Patents by Inventor Todd Michael ASTORIA

Todd Michael ASTORIA 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: 12084730
    Abstract: A method for producing direct reduced iron having increased carbon content, comprises delivering each of the herein-described mixed carburizing gas streams, which are of different composition, to a transition zone of a direct reduction furnace, and exposing partially or completely reduced iron oxide to the mixed carburizing gas streams to increase the carbon content of resulting direct reduced iron to greater than 4.5 wt. %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: Midrex Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Marshall Bastow-Cox, Todd Michael Astoria, Gregory Darel Hughes
  • Patent number: 11965221
    Abstract: A method of heating direct reduced iron between a direct reduced iron source and processing equipment for the direct reduced iron, comprises providing a conduit heater assembly between the direct reduced iron source and the processing equipment, wherein the conduit heater assembly receives a flow of the direct reduced iron from the direct reduced iron source and heats the direct reduced iron as the direct reduced iron flows through the conduit heater assembly and to the processing equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Midrex Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Michael Astoria, James Lloyd Lewis, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20230332259
    Abstract: A method of heating direct reduced iron between a direct reduced iron source and processing equipment for the direct reduced iron, comprises providing a conduit heater assembly between the direct reduced iron source and the processing equipment, wherein the conduit heater assembly receives a flow of the direct reduced iron from the direct reduced iron source and heats the direct reduced iron as the direct reduced iron flows through the conduit heater assembly and to the processing equipment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2023
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Inventors: Todd Michael ASTORIA, James Lloyd LEWIS, JR.
  • Patent number: 11788159
    Abstract: A direct reduction process comprises providing a shaft furnace of a direct reduction plant to reduce iron oxide with reducing gas; providing a direct reduced iron melting furnace; and coupling a discharge chute between a discharge exit of the direct reduced shaft furnace and an inlet of the direct reduced iron melting furnace; wherein direct reduced iron and the reducing gas from the shaft furnace flow through the discharge chute and the reducing gas controls the melting furnace atmosphere to reducing environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Midrex Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Michael Astoria, Haruyasu Michishita
  • Publication number: 20230034215
    Abstract: A process for the production of direct reduced iron (DRI), with or without carbon, using hydrogen, where the hydrogen is produced utilizing water generated internally from the process. The process is characterized by containing either one or two gas loops, one for affecting the reduction of the oxide and another for affecting the carburization of the DRI. The primary loop responsible for reduction recirculates used gas from the shaft furnace in a loop including a dry dedusting step, an oxygen removal step to generate the hydrogen, and a connection to the shaft furnace for reduction. In the absence of a second loop, this loop, in conjunction with natural gas addition, can be used to deposit carbon. A secondary carburizing loop installed downstream of the shaft furnace can more finely control carbon addition. This loop includes a reactor vessel, a dedusting step, and a gas separation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2022
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Inventors: Todd Michael ASTORIA, Gregory Darel HUGHES, Enrique Jose CINTRON, Keith Marshall BASTOW-COX
  • Patent number: 11499201
    Abstract: A process for the production of direct reduced iron (DRI), with or without carbon, using hydrogen, where the hydrogen is produced utilizing water generated internally from the process. The process is characterized by containing either one or two gas loops, one for affecting the reduction of the oxide and another for affecting the carburization of the DRI. The primary loop responsible for reduction recirculates used gas from the shaft furnace in a loop including a dry dedusting step, an oxygen removal step to generate the hydrogen, and a connection to the shaft furnace for reduction. In the absence of a second loop, this loop, in conjunction with natural gas addition, can be used to deposit carbon. A secondary carburizing loop installed downstream of the shaft furnace can more finely control carbon addition. This loop includes a reactor vessel, a dedusting step, and a gas separation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Midrex Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Michael Astoria, Gregory Darel Hughes, Enrique Jose Cintron, Keith Marshall Bastow-Cox
  • Publication number: 20210301359
    Abstract: A direct reduction process comprises providing a shaft furnace of a direct reduction plant to reduce iron oxide with reducing gas; providing a direct reduced iron melting furnace; and coupling a discharge chute between a discharge exit of the direct reduced shaft furnace and an inlet of the direct reduced iron melting furnace; wherein direct reduced iron and the reducing gas from the shaft furnace flow through the discharge chute and the reducing gas controls the melting furnace atmosphere to reducing environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventors: Todd Michael ASTORIA, Haruyasu MICHISHITA
  • Publication number: 20210301360
    Abstract: A method of heating direct reduced iron between a direct reduced iron source and processing equipment for the direct reduced iron, comprises providing a conduit heater assembly between the direct reduced iron source and the processing equipment, wherein the conduit heater assembly receives a flow of the direct reduced iron from the direct reduced iron source and heats the direct reduced iron as the direct reduced iron flows through the conduit heater assembly and to the processing equipment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventors: Todd Michael ASTORIA, James Lloyd LEWIS, JR.
  • Publication number: 20210301358
    Abstract: A method for producing direct reduced iron having increased carbon content, comprises: providing a carbon monoxide-rich gas stream, and separating the carbon monoxide-rich gas stream into at least two separate carbon monoxide-rich gas streams; providing a hydrocarbon-rich gas stream and separating the hydrocarbon-rich gas stream into at least two separate hydrocarbon-rich gas streams; blending one of the carbon monoxide-rich gas streams with one of the hydrocarbon-rich gas streams to form a mixed carburizing gas stream; blending another carbon monoxide-rich gas stream of the at least two separate carbon monoxide-rich gas streams with another hydrocarbon-rich gas stream of the at least two separate hydrocarbon-rich gas streams to form a distinct mixed carburizing gas stream; delivering each of the mixed carburizing gas streams, which are of different composition, to a transition zone of a direct reduction furnace, and exposing partially or completely reduced iron oxide to the mixed carburizing gas streams to i
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventors: Keith Marshall BASTOW-COX, Todd Michael ASTORIA, Gregory Darel HUGHES
  • Publication number: 20200385827
    Abstract: A process for the production of direct reduced iron (DRI), with or without carbon, using hydrogen, where the hydrogen is produced utilizing water generated internally from the process. The process is characterized by containing either one or two gas loops, one for affecting the reduction of the oxide and another for affecting the carburization of the DRI. The primary loop responsible for reduction recirculates used gas from the shaft furnace in a loop including a dry dedusting step, an oxygen removal step to generate the hydrogen, and a connection to the shaft furnace for reduction. In the absence of a second loop, this loop, in conjunction with natural gas addition, can be used to deposit carbon. A secondary carburizing loop installed downstream of the shaft furnace can more finely control carbon addition. This loop includes a reactor vessel, a dedusting step, and a gas separation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Inventors: Todd Michael ASTORIA, Gregory Darel HUGHES, Enrique Jose CINTRON, Keith Marshall BASTOW-COX