The Modular Block, invented by Greg Giese, was granted a Patent on December 12th, 2006.

Patent Number:  7,146,999 Modular Fluid Handling Device

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The Modular Block (click for website) was invented to use as a rapid prototyping tool for gas to liquid fuels.  The blocks can be screwed together to form complex gas and liquid systems.  Because the units are modular, any size can be assembled from a test unit, to full production process unit.  Reviewed by the National Scientific Foundation for some SBIR grants, the scientists gave termed the blocks, “Industrial Legos.”

When more development funds become available for Ocean Ethanol, the group intends to incorporate the gas-to-liquids (GTL) process along with a Capstone Microturbine.

The process, developed by Greg Giese, takes CO2 gas and makes a variety of fuels, including ethanol, methanol, gasoline and butanol.  With additional processing and the addition of vegetable oil, you can use the methanol in concert with the process to make biodiesel.

The role of the Capstone will be to provide electricity for the process, along with waste heat used for various process needs.  Alternative uses for the Capstone will be removing the alternator to be replaced with a shaft horsepower output pad to run a cavitation unit, for sonochemistry in the process of the gas to liquids as the catalyst mechanism.