Patents by Inventor Volker Stephan
Volker Stephan 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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Patent number: 8340789Abstract: A control system (1) for a complex process, particularly for controlling a combustion process in a power plant, a waste incinerator plant, or a cement plant, has a controlled system (14) and at least one controller (36), wherein the control system (1) is divided hierarchically into various levels (10, 20, 30, 40). The first level (10) represents the complex, real process to be controlled and is implemented by the controlled system (14). The second level (20) represents an interface to the process and is implemented by a process control system. The third level (30) represents the control of the process and is implemented by the at least one active controller (36). The fourth level (40) represents a superordinate overview and is implemented by a principal controller (44).Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2011Date of Patent: December 25, 2012Assignee: Powitec Intelligent Technologies GmbHInventors: Franz Wintrich, Volker Stephan, Erik Schaffernicht, Florian Steege
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Patent number: 8288583Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for preparing carboxylic acid derivatives, comprising the reaction of at least one carboxylic acid and/or of a carboxylic acid derivative with at least one alcohol and/or an amine in the presence of a metal-containing catalyst, wherein, after the reaction has ended, the metal-containing catalyst is contacted with water and a superabsorbent, the contacting of the catalyst with the water leading to hydrolysis of the catalyst. The present invention further relates to the use of superabsorbents for removing a metal-containing catalyst from a mixture after hydrolysis of the catalyst.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2007Date of Patent: October 16, 2012Assignee: Evonik Rohmax Additives GmbHInventors: Uwe Boehmke, Klaus Schimossek, Detlef Bloos, Michael Neusius, Stephan Massoth, Guenther Graeff, Alexander Dardin, Matthias Fischer, Volker Stephan
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Publication number: 20120065746Abstract: A control system (1) for a complex process, particularly for controlling a combustion process in a power plant, a waste incinerator plant, or a cement plant, has a controlled system (14) and at least one controller (36), wherein the control system (1) is divided hierarchically into various levels (10, 20, 30, 40). The first level (10) represents the complex, real process to be controlled and is implemented by the controlled system (14). The second level (20) represents an interface to the process and is implemented by a process control system. The third level (30) represents the control of the process and is implemented by the at least one active controller (36). The fourth level (40) represents a superordinate overview and is implemented by a principal controller (44).Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2011Publication date: March 15, 2012Applicant: POWITEC INTELLIGENT TECHNOLOGIES GMBHInventors: Franz Wintrich, Volker Stephan, Erich Schaffernicht, Frank-Florian Steege
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Patent number: 8019446Abstract: In a control loop for regulating a combustion process in a plant (e.g., a power-generating plant, a waste incineration plant or a cement works) having a controlled system for converting material by way of the combustion process while supplying air, with at least one flame body being formed, and having at least one observation device for imaging the flame body, other sensors for determining the input data, at least one adjustment device that can be controlled by output data for supplying at least material and/or air, and a computer for evaluating the input data in relation to target values and for determining the output data by using a current process model, the computer has a feature extraction module that extracts features from the input data using an information measure. The features are informative for the target values, and are for use in an alternative process model.Type: GrantFiled: February 29, 2008Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: Powitec Intelligent Technologies GmbHInventors: Franz Wintrich, Volker Stephan
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Publication number: 20110089130Abstract: The invention relates to a device for vertically lifting a load, preferably a crane, comprising a base, at least one jib extending out from the base, at least one cable which is guided from the base around the tip of the jib, at least one device for gripping or securing a load which is attached or can be attached to the end of the cable guided around the tip of the jib, wherein the cable is a synthetic cable.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2010Publication date: April 21, 2011Inventor: Volker Stephan
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Publication number: 20100122606Abstract: A force transmitting assembly comprises a composite fiber tie rod having a force transmitting element on the end thereof. The force transmitting element has at least a portion having a cross-section that tapers in a direction pointing away from the tie rod end. The load bearing fiber layer of the tie rod extends over and is wound about the tapered portion of the force transmitting element, thereby establishing a positive connection between the tie rod and the force transmitting element. The invention further relates to a method of manufacturing a force transmitting assembly comprising a composite fiber tie rod and a force transmitting element on an end thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2009Publication date: May 20, 2010Inventor: Volker Stephan
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Patent number: 7624082Abstract: Material (G) is converted by a combustion process in a plant (1) while air (L) is supplied. The state of the system in the plant (1) is described by state variables (x, y) and is regulated at least by one control loop (3, 5, 7, 9). Groups of states (Z) are defined for at least one pair of correlated state variables (x, y), with the groups being comparable as regards changes (dx/dt, dy/dt) of the correlated state variables (x, y). Each group of comparable states (Z) is characterized, as regards their transition functions, by parameters (Kp, Tn, Tv) of a standard controller. In the event of changes in the state of the system in the plant (1), the closest groups of comparable states (Z) are selected, and their transition functions, characterized by the parameters (Kp, Tn, Tv), are used for the purposes of regulation the system.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2007Date of Patent: November 24, 2009Assignee: Powitec Intelligent Technologies GmbHInventors: Franz Wintrich, Volker Stephan
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Publication number: 20090182145Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for preparing carboxylic acid derivatives, comprising the reaction of at least one carboxylic acid and/or of a carboxylic acid derivative with at least one alcohol and/or an amine in the presence of a metal-containing catalyst, wherein, after the reaction has ended, the metal-containing catalyst is contacted with water and a superabsorbent, the contacting of the catalyst with the water leading to hydrolysis of the catalyst. The present invention further relates to the use of superabsorbents for removing a metal-containing catalyst from a mixture after hydrolysis of the catalyst.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2007Publication date: July 16, 2009Applicant: EVONIK ROHMAX ADDITIVES GMBHInventors: Uwe Böhmke, Klaus Schimossek, Detlef Bloos, Michael Neusius, Stephan Massoth, Günther Gräff, Alexander Dardin, Matthias Fischer, Volker Stephan
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Publication number: 20090182441Abstract: In a control loop for regulating a combustion process in a plant having a controlled system for converting material by way of the combustion, with at least one flame body being formed, the control loop having at least one observation device for imaging the flame body and further sensors to determine the state variables describing the state of the system in the plant, at least one regulator and/or a computer to evaluate the state variables and select suitable actions based on a process model, and adjustment devices for at least the supply of material and/or air that can be controlled by the actions, the process model provides specialized function approximators for various process dynamics, one of which function approximators is selected by a selector, and a regulator assigned to the selected function approximator is used to regulate the control loop.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2009Publication date: July 16, 2009Applicant: Powitec Intelligent Technologies GmbHInventors: Franz Wintrich, Volker Stephan
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Publication number: 20090105852Abstract: A control loop, which is for regulating a process in a plant having a controlled system, comprises: at least one measuring device for recording observation values of the controlled system, at least one adjustment device for acting on the controlled system in response to the adjustment device being controlled by way of action values, and a regulator. The regulator is operative to provide the action values. The regulator being operative to provide the action values comprises the regulator being adapted for: predicting, by way of a process model and at least one probability distribution of the observation values, a set of distributions of probable future states of the system; evaluating the set of distributions of probable future states of the system using target values and/or distributions of the target values; and selecting at least one probability distribution of action values.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2008Publication date: April 23, 2009Applicant: Powitec Intelligent Technologies GmbHInventors: Franz Wintrich, Volker Stephan, Steffen Muller
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Publication number: 20080215165Abstract: In a control loop for regulating a combustion process in a plant (e.g., a power-generating plant, a waste incineration plant or a cement works) having a controlled system for converting material by way of the combustion process while supplying air, with at least one flame body being formed, and having at least one observation device for imaging the flame body, other sensors for determining the input data, at least one adjustment device that can be controlled by output data for supplying at least material and/or air, and a computer for evaluating the input data in relation to target values and for determining the output data by using a current process model, the computer has a feature extraction module that extracts features from the input data using an information measure. The features are informative for the target values, and are for use in an alternative process model.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 29, 2008Publication date: September 4, 2008Applicant: Powitec Intelligent Technologies GmbHInventors: Franz Wintrich, Volker Stephan
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Publication number: 20080081302Abstract: Material (G) is converted by a combustion process in a plant (1) while air (L) is supplied. The state of the system in the plant (1) is described by state variables (x, y) and is regulated at least by one control loop (3, 5, 7, 9). Groups of states (Z) are defined for at least one pair of correlated state variables (x, y), with the groups being comparable as regards changes (dx/dt, dy/dt) of the correlated state variables (x, y). Each group of comparable states (Z) is characterized, as regards their transition functions, by parameters (Kp, Tn, Tv) of a standard controller. In the event of changes in the state of the system in the plant (1), the closest groups of comparable states (Z) are selected, and their transition functions, characterized by the parameters (Kp, Tn, Tv), are used for the purposes of regulation the system.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2007Publication date: April 3, 2008Applicant: Powitec Intelligent Technologies GmbHInventors: Franz Wintrich, Volker Stephan
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Patent number: 7231078Abstract: In a method for monitoring a thermodynamic process in an installation, in which image material (5) of the process is produced and the image material (5) is subjected to image evaluation, an eigen value problem approach is used, at least in large part, for automatic image evaluation.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2005Date of Patent: June 12, 2007Assignee: Powitec Intelligent Technologies GmbHInventors: Franz Wintrich, Volker Stephan
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Patent number: 7100868Abstract: The exchange, removal or addition, as applicable, of media and/or power between the individual shafts of an engine, between individual engines and between the engines and the aircraft provides for additional degrees of freedom, enabling engine parameters to be addressed in terms of a reduction or avoidance of negative resonances or beats. It also provides an ability to alter thrust from engines of a multi-engined aircraft to reduce rudder trim.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2004Date of Patent: September 5, 2006Assignee: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KGInventor: Volker Stephan
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Patent number: 7035717Abstract: In a method for controlling a thermodynamic process, in particular a combustion process, in which the system status (st) is measured, compared with optimization targets (rj), and in which suitable setting actions (ai) are performed in the system for controlling it, a process model (PM) is determined that is independent of the optimization targets (rj) and which describes the effects of actions (at) on the system status (st), and in which a situational evaluation (SB) that is independent of the process model (PM) evaluates the system status (st) by means of quality functions (ut) with regard to the optimization targets (rj).Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2003Date of Patent: April 25, 2006Assignee: Powitec Intelligent Technologies GmbHInventors: Franz Wintrich, Volker Stephan
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Publication number: 20050147288Abstract: In a method for monitoring a thermodynamic process in an installation, in which image material (5) of the process is produced and the image material (5) is subjected to image evaluation, an eigen value problem approach is used, at least in large part, for automatic image evaluation.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 15, 2005Publication date: July 7, 2005Inventors: Franz Wintrich, Volker Stephan
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Publication number: 20050137995Abstract: In a method for regulating a thermodynamic process, in which process variables in the system are measured, predictions are calculated in a neural network on the basis of a trained, current process model and compared with optimization objectives and actions suitable for regulating the process are carried out in the system, at the same time the process is automatically analyzed and at least one new process model is formed, trained and compared with the current process model with respect to the predictions.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 15, 2005Publication date: June 23, 2005Inventors: Franz Wintrich, Volker Stephan, Dirk Tiedtke
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Publication number: 20040232281Abstract: This invention relates to the exchange, removal or addition, as applicable, of media and/or power between the individual shafts of an engine, between individual engines and between the engines and the aircraft. Thus, the present invention provides for additional degrees of freedom enabling engine parameters to be addressed in terms of a reduction or avoidance of negative resonances or beats. It also provides an ability to alter thrust from engines of a multi-engined aircraft to reduce rudder trim.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 9, 2004Publication date: November 25, 2004Inventor: Volker Stephan
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Patent number: 6712314Abstract: The exchange, removal or addition, as applicable, of media and/or power is provided between the individual shafts of an engine, between individual engines and between the engines and the aircraft. Thus, additional degrees of freedom are provided, enabling engine parameters to be addressed in terms of a reduction or avoidance of negative resonances or beats. It also provides an ability to alter thrust from engines of a multi-engined aircraft to reduce rudder trim.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2001Date of Patent: March 30, 2004Assignee: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KGInventor: Volker Stephan
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Publication number: 20040044423Abstract: In a method for controlling a thermodynamic process, in particular a combustion process, in which the system status (st) is measured, compared with optimization targets (rj), and in which suitable setting actions (ai) are performed in the system for controlling it, a process model (PM) is determined that is independent of the optimization targets (rj) and which describes the effects of actions (at) on the system status (st), and in which a situational evaluation (SB) that is independent of the process model (PM) evaluates the system status (st) by means of quality functions (ut) with regard to the optimization targets (rj).Type: ApplicationFiled: September 2, 2003Publication date: March 4, 2004Applicant: Powitec Intelligent Technologies GmbHInventors: Franz Wintrich, Volker Stephan