Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080253901 | Jet Ejector System and Method - According to one embodiment of the invention, a jet ejector method includes providing a primary jet ejector having a primary inlet stream, coupling one or more secondary jet ejectors to the primary jet ejector such that all of the jet ejectors are in a cascaded arrangement, bleeding off a portion of the primary inlet stream and directing the portion of the primary inlet stream to the secondary jet ejector that is closest to the primary jet ejector in the cascaded arrangement, and directing a motive fluid into the secondary jet ejector that is farthest from the primary jet ejector in the cascaded arrangement. The method further includes, at each secondary jet ejector, receiving at least some of the portion of the primary inlet stream and at least some of the motive fluid to create respective mixtures within the secondary jet ejectors, and at each secondary jet ejector, directing at least a portion of the respective mixture to adjacent jet ejectors in the cascaded arrangement. | 10-16-2008 |
20080280338 | Biofuel Processing System - According to one embodiment, a biofuel processing system includes a biomass conversion system, a gasification reactor and/or a pyrolysis reactor, and a synthetic fuel creation system. The biomass conversion system uses a biological process to create a low-molecular-weight hydrocarbon stream from a biomass. The reactor generates heat and hydrogen using fresh biomass or undigested biomass from the biomass conversion system in which a portion of the heat is used by the biomass conversion system. The synthetic fuel creation system converts the low-molecular-weight hydrocarbon stream from the biomass conversion system and/or the reactor to liquefied fuel using another portion of heat from the reactor. | 11-13-2008 |
20090108712 | SHORT-FLUX PATH MOTORS / GENERATORS - According to one embodiment of the present invention, an electric machine includes a stator and a rotor. The stator includes a stator pole including a first leg and a second leg, and a gap defined between the first and second legs. The rotor includes a rotor pole. The rotor is configured to rotate relative to the stator such that the rotor pole rotates through the gap defined between the first and second legs of the stator pole. The stator pole includes a laminar stator pole structure including multiple lamination layers. | 04-30-2009 |
20090114591 | System and Method for Pretreating Biomass - According to one embodiment, a method for heat treatment of a biomass includes allowing biomass in a pretreatment reactor to undergo a pre-treatment reaction process. The pre-treatment reaction process yields pretreated biomass along with soluble components. A first liquid having a first temperature is transported into the pretreatment reactor and the pretreated biomass elevates the first temperature to a second temperature. At least a port of the soluble components are captured in the first liquid, and the at least a portion of the soluble components in the first liquid and the first liquid are removed from the pretreatment reactor. A second liquid having a third temperature is transported into the pretreatment reactor and the pretreated biomass elevates the third temperature to a fourth temperature, the fourth temperature being less than second temperature. | 05-07-2009 |
20090239279 | Integrated Biofuel Production System - According to an embodiment, a biomass conversion subsystem produces methane and/or alcohol and residual biomass. A pyrolysis or a gasification subsystem is used to produce thermal energy and/or process gasses. The thermal energy may be stored thermal energy in the form of a pyrolysis oil. A fuel conversion subsystem produces liquid hydrocarbon fuels from the methane and/or alcohol using thermal energy and/or process gasses produced by the gasification or pyrolysis subsystem. Because the biomass production system integrates the residual products from biomass conversion and the residual thermal energy from pyrolysis or gasification, the overall efficiency of the integrated biomass production system is greatly enhanced. | 09-24-2009 |
20090324432 | Gerotor apparatus for a quasi-isothermal brayton cycle engine - According to one embodiment of the invention, an engine system comprises a housing, an outer gerotor, an inner gerotor, a tip inlet port, a face inlet port, and a tip outlet port. The housing has a first sidewall, a second sidewall, a first endwall, and a second endwall. The outer gerotor is at least partially disposed in the housing and at least partially defines an outer gerotor chamber. The inner gerotor is at least partially disposed within the outer gerotor chamber. The tip inlet port is formed in the first sidewall and allows fluid to enter the outer gerotor chamber. The face inlet port is formed in the first endwall and allows fluid to enter the outer gerotor chamber. The tip outlet port is formed in the second sidewall and allows fluid to exit the outer gerotor chamber. | 12-31-2009 |
20100003152 | Gerotor apparatus for a quasi-isothermal brayton cycle engine - According to one embodiment of the invention, a gerotor apparatus includes a first gerotor, a second gerotor, and a synchronizing system operable to synchronize a rotation of the first gerotor with a rotation of the second gerotor. The synchronizing system includes a cam plate coupled to the first gerotor, wherein the cam plate includes a plurality of cams, and an alignment plate coupled to the second gerotor. The alignment plate includes at least one alignment member, wherein the plurality of cams and the at least one alignment member interact to synchronize a rotation of the first gerotor with a rotation of the second gerotor. | 01-07-2010 |
20100152485 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONVERTING BIOMASS - In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a system and method converting biomass into useful chemicals are provided. In a particular embodiment, the method includes fermenting biomass in one or more fermentors to produce a fermentation broth comprising ammonium carboxylate salts, the fermentors containing an ammonium carbonate or ammonium bicarbonate buffer. The method further includes reacting the ammonium carboxylate salts from the fermentors with a high-molecular-weight amine to produce amine carboxylate salt, and thermally cracking the amine carboxylate salt to produce carboxylic acid. In another embodiment, the ammonium carboxylate salts from the fermentors may be reacted with a low-molecular-weight amine to produce a low-molecular-weight-amine carboxylate salt. The low-molecular-weight amine in the low-molecular-weight-amine carboxylate salt may then be switched with a high-molecular-weight amine to form a high-molecular-weight-amine carboxylate salt, which is then thermally cracked to produce carboxylic acid. | 06-17-2010 |
20100185021 | ALTERNATIVE PATHS TO ALCOHOLS AND HYDROCARBONS FROM BIOMASS - A method of producing alcohols, hydrocarbons, or both from biomass by converting biomass into a carboxylic acid, reacting the carboxylic acid with an olefin to produce an ester and hydrogenolyzing the ester to produce alcohol. A method of producing hydrocarbons from biomass by converting at least a portion of the biomass into a carboxylic acid, a ketone, or an ammonium carboxylate salt, reacting at least one of a portion of the carboxylic acid, a portion of the ketone, or a portion of the ammonium carboxylate salt in an oligomerization reactor as at least part of a process that produces an oligomerization product and separating hydrocarbons from the oligomerization product. | 07-22-2010 |
20100203625 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING BIOMASS - According to one embodiment of the invention, a system for processing biomass comprises a chamber, a biomass input device, a fluid input device, and a retrieval device. The chamber is defined by at least a bottom, at least one wall, and a cover supported by the at least one wall. The biomass input device operable to deliver biomass into the chamber to form a biomass pile. The fluid input device is operable to deliver fluid into the chamber to the biomass pile. The retrieval device operable to receive fluid from the chamber. | 08-12-2010 |
20100213786 | ELECTRIC MACHINE HAVING A HIGH-TORQUE SWITCHED RELUCTANCE MOTOR - According to one embodiment of the present invention, an electric machine comprises a stator and a rotor. The stator has at least one stator pole with a first leg and a second leg. The rotor has at least one rotor pole. The rotor rotates relate to the stator. The at least one rotor is configured to rotate between the first leg and the second leg of the at least one stator pole. | 08-26-2010 |
20100247360 | Gerotor Apparatus for a Quasi-Isothermal Brayton Cycle Engine - According to one embodiment of the invention, an engine system comprises a housing, an outer gerotor, an inner gerotor, a tip inlet port, a face inlet port, and a tip outlet port. The housing has a first sidewall, a second sidewall, a first endwall, and a second endwall. The outer gerotor is at least partially disposed in the housing and at least partially defines an outer gerotor chamber. The inner gerotor is at least partially disposed within the outer gerotor chamber. The tip inlet port is formed in the first sidewall and allows fluid to enter the outer gerotor chamber. The face inlet port is formed in the first endwall and allows fluid to enter the outer gerotor chamber. The tip outlet port is formed in the second sidewall and allows fluid to exit the outer gerotor chamber. | 09-30-2010 |
20100248318 | HYDROGEN PROCESSING AND IMPURITY REMOVAL AND CLEANING METHODS IN A BIOMASS CONVERSION PROCESS - In one embodiment, the disclosure includes a method of biomass conversion including fermenting biomass to produce a carboxylic acid or carboxylate salt and hydrogen gas, recovering the hydrogen gas, and converting the carboxylic acid or carboxylate salt to an alcohol using the hydrogen gas. In one embodiment, the hydrogen produced by biomass conversion may be converted to an acetate. Another embodiment relates to a biomass conversion system. The system may include: a fermentation unit for fermentation of biomass to a carboxylic acid or carboxylate salt in a fermentation broth and for production of a carbon dioxide and hydrogen gas stream, an extraction unit for extracting the carboxylic acid or carboxylate salt from the fermentation broth, a gas extraction unit for separation of the hydrogen gas and the carbon dioxide, and a production unit for production of an alcohol from the carboxylic acid or carboxylate salt using the hydrogen gas. | 09-30-2010 |
20100266435 | Gerotor Apparatus for a Quasi-Isothermal Brayton Cycle Engine - According to one embodiment of the invention, a gerotor apparatus includes an outer gerotor having an outer gerotor chamber, an inner gerotor, at least a portion of which is disposed within the outer gerotor chamber, and a synchronizing apparatus operable to control the rotation of the inner gerotor relative to the outer gerotor. The inner gerotor includes one or more entrance passages operable to communicate a lubricant into the outer gerotor chamber. | 10-21-2010 |
20110200476 | GEROTOR APPARATUS FOR A QUASI-ISOTHERMAL BRAYTON CYCLE ENGINE - According to one embodiment of the invention, a gerotor apparatus includes a first gerotor, a second gerotor, and a synchronizing system operable to synchronize a rotation of the first gerotor with a rotation of the second gerotor. The synchronizing system includes a earn plate coupled to the first gerotor, wherein the cam plate includes a plurality of cams, and an alignment plate coupled to the second gerotor. The alignment plate includes at least one alignment member, wherein the plurality of cams and the at least one alignment member interact to synchronize a rotation of the first gerotor with a rotation of the second gerotor. | 08-18-2011 |
20110236937 | Multi-Stage Fermenter Nutrient Feeding - A method for operating a fermenter system. In one instances, the method comprises flowing biomass and liquid in opposite directions through a fermenter train comprising a plurality of fermenters, and introducing a nutrient to any of the plurality of fermenters to optimize the production carboxylate products in the fermenter system. | 09-29-2011 |
20110287497 | ANAEROBIC ORGANISMS IN A PROCESS FOR CONVERTING BIOMASS - A method for integrating biological conversion of mixed acids to hydrocarbons, hydrocarbon-like molecules, biofuels, and combinations thereof. The method including introducing fermentation products to at least one microorganism chosen from the group consisting of heterotrophic microorganisms, photo-mixotrophic microorganisms, chemo-autotrophic microorganisms, and combinations thereof. | 11-24-2011 |
20120118722 | HEAT EXCHANGER SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USE - Herein disclosed is a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger comprises at least one pipe having a centerline, an inlet and an outlet; and a multiplicity of tubes, wherein each tube comprises a centerline, an inner surface, an outer surface, and groves; wherein the multiplicity of tubes are placed inside the pipe and the centerline of each tube is perpendicular to the centerline of the pipe. Herein also disclosed is a heat exchange system. Such a system comprises the heat exchanger as described herein, wherein the heat exchanger is configured to receive an incoming feed stream and to discharge a vapor stream. Herein also described is a process that utilizes the heat exchanger disclosed herein. Such a process comprises the separation of a volatile component from a non-volatile component in a mixture. In some cases, the non-volatile component comprises a salt or a sugar and the volatile component comprises water. | 05-17-2012 |
20120133241 | SHORT-FLUX PATH MOTORS / GENERATORS - According to one embodiment of the present invention, an electric machine includes a stator and a rotor. The stator includes a stator pole including a first leg and a second leg, and a gap defined between the first and second legs. The rotor includes a rotor pole. The rotor is configured to rotate relative to the stator such that the rotor pole rotates through the gap defined between the first and second legs of the stator pole. The stator pole includes a laminar stator pole structure including multiple lamination layers. | 05-31-2012 |
20120199534 | DESALINATION METHODS - In accordance with particular embodiments, a desalination system includes a plurality of evaporators. The plurality of evaporators includes at least a first evaporator and a last evaporator. The plurality of evaporators are arranged in cascading fashion such that a concentration of salt in a brine solution increases as the brine solution passes through the plurality of evaporators from the first evaporator towards the last evaporator. The desalination system also includes a plurality of heat exchangers. An input of each evaporator is coupled to at least one of the plurality of heat exchangers. The system also includes a vapor source coupled to at least one of the plurality of evaporators. | 08-09-2012 |
20120225460 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING BIOMASS - A method for processing biomass that includes forming a first pile comprising biomass; inoculating said first pile comprising biomass; circulating a liquid in said first pile; fermenting the biomass in said first pile to produce a carboxylate salt; and extracting at least a portion of the liquid in the first pile and passing said portion of liquid to a second pile comprising biomass, wherein said second pile is operating at a higher carboxylate salt concentration than said first pile. | 09-06-2012 |
20120252070 | BIOMASS SHOCK PRETREATMENT - Methods and apparatus for treating biomass that may include introducing a biomass to a chamber; exposing the biomass in the chamber to a shock event to produce a shocked biomass; and transferring the shocked biomass from the chamber. In some aspects, the method may include pretreating the biomass with a chemical before introducing the biomass to the chamber and/or after transferring shocked biomass from the chamber. | 10-04-2012 |
20120258508 | ALTERNATIVE PATHS TO ALCOHOLS AND HYDROCARBONS FROM BIOMASS - A method of producing hydrocarbons from biomass that includes converting at least a portion of the biomass into a first product having at least one of a carboxylic acid, a ketone, an ammonium carboxylate salt, and combinations thereof; converting at least a portion of the first product into an alcohol; reacting at least some of the alcohol in an oligomerization reactor as part of a process that produces an oligomerization product. | 10-11-2012 |
20120264184 | ALTERNATIVE PATHS TO ALCOHOLS AND HYDROCARBONS FROM BIOMASS - A method of producing alcohols, hydrocarbons, or both from biomass, the method including converting biomass into a carboxylic acid; reacting the carboxylic acid with an olefin to produce an ester; and hydrogenolyzing the ester to produce alcohol. The steps of reacting the carboxylic acid with an olefin to produce an ester, and hydrogenolyzing the ester to produce an alcohol, may both be carried out in the same reactor. | 10-18-2012 |
20130192192 | OPEN BRAYTON BOTTOMING CYCLE AND METHOD OF USING THE SAME - According to one embodiment, an open brayton bottoming cycle includes a heat exchanger configured between a compressor and an expander. The heat exchanger is configured to receive heat from a heat source and supply at least a portion of the exhaust heat to an expander using a fluid. The compressor configured to supply compressed fluid to the heat exchanger. The expander has a shaft connected to the compressor and configured to supply energy to the compressor. At least one of the compressor or the expander has an efficiency greater than 80 percent. | 08-01-2013 |
20130263861 | AIR-DELIVERY SYSTEM FOR BREATHING-ASSIST DEVICES - An embodiment of the disclosure provides a universal sealing apparatus for one or more cannulas. The apparatus includes a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion. The first and second portions are configured to removably adhere directly or indirectly to a nose. The third portion is coupled to the first and second portions. The third portion removably couples to one or more cannulas and places a force upon a base of flared portions of the one or more cannulas when the first and second portions are adhered to the nose. The force maintains a fluid seal of the one or more cannulas within one or more respective nostrils of the nose. | 10-10-2013 |
20140308147 | GEROTOR APPARATUS FOR A QUASI-ISOTHERMAL BRAYTON CYCLE ENGINE - According to one embodiment of the invention, a gerotor apparatus includes an outer gerotor having an outer gerotor chamber, an inner gerotor, at least a portion of which is disposed within the outer gerotor chamber, and a synchronizing apparatus operable to control the rotation of the inner gerotor relative to the outer gerotor. The inner gerotor includes one or more entrance passages operable to communicate a lubricant into the outer gerotor chamber. | 10-16-2014 |
20140348683 | SEALING SYSTEM FOR GEROTOR APPARATUS - According to one embodiment of the invention, a gerotor apparatus includes a first gerotor, a second gerotor, and a synchronizing system operable to synchronize a rotation of the first gerotor with a rotation of the second gerotor. The synchronizing system includes a cam plate coupled to the first gerotor, wherein the cam plate includes a plurality of cams, and an alignment plate coupled to the second gerotor. The alignment plate includes at least one alignment member, wherein the plurality of cams and the at least one alignment member interact to synchronize a rotation of the first gerotor with a rotation of the second gerotor. | 11-27-2014 |