored hydrogen is removed from the salt cavern as a crude hydrogen stream and thereafter diluted with higher purity hydrogen formed from the pipeline to form a hydrogen product stream at or below the product purity specification. The hydrogen product can be formed without removal of any of the contaminants in the crude stream, thereby creating a more cost effective and simplified supply process compared to conventional processes employing a salt cavern for hydrogen supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Rommel M. Oates, Solomon Dadebo
  • Patent number: 9718618
    Abstract: A novel system and method for storing hydrogen in a salt cavern and supplying therefrom is provided. Hydrogen product withdrawn from a hydrogen pipeline may be chilled prior to being introduced into a cavern in order to cool at least a portion of the walls of the salt cavern so that one or more layers of the localized portion of the walls attains a stabilized state whereby contaminant release from the walls is suppressed. The present invention anticipates and strategically plans for contaminant intrusion form a salt cavern in order to reduce the degree of contaminant intrusion from a salt cavern while also allowing the stored hydrogen to have more absorption capacity for water vapor by virtue of entering the salt cavern in a sufficiently drier state. Alternatively, or in addition thereto, a crude hydrogen stream may be withdrawn from the cavern and chilled prior to introducing to the hydrogen pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: PRAXAIR TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: Rommel M. Oates
  • Patent number: 9707603
    Abstract: A novel system and method for removing contaminants in a salt cavern is provided. A purge fluid is used to purge one or more contaminants from the cavern on a continuous or intermittent basis before or during operation of the cavern. The cavern can be cycled one or more times with purging operations to create a cleaner cavern less susceptible to contaminating stored hydrogen during the operational lifetime of the cavern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Rommel M. Oates
  • Publication number: 20170174512
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a method for supplying high purity hydrogen through a hydrogen supply system comprising in fluid communication one or more storage caverns, multiple hydrogen production sources, and a pipeline distribution system capable of delivering hydrogen to a plurality of hydrogen demand points which coordinates the operation of the cavern, hydrogen plants, and pipeline distribution system to meet the real time dynamic demand profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Rommel M. Oates, Solomon A. Dadebo, Douglas Prior
  • Patent number: 9651199
    Abstract: A method and system for supplying additional hydrogen from a reservoir of stored hydrogen in a salt cavern to a hydrogen pipeline to assist in meeting customer demand for hydrogen is provided. Contaminants introduced while the stored hydrogen stream is in the salt cavern may cause the crude hydrogen stream to not have the required product purity specification. The stored hydrogen is removed from the salt cavern as a crude hydrogen stream and thereafter diluted with higher purity hydrogen formed from the pipeline to form a hydrogen product stream at or below the product purity specification. The hydrogen product can be formed without removal of any of the contaminants in the crude stream, thereby creating a more cost effective and simplified supply process compared to conventional processes employing a salt cavern for hydrogen supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: PRAXAIR TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Rommel M. Oates, Solomon Dadebo
  • Publication number: 20170130902
    Abstract: A method and system for supplying additional hydrogen from a reservoir of stored hydrogen in a salt cavern to a hydrogen pipeline to assist in meeting customer demand for hydrogen is provided. Contaminants introduced while the stored hydrogen stream is in the salt cavern may cause the crude hydrogen stream to not have the required product purity specification. The stored hydrogen is removed from the salt cavern as a crude hydrogen stream and thereafter diluted with higher purity hydrogen formed from the pipeline to form a hydrogen product stream at or below the product purity specification. The hydrogen product can be formed without removal of any of the contaminants in the crude stream, thereby creating a more cost effective and simplified supply process compared to conventional processes employing a salt cavern for hydrogen supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2017
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventors: Rommel M. Oates, Solomon Dadebo
  • Patent number: 9574715
    Abstract: A method and system for supplying additional hydrogen from a reservoir of stored hydrogen in a salt cavern to a hydrogen pipeline to assist in meeting customer demand for hydrogen is provided. Contaminants introduced while the stored hydrogen stream is in the salt cavern may cause the crude hydrogen stream to not have the required product purity specification. The stored hydrogen is removed from the salt cavern as a crude hydrogen stream and thereafter diluted with higher purity hydrogen formed from the pipeline to form a hydrogen product stream at or below the product purity specification. The hydrogen product can be formed without removal of any of the contaminants in the crude stream, thereby creating a more cost effective and simplified supply process compared to conventional processes employing a salt cavern for hydrogen supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: PRAXAIR TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Rommel M. Oates, Solomon Dadebo
  • Patent number: 9284120
    Abstract: A novel method and system for storing high purity hydrogen into a salt cavern is provided. Particularly, the storage process involves storing high purity hydrogen into a salt cavern without seepage or leakage of the stored hydrogen through the salt cavern walls, by creating a substantially impermeable permeation barrier along the salt cavern walls. The cavern pressure is monitored and controlled to ensure formation and maintenance of the substantially impermeable permeation barrier. Optional temperature treatments may also be incorporated as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: PRAXAIR TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: Rommel M. Oates
  • Patent number: 8950419
    Abstract: A method and system for supplying additional hydrogen from a reservoir of stored hydrogen in a salt cavern to a hydrogen pipeline to assist in meeting customer demand for hydrogen is provided. Contaminants introduced while the stored hydrogen stream is in the salt cavern may cause the crude hydrogen stream to not have the required product purity specification. The stored hydrogen is removed from the salt cavern as a crude hydrogen stream and thereafter diluted with higher purity hydrogen formed from the pipeline to form a hydrogen product stream at or below the product purity specification. The hydrogen product can be formed without removal of any of the contaminants in the crude stream, thereby creating a more cost effective and simplified supply process compared to conventional processes employing a salt cavern for hydrogen supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Rommel M. Oates, Solomon Dadebo
  • Publication number: 20140161533
    Abstract: A novel method and system for storing high purity hydrogen into a salt cavern is provided. Particularly, the storage process involves storing high purity hydrogen into a salt cavern without seepage or leakage of the stored hydrogen through the salt cavern walls, by creating a substantially impermeable permeation barrier along the salt cavern walls. The cavern pressure is monitored and controlled to ensure formation and maintenance of the substantially impermeable permeation barrier. Optional temperature treatments may also be incorporated as desired.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Inventor: Rommel M. Oates
  • Patent number: 8690476
    Abstract: A novel method and system for storing high purity hydrogen into a salt cavern is provided. Particularly, the storage process involves storing high purity hydrogen into a salt cavern without seepage or leakage of the stored hydrogen through the salt cavern walls, by creating a permeation barrier along the salt cavern walls. The cavern pressure is monitored and controlled to ensure formation and maintenance of the permeation barrier. Optional temperature treatments may also be incorporated as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Rommel M. Oates
  • Publication number: 20130315669
    Abstract: A novel method and system for storing high purity hydrogen into a salt cavern is provided. Particularly, the storage process involves storing high purity hydrogen into a salt cavern without seepage or leakage of the stored hydrogen through the salt cavern walls, by creating a permeation barrier along the salt cavern walls. The cavern pressure is monitored and controlled to ensure formation and maintenance of the permeation barrier. Optional temperature treatments may also be incorporated as desired.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Inventor: Rommel M. Oates
  • Publication number: 20130213479
    Abstract: A method and system for supplying additional hydrogen from a reservoir of stored hydrogen in a salt cavern to a hydrogen pipeline to assist in meeting customer demand for hydrogen is provided. Contaminants introduced while the stored hydrogen stream is in the salt cavern may cause the crude hydrogen stream to not have the required product purity specification. The stored hydrogen is removed from the salt cavern as a crude hydrogen stream and thereafter diluted with higher purity hydrogen formed from the pipeline to form a hydrogen product stream at or below the product purity specification. The hydrogen product can be formed without removal of any of the contaminants in the crude stream, thereby creating a more cost effective and simplified supply process compared to conventional processes employing a salt cavern for hydrogen supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Inventors: Rommel M. Oates, Solomon Dadebo