Kenneth J Kountz

6530240, Mar 11, 2003

Dec 10, 2001

10/013243

Kenneth J. Kountz - Palatine IL
Patrick M. Bishop - Chicago IL

Gas Technology Institute - Des Plaines IL

F25J 100

62611, 62149, 62174

In a natural gas liquefaction system having a refrigerant storage circuit, a refrigerant circulation circuit in fluid communication with the refrigerant storage circuit, and a natural gas liquefaction circuit in thermal communication with the refrigerant circulation circuit, a method for liquefaction of natural gas in which pressure in the refrigerant circulation circuit is adjusted to below about 175 psig by exchange of refrigerant with the refrigerant storage circuit. A variable speed motor is started whereby operation of a compressor is initiated. The compressor is operated at full discharge capacity. Operation of an expansion valve is initiated whereby suction pressure at the suction pressure port of the compressor is maintained below about 30 psig and discharge pressure at the discharge pressure port of the compressor is maintained below about 350 psig. Refrigerant vapor is introduced from the refrigerant holding tank into the refrigerant circulation circuit until the suction pressure is reduced to below about 15 psig, after which flow of the refrigerant vapor from the refrigerant holding tank is terminated. Natural gas is then introduced into a natural gas liquefier, resulting in liquefaction of the natural gas.

7059364, Jun 13, 2006

Aug 5, 2004

10/911938

Kenneth John Kountz - Palatine IL, US
Kenneth Robert Kriha - New Lenox IL, US
William E. Liss - Libertyville IL, US

Gas Technology Institute - Des Plaines IL

B65B 31/00

141 4, 141 82, 141 83, 141197

A method for quick filling a vehicle hydrogen storage vessel with hydrogen, the key component of which is an algorithm used to control the fill process, which interacts with the hydrogen dispensing apparatus to determine the vehicle hydrogen storage vessel capacity.

57719470, Jun 30, 1998

Jun 19, 1997

8/878871

Kenneth J. Kountz - Palatine IL
William E. Liss - Libertyville IL
Christopher F. Blazek - Palos Hills IL

Gas Research Institute - Chicago IL

B65B 130
B65B 326

141 83

A method and apparatus for dispensing natural gas into the natural gas vehicle cylinder of a motor vehicle is disclosed. The natural gas dispensing system includes a pressure transducer and a temperature transducer for measuring the pressure and temperature, respectively, of the supply gas as it is passed toward a dispenser, a second pressure transducer for measuring the pressure within the natural gas vehicle cylinder, an ambient air temperature transducer for measuring ambient air temperatures at the dispensing site, and a mass flow meter for measuring the gas mass injected into the vehicle cylinder. Each transducer and the mass flow meter emits a data signal to a control processor which automatically dispenses compressed gas to the vehicle cylinder, as well as maximizing the amount of gas mass injected into the cylinder. The control processor maximizes the mass of compressed gas injected into the vehicle cylinder by injecting a first mass of compressed gas into the cylinder and calculating a first volume estimate in response thereto, estimating a second mass of compressed gas required to fill the cylinder to a first predetermined fill state, and then estimating a third mass of compressed gas required to fill a reference gas cylinder to the first predetermined fill state in response thereto. Thereafter, the second mass of compressed gas is injected into the cylinder, the gas mass being injected into the cylinder from the initial state being measured, as well as the pressure of the compressed gas within the container resulting from the injection of the second gas mass being measured, whereupon the control processor estimates a second volume of the gas container in response thereto.

58817794, Mar 16, 1999

Oct 21, 1997

8/954798

Kenneth J. Kountz - Palatine IL
William E. Liss - Libertyville IL
Christopher F. Blazek - Palos Hills IL

Gas Research Institute - Chicago IL

B65B 130

141 83

A method and apparatus for dispensing compressed natural gas and for maximizing the mass of compressed gas dispensed into a gas storage cylinder is disclosed. Pressure and temperature transducers are provided as a part of the apparatus to emit data signals to a control processor of the pressure and temperature of a supply of compressed gas delivered to a gas dispenser, as well as the ambient temperature at the dispenser and the pressure of the compressed gas within the cylinder, respectively. A mass flow meter is also provided for emitting a data signal to the control processor of the mass of compressed gas injected into the storage cylinder. The control processor includes a dispenser control program which processes the emitted data signals to automatically maximize the mass of compressed gas injected into the cylinder by performing at least a two-stage fill process for computing at least two dynamic estimates of the storage cylinder volume during the gas dispensing process, and for determining the maximum mass of compressed gas that can be safely injected into the gas storage cylinder in response thereto. Additional fill stages may be performed in order to calculate additional estimates of the storage cylinder volume in the control processor, if so desired, for even more accurately determining the mass of compressed gas that may be injected into the cylinder for maximizing the gas injection into the gas storage cylinder.

42827191, Aug 11, 1981

Sep 12, 1979

6/075044

Kenneth J. Kountz - Hoffman Estates IL
Richard A. Erth - York PA
Dean K. Norbeck - York PA

Borg-Warner Corporation - Chicago IL

F25B 100

62115

The control system disclosed herein regulates a centrifugal compressor which has inlet guide vanes adjustable to vary the compressor capacity. A variable speed motor is connected to drive the compressor, and variation of this motor speed provides another input for regulating the compressor capacity. A control system achieves optimum energy efficiency, while avoiding surge, by the manner in which the motor speed and the inlet guide vane positions are regulated. To do this, a control signal must be derived to indicate the compressor head value. This signal is achieved by providing two signals, one related to the absolute condenser pressure, and the second related to the absolute evaporator pressure. The control system operates on these two signals to provide a third signal which is a function of a ratio, in which the numerator is the difference between the condenser and evaporator pressures, and the denominator is the evaporator pressure. Alternative measurement and processing techniques are described.

51860120, Feb 16, 1993

Sep 24, 1991

7/764788

Marek Czachorski - Darien IL
Kenneth J. Kountz - Palatine IL

Institute of Gas Technology - Chicago IL

F25B 4500

62114

A heat pump system using a non-azeotropic refrigerant mixture comprising a main refrigeration circuit, an engine coolant circuit, and a refrigerant rectifier circuit interfacing with main refrigeration circuit, and the engine coolant circuit. The refrigerant rectifier circuit comprises in order of decreasing relative elevation a condenser, a storage vessel in communication with a condenser, a rectifier in communication with a storage tank and a condenser, a receiver vessel in communication with a rectifier, and a boiler in communication with the rectifier and the receiver vessel. The refrigerant rectifier circuit is used to adjust the relative concentrations of lower boiling point refrigerant, and higher boiling point refrigerant in the non-azeotropic refrigerant mixture thereby changing the cooling or heating capacity of the heat pump system.

58100580, Sep 22, 1998

May 22, 1996

8/652730

Kenneth J. Kountz - Palatine IL
William E. Liss - Libertyville IL
Christopher F. Blazek - Palos Hills IL

Gas Research Institute - Chicago IL

B65B 130

141 83

A method and apparatus for dispensing compressed natural gas and for maximizing the mass of compressed gas dispensed into a gas storage cylinder is disclosed. Pressure and temperature transducers are provided as a part of the apparatus to emit data signals to a control processor of the pressure and temperature of a supply of compressed gas delivered to a gas dispenser, as well as the ambient temperature at the dispenser and the pressure of the compressed gas within the cylinder, respectively. A mass flow meter is also provided for emitting a data signal to the control processor of the mass of compressed gas injected into the storage cylinder. The control processor includes a dispenser control program which processes the emitted data signals to automatically maximize the mass of compressed gas injected into the cylinder by performing at least a two-stage fill process for computing at least two dynamic estimates of the storage cylinder volume during the gas dispensing process, and for determining the maximum mass of compressed gas that can be safely injected into the gas storage cylinder in response thereto. Additional fill stages may be performed in order to calculate additional estimates of the storage cylinder volume in the control processor, if so desired, for even more accurately determining the mass of compressed gas that may be injected into the cylinder for maximizing the gas injection into the gas storage cylinder.

42572380, Mar 24, 1981

Sep 28, 1979

6/080363

Kenneth J. Kountz - Hoffman Estates IL
Kenneth W. Cooper - York PA
Frederic H. Abendschein - Columbia PA
Lee E. Sumner - Dallastown PA

Borg-Warner Corporation - Chicago IL

F25D 1704
F25B 100

62176B

An apparatus and method for controlling continuously and discretely the speed of an indoor evaporator fan motor and the speed of the compressor as a function of the fan speed for regulating the dry bulb temperature and relative humidity of a conditioned space includes a programmed control device which produces a first signal for driving a fan inverter connected to the evaporator fan motor. A second signal, which is a function of the first signal, is also provided by the control device to drive a compressor inverter coupled to the compressor. A microprocessor having a program is operatively connected to the programmed control device for controlling its operation to effect the measured temperature of the conditioned space.