Patents by Inventor William N. Yunker

William N. Yunker 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: 11655910
    Abstract: A valve installation is provided, including a valve assembly having a valve, and a fluidized valve actuator coupled with the valve assembly. The actuator includes at least two cylinders and pistons positioned to communicate fluid to apply pressure to the valve assembly. Extension of each piston communicates pressure to the valve assembly and at least partially lifts the valve into an at least partially lifted and open position. The valve installation may be used to regulate fluid flow in various systems, including cyclical swing adsorption processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company
    Inventors: John W. Fulton, William N. Yunker, Bennett D. Marshall, Robert A. Johnson, Roland Mischler, Stefan Aschwanden
  • Patent number: 11318410
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus are provided for modulating fluid flow in a cyclical swing adsorption system that includes multiple adsorption bed vessels that are in fluid communication. When opening a valve to transition an adsorption bed vessel into a blowdown stage or a re-pressurization stage of a cyclical swing adsorption process, the valve is partially lifted from a closed position prior to being fully lifted. The valve includes a flow restriction aid positioned to restrict flow through the valve when the valve is in the partially lifted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: John W. Fulton, William N. Yunker, Tracy A. Fowler
  • Publication number: 20210102638
    Abstract: A valve installation is provided, including a valve assembly having a valve, and a fluidized valve actuator coupled with the valve assembly. The actuator includes at least two cylinders and pistons positioned to communicate fluid to apply pressure to the valve assembly. Extension of each piston communicates pressure to the valve assembly and at least partially lifts the valve into an at least partially lifted and open position. The valve installation may be used to regulate fluid flow in various systems, including cyclical swing adsorption processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Inventors: John W. Fulton, William N. Yunker, Bennett D. Marshall, Robert A. Johnson, Roland Mischler, Stefan Aschwanden
  • Publication number: 20200197856
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus are provided for modulating fluid flow in a cyclical swing adsorption system that includes multiple adsorption bed vessels that are in fluid communication. When opening a valve to transition an adsorption bed vessel into a blowdown stage or a re-pressurization stage of a cyclical swing adsorption process, the valve is partially lifted from a closed position prior to being fully lifted. The valve includes a flow restriction aid positioned to restrict flow through the valve when the valve is in the partially lifted position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Inventors: John W. Fulton, William N. Yunker, Tracy A. Fowler
  • Patent number: 10481099
    Abstract: A system and method for determining the presence of water proximate to insulation. A system provided includes an enclosure, and insulation disposed over the enclosure. A moisture reactive compound indicates water proximate to the insulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: William N. Yunker, Wayne S. Pon, Patrick M. Moore, Michael T. Matheidas
  • Publication number: 20190120548
    Abstract: A method and system for liquefying a feed gas stream including natural gas. The feed gas stream is provided at a pressure less than 1,200 psia. A refrigerant stream having a pressure of at least 1,500 psia is cooled and then expanded in a first expander to an intermediate pressure. The first expander is mechanically coupled to a first coupled compressor to together form a first turboexpander-compressor. The refrigerant stream is expanded in a second expander, which is mechanically coupled to a second coupled compressor to together form a second turboexpander-compressor. The refrigerant stream cools the feed gas stream in one or more heat exchangers. Using the second coupled compressor and a first driven compressor, the refrigerant stream is compressed to a discharge pressure within 300 psia of the intermediate pressure. The refrigerant stream is compressed using the first coupled compressor and is further compressed to provide the refrigerant stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventors: Fritz Pierre, JR., William N. Yunker, O. Angus Sites
  • Patent number: 10267270
    Abstract: A gas turbine system includes a turbine combustor, a turbine, an exhaust gas compressor, an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system, a carbon black recovery system, and a carbon black production controller. The carbon black production controller monitors data corresponding to a parameter of the carbon black. The carbon black production controller is also configured to adjust, based on the data, the fuel provided to the turbine combustor while maintaining a ratio of the fuel to the oxidant within a predetermined range to adjust the parameter of the carbon black.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignees: General Electric Company, ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Richard A. Huntington, William N. Yunker, Ilya Aleksandrovich Slobodyanskiy
  • Patent number: 10222290
    Abstract: Systems and a method for detecting potential areas of corrosion under insulation are provided. An exemplary system includes an enclosure, insulation disposed upon an outer surface of the enclosure, and a number of microelectromechanical system (MEMS) sensors. The MEMS sensors detect water proximate to the insulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research
    Inventors: William N. Yunker, Michael T. Matheidas
  • Publication number: 20170045412
    Abstract: Systems and a method for detecting potential areas of corrosion under insulation are provided. An exemplary system includes an enclosure, insulation disposed upon an outer surface of the enclosure, and a number of microelectromechanical system (MEMS) sensors. The MEMS sensors detect water proximate to the insulation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Inventors: William N. Yunker, Michael T. Matheidas
  • Publication number: 20170003229
    Abstract: A system and method for determining the presence of water proximate to insulation. A system provided includes an enclosure, and insulation disposed over the enclosure. A moisture reactive compound indicates water proximate to the insulation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventors: William N. YUNKER, Wayne S. Pon, Patrick M. Moore, Michael T. Matheidas
  • Publication number: 20160230711
    Abstract: A gas turbine system includes a turbine combustor, a turbine, an exhaust gas compressor, an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system, a carbon black recovery system, and a carbon black production controller. The carbon black production controller monitors data corresponding to a parameter of the carbon black. The carbon black production controller is also configured to adjust, based on the data, the fuel provided to the turbine combustor while maintaining a ratio of the fuel to the oxidant within a predetermined range to adjust the parameter of the carbon black.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Inventors: Richard A. Huntington, William N. Yunker, Ilya Aleksandrovich Slobodyanskiy