William K O'Connor

US Patent:

6898936, May 31, 2005

Filed:

Dec 4, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/309251

Inventors:

Thomas L. Ochs - Albany OR, US
William K. O'Connor - Lebanon OR, US

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy - Washington DC

International Classification:

F01K025/06

US Classification:

60649, 60646, 60657, 60671

Abstract:

A method of remediating and recovering energy from combustion products from a fossil fuel power plant having at least one fossil fuel combustion chamber, at least one compressor, at least one turbine, at least one heat exchanger and a source of oxygen. Combustion products including non-condensable gases such as oxygen and nitrogen and condensable vapors such as water vapor and acid gases such as SOand NOand COand pollutants are produced and energy is recovered during the remediation which recycles combustion products and adds oxygen to support combustion. The temperature and/or pressure of the combustion products are changed by cooling through heat exchange with thermodynamic working fluids in the power generation cycle and/or compressing and/or heating and/or expanding the combustion products to a temperature/pressure combination below the dew point of at least some of the condensable vapors to condense liquid having some acid gases dissolved and/or entrained and/or directly condense acid gas vapors from the combustion products and to entrain and/or dissolve some of the pollutants while recovering sensible and/or latent heat from the combustion products through heat exchange between the combustion products and thermodynamic working fluids and/or cooling fluids used in the power generating cycle. Then the CO, SO, and HO poor and oxygen enriched remediation stream is sent to an exhaust and/or an air separation unit and/or a turbine.

US Patent:

7007474, Mar 7, 2006

Filed:

Dec 4, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/309287

Inventors:

Thomas L. Ochs - Albany OR, US
William K. O'Connor - Lebanon OR, US

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy - Washington DC

International Classification:

F01K 7/34

US Classification:

60653, 60679

Abstract:

A method of recovering energy from a cool compressed gas, compressed liquid, vapor, or supercritical fluid is disclosed which includes incrementally expanding the compressed gas, compressed liquid, vapor, or supercritical fluid through a plurality of expansion engines and heating the gas, vapor, compressed liquid, or supercritical fluid entering at least one of the expansion engines with a low quality heat source. Expansion engines such as turbines and multiple expansions with heating are disclosed.

US Patent:

8033140, Oct 11, 2011

Filed:

May 21, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/124421

Inventors:

William K. O'Connor - Albany OR, US
Gilbert E. Rush - Scio OR, US
Glen F. Soltau - Lebanon OR, US

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy - Washington DC

International Classification:

C03B 37/01

US Classification:

65376, 501 36

Abstract:

Magnesium silicate mineral wools having a relatively high liquidus temperature of at least about 1400 C. and to methods for the production thereof are provided. The methods of the present invention comprise melting a magnesium silicate feedstock (e. g. , comprising a serpentine or olivine ore) having a liquidus temperature of at least about 1400 C. to form a molten magnesium silicate, and subsequently fiberizing the molten magnesium silicate to produce a magnesium silicate mineral wool. In one embodiment, the magnesium silicate feedstock contains iron oxide (e. g. , up to about 12% by weight). Preferably, the melting is performed in the presence of a reducing agent to produce an iron alloy, which can be separated from the molten ore. Useful magnesium silicate feedstocks include, without limitation, serpentine and olivine ores. Optionally, silicon dioxide can be added to the feedstock to lower the liquidus temperature thereof.

US Patent:

20060027796, Feb 9, 2006

Filed:

Aug 5, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/913260

Inventors:

William E. O'Connor - Stayton OR, US

International Classification:

E04H 17/00

US Classification:

256001000

Abstract:

An attachment for the top of a metal fence post that adds utility to the fence post has a device portion and a cylindrical attachment portion with an inner surface, an outer surface, a first end and an opposing second end. The second end is attached to the device portion. There is at least one pair of parallel insertion guides extending from the first end of the attachment portion to substantially the second end along the inner surface. The insertion guides are separated by an insertion slot created by an insertion slot base disposed between the insertion guides and adjacent to the inner surface. The insertion base has a first thickness at the first guide end and a second thickness greater than the first thickness at the second guide end. The attachment portion is slid over the metal fence post by inserting an outer post edge into the insertion slot until the distance between the insertion slot base and the opposing inner surface is less than the distance between the outer edges of the metal fence post, thereby wedging the metal fence post into the attachment portion.

US Patent:

56132441, Mar 18, 1997

Filed:

Sep 26, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/533978

Inventors:

Laurance L. Oden - Albany OR
Paul C. Turner - Albany OR
William K. O'Connor - Lebanon OR
Jeffrey S. Hansen - Corvallis OR

Assignee:

United States of America - Washington DC

International Classification:

G21F 900

US Classification:

588 20

Abstract:

A process for preparing radioactive and other hazardous liquid wastes for treatment by the method of vitrification or melting is provided for.