Patents by Inventor William L. Roberts
William L. Roberts 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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Publication number: 20230366350Abstract: A powered system is disclosed including a power block, an exhaust system configured to receive exhaust gas from the power block, a carbon capture system and a heat recovery system. The exhaust system is configured to couple the carbon capture system to the power block. The carbon capture system is configured to extract CO2 from the exhaust gas. The heat recovery system is configured to receive the extracted CO2 from the carbon capture system for providing heat energy to and from the power plant system.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 2021Publication date: November 16, 2023Inventors: Deoras Mukund Prabhudharwadkar, William L. Roberts, Robert Woodrow Dibble
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Patent number: 11691040Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus for flame arresting are provided. In an embodiment, a flame arrestor includes a quenching element disposed within a conduit. The flame arrestor also includes a cooling system in thermal contact with the quenching system. The cooling system cools the quenching element during operation of the cooling system.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2019Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignees: The Boeing Company, King Abdullah University of Science and TechnologyInventors: Thibault F. Guiberti, Jason Scott Damazo, Eddie Kwon, Deanna A. Lacoste, William L. Roberts
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Publication number: 20200284778Abstract: A fuel testing device includes a combustion chamber having an optical access port; a visualization system that acquires images of a flame inside the combustion chamber, the images being acquired through the optical access port; and a vortex generator that perturbs a flow of a fuel inside the combustion chamber. The images are used to determine a propensity of the fuel to thermoacoustic instabilities, and the combustion chamber has a length less than 2 m.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2018Publication date: September 10, 2020Inventors: Thibault F. GUIBERTI, Francesco DI SABATINO, Jonas P. MOECK, Wesley R. BOYETTE, Deanna A. LACOSTE, William L. ROBERTS
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Publication number: 20200215366Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus for flame arresting are provided. In an embodiment, a flame arrestor includes a quenching element disposed within a conduit. The flame arrestor also includes a cooling system in thermal contact with the quenching system. The cooling system cools the quenching element during operation of the cooling system.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2019Publication date: July 9, 2020Inventors: Thibault F. Guiberti, Jason Scott Damazo, Eddie Kwon, Deanna A. Lacoste, William L. Roberts
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Patent number: 8496472Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for the clean and convenient combustion of high viscosity liquid fuels, such as glycerol, as well as an apparatus useful for carrying such processes. In certain embodiments, the invention provides a process for glycerol combustion comprising providing a combustion apparatus with a glycerol combustion chamber that facilitates reflective heating, pre-heating the glycerol combustion chamber, atomizing the reduced viscosity glycerol, and combining the atomized glycerol with air in the glycerol combustion chamber to thereby completely combust the glycerol. In one embodiment, such as when using a pressure-atomizing nozzle, the inventive method may further comprise treating the glycerol to reduce the glycerol viscosity.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2008Date of Patent: July 30, 2013Assignee: North Carolina State UniversityInventors: William L. Roberts, Brian Metzger, Timothy L. Turner
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Patent number: 8350102Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to processes for the direct conversion of lipidic biomass fuelstock to combustible fuels. In particular, the disclosure provides a process for the direct conversion of animal fats to transportations fuels suitable as replacement for petroleum-derived transportation fuels. In an example, the method comprises the steps of hydrolyzing a lipidic biomass to form free fatty acids, catalytically deoxygenating the free fatty acids to form n-alkanes, and reforming at least a portion of the n-alkanes into a mixture of compounds in the correct chain length, conformations, and ratio to be useful transportation fuels. Particularly, the product prepared comprises mixtures of hydrocarbon compounds selected from the group consisting of n-alkanes, isoalkanes, aromatics, cycloalkanes, and combinations thereof.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2010Date of Patent: January 8, 2013Assignee: North Carolina State UniversityInventors: William L. Roberts, IV, H. Henry Lamb, Larry F. Stikeleather, Timothy L. Turner
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Patent number: 8350103Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to processes for the direct conversion of lipidic biomass fuelstock to combustible fuels. In particular, the disclosure provides a process for the direct conversion of animal fats to transportations fuels suitable as replacement for petroleum-derived transportation fuels. In an example, the method comprises the steps of hydrolyzing a lipidic biomass to form free fatty acids, catalytically deoxygenating the free fatty acids to form n-alkanes, and reforming at least a portion of the n-alkanes into a mixture of compounds in the correct chain length, conformations, and ratio to be useful transportation fuels. Particularly, the product prepared comprises mixtures of hydrocarbon compounds selected from the group consisting of n-alkanes, isoalkanes, aromatics, cycloalkanes, and combinations thereof.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2011Date of Patent: January 8, 2013Assignee: North Carolina State UniversityInventors: William L. Roberts, IV, H. Henry Lamb, Larry F. Stikeleather, Timothy L. Turner
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Publication number: 20120108861Abstract: The present invention is directed to processes for the direct conversion of lipidic biomass fuelstock to combustible fuels. In particular, the invention provides a process for the direct conversion of animal fats to transportations fuels suitable as replacement for petroleum-derived transportation fuels. In one embodiment, the method comprises the steps of hydrolyzing a lipidic biomass to form free fatty acids, catalytically deoxygenating the free fatty acids to form n-alkanes, and reforming at least a portion of the n-alkanes into a mixture of compounds in the correct chain length, conformations, and ratio to be useful transportation fuels. Particularly, the product prepared according to the invention comprises mixtures of hydrocarbon compounds selected from the group consisting of n-alkanes, isoalkanes, aromatics, cycloalkanes, and combinations thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2011Publication date: May 3, 2012Inventors: William L. Roberts, IV, H. Henry Lamb, Larry F. Stikeleather, Timothy L. Turner
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Publication number: 20110105813Abstract: The present invention is directed to processes for the direct conversion of lipidic biomass fuelstock to combustible fuels. In particular, the invention provides a process for the direct conversion of animal fats to transportations fuels suitable as replacement for petroleum-derived transportation fuels. In one embodiment, the method comprises the steps of hydrolyzing a lipidic biomass to form free fatty acids, catalytically deoxygenating the free fatty acids to form n-alkanes, and reforming at least a portion of the n-alkanes into a mixture of compounds in the correct chain length, conformations, and ratio to be useful transportation fuels. Particularly, the product prepared according to the invention comprises mixtures of hydrocarbon compounds selected from the group consisting of n-alkanes, isoalkanes, aromatics, cycloalkanes, and combinations thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2010Publication date: May 5, 2011Inventors: William L. Roberts, IV, H. Henry Lamb, Larry F. Stikeleather, Timothy L. Turner
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Patent number: 7816570Abstract: A process for the direct conversion of lipid biomass fuel stock to combustible fuels include the steps of hydrolyzing a lipid biomass to form free fatty acids, catalytically deoxygenating the free fatty acids to from n-alkanes, and reforming at least a portion of the n-alkanes into a mixture of compounds having the correct chain length, conformations and ratio to be useful as transportation fuels. The process exhibits an overall energy efficiency of at least about 75%, wherein energy efficiency is calculated as the lower heating value of the produced transportation fuel over the sum of the lower heating value of the process reactants and the total energy input into the process.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2007Date of Patent: October 19, 2010Assignee: North Carolina State UniversityInventors: William L. Roberts, IV, H. Henry Lamb, Larry F. Stikeleather, Timothy L. Turner
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Publication number: 20090069610Abstract: The present invention is directed to processes for the direct conversion of lipidic biomass fuelstock to combustible fuels. In particular, the invention provides a process for the direct conversion of animal fats to transportations fuels suitable as replacement for petroleum-derived transportation fuels. In one embodiment, the method comprises the steps of hydrolyzing a lipidic biomass to form free fatty acids, catalytically deoxygenating the free fatty acids to form n-alkanes, and reforming at least a portion of the n-alkanes into a mixture of compounds in the correct chain length, conformations, and ratio to be useful transportation fuels. Particularly, the product prepared according to the invention comprises mixtures of hydrocarbon compounds selected from the group consisting of n-alkanes, isoalkanes, aromatics, cycloalkanes, and combinations thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2007Publication date: March 12, 2009Inventors: William L. Roberts, IV, H. Henry Lamb, Larry F. Stikeleather, Timothy L. Turner
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Publication number: 20080305445Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for the clean and convenient combustion of high viscosity liquid fuels, such as glycerol, as well as an apparatus useful for carrying such processes. In certain embodiments, the invention provides a process for glycerol combustion comprising providing a combustion apparatus with a glycerol combustion chamber that facilitates reflective heating, pre-heating the glycerol combustion chamber, atomizing the reduced viscosity glycerol, and combining the atomized glycerol with air in the glycerol combustion chamber to thereby completely combust the glycerol. In one embodiment, such as when using a pressure-atomizing nozzle, the inventive method may further comprise treating the glycerol to reduce the glycerol viscosity.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2008Publication date: December 11, 2008Inventors: William L. Roberts, Brian Metzger, Timothy L. Turner
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Patent number: 5501423Abstract: A portable easel with tray and table composed of two legs, joined at the top by a crosspiece having in it pegs for hanging a thin, rigid easel board to serve as backing for commercially available easel pads. The legs pass through holes at their approximate midpoint in a tray table which senses as a tray for marking instruments in the front, a table for papers, books and the like in the rear, and which holds the legs in their splayed position. The tray table rests on fittings which support the upper structures, join the legs laterally for rigidity at their midpoint, and into which the lower portion of the legs may be fitted and removed. The lower ends of the legs have rubber tips to increase friction with the floor, or may be attached to a rectangular base to afford greater stability. The lower halves of the legs, when removed, enable the easel to function as a table model, and reduce the size of the structure for transport and storage.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 1994Date of Patent: March 26, 1996Inventor: William L. Roberts
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Patent number: 4237446Abstract: An improved clearance detecting device for warning the driver of a vehicle of a impending obstruction. In a detecting device consisting of a base, an antenna, spring means connecting the base and antenna, and an electrical circuit with an alarm device and normally open switch means, the improvement consists of switch means comprising a contact surface and an elongate spring with two ends. One end of the spring is attached to the clearance detector device while the other end is responsive when the antenna is deflected to engage the contact surface so that the electrical circuit is closed and the alarm device activated.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 1979Date of Patent: December 2, 1980Inventor: William L. Roberts