Kurt N Johnson

US Patent:

6594553, Jul 15, 2003

Filed:

Apr 18, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/552183

Inventors:

Kurt W. Johnson - Stafford Springs CT
Ferdinand A. Ruszala - Colchester CT
Peter T. Stromberg - Simsbury CT
James F. Durant - Bloomfield CT

Assignee:

Alstom (Switzerland) Ltd - Baden

International Classification:

G05B 2100

US Classification:

700273, 700266, 423539

Abstract:

The present invention provides, according to one aspect thereof, a computer controlled process for reducing SO from a flue gas. The process includes the basic steps of providing an aqueous treatment solution containing an inorganic salt and a control unit for controlling the introduction of the aqueous treatment solution containing an inorganic salt and controlling the control unit in response to a computer program to effect introduction of the aqueous treatment solution into contact with alkaline earth material. Thereafter, the process includes heating the alkaline earth material in the presence of the flue gas containing SO to remove the SO. The alkaline earth material may be limestone or dolomite. The inorganic salt is selected from the group consisting of thermally decomposable sodium compounds including sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium hydroxide, sodium nitrate, and sodium acetate. In selected applications of the process of the present invention, the inorganic sodium compound has a concentration of between 0.

US Patent:

8148284, Apr 3, 2012

Filed:

Feb 11, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/028991

Inventors:

James F. Durant - Windsor CT, US
David J. Matteson - Avon CT, US
Kurt W. Johnson - Canton CT, US

Assignee:

ALSTOM Technology Ltd - Baden

International Classification:

B01D 15/00

US Classification:

502 22, 502 25, 502 29, 502 30, 502 31

Abstract:

A system for effecting the pretreatment therewith of a sorbent comprising a conveying line (), such as a pipe, and a plurality of solution nozzles operative for purposes of introducing a solution to treat the sorbent. More particularly, the conveying line () includes an inlet (), an outlet (), and an inner surface () that is operative to define a passageway () through which sorbent particles are capable of being transported between the inlet () of the conveying line () and the outlet () of the conveying line (). Each of the plurality of solution nozzles includes a respective one of a plurality of orifices () that are designed to be disposed circumferentially about the inner surface () of the conveying line () and that are designed to be operative to effect therewith the injection of an aqueous solution of a liquid sorbent conditioner into the passageway () in order to thereby effect therewith the pretreatment of sorbent particles that are being transported through the passageway () in the conveying line ().

US Patent:

8525519, Sep 3, 2013

Filed:

Feb 16, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/028956

Inventors:

Kurt M. Johnson - Brighton MI, US
Gregory E. Smith - Toledo OH, US
Damon R. Frisch - Troy MI, US
Brian J. Koch - Berkley MI, US

Assignee:

GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Detroit MI

International Classification:

H01M 10/44
H01M 10/46

US Classification:

324427

Abstract:

A method for estimating the capacity of a vehicle battery while in service. The method includes providing a previous battery state-of-charge, battery temperature and integrated battery current amp-hours, and determining that battery contactors have been closed after they have been opened and disconnected from a load. The method determines if the battery has been at rest for a long enough period of time while the contactors were open, where the battery rest time is based on battery temperature, and determines an initial battery voltage from a last time step when the battery contactors were closed prior to the contactors being open during the battery rest time. The method determines a present battery state-of-charge from the initial battery voltage and the battery temperature and calculates the battery capacity based on the battery integrated current amp-hours divided by the difference between the present battery state-of-charge and the previous battery state-of-charge.

US Patent:

20120136595, May 31, 2012

Filed:

Sep 12, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/229931

Inventors:

Xidong Tang - Royal Oak MI, US
Jian Lin - Beverly Hills MI, US
Benjamin Thorsen - Novi MI, US
Brian J. Koch - Berkley MI, US
Kurt M. Johnson - Brighton MI, US

Assignee:

GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC - Detroit MI

International Classification:

G06F 19/00

US Classification:

702 63

Abstract:

A method includes estimating a first diffusion voltage value of a battery by selecting the first diffusion voltage value from a look-up table, estimating a second diffusion voltage value of the battery using an estimation procedure, selecting at least one of the estimated first and second diffusion voltage values, and determining an open circuit voltage of the battery based at least in part on the selected diffusion voltage value. The method may be implemented by a computing device in a vehicle.

US Patent:

20130026989, Jan 31, 2013

Filed:

Jul 26, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/190741

Inventors:

James C. Gibbs - Brighton MI, US
Kurt M. Johnson - Brighton MI, US

Assignee:

GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC - Detroit MI

International Classification:

H02J 7/00

US Classification:

320116

Abstract:

A vehicle battery and charging method that may be used to balance cell voltages during a battery charging operation, and may do so in a way that protects the individual cells from over-charging and improves the overall efficiency of the operation. According to one example, the vehicle battery includes a number of cell-balancing current paths, each of which is connected in parallel to an individual battery cell and can shunt or bypass the corresponding cell when its voltage exceeds some maximum amount. This may enable under-charged battery cells to be charged at the same time that over-charged battery cells are bypassed. Each of the cell-balancing current paths may include a series-connected electronic switch and zener diode combination, where the electronic switch is controlled by a battery control module so that cell-balancing can be enabled during a battery charging operation and disabled at other times.

US Patent:

20130063094, Mar 14, 2013

Filed:

Sep 9, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/228608

Inventors:

James C. Gibbs - Brighton MI, US
Joseph Bisbing - White Lake MI, US
Kurt M. Johnson - Brighton MI, US
Damon R. Frisch - Troy MI, US
Brian J. Koch - Berkley MI, US

Assignee:

GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC - Detroit MI

International Classification:

H02J 7/00
G01N 27/416

US Classification:

320134, 324430

Abstract:

A method and system for use with a vehicle battery pack having a number of individual battery cells, where the method estimates, extrapolates or otherwise determines individual cell resistances. According to an exemplary embodiment, the method and system use a voltage and temperature reading for each of the individual battery cells, as well as a voltage and current reading for the overall battery pack to determine one or more cell resistance values, such as a minimum and maximum cell resistance for the battery pack. This approach relies upon temperature deviations in the battery pack to make assumptions or estimates regarding individual battery cell resistances. By having individual cell resistance values—instead of using an overall pack resistance value and building in a buffer to account for cell variations—better and more accurate cell-level data can be obtained that, in turn, can improve charging, discharging, cell balancing and/or other battery-related processes.

US Patent:

20130317771, Nov 28, 2013

Filed:

May 25, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/481290

Inventors:

Patricia M. Laskowsky - Ann Arbor MI, US
Brian J. Koch - Berkley MI, US
Damon R. Frisch - Troy MI, US
Ramesh Rebba - Rochester Hills MI, US
Kurt M. Johnson - Brighton MI, US

Assignee:

GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC - DETROIT MI

International Classification:

G01R 31/36
G06F 19/00

US Classification:

702 63

Abstract:

A method for modeling changes in the state of charge vs. open circuit voltage (SOC-OCV) curve for a lithium-ion battery cell as it ages. During battery pack charging, voltage and current data are gathered for a battery cell. A set of state equations are used to determine the stoichiometry and state of charge of the cathode half-cell based on the charging current profile over time. The voltage and current data, along with the stoichiometry and state of charge of the cathode half-cell, are then used to estimate maximum and minimum solid concentration values at the anode, using an error function parameter regression/optimization. With stoichiometric conditions at both the cathode and anode calculated, the cell's capacity and a new SOC-OCV curve can be determined.

US Patent:

20150285866, Oct 8, 2015

Filed:

Apr 4, 2014

Appl. No.:

14/245685

Inventors:

- Detroit MI, US
PATRICIA M. LASKOWSKY - ANN ARBOR MI, US
KURT M. JOHNSON - BRIGHTON MI, US

Assignee:

GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC - Detroit MI

International Classification:

G01R 31/36

Abstract:

System and methods for estimating a capacity of a battery are presented. A measure of data skewness may be calculated from a battery system terminal voltage measurement. Inflection points in the data skewness of the terminal voltage measurement may align with transition points associated with a battery system. These transitions points may be associated with known SOCs determined from testing and/or characterization of the battery system. Using the detected transitions and associated SOCs and an indication of an accumulated charge provided to/from the battery between the transitions, an estimated capacity of the battery system may be determined.