Algas-Sdi International LLC

Union Oil Company of California

Michael J Kirby

George M Zimmer

Jeffrey R Ervin

Jeffery W Koepke

Brian J Kelly

Brent F Chaffee

A catalytic tank heater includes a removably attached catalytic heater cartridge having catalytic material. The heater is attached to an LPG tank to position the catalytic heater cartridge to face the tank. The catalytic heater cartridge covers a plenum chamber of the catalytic tank heater. A fuel distribution header and heating element are positioned within the plenum chamber and are controlled to initiate combustion of the catalytic material to heat the tank. Vapor from the tank is provided as fuel to the catalytic tank heater, and is regulated to increase heat output as tank pressure drops. The catalytic heater cartridge can be replaced with a new cartridge while at the location of the tank on a property.

Heater with replaceable cartridge

A catalytic tank heater includes a catalytic heating element supported on an LPG tank by a support structure that holds the element in a position facing the tank. Vapor from the tank is provided as fuel to the heating element, and is regulated to increase heat output as tank pressure drops. The heating element is internally separated into a pilot heater and a main heater, with respective separate fuel inlets. The pilot heater remains in continual operation, but the main heater is operated only while tank pressure is below a threshold. Operation of the pilot heater keeps a portion of the catalyst hot, so that, when tank pressure drops below the threshold, and fuel is supplied to the main heater, catalytic combustion quickly expands from the area surrounding the pilot heater to the remainder of the catalyst.

Heater for liquefied petroleum gas storage tank

A method for fracturing formations near a shallow horizontal well notches a wellbore at orientations such that later applied hydraulic pressure generates fractures only in preferred directions.

Growing community of inventors

Kent, WA, United States of America

Michael J Kirby