Patents by Inventor Terence Andrew Dritz

Terence Andrew Dritz 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).

  • Multiphase mixing process using microchannel process technology
    Patent number: 7816411
    Abstract: The disclosed invention relates to a process for making a multiphase mixture, comprising: flowing a first fluid stream through a process microchannel, the first fluid stream comprising at least one liquid and/or at least one gas, the process microchannel having an apertured section; flowing a second fluid stream through the apertured section into the process microchannel in contact with the first fluid stream to form the multiphase mixture, the second fluid stream comprising at least one gas and/or at least one microbody-forming material, the first fluid stream forming a continuous phase in the multiphase mixture, the second fluid stream forming a discontinuous phase dispersed in the continuous phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Velocys, Inc.
    Inventors: Anna Lee Tonkovich, Laura J. Silva, David John Hesse, Michael Alan Marchiando, Micheal Jay Lamont, Dongming Qiu, Terence Andrew Dritz, Kristina M. Pagnotto, Richard Stevenson, Steven T. Perry, Maddalena Fanelli, Ravi Arora, Bin Yang, Sean Patrick Fitzgerald, Timothy J. Sullivan, Kai Tod Paul Jarosch, Thomas Yuschak
  • Multiphase mixing process using microchannel process technology
    Patent number: 7622509
    Abstract: The disclosed invention relates to a process for making a multiphase mixture, comprising: flowing a first fluid stream through a process microchannel, the first fluid stream comprising at least one liquid and/or at least one gas, the process microchannel having an apertured section; flowing a second fluid stream through the apertured section into the process microchannel in contact with the first fluid stream to form the multiphase mixture, the second fluid stream comprising at least one gas and/or at least one microbody-forming material, the first fluid stream forming a continuous phase in the multiphase mixture, the second fluid stream forming a discontinuous phase dispersed in the continuous phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Velocys, Inc.
    Inventors: Anna Lee Tonkovich, Laura J. Silva, David John Hesse, Michael Alan Marchiando, Michael Jay Lamont, Dongming Qiu, Terence Andrew Dritz, Kristina M. Pagnotto, Richard Stevenson, Steven T. Perry, Maddalena Fanelli, Ravi Arora, Bin Yang, Sean Patrick Fitzgerald, Timothy J. Sullivan, Kai Tod Paul Jarosch, Thomas Yuschak
  • Separation process using microchannel technology
    Patent number: 7507274
    Abstract: The disclosed invention relates to a process and apparatus for separating a first fluid from a fluid mixture comprising the first fluid. The process comprises: (A) flowing the fluid mixture into a microchannel separator in contact with a sorption medium, the fluid mixture being maintained in the microchannel separator until at least part of the first fluid is sorbed by the sorption medium, removing non-sorbed parts of the fluid mixture from the microchannel separator; and (B) desorbing first fluid from the sorption medium and removing desorbed first fluid from the microchannel separator. The process and apparatus are suitable for separating nitrogen or methane from a fluid mixture comprising nitrogen and methane. The process and apparatus may be used for rejecting nitrogen in the upgrading of sub-quality methane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Velocys, Inc.
    Inventors: Anna Lee Tonkovich, Steven T. Perry, Ravi Arora, Dongming Qiu, Michael Jay Lamont, Deanna Burwell, Terence Andrew Dritz, Jeffrey S. McDaniel, William A. Rogers, Jr., Laura J. Silva, Daniel J. Weidert, Wayne W. Simmons, G. Bradley Chadwell
  • Process for separating nitrogen from methane using microchannel process technology
    Patent number: 7250074
    Abstract: The disclosed invention relates to a process for separating methane or nitrogen from a fluid mixture comprising methane and nitrogen, the process comprising: (A) flowing the fluid mixture into a microchannel separator, the microchannel separator comprising a plurality of process microchannels containing a sorption medium, the fluid mixture being maintained in the microchannel separator until at least part of the methane or nitrogen is sorbed by the sorption medium, and removing non-sorbed parts of the fluid mixture from the microchannel separator; and (B) desorbing the methane or nitrogen from the sorption medium and removing the desorbed methane or nitrogen from the microchannel separator. The process is suitable for upgrading methane from coal mines, landfills, and other sub-quality sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Velocys, Inc.
    Inventors: Anna Lee Tonkovich, Dongming Qiu, Terence Andrew Dritz, Paul Neagle, Robert Dwayne Litt, Ravi Arora, Michael Jay Lamont, Kristina M. Pagnotto