Rhonda R Willigan

US Patent:

7612011, Nov 3, 2009

Filed:

Nov 28, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/605515

Inventors:

Thomas Henry Vanderspurt - Glastonbury CT, US
Fabienne Wijzen - Beaufays, BE
Xia Tang - West Hartford CT, US
Miriam P. Leffler - Manchester CT, US
Rhonda R. Willigan - Manchester CT, US
Caroline A. Newman - Cromwell CT, US
Rakesh Radhakrishnan - Vernon CT, US
Fangxia Feng - Richardson TX, US
Bruce Leon Laube - South Windsor CT, US
Zissis Dardas - Worcester MA, US
Susanne M. Opalka - Glastonbury CT, US
Ying She - Worcester MA, US

Assignee:

UTC Power Corporation - South Windsor CT

International Classification:

C01F 17/00

US Classification:

502302, 502303, 502304

Abstract:

A homogeneous ceria-based mixed-metal oxide, useful as a catalyst support, a co-catalyst and/or a getter has a relatively large surface area per weight, typically exceeding 150 m/g, a structure of nanocrystallites having diameters of less than 4 nm, and including pores larger than the nanocrystallites and having diameters in the range of 4 to about 9 nm. The ratio of pore volumes, V, to skeletal structure volumes, V, is typically less than about 2. 5, and the surface area per unit volume of the oxide material is greater than 320 m/cm, for low internal mass transfer resistance and large effective surface area for reaction activity. The mixed metal oxide is ceria-based, includes Zr and or Hf, and is made by a novel co-precipitation process. A highly dispersed catalyst metal, typically a noble metal such as Pt, may be loaded on to the mixed metal oxide support from a catalyst metal-containing solution following a selected acid surface treatment of the oxide support. Appropriate ratioing of the Ce and other metal constituents of the oxide support contribute to it retaining in a cubic phase and enhancing catalytic performance.

US Patent:

7871957, Jan 18, 2011

Filed:

May 15, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/803481

Inventors:

Rhonda R. Willigan - Manchester CT, US
Thomas Henry Vanderspurt - Glastonbury CT, US
Sonia Tulyani - Manchester CT, US
Rakesh Radhakrishnan - Vernon CT, US
Susanne Marie Opalka - Glastonbury CT, US
Sean C. Emerson - Broad Brook CT, US

Assignee:

UTC Power Corporation - South Windsor CT

International Classification:

C01B 3/00

US Classification:

502304, 423247, 4234372, 423656, 429412, 429420, 429524, 429525, 429526, 429528

Abstract:

A durable catalyst support/catalyst is capable of extended water gas shift operation under conditions of high temperature, pressure, and sulfur levels. The support is a homogeneous, nanocrystalline, mixed metal oxide of at least three metals, the first being cerium, the second being Zr, and/or Hf, and the third importantly being Ti, the three metals comprising at least 80% of the metal constituents of the mixed metal oxide and the Ti being present in a range of 5% to 45% by metals-only atomic percent of the mixed metal oxide. The mixed metal oxide has an average crystallite size less than 6 nm and forms a skeletal structure with pores whose diameters are in the range of 4-9 nm and normally greater than the average crystallite size. The surface area of the skeletal structure per volume of the material of the structure is greater than about 240 m/cm. The method of making and use are also described.

US Patent:

8313056, Nov 20, 2012

Filed:

Jul 19, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/185638

Inventors:

David C. Jarmon - Kensington CT, US
Rhonda R. Willigan - Manchester CT, US
Roy N. Guile - Wethersfield CT, US

Assignee:

United Technologies Corporation - Hartford CT

International Classification:

B64D 41/00

US Classification:

244 58, 60266, 60267, 60768

Abstract:

A vehicle has a body and a source of a propellant. An engine is carried by the body. The engine reacts the propellant to produce thrust. The engine has a heat exchanger transferring heat from the reaction to at least a component of the propellant and generating electricity thermoelectrically.

US Patent:

20030235526, Dec 25, 2003

Filed:

Mar 28, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/402808

Inventors:

Thomas Vanderspurt - Glastonbury CT, US
Fabienne Wijzen - Beaufays, BE
Xia Tang - West Hartford CT, US
Miriam Leffler - Manchester CT, US
Rhonda Willigan - Manchester CT, US
Caroline Newman - Cromwell CT, US
Rakesh Radhakrishnan - Vernon CT, US
Fangxia Feng - Richardson TX, US
Bruce Laube - South Windsor CT, US
Zissis Dardas - Worcester MA, US
Susanne Opalka - Glastonbury CT, US
Ying She - Worcester MA, US

International Classification:

C01B003/26

US Classification:

423/263000, 502/304000, 423/652000

Abstract:

A homogeneous ceria-based mixed-metal oxide, useful as a catalyst support, a co-catalyst and/or a getter has a relatively large surface area per weight, typically exceeding 150 m/g, a structure of nanocrystallites having diameters of less than 4 nm, and including pores larger than the nanocrystallites and having diameters in the range of 4 to about 9 nm. The ratio of pore volumes, V, to skeletal structure volumes, V, is typically less than about 2.5, and the surface area per unit volume of the oxide material is greater than 320 m/cm, for low internal mass transfer resistance and large effective surface area for reaction activity. The mixed metal oxide is ceria-based, includes Zr and or Hf, and is made by a novel co-precipitation process. A highly dispersed catalyst metal, typically a noble metal such as Pt, may be loaded on to the mixed metal oxide support from a catalyst metal-containing solution following a selected acid surface treatment of the oxide support. Appropriate ratioing of the Ce and other metal constituents of the oxide support contribute to it retaining in a cubic phase and enhancing catalytic performance. Rhenium is preferably further loaded on to the mixed-metal oxide support and passivated, to increase the activity of the catalyst. The metal-loaded mixed-metal oxide catalyst is applied particularly in water gas shift reactions as associated with fuel processing systems, as for fuel cells.

US Patent:

20060233691, Oct 19, 2006

Filed:

Mar 28, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/091241

Inventors:

Thomas Vanderspurt - Glastonbury CT, US
Rhonda Willigan - Manchester CT, US

International Classification:

C01F 17/00

US Classification:

423263000, 048128000

Abstract:

A doped, nanocrystalline, ceria-containing, mixed metal oxide supports a noble metal to provide a thermally-durable catalyst for processing carbonaceous fuels, particularly for the water gas shift reactions. The mixed metal oxide includes Zr and/or Hf and is normally susceptible to oxide ion vacancy ordering at elevated temperature reducing conditions. A dopant is selected to inhibit such oxide ion vacancy ordering. The dopant is preferably selected from the group consisting of W, Mo, Ta, and Nb, most preferably W, for providing a thermally-durable catalyst at operating temperatures exceeding 400 C. The noble metal is preferably Pt and/or Re. The doped ceria-containing mixed metal oxide is prepared from 2 or 3 aqueous solutions variously containing ceria, Zr and/or Hf, the dopant, and urea. The solutions are heated to below boiling, combined in a particular sequence and manner, and brought to boiling to crystallize and precipitate the doped ceria-containing mixed metal oxide.

US Patent:

20070105228, May 10, 2007

Filed:

Nov 28, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/605610

Inventors:

Thomas Vanderspurt - Glastonbury CT, US
Rhonda Willigan - Manchester CT, US
Caroline Newman - Cromwell CT, US
Rakesh Radhakrishnan - Vernon CT, US
Fangxia Feng - Richardson TX, US
Zissis Dardas - Worcester MA, US
Susanne Opalka - Glastonbury CT, US
Ying She - Worcester MA, US

International Classification:

G01N 35/08

US Classification:

436055000

Abstract:

A homogeneous ceria-based mixed-metal oxide, useful as a catalyst support, a co-catalyst and/or a getter has a relatively large surface area per weight, typically exceeding 150 m/g, a structure of nanocrystallites having diameters of less than 4 nm, and including pores larger than the nanocrystallites and having diameters in the range of 4 to about 9 nm. The ratio of pore volumes, V, to skeletal structure volumes, V, is typically less than about 2.5, and the surface area per unit volume of the oxide material is greater than 320 m/cm, for low internal mass transfer resistance and large effective surface area for reaction activity. The mixed metal oxide is ceria-based, includes Zr and or Hf, and is made by a novel co-precipitation process. A highly dispersed catalyst metal, typically a noble metal such as Pt, may be loaded on to the mixed metal oxide support from a catalyst metal-containing solution following a selected acid surface treatment of the oxide support. Appropriate ratioing of the Ce and other metal constituents of the oxide support contribute to it retaining in a cubic phase and enhancing catalytic performance. Rhenium is preferably further loaded on to the mixed-metal oxide support and passivated, to increase the activity of the catalyst. The metal-loaded mixed-metal oxide catalyst is applied particularly in water gas shift reactions as associated with fuel processing systems, as for fuel cells.

US Patent:

20090079078, Mar 26, 2009

Filed:

Sep 19, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/992179

Inventors:

Rhonda R. Willigan - Manchester CT, US
Mark Jaworowski - Glastonbury CT, US

International Classification:

H01L 23/52
H01L 21/4763

US Classification:

257751, 438627, 257E23141

Abstract:

A coating architecture () minimizing interfacial resistance across an interface () of a metal () and a semiconductor including at least two layers () intermediate the metal () and the semiconductor.

US Patent:

20100095997, Apr 22, 2010

Filed:

Oct 21, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/288560

Inventors:

Dirk N. Weiss - Kenmore WA, US
Thomas D. Radcliff - Vernon CT, US
Rhonda R. Willigan - Manchester CT, US

International Classification:

H01L 35/16

US Classification:

136238

Abstract:

A thermoelectric device () includes a plurality of alternating p-type and n-type semiconductor thermoelectric elements () the elements (-) being separated by electrically and thermally conductive interconnects (-), alternating interconnects (-) extending in an opposite direction from interconnects (-) interspersed therewith. Each thin-film element comprises several hundred thermoelectric alloy A superlattice thin-films interspersed with several hundred thermoelectric alloy B superlattice thin-films, the thin-film elements being between 5 and 25 microns thick and preferably over 10 microns thick. The thin-film elements may be interspersed with opposite type thin-film elements or with opposite type bulk elements (). The interconnects are preferably joined to the elements by diffusion bonding.