Patents by Inventor Vincent A. White

Vincent A. White 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: 7871577
    Abstract: Higher molecular weight hydrocarbon compounds or oxygenates are produced from a gas comprising methane in a process comprising the steps of generating synthesis gas (“syngas”) comprising carbon monoxide and hydrogen by reaction of a gas comprising methane with steam and/or an oxidant gas comprising oxygen, producing higher molecular weight hydrocarbon compounds or oxygenates in a syngas conversion process, removing offgas comprising unreacted hydrogen and unreacted carbon monoxide from said syngas conversion process and separating cryogenically unreacted hydrogen from said offgas or from a gas derived therefrom to produce separated hydrogen product that is substantially free of unreacted carbon monoxide and a first cryogenic liquid comprising unreacted carbon monoxide. The unreacted hydrogen is preferably separated from the offgas in a liquid methane wash column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: GTLpetrol LLC
    Inventors: Rodney Allam, Andrew Weaver, Vincent White, David B. Byard
  • Patent number: 7850763
    Abstract: Impure carbon dioxide (“CO2”) comprising a first contaminant selected from the group consisting of oxygen (“O2”) and carbon monoxide (“CO”) is purified by separating expanded impure carbon dioxide liquid in a mass transfer separation column system. The impure carbon dioxide may be derived from, for example, flue gas from an oxyfuel combustion process or waste gas from a hydrogen (“H2”) PSA system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Vincent White, Rodney John Allam
  • Publication number: 20100275679
    Abstract: An engine control system comprises a model pressure determination module and a sensor diagnostic module. The model pressure determination module determines a modeled fuel rail pressure based on a fuel pump flow rate and an engine fuel flow rate. The sensor diagnostic module generates a status of a fuel rail pressure sensor based on a comparison of the modeled fuel rail pressure and a sensed fuel rail pressure sensed by the fuel rail pressure sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Wenbo Wang, Michael J. Lucido, Vincent A. White
  • Publication number: 20100280741
    Abstract: An engine control system comprises a model pressure determination module and a sensor diagnostic module. The model pressure determination module determines a modeled fuel rail pressure based on an injection duration of a fuel injector and a desired fuel mass injected by the fuel injector. The sensor diagnostic module generates a status of a fuel rail pressure sensor based on a comparison of the modeled fuel rail pressure and a sensed fuel rail pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: WENBO WANG, MICHAEL J. LUCIDO, VINCENT A. WHITE, IAN J. MAC EWEN, JON C. MILLER
  • Patent number: 7819951
    Abstract: A first contaminant selected from oxygen and carbon monoxide is removed from impure liquid carbon dioxide using a mass transfer separation column system which is reboiled by indirect heat exchange against crude carbon dioxide fluid, the impure liquid carbon dioxide having a greater concentration of carbon dioxide than the crude carbon dioxide fluid. The invention has particular application in the recovery of carbon dioxide from flue gas generated in an oxyfuel combustion process or waste gas from a hydrogen PSA process. Advantages include reducing the level of the first contaminant to not more than 1000 ppm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Vincent White, Rodney John Allam
  • Patent number: 7769534
    Abstract: A diagnostic system for an engine includes an oxygen detection module, a timing module and a control module. The oxygen detection module receives an oxygen signal from an oxygen sensor that detects an oxygen level in an exhaust system of the engine. The oxygen signal has N rich states and M lean states, where N and M are integers greater than or equal to 1. The timing module determines a rich period that the oxygen signal is in at least one of the N rich states and determines a lean period that the oxygen signal is in at least one of the M lean states. The control module detects an asymmetrical error with the oxygen sensor based on a comparison between the rich period and the lean period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Yong Xu, Wenbo Wang, Vincent A. White, Richard H. Clutz, Douglas J. Moening
  • Publication number: 20100154525
    Abstract: An oxygen sensor circuit comprises an oxygen sensor, a bias voltage module, and a switch module. The bias voltage module communicates with the oxygen sensor and generates a bias voltage. The switch module selectively connects the bias voltage module to the oxygen sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2009
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Vincent A. White, Michael S. Emmorey, Paul E. Treumuth
  • Patent number: 7673857
    Abstract: At least one section of structured packing where the length of the section is about 1 m to about 6 m; and where the specific surface area of the structured packing of the section is greater than 500 m2/m3, is used in a vapour/liquid contact column operating in locations where environmental conditions adversely affect steady state operation of the column to reduce maldistribution of liquid in the column under motion. The structured packing section has particular application offshore on a buoyant platform where tilt of the column out of vertical alignment due to the rolling motion of the platform can significantly affect the efficiency of the column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Vincent White, Mohammad Ali Kalbassi, Brian Waldie, Jonathan Wilson
  • Publication number: 20100040520
    Abstract: A method and bed for separating a reactive gas from a feed gas mixture is disclosed. The method includes reacting the reactive gas with a bed of reactive solid in an exothermic reaction to create a second solid and a product gas from which the reactive gas is depleted. The product gas is removed and the heat from the reaction is used to liberate the reactive gas from the second solid in an endothermic reaction which yields the reactive solid. The reactive gas is removed and sequestered. Heat reservoir material is included in the bed to retain the heat in support of the endothermic reaction. A device for executing the method having an insulated chamber holding the bed, as well as process units formed of multiple beds are also disclosed. The process units allow the method to be operated cyclically, providing a continuous flow of feed gas, reactive gas and product gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Applicant: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Raymond Hufton, Robert Quinn, Vincent White, Rodney John Allam
  • Publication number: 20100007146
    Abstract: A superheater in a power plant that superheats steam to operation conditions exceeding an operating limit of an associated steam-producing boiler. The superheater combusts oxygen and fuel with cooled recycled combustion gas to produce a CO2-rich combustion product gas stream at a fixed temperature. The combustion gas is used as the heat transfer fluid in the superheater's heat exchanger. The CO2-rich flue gas stream allows for efficient capture of substantially pure CO2. The superheater may be retrofitted to an existing power plant as a separate component, external to the boiler. The plant may thus have its electrical power output increased, while its overall CO2 emissions per nit of generated power is decreased, even when inexpensive, readily-available fossil fuels are used as the primary fuel for filing the boiler and/or the superheater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Applicant: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Rodney John Allam, Vincent White, Julia Elizabeth Milligan
  • Publication number: 20090216426
    Abstract: A control module for an engine of a vehicle includes a mode determination module that determines whether the vehicle is in a fuel-saving mode based on an acceleration of the vehicle. A diurnal control valve (DCV) control module selectively closes a DCV a predetermined time after at least one of determining that the vehicle is in the fuel-saving mode and determining that the engine is stopped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2009
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Zhong Wang, Brian Spohn, Miles K. Maxey, Jonathan J. Stec, Timothy E. McCarthy, Vincent A. White, John F. Van Gilder, Lan Wang, Jun Lu
  • Publication number: 20090162268
    Abstract: A method for separating a reactive gas from a feed gas mixture is disclosed. The method includes reacting the reactive gas with a bed of reactive solid in an exothermic reaction to create a second solid and a product gas from which the reactive gas is depleted. The product gas is removed and the heat from the reaction is used to liberate the reactive gas from the second solid in an endothermic reaction which yields the reactive solid. The reactive gas is removed and sequestered. Heat reservoir material is included in the bed to retain the heat in support of the endothermic reaction. A device for executing the method having an insulated chamber holding the bed, as well as process units formed of multiple beds are also disclosed. The process units allow the method to be operated cyclically, providing a continuous flow of feed gas, reactive gas and product gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicant: AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Raymond Hufton, Robert Quinn, Vincent White, Rodney John Allam
  • Publication number: 20080226515
    Abstract: SO2 and/or NOx are removed from gaseous CO2 at elevated pressure(s) in the presence of molecular oxygen and water and, when SO2 is to be removed, NOx, to convert SO2 to sulfuric acid and/or NOx to nitric acid. The sulfuric acid and/or nitric acid is/are then removed from the gaseous carbon dioxide to produce SO2-free, NOx-lean carbon dioxide gas. The invention has particular application in the removal of SO2 and/or NOx from carbon dioxide flue gas produced in an oxyfuel combustion process, for example, in a pulverized coal fired power station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Applicant: AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC.
    Inventors: Rodney John Allam, Vincent White, Edwin John Miller
  • Patent number: 7416716
    Abstract: SO2 and/or NOx are removed from gaseous CO2 at elevated pressure(s) in the presence of molecular oxygen and water and, when SO2 is to be removed, NOx, to convert SO2 to sulfuric acid and/or NOx to nitric acid. The sulfuric acid and/or nitric acid is/are then removed from the gaseous carbon dioxide to produce SO2-free, NOx-lean carbon dioxide gas. The invention has particular application in the removal of SO2 and/or NOx from carbon dioxide flue gas produced in an oxyfuel combustion process, for example, in a pulverized coal fired power station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Rodney John Allam, Vincent White, Edwin John Miller
  • Publication number: 20080173585
    Abstract: Impure carbon dioxide (“CO2”) comprising a first contaminant selected from the group consisting of oxygen (“O2”) and carbon monoxide (“CO”) is purified by separating expanded impure carbon dioxide liquid in a mass transfer separation column system. The impure carbon dioxide may be derived from, for example, flue gas from an oxyfuel combustion process or waste gas from a hydrogen (“H2”) PSA system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Inventors: Vincent White, Rodney John Allam
  • Publication number: 20080173584
    Abstract: A first contaminant selected from oxygen and carbon monoxide is removed from impure liquid carbon dioxide using a mass transfer separation column system which is reboiled by indirect heat exchange against crude carbon dioxide fluid, the impure liquid carbon dioxide having a greater concentration of carbon dioxide than the crude carbon dioxide fluid. The invention has particular application in the recovery of carbon dioxide from flue gas generated in an oxyfuel combustion process or waste gas from a hydrogen PSA process. Advantages include reducing the level of the first contaminant to not more than 1000 ppm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Inventors: Vincent White, Rodney John Allam
  • Publication number: 20080176174
    Abstract: Carbon dioxide is separated from a feed gas, preferably derived from flue gas from an oxyfuel combustion process, in a membrane separation system to produce separated carbon dioxide gas which is fed to the oxyfuel combustion process to improve the performance of the process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Inventors: Vincent White, Rodney John Allam
  • Publication number: 20080110047
    Abstract: A fluid-filled structure, such as a bladder, is disclosed. The bladder has a first surface and an opposite second surface that are peripherally joined to define various edges. The bladder encloses a fluid between the first surface and the second surface. A portion of the edges may have a concave configuration, or the edges may have both concave and convex configurations. A shape of the bladder may be a tessellation pattern so that a plurality of the bladder may be efficiently.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2008
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: Vincent White, Jennie Caudle, Stuart Forstrom
  • Publication number: 20070178035
    Abstract: Hydrogen (H2) gas and crude carbon dioxide (CO2) gas are separated from a gaseous mixture thereof. Combustible gas(es) in the crude CO2 gas are combusted to produce heat, at least a portion of which is recovered by indirect heat exchange with at least a portion of the separated H2 gas or a gas derived therefrom. The invention may be integrated with coal-fired power stations to reduce or eliminate emission of harmful components into the atmosphere.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2006
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Inventors: Vincent White, Rodney Allam
  • Patent number: 7152594
    Abstract: A method for detecting emissions from an internal combustion engine generally including determining a reference air/fuel mixture signal based on an engine speed and an airflow into the engine. The method includes determining an actual air/fuel mixture signal from an air/fuel mixture sensor and comparing the reference air/fuel mixture signal to the actual air/fuel mixture signal. The method also includes determining whether an air/fuel imbalance condition occurs based on the comparison and setting a service indicator based on the determination of whether the air/fuel imbalance condition occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Igor Anilovich, Louis A Avallone, David N. Belton, Ian J. Mac Ewen, Vincent A. White