Kenneth R Hall

US Patent:

6345536, Feb 12, 2002

Filed:

Sep 10, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/151253

Inventors:

Gerald L. Morrison - College Station TX
James C. Holste - Bryan TX
Kenneth R. Hall - College Station TX

Assignee:

The Texas AM University System - College Station TX

International Classification:

G01F 174

US Classification:

7386104

Abstract:

This invention is related to flow meter instrumentation. More particularly, the invention is related to obstruction flow meters which are used in series in a flow conduit to determine the volume flow rate of liquid and gas phases of fluid flowing within the conduit. Multiple flow meters including at least one obstruction type flow meter are positioned serially within a flow conduit such as a pipe. Mathematical equations are developed for each flow meter based upon measured quantities and phase flow rates within the liquid stream. These equations are then solved simultaneously to obtain the desired phase flow rates. Two flow meters are used to determine the gas and liquid flow rates. Alternately three flow meters are used to determine the flow rates of a gas and two liquid phases.

US Patent:

6422092, Jul 23, 2002

Filed:

Sep 10, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/393715

Inventors:

Gerald L. Morrison - College Station TX
James C. Holste - Bryan TX
Kenneth R. Hall - College Station TX

Assignee:

The Texas AM University System - College Station TX

International Classification:

G01F 1712

US Classification:

7386104

Abstract:

This invention is related to flow meter instrumentation. More particularly, the invention is related to obstruction flow meters which are used in series in a flow conduit to determine the volume flow rate of liquid and gas phases of fluid flowing within the conduit. Multiple flow meters including at least one obstruction type flow meter are positioned serially within a flow conduit such as a pipe. Mathematical equations are developed for each flow meter based upon measured quantities and phase flow rates within the liquid stream. These equations are then solved simultaneously to obtain the desired phase flow rates. Two flow meters are used to determine the gas and liquid flow rates. Alternately three flow meters are used to determine the flow rates of a gas and two liquid phases.

US Patent:

6602920, Aug 5, 2003

Filed:

Mar 9, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/803122

Inventors:

Kenneth R. Hall - College Station TX
Jerry A. Bullin - Bryan TX
Philip T. Eubank - Bryan TX
Aydin Akgerman - College Station TX
Rayford G. Anthony - College Station TX

Assignee:

The Texas AM University System - College Station TX

International Classification:

C07C 2700

US Classification:

518700, 518703, 585534, 585535, 585540, 585541, 585709

Abstract:

A process for converting natural gas to a liquid includes heating the gas to a selected range of temperature to convert a fraction of the gas stream to reactive hydrocarbons, primarily ethylene or acetylene, and reacting methane and the reactive hydrocarbons in the presence of an acidic catalyst to produce a liquid, predominantly naphtha or gasoline. A portion of the incoming natural gas may be used to heat the remainder of the natural gas to the selected range of temperature. Hydrogen resulting from the reactions may be used to make electricity in a fuel cell. Alternatively, hydrogen may be burned to heat the natural gas to the selected range of temperature.

US Patent:

6681189, Jan 20, 2004

Filed:

Aug 22, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/938025

Inventors:

Gerald L. Morrison - College Station TX
Kenneth R. Hall - College Station TX

Assignee:

The Texas AM University System - College System TX

International Classification:

G01F 100

US Classification:

702 45, 702100, 7386161, 7386163

Abstract:

According to one embodiment of the invention, a computerized method for determining a flow rate of a fluid flowing through a conduit having an obstruction flow meter includes receiving a ratio value indicative of a ratio of the obstruction flow meter, receiving a pressure differential value indicative of a pressure differential across the obstruction flow meter, receiving a density value indicative of a density of the fluid, receiving a discharge coefficient formula for the obstruction flow meter, the discharge coefficient formula being a function of the ratio of the obstruction flow meter and an Euler number for the fluid flowing through the conduit, and determining, by the computer, the flow rate based on the received ratio value, the received pressure differential value, the received density value, and the received discharge coefficient formula. The determined flow rate may either be the volumetric flow rate or the mass flow rate. Alternatively, the density of the fluid may be determined by providing the flow rate of the fluid, the ratio of the obstruction flow meter, the pressure differential value, and the discharge coefficient formula.

US Patent:

7119240, Oct 10, 2006

Filed:

Jul 1, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/611564

Inventors:

Kenneth R. Hall - College Station TX, US
Jerry A. Bullin - Bryan TX, US
Philip T. Eubank - Bryan TX, US
Aydin Akgerman - College Station TX, US
Rayford G. Anthony - College Station TX, US

Assignee:

The Texas A&M University System - College Station TX

International Classification:

C07C 11/00
C07C 27/00
C07C 2/00

US Classification:

585541, 518700, 518703, 518709, 585534, 585535, 585540

Abstract:

A process for converting natural gas to an olefin includes heating the gas to a selected range of temperature to convert a fraction of the gas stream to reactive hydrocarbons, primarily ethylene or acetylene, and reacting with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst to produce the olefin, usually ethylene. A portion of the incoming natural gas may be used to heat the remainder of the natural gas to the selected range of temperature. Hydrogen resulting from the reactions may be used to make electricity in a fuel cell. Alternatively, hydrogen may be burned to heat the natural gas to the selected range of temperature.

US Patent:

8153850, Apr 10, 2012

Filed:

Nov 10, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/267704

Inventors:

Kenneth R. Hall - College Station TX, US
Mark T. Holtzapple - College Station TX, US
Sergio C. Capareda - College Station TX, US

Assignee:

The Texas A&M University System - College Station TX

International Classification:

C12P 5/02

US Classification:

585240, 585241, 585242, 210301, 210603, 210605, 48197 A, 48197 FM, 435132, 435135, 435136, 435140, 435141, 435148

Abstract:

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.

US Patent:

20070253112, Nov 1, 2007

Filed:

Apr 27, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/412199

Inventors:

Kenneth Hall - Sterling VA, US

International Classification:

G11B 5/55

US Classification:

360244000

Abstract:

A read head unit and a write head unit are fixed in place with respect to a rotating disc which rotates beneath the fixed head units. Each head unit includes a plurality of elements to read data from, or write data onto, the disc as appropriate.

US Patent:

20080280338, Nov 13, 2008

Filed:

May 9, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/118484

Inventors:

Kenneth R. Hall - College Station TX, US
Mark T. Holtzapple - College Station TX, US
Sergio C. Capareda - College Station TX, US

International Classification:

C12P 7/06
C12M 1/00

US Classification:

435161, 4352891

Abstract:

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.