West Virginia University

Regi U.s., Inc.

Sky Technologies LLC

James E. Smith

Nigel N. Clark

Patrick Ryan Badgley

Victor H. Mucino

Gregory Thompson

Brian W. Cherry

Nigel N Clark

James Earl Smith

Patrick R Badgley

Brian W Cherry

Victor E Mucino

Terence Musho

Daniel Hand

Leland Mink

Derek Johnson

Amber Barr

Brian Cappellini

Christopher M Atkinson

Victor H Mucino

James E Smith

Various examples are provided related to airlift pumping of downhole geothermal fluids. In one example, an airlift system includes a compressor; a gas sparger head in a wellbore of a geothermal well, and a pressure head recycle assembly. The sparger head produces artificial lift of the geothermal fluids by injecting a gas resulting in a difference in density downhole. The entrained gas can be extracted by the pressure head recycle assembly, compressed, and reinjected downhole. The geothermal fluid at the well head can be used in direct use applications or in a thermodynamic cycle to make shaft power. The gas sparger head can include a venturi shaped passage extending through the gas sparger head and a bubble orifice including gas orifices radially spaced about a narrow portion of the venturi shaped passage. The gas orifices can have a corresponding resonant chamber through which the gas (e.g., air) is provided.

Gas sparger head for airlift geothermal systems

Various examples are provided related to methane detection in harsh environments. In one example, a method includes drawing a sample of air from at least one first location; delivering the sample to a volume within a sensor block at a second location, where the sensor block includes a gas concentration sensor in communication with the volume; and where a vacuum is applied to the volume within the sensor block to facilitate delivery of the sample to the second location. In another example, a system includes a sampling unit that houses a sensor block, where a sample tube is coupled to an inlet of the sensor block, which includes a gas concentration sensor; an ejector that facilitates delivery of a sample of air from the first location via the sample tube; and a control unit that can receive a gas concentration sensor output from the sampling unit for processing.

Methane watchdog system, a cost effective approach to longwall methane monitoring and control

A transmural catalysis device allows for conversion of NOx into Nin internal combustion engine exhaust. A reducing gas is delivered into exhaust tubes through a plurality of pores or channels in the walls of the exhaust tubes either continuously or periodically. Also disclosed are methods using the device for reduction of NOx and automotive vehicles comprising the device.

Method and apparatus for reducing pollutants in engine exhaust

An axial vane rotary device (14) includes a stator (16) with a cylindrical internal chamber (34) defined an annular outer wall (40) and two side walls (36, 38) of the stator. Each side wall has an annular cam surface (42, 44). A rotor (54) is rotatably mounted within the chamber. The rotor has an annular outer wall (66) and a plurality of angularly spaced-apart, axially extending slots (64) extending therethrough. A vane (68) is slidably received in each slot. The vanes reciprocate axially and alternatively expand and compress spaces between adjacent vanes and the cam surfaces as the rotor rotates. The cam surfaces have alternating first portions (92) and second portions (90). The second portions are further from the rotor than the second portions. The first portions of one said cam surface are aligned with second portions of another said cam surface. The slots extend radially outwards on the rotor to the annular outer wall thereof. The outer edge of each vane slidably engages the annular outer wall of the stator. The outer wall of the stator may have a guide cam (96) and the vanes may each have a follower (98) received by the guide cam. The guide cam is shaped to came the vanes to reciprocate axially with respect to the rotor as the rotor rotates. Each of the vanes may have resiliently biased first seals (110, 112) extending along the inner edge (106) and second seals (134) along side edges (70, 72) thereof.

Axial vane rotary device and sealing system therefor

An axial vane rotary device (14) includes a stator (16) with a cylindrical internal chamber (34) defined an annular outer wall (40) and two side walls (36, 38) of the stator. Each side wall has an annular cam surface (42, 44). A rotor (54) is rotatably mounted within the chamber. The rotor has an annular outer wall (66) and a plurality of angularly spaced-apart, axially extending slots (64) extending therethrough. A vane (68) is slidably received in each slot. The vanes reciprocate axially and alternatively expand and compress spaces between adjacent vanes and the cam sur-faces as the rotor rotates. The cam surfaces have alternating first portions (92) and second portions (90). The second portions are further from the rotor than the second portions. The first portions of one said cam surface are aligned with second portions of another said cam surface. The slots extend radially outwards on the rotor to the annular outer wall thereof. The outer edge of each vane slidably engages the annular outer wall of the stator. Each vane has an enlarged outer portion (75) slidably received in an enlarged outer portion (65) of one said slot (64).

Rotary device with slidable vane supports

An axial vane rotary device (14) includes a stator (16)with a cylindrical internal chamber (34) defined an annular outer wall (40) and two side walls (36, 38) of the stator. Each side wall has an annular cam surface (42, 44). A rotor (54) is rotatably mounted within the chamber. The rotor has an annular outer wall (66) and a plurality of angularly spaced-apart, axially extending slots (64) extending therethrough. A vane (68) is slidably received in each slot. The vanes reciprocate axially and alternatively expand and compress spaces between adjacent vanes and the cam surfaces as the rotor rotates. The cam surfaces have alternating first portions (92) and second portions (90). The second portions are further from the rotor than the second portions. The first portions of one said cam surface are aligned with second portions of another said cam surface. The slots extend radially outwards on the rotor to the annular outer wall thereof. The outer edge of each vane slidably engages the annular outer wall of the stator. The outer wall of the stator may have a guide cam (96) and the vanes may each have a follower (98) received by the guide cam. The guide cam is shaped to cause the vanes to reciprocate axially with respect to the rotor as the rotor rotates. Each of the vanes may have resiliently biased first seals (110, 112) extending along the inner edge (106) and second seals (134) along side edges (70, 72) thereof.

Growing community of inventors

Morgantown, WV, United States of America

Nigel N Clark