Patents by Inventor Steven A. Benson

Steven A. Benson 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: 8277542
    Abstract: The present invention relates to use of carbon-based sorbents such as activated carbon for controlling vapor phase mercury emissions in coal-fired power plant flue gases or waste incineration flue gases. The invention features new methods that improve the performance of carbonaceous sorbents for mercury control compared to the previous methods. One method consists of injecting the sorbent (consisting of at least some carbonaceous material) into the flue gas where the flue gas temperature is at a value above about 1100° F. and below about 2000° F. The invention also consists of injecting the sorbent within or upstream of an economizer section in a coal-fired power boiler. Injecting the sorbent at the locations indicated above, rather than further downstream, provides increased residence time for contact between the flue gas and the sorbent resulting in increased mercury capture, improved sorbent utilization, and improved fly ash properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Inventors: Srivats Srinivasachar, Steven A. Benson
  • Publication number: 20100018395
    Abstract: The present invention relates to use of carbon-based sorbents such as activated carbon for controlling vapor phase mercury emissions in coal-fired power plant flue gases or waste incineration flue gases. The invention features new methods that improve the performance of carbonaceous sorbents for mercury control compared to the previous methods. One method consists of injecting the sorbent (consisting of at least some carbonaceous material) into the flue gas where the flue gas temperature is at a value above about 1100° F. and below about 2000° F. The invention also consists of injecting the sorbent within or upstream of an economizer section in a coal-fired power boiler. Injecting the sorbent at the locations indicated above, rather than further downstream, provides increased residence time for contact between the flue gas and the sorbent resulting in increased mercury capture, improved sorbent utilization, and improved fly ash properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Inventors: Srivats Srinivasachar, Steven A. Benson
  • Patent number: 7628969
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method that uses generated alkaline, alkaline-earth, and/or silica/alumina aerosols as a multifunctional additive to scavenge sulfur oxides in flue gas, minimize poisoning effects of sulfur oxides on mercury sorbent performance, and enhance particulate matter capture in electrostatic precipitators and other particulate filter devices by conditioning the fly ash.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Energy & Environmental Research Center Foundation
    Inventors: Michael J. Holmes, John H. Pavlish, Ye Zhuang, Steven A. Benson, Edwin S. Olson, Jason D. Laumb
  • Publication number: 20090047200
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method that uses generated alkaline, alkaline-earth, and/or silica/alumina aerosols as a multifunctional additive to scavenge sulfur oxides in flue gas, minimize poisoning effects of sulfur oxides on mercury sorbent performance, and enhance particulate matter capture in electrostatic precipitators and other particulate filter devices by conditioning the fly ash.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Applicant: ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH CENTER
    Inventors: Michael J. Holmes, John H. PAVLISH, Ye ZHUANG, Steven A. BENSON, Edwin S. OLSON, Jason D. LAUMB