Patents by Inventor Stephen Duane Sanborn
Stephen Duane Sanborn 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).
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Publication number: 20190106972Abstract: An apparatus and method for preparing and delivering a fluid mixture. The apparatus includes a high pressure differential solids feeder assembly and a pressurized mixing apparatus. The feeder assembly is coupled to a proppant storage vessel at ambient pressure and receives a continuous unpressurized proppant output flow from the proppant storage vessel. The feeder assembly is configured to output a continuous pressurized proppant output flow of sufficient mass to achieve continuous operation of the apparatus in an uninterrupted episode for an individual fracture stage. The pressurized mixing apparatus is coupled to the feeder assembly and in fluidic communication with the continuous pressurized proppant output flow and a continuous pressurized fracturing fluid flow.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2018Publication date: April 11, 2019Inventors: Stephen Duane Sanborn, Jason Paul Mortzheim, Tiffany Elizabeth Pinard Westendorf
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Publication number: 20180084732Abstract: A combination power plant and intensified farm includes a power plant and an intensified farm. The power plant generates electricity and an exhaust stream. An exhaust cleanup facility captures CO2 from the exhaust stream. The intensified farm receives at least a portion of CO2 from the exhaust cleanup facility to assist in the raising of at least one crop. If necessary, the intensified farm receives at least a portion of electricity from the power plant. In another embodiment, the exhaust cleanup facility also provides H2O to the intensified farm. In another embodiment, a NOx to fertilizer conversion facility converts NOx from the exhaust cleanup facility to a fertilizer and provides the fertilizer to the intensified farm. In another embodiment, a gasifier or digester receives an inedible biomass from the intensified farm and converts the inedible biomass to a fuel, which is to the power plant.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2016Publication date: March 29, 2018Inventors: Todd Garrett Wetzel, Stephen Duane Sanborn, Matthew Alan Petersen, Hareesh Kumar Reddy Kommepalli
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Patent number: 9580996Abstract: A method for processing a flowback composition stream from a well head includes controlling a first flow rate of the flow back composition stream to a second flow rate by regulating the flowback composition stream from a first pressure to a second pressure. The method also includes separating the flowback composition stream into a first gas stream and a condensed stream. The method includes discharging the condensed stream to a degasser and degassing a carbon dioxide rich gas from the condensed stream. The method also includes mixing the carbon dioxide rich gas stream with the first gas stream to produce a second gas stream. The method includes controlling a third flow rate of the second gas stream by regulating a third pressure of the second gas stream to a fourth pressure that is different than the third pressure.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2014Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Stephen Duane Sanborn, Imdad Imam, Andrew Philip Shapiro, John Brian McDermott, Harish Radhakrishna Acharya, Teresa Grocela Rocha, Jalal Hunain Zia, Johanna Wellington
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Patent number: 9328601Abstract: An oil recovery system and method are disclosed. The system includes a solar power tower for receiving a first portion of water from a water treatment device. The solar power tower heats the first portion of water directly using solar radiation and generates a first steam. Further, the system includes a boiler for receiving a second portion of water from the water treatment device. The boiler heats the second portion of water and generates a second steam. Further, the system includes a flow control device coupled to the solar power tower and the boiler to receive at least one of the first steam and the second steam. The flow control device injects at least one of the first steam and the second steam to an oil field.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2013Date of Patent: May 3, 2016Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Huijuan Chen, Stephen Duane Sanborn, Andrew Maxwell Peter, Laura Michele Hudy
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Publication number: 20150345258Abstract: A method for processing a flowback composition stream from a well head is provided. The flowback composition stream has a first flow rate and a first pressure. Method also includes controlling the first flow rate to a second flow rate by regulating the flowback composition stream to a second pressure. The method also includes separating the flowback composition stream into a first gas stream and a condensed stream The method includes discharging the condensed stream to a degasser and degassing a carbon dioxide rich gas from the condensed stream. The method also includes mixing the carbon dioxide rich gas stream with the first gas stream to produce a second gas stream. The method includes controlling the third flow rate of the second gas stream by regulating the third pressure of the second gas stream to a fourth pressure that is different than the third pressure.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2014Publication date: December 3, 2015Inventors: Stephen Duane Sanborn, Imdad Imam, Andrew Philip Shapiro, John Brian McDermott, Harish Radhakrishna Acharya, Teresa Grocela Rocha, Jalal Hunain Zia, Johanna Wellington
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Patent number: 9133700Abstract: An apparatus and method for delivering a thickened fluid mixture, including a CO2 recapture system. The apparatus including a proppant storage vessel and a fracturing fluid storage vessel providing a continuos supply of a proppant material and a fracturing fluid to a mixing apparatus. The mixing apparatus configured to output and deliver a thickened fluid mixture of the proppant, the fracturing fluid and a thickener agent at or above the fracturing fluid blending pressure to a high pressure pump assembly. The high pressure pump assembly configured to deliver a high pressure thickened fluid mixture to one or more downstream components at an injection pressure. The apparatus including a CO2 recapture system configured to recapture an exhaust stream from the one or more downstream components and/or other CO2 output sources, and provide a purified and liquefied CO2 fluid stream to the fracturing fluid storage vessel. The apparatus configured for continual operation.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2012Date of Patent: September 15, 2015Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Vitali Victor Lissianski, Stephen Duane Sanborn, Andrew Jacob Gorton
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Publication number: 20150211512Abstract: A converterless motor-driven pump system includes an off-grid prime mover. The prime mover includes a rotational driveshaft that operates in response to a throttle or fuel input controller to control a rotation speed of the prime mover driveshaft. Operation of the throttle or fuel input controller is based on desired output characteristics of a pumping load. One or more electric power generators are driven by the off-grid prime mover to generate AC or DC power on an electrical bus shared by a plurality of variable speed electric motors. A plurality of pumps is connected to a common manifold shared by the plurality of pumps. The plurality of pumps is driven by the plurality of variable speed electric motors to generate a desired wellhead pressure or pumping load flow rate via the shared common manifold.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2014Publication date: July 30, 2015Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Herman Lucas Norbert Wiegman, Paul Robert Gemin, Benjamin Earl Ross, Stephen Duane Sanborn, Robert Earl McDowell
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Publication number: 20150204166Abstract: An apparatus and method for preparing and delivering a fluid mixture. The apparatus including a high pressure differential solids feeder assembly and a pressurized mixing apparatus. The feeder assembly is coupled to a proppant storage vessel at ambient pressure and receives a continuous unpressurized proppant output flow from the proppant storage vessel. The feeder assembly is configured to output a continuous pressurized proppant output flow of sufficient mass to achieve continuous operation of the apparatus in an uninterrupted episode for an individual fracture stage. The pressurized mixing apparatus is coupled to the feeder assembly and in fluidic communication with the continuous pressurized proppant output flow and a continuous pressurized fracturing fluid flow.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2015Publication date: July 23, 2015Inventors: Stephen Duane Sanborn, Jason Paul Mortzheim, Tiffany Elizabeth Pinard Westendorf
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Publication number: 20150167550Abstract: A system for processing a gas stream includes a gathering subsystem configured to collect the gas stream from a well-head and a gas conditioning subsystem for receiving the gas stream from the gathering subsystem and providing physical conditioning of the gas stream. The system includes one or more gas turbines configured to receive and combust a first flow of the conditioned gas stream from the gas conditioning subsystem and coupled with an electrical generator. The system includes one supplemental combustor configured to receive heated exhaust gases from the one or more gas turbines and a second flow of the conditioned gas stream from the gas conditioning subsystem, wherein the at least one supplemental combustor is configured to combust the second flow of the conditioned gas stream and the heated exhaust gases such that an exhaust gas stream flow from the at least one supplemental combustor meets emission regulation requirements.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2013Publication date: June 18, 2015Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Christian Lee Vandervort, Stephen Duane Sanborn, Joel Meier Haynes, Harish Radhakrishna Acharya, Ross Hartley Kenyon
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Publication number: 20150000333Abstract: A heat exchange assembly for treating carbon dioxide (CO2) is described. The heat exchange assembly includes a housing that includes an inlet, an outlet, and an inner surface that defines a cavity extending between the inlet and the outlet. The housing is configured to receive solid CO2 through the inlet. At least one heat exchange tube extends through the housing. The heat exchange tube is oriented to contact solid CO2 to facilitate transferring heat from solid CO2 to a heat exchanger fluid being channeled through the heat exchange tube to facilitate converting at least a portion of solid CO2 into liquid CO2. The heat exchange assembly is configured to recover a refrigeration value from the solid CO2 and transfer at least a portion of the recovered refrigeration value to a flue gas.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2014Publication date: January 1, 2015Inventors: Jalal Hunain Zia, Douglas Carl Hofer, Vitali Victor Lissianski, Stephen Duane Sanborn, Mehmet Arik, Roger Allen Shisler, Paul Brian Wickersham
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Publication number: 20140318792Abstract: An oil recovery system and method is disclosed. The system includes a solar power tower for receiving a first portion of water from a water treatment device. The solar power tower heats the first portion of water directly using solar radiation and generates a first steam. Further, the system includes a boiler for receiving a second portion of water from the water treatment device. The boiler heats the second portion of water and generates a second steam. Further, the system includes a flow control device coupled to the solar power tower and the boiler to receive at least one of the first steam and the second steam. The flow control device injects at least one of the first steam and the second steam to an oil field.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2013Publication date: October 30, 2014Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Huijuan Chen, Stephen Duane Sanborn, Andrew Maxwell Peter, Laura Michele Hudy
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Publication number: 20140151049Abstract: An apparatus and method for delivering a fluid mixture using direct injection to a mixing apparatus. The apparatus including a proppant storage vessel configured to contain therein a proppant material and output a proppant output flow at ambient pressure to a solid feed pump assembly. The apparatus further including a fracturing fluid storage vessel configured to contain therein a fracturing fluid and output a fracturing fluid output flow at a fracture fluid blending pressure. The solid feed pump assembly configured to output to a mixing apparatus, a proppant output flow at the fracture fluid blending pressure. The mixing apparatus configured to output a fluid mixture of the proppant and the fracturing fluid at the fracture fluid blending pressure. The mixing apparatus coupled to a high pressure pump assembly and configured to deliver the fluid mixture therein to a downstream component at an injection pressure.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2012Publication date: June 5, 2014Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Stephen Duane Sanborn, Jason Paul Mortzheim, Tiffany Elizabeth Pinard Westendorf
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Publication number: 20140151051Abstract: An apparatus and method for delivering a thickened fluid mixture, including a CO2 recapture system. The apparatus including a proppant storage vessel and a fracturing fluid storage vessel providing a continous supply of a proppant material and a fracturing fluid to a mixing apparatus. The mixing apparatus configured to output and deliver a thickened fluid mixture of the proppant, the fracturing fluid and a thickener agent at or above the fracturing fluid blending pressure to a high pressure pump assembly. The high pressure pump assembly configured to deliver a high pressure thickened fluid mixture to one or more downstream components at an injection pressure. The apparatus including a CO2 recapture system configured to recapture an exhaust stream from the one or more downstream components and/or other CO2 output sources, and provide a purified and liquefied CO2 fluid stream to the fracturing fluid storage vessel. The apparatus configured for continual operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2012Publication date: June 5, 2014Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Vitali Victor Lissianski, Stephen Duane Sanborn, Andrew Jacob Gorton
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Publication number: 20130306322Abstract: A fracturing system is described. The system includes an electric motor-driven pumping sub-system, configured to pump a pressurized fracturing fluid into at least one wellbore, under high pressure conditions sufficient to increase the downhole pressure of the wellbore, to exceed that of the fracture gradient of the solid matter surrounding the wellbore. The system also includes an electric power generation sub-system that provides energy to the pumping sub-system. The electric power generation sub-system includes a multitude of electric motors that are powered by a single electrical feed source. A related process for extracting hydrocarbons from a reservoir rock formation by the fracturing operation is also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2012Publication date: November 21, 2013Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Stephen Duane Sanborn, David Kamensky, John Andrew Westerheide, Christopher Edward Wolfe, Hareesh Kumar Reddy Kommepalli
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Publication number: 20130104595Abstract: A heat exchange assembly for treating carbon dioxide (CO2) is described. The heat exchange assembly includes a housing that includes an inlet, an outlet, and an inner surface that defines a cavity extending between the inlet and the outlet. The housing is configured to receive solid CO2 through the inlet. At least one heat exchange tube extends through the housing. The heat exchange tube is oriented to contact solid CO2 to facilitate transferring heat from solid CO2 to a heat exchanger fluid being channeled through the heat exchange tube to facilitate converting at least a portion of solid CO2 into liquid CO2. The heat exchange assembly is configured to recover a refrigeration value from the solid CO2 and transfer at least a portion of the recovered refrigeration value to a flue gas.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2011Publication date: May 2, 2013Inventors: Jalal Hunain Zia, Douglas Carl Hofer, Vitali Victor Lissianski, Stephen Duane Sanborn, Mehmet Arik, Roger Allen Shisler, Paul Brian Wickersham
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Publication number: 20080155984Abstract: A combined cycle system includes, a pre-steam-methane-reformer operating at a temperature of less than about 800 degrees Celsius to reform a mixed fuel stream to generate a first reformate stream, a water-gas-shift reactor to convert carbon monoxide in the first reformate stream to carbon dioxide and form a second reformate stream, a carbon dioxide removal unit for removing carbon dioxide from the second reformate stream and form a carbon dioxide stream and a third reformate stream; wherein less than about 50 percent of the carbon contained in the mixed fuel stream is recovered as carbon dioxide by the removal unit, a gas turbine unit for generating power and an exhaust stream, and a steam generator unit configured to receive the exhaust stream, wherein the heat of the exhaust stream is transferred to a water stream to generate the steam for the mixed fuel stream and for a steam turbine.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 3, 2007Publication date: July 3, 2008Inventors: Ke Liu, Michael John Bowman, Stephen Duane Sanborn, Andrei Tristan Evulet
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Publication number: 20080011161Abstract: A carbon dioxide separation system comprises a first flow path for directing a fluid comprising carbon dioxide therethrough, a second flow path for directing a sweep fluid therethrough, and a separator comprising a material with selective permeability of carbon dioxide for separating the first and the second flow paths and for promoting carbon dioxide transport therebetween. A carbon dioxide separation unit is in fluid communication with the second flow path for separating the transported carbon dioxide from the sweep fluid.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2006Publication date: January 17, 2008Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Matthias Finkenrath, Michael Adam Bartlett, Michael John Bowman, Andrei Tristan Evulet, Stephen Duane Sanborn, James Anthony Ruud, Ke Liu, Michael Anthony Shockling
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Publication number: 20080011160Abstract: A carbon dioxide separation system comprises a heat exchanger having a first flow path for directing a fluid comprising carbon dioxide, for example an exhaust gas, therethrough and a second flow path for directing a heat transfer fluid therethrough, a separator comprising a material with selective permeability of carbon dioxide for separating the first and second flow paths and for promoting thermal transfer and carbon dioxide transport therebetween, and a condenser for condensing the heat transfer fluid to isolate the carbon dioxide.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2006Publication date: January 17, 2008Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: MICHAEL JOHN BOWMAN, STEPHEN DUANE SANBORN, ANDREI TRISTAN EVULET, JAMES ANTHONY RUUD
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Publication number: 20040102872Abstract: A method for analyzing operational performance of industrial power plant machinery is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, the method includes receiving an input configuration for a power plant to be analyzed, and receiving inputted power plant operational information. A simulated power plant operation is then run for a specified period of time, based upon the power plant input configuration and the inputted power plant operational information. The simulated results of the simulated power plant operation are then outputted in accordance with selected economic parameters of the power plant.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2002Publication date: May 27, 2004Inventors: Louis Andrew Schick, Vinay Bhaskar Jammu, Stephen Duane Sanborn
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Patent number: 6719526Abstract: A method is disclosed for categorizing an operating mode of a gas turbine comprising: monitoring at least one operating condition of the gas turbine; using the operating condition to categorize an operating mode of the gas turbine into one of the plurality of predetermined operating modes, and assigning a value to the categorized operating mode where the value is a number that is a power of a predetermined base number.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2002Date of Patent: April 13, 2004Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Stephen Duane Sanborn, Douglas Ancona Catharine