Patents by Inventor William C. Chueh

William C. Chueh 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).

  • Thermochemical synthesis of fuels for storing thermal energy
    Patent number: 8480923
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for storing thermal energy, such as solar energy, as a fuel, by heating a reactive oxide substrate to a first temperature, such that the reactive oxide substrate is reduced, wherein the reactive oxide substrate includes a cerium oxide. The method also includes contacting the reduced reactive oxide substrate at a second temperature with a gas mixture including carbon dioxide, wherein the first temperature is greater than the second temperature, thereby preparing the fuel. The present invention also provides a method for preparing the reactive oxide substrates by heating a mixture including a doped cerium oxide and a pore-forming agent, such that pores are formed in the doped cerium oxide, thereby forming the reactive oxide substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Sossina M. Haile, William C. Chueh
  • Thermochemical Synthesis of Fuels for Storing Thermal Energy
    Publication number: 20120276493
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for storing thermal energy, such as solar energy, as a fuel, by heating a reactive oxide substrate to a first temperature, such that the reactive oxide substrate is reduced, wherein the reactive oxide substrate includes a cerium oxide. The method also includes contacting the reduced reactive oxide substrate at a second temperature with a gas mixture including carbon dioxide, wherein the first temperature is greater than the second temperature, thereby preparing the fuel. The present invention also provides a method for preparing the reactive oxide substrates by heating a mixture including a doped cerium oxide and a pore-forming agent, such that pores are formed in the doped cerium oxide, thereby forming the reactive oxide substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Sossina M. Haile, William C. Chueh
  • Thermochemical synthesis of fuels for storing thermal energy
    Patent number: 8167961
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for storing thermal energy, such as solar energy, as a fuel, by heating a reactive oxide substrate to a first temperature, such that the reactive oxide substrate is reduced, wherein the reactive oxide substrate includes a cerium oxide. The method also includes contacting the reduced reactive oxide substrate at a second temperature with a gas mixture including carbon dioxide, wherein the first temperature is greater than the second temperature, thereby preparing the fuel. The present invention also provides a method for preparing the reactive oxide substrates by heating a mixture including a doped cerium oxide and a pore-forming agent, such that pores are formed in the doped cerium oxide, thereby forming the reactive oxide substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Sossina M. Haile, William C. Chueh
  • THERMOCHEMICAL SYNTHESIS OF FUELS FOR STORING THERMAL ENERGY
    Publication number: 20090107044
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for storing thermal energy, such as solar energy, as a fuel, by heating a reactive oxide substrate to a first temperature, such that the reactive oxide substrate is reduced, wherein the reactive oxide substrate includes a cerium oxide. The method also includes contacting the reduced reactive oxide substrate at a second temperature with a gas mixture including carbon dioxide, wherein the first temperature is greater than the second temperature, thereby preparing the fuel. The present invention also provides a method for preparing the reactive oxide substrates by heating a mixture including a doped cerium oxide and a pore-forming agent, such that pores are formed in the doped cerium oxide, thereby forming the reactive oxide substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Sossina M. Haile, William C. Chueh