David W Warren

US Patent:

6423279, Jul 23, 2002

Filed:

Oct 16, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/687098

Inventors:

David W. Warren - Sun Valley CA

Assignee:

Harvest Energy Technology, Inc. - Sun Valley CA

International Classification:

B01J 804

US Classification:

422191, 422193, 422201, 422211, 422239

Abstract:

A compact endothermic catalytic reaction apparatus for converting hydrocarbon feedstock and methanol to useful gases, such as hydrogen and carbon monoxide, comprising a tubular endothermic catalytic reactor, a radiant combustion chamber and an annular convection section. Thus tubular endothermic catalytic reactor receives radiant energy from a metal fiber burner that is disposed within the radiant combustion chamber. Combustion products from the radiant chamber enter an annular convection section wherein heat is transferred by forced convection to the tubular endothermic catalytic reactor. The combination of radiant and convective heat transfer results in a compact design of high thermal efficiency.

US Patent:

6544406, Apr 8, 2003

Filed:

Dec 8, 1997

Appl. No.:

08/986449

Inventors:

David W. Warren - Sun Valley CA
Michael B. Donahue - Monrovia CA

Assignee:

Harvest Energy Technology Inc. - Sun Valley CA

International Classification:

C10G 916

US Classification:

208 48R, 208 48 AA, 585648

Abstract:

The formation of coke on metal surfaces exposed to hydrocarbons in a thermal cracking process is reduced by ion implantation of selected antifoulants into such metal surfaces; the antifoulants being chosen from a group of primary elements consisting of aluminum, silicon, and chromium, or combinations thereof, and a group of secondary elements consisting of calcium, lithium, potassium, magnesium, cesium, hafnium, yttrium and zirconium, or combinations thereof.

US Patent:

6585785, Jul 1, 2003

Filed:

Oct 27, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/696575

Inventors:

David W. Warren - Van Nuys CA
Michael B. Donahue - La Verne CA

Assignee:

Harvest Energy Technology, Inc. - Sun Valley CA

International Classification:

B01J 800

US Classification:

481279, 48119, 48123, 48113, 48102 A, 422107, 422110, 422111, 422204, 422211

Abstract:

A fuel processor apparatus comprising a catalytic tubular reactor is heated using an infrared radiant burner to provide the endothermic heat of reaction needed to reform a mixture of hydrocarbon and steam for the production of a hydrogen-rich gas stream. The hydrogen-rich gas stream is further purified using a sequence of catalytic steps that is fed to a fuel cell whereupon a portion of the hydrogen contained in the gas stream is consumed for the production of electricity by electrochemical reaction with oxygen. An unused portion of the purified hydrogen-rich gas stream exits the fuel cell stack and is combusted in the infrared radiant burner. A fuel cell control system rapidly responds to a variable fuel cell electric demand by adjusting the feed of hydrocarbon to the catalytic tubular reactor to maintain the surface temperature of the infrared radiant burner within defined limits.

US Patent:

6835360, Dec 28, 2004

Filed:

Oct 15, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/977732

Inventors:

David W. Warren - Sun Valley CA

Assignee:

Harvest Energy Technology, Inc. - Sun Valley CA

International Classification:

B01J 802

US Classification:

422190, 422211, 422198, 422204, 422206, 48 61, 48 62 R

Abstract:

A compact endothermic catalytic reaction apparatus for converting hydrocarbon feedstock and methanol to useful gases, such as hydrogen and carbon monoxide, comprising a tubular endothermic catalytic reactor, a radiant combustion chamber and an annular convection section. Thus tubular endothermic catalytic reactor receives radiant energy from a metal fiber burner that is disposed within the radiant combustion chamber. Combustion products from the radiant chamber enter an annular convection section wherein heat is transferred by forced convection to the tubular endothermic catalytic reactor. The combination of radiant and convective heat transfer results in a compact design of high thermal efficiency.

US Patent:

7074373, Jul 11, 2006

Filed:

Nov 13, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/709616

Inventors:

David W. Warren - Van Nuys CA, US
Michael B. Donahue - La Verne CA, US

Assignee:

Harvest Energy Technology, Inc. - Sun Valley CA

International Classification:

B01J 8/02
C01B 3/48

US Classification:

422198, 422211, 422220, 422200, 423655

Abstract:

A thermally-integrated lower temperature water-gas shift reactor apparatus for converting carbon monoxide in the presence steam comprises a catalyst bed that is disposed within an outer region surrounding a waste heat recovery steam generator operating at a selected pressure corresponding to the optimum temperature for conducting the catalytic water-gas shift reaction and a process for useful recovery of the exothermic heat of reaction to generate steam that is used in a process for the conversion of hydrocarbon feedstock into useful gases such as hydrogen.

US Patent:

7609381, Oct 27, 2009

Filed:

Mar 20, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/052705

Inventors:

David Wheeler Warren - Los Angeles CA, US

Assignee:

The Aerospace Corporation - El Segundo CA

International Classification:

G01J 3/28
G01J 3/18

US Classification:

356328

Abstract:

A spectrometer apparatus includes a refractor element, a slit, a detector, a diffraction grating, and a corrector lens. The refractor element includes a rear surface and a front surface. The slit provides an optical path to the rear surface of the refractor element, and is configured to transmit an image incident thereupon along the optical path. The detector is positioned facing the rear surface of the refractor element. The diffraction grating faces the front surface of the refractor element, and is configured to spectrally disperse and reimage the image of the slit toward the front surface of the refractor element. The corrector lens is positioned between the refractor element and the diffraction grating such that the image is provided to the detector corrected for a spherical aberration caused by a separation distance between the detector and the rear surface of the refractor element.

US Patent:

61497657, Nov 21, 2000

Filed:

Nov 12, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/747581

Inventors:

Momtaz Nosshi Mansour - Columbia MD
David Walter Warren - Sherman Oaks CA

Assignee:

Manufacturing & Technology Conversion International, Inc.

International Classification:

A62D 300

US Classification:

162 29

Abstract:

Resonant tubes of a pulse combustor are immersed in a bed of solid particles in a reaction zone to provide indirect heat from the pulsating combustion gases to the solid particles of the bed. The bed is maintained in an agitated state by a gas or vapor flowing through the bed. Reactant materials are introduced into the agitated bed and undergo reaction at enhanced rates resulting from heat transfer coefficients at least about twice as high as those of steady flow combustors and an intense acoustic pressure level propagated from the pulsating combustor into the reaction zone. The apparatus is useful, for example, to steam reform heavy hydrocarbons and to gasify carbonaceous material, including biomass and black liquor to produce combustible gas at relatively low temperatures, with steam being utilized as the bed fluidizing medium. Black liquor gasification, utilizing sodium carbonate as bed solids, results in liquor energy and chemical content recovery without smelt production.

US Patent:

51277280, Jul 7, 1992

Filed:

Jan 18, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/467063

Inventors:

David W. Warren - Los Angeles CA
John A. Hackwell - Rancho Palos Verdes CA

Assignee:

The Aerospace Corporation - El Segundo CA

International Classification:

G01J 312

US Classification:

356302

Abstract:

A device for the spectral dispersion of light suitable for use in a spectrographic mode with arrays of solid state photo-detectors. Light from an entrance aperture passes through a dispersing prism with two curved, refracting surfaces both operating near their aplanatic conjugates. After being reflected by a concave mirror located behind the prism, light returns through the prism in the opposite direction, the refractions at each face again being nearly aplanatic. Spectrally dispersed images of the entrance aperture are formed on a plane well separated from the entrance aperture and nearly normal to the incident light rays. Good image quality is maintained over a broad range of operating wavelengths simultaneously, allowing large spectral intervals to be surveyed without moving any of the elements of the system.