Patents Examined by Mark Laurenzi
  • Patent number: 11371442
    Abstract: Systems and methods for variable pressure inventory control of a closed thermodynamic cycle power generation system or energy storage system, such as a reversible Brayton cycle system, with at least a high pressure tank and an intermediate pressure tank are disclosed. Operational parameters of the system such as working fluid pressure, turbine torque, turbine RPM, generator torque, generator RPM, and current, voltage, phase, frequency, and/or quantity of electrical power generated and/or distributed by the generator may be the basis for controlling a quantity of working fluid that circulates through a closed cycle fluid path of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: MALTA INC.
    Inventors: Raj Apte, Philippe Larochelle
  • Patent number: 11359811
    Abstract: A combustion system with surface-less heat energy exchange for efficient heat energy capture and lower pollutant emission, comprising: a first line feeding an oxygen-rich reactive; a second line feeding a hydrogen fuel; a vessel containing feed-water, a combustion enclosure without a bottom wall submersed into the feed water contained in a vessel, the combustion enclosure configured to receive the feed from each of the first and second line and combust a mixture of the two feeds in a pocket formed between an inner top and side walls of the combustion enclosure and a top surface of the feed-water contained in the vessel; and the combustion within the pocket yielding a high temperature and pressure combustion product and by-product directly into the feed-water of the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Inventor: Paul Batushansky
  • Patent number: 11353022
    Abstract: A compressor may include a shell assembly, orbiting and non-orbiting scrolls, a bearing housing, a bushing, a damper, and a fastener. The bearing housing includes a first aperture. The bushing may include an axial end abutting the bearing housing. The bushing may extend through a second aperture of the non-orbiting scroll. The bushing may include a third aperture. The damper may be received in a pocket that may be defined by and disposed radially between an outer diametrical surface of the bushing and an inner diametrical surface of the non-orbiting scroll. The damper may be at least partially disposed within the second aperture and may encircle the second portion of the bushing. The fastener may include a shaft portion and a flange portion. The shaft portion may extend through the third aperture and into the first aperture. The flange portion may contact a first axial end of the damper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: JonYeon Oh, Joseph M. Shepherd, Brian J. Knapke, Srinivasan Ramalingam, Gui Lin, Steven J. Baker, Miles E. Strand
  • Patent number: 11352950
    Abstract: An energy storage-combined cooling, heating and power (S-CCHP) system for a building receives energy from a source, for example an intermittent source, and stores the energy in first and second high temperature energy storage (HTES) units. A Brayton cycle using the first HTES unit produces hot and pressurized air that is further heated in the second HTES unit. The heated air drives a turbine to generate electricity for the building. A portion of the compressed air from the Brayton cycle is diverted to a hot water heat exchanger, then to another turbine to produce electricity to the building. The hot water heat exchanger heats water for the building and the other turbine exhaust cools water for building cooling. Heat exchangers are strategically placed to optimize the thermal efficiency of the cycle. In some embodiments the heat transfer fluid is humidified to improve thermal energy transfer properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Sammy Houssainy, Mohammad Janbozorgi, Walid Ismail, Hossein Pirouz Kavehpour
  • Patent number: 11346302
    Abstract: A monolithic heat exchanger body for inputting heat to a closed-cycle engine may include a plurality of heating walls and heat sink, such as a plurality of heat transfer regions. The plurality of heating walls may be configured and arranged in an array of spirals or spiral arcs relative to a longitudinal axis of an inlet plenum. Adjacent portions of the plurality of heating walls may respectively define a corresponding plurality of heating fluid pathways therebetween, for example, fluidly communicating with the inlet plenum. At least a portion of the heat sink may be disposed about at least a portion of the monolithic heat exchanger body. The heat sink may include a plurality of working-fluid bodies, for example, including a plurality of working-fluid pathways that have a heat transfer relationship with the plurality of heating fluid pathways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joshua Tyler Mook, Kevin Michael VandeVoorde, Aigbedion Akwara, Michael Robert Notarnicola, Jason Joseph Bellardi, Mohammed El Hacin Sennoun, Mohamed Osama, Zachary William Nagel, Victor Luis Marrero Ortiz
  • Patent number: 11333124
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a wave power device for extracting energy from water waves. The waver power device comprise a reference structure and effectors moving relative to the reference structure. The effectors are connected to two hydraulic rams, symmetrically positioned around each effector. The hydraulic rams have an effective hydraulic area which is stepwise increased as the length of the hydraulic rams are compressed and stepwise increased as the length of the hydraulic rams are increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Wavepiston A/S
    Inventors: Martin von Bülow, Kristian Glejbøl, Claus Schmidt Møller
  • Patent number: 11333150
    Abstract: A compressor may include a casing having a refrigerant inlet space therein that communicates with a suction pipe through which a refrigerant is suctioned into the casing; a high/low pressure separation plate that crosses an upper portion of a compression unit to partition the refrigerant inlet space positioned at a lower portion of the high/low pressure separation plate and a refrigerant discharge space positioned at an upper portion thereof; and a discharge guide. The discharge guide may be provided in the refrigerant discharge space and may be coupled with an upper surface of the high/low pressure separation plate to cover a communication hole of the high/low pressure separation plate that provides communication between the refrigerant inlet space and the refrigerant discharge space and at least a portion thereof may extend to a discharge pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Gyeongjoong Ryu, Joo Youngse, Dong Gyu Hong
  • Patent number: 11326479
    Abstract: A stand-alone long-distance closed-loop heat energy capture, conveyance, and delivery system, comprises three closed-loop modules in serial communication. The first module is in communication with a first closed-loop piping infrastructure interconnected with a source of heat energy, and has a LBP liquid circulating therein whereby the LBP liquid is converted into its gas phase when flowing through the source of heat energy thereby capturing a portion of heat energy therefrom, and is converted into its liquid phase when flowing through a first heat exchanger that transfers the captured-heat energy to a second closed-loop piping infrastructure wherein also is circulating a LBP liquid. The second closed-loop module may extend for long distances. The captured-heat energy in the second module is transferred to a third closed-loop piping infrastructure wherein is also circulating a LBP liquid. The captured-heat energy is transferred from the third module to a delivery site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: LOCHTERRA, INC.
    Inventor: Gerald Alvin Radke
  • Patent number: 11326498
    Abstract: An exhaust gas heat recovery system for an internal combustion engine has a pump for conveying an operating fluid, an evaporator for converting the operating fluid from the liquid state to the gaseous state, and a condenser for liquefaction of the operating fluid, and having an expansion engine through which the gaseous operating fluid can flow. A sensor is arranged on the expansion engine with which a function of the expansion engine can be monitored. An exhaust system may have such an exhaust gas heat recovery system, and a method for the diagnosis of such an exhaust heat recovery system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: André Horn, Asmus Carstensen, Artur Semke, Thomas Maischik, Thomas Schulenburg
  • Patent number: 11306622
    Abstract: A coal-fired power generation system and a supercritical CO2 cycle system thereof are provided. The supercritical CO2 cycle system includes a compressor unit and a turbine unit. The turbine unit includes a preceding stage heater, a preceding stage turbine, a last stage heater and a last stage turbine successively connected in series. An exhaust port of at least one of compressors in the compressor unit is in communication with the turbine unit through a split flow pipe, and a communication position between the split flow pipe and the turbine unit is located downstream of a suction port of the preceding stage turbine. An auxiliary regenerator and an auxiliary heater are provided at the split flow pipe, and the auxiliary regenerator is located upstream of the auxiliary heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: North China Electric Power University
    Inventors: Jinliang Xu, Enhui Sun, Jian Xie, Chao Liu, Hangning Li, Huan Liu, Guanglin Liu
  • Patent number: 11300012
    Abstract: A power system is configured to generate mechanical energy from supercritical carbon dioxide in a closed loop. The power system includes a compressor that yields a high pressure supercritical carbon dioxide. A heat exchanger is operatively connected to the compressor and yields a high enthalpy supercritical carbon dioxide. A rotary engine is operatively connected to the heat exchanger and configured to convert thermal energy from the high enthalpy supercritical carbon dioxide into mechanical energy and an output supercritical carbon dioxide. A pressure differential orifice is operatively coupled to the rotary engine and to the heat exchanger and configured to decrease the temperature and the pressure of the output supercritical carbon dioxide resulting in a low pressure low temperature supercritical carbon dioxide. The low pressure low temperature supercritical carbon dioxide is heated in the heat exchanger and the renters the compressor completing the closed loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Inventor: Kenneth Colin Baker, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11293310
    Abstract: A steam network assembly for a plant including an ammonia-producing unit and a urea-producing unit, including a high-pressure steam line, two medium-pressure steam lines and first and second turbines supplied with high-pressure steam by the high-pressure steam line; wherein the first turbine is a condensing-type turbine with extraction into one of the two medium-pressure steam lines, and is configured to deliver power to a syngas compressor in the ammonia-producing unit of the plant, and the second turbine is a counter-pressure type turbine with extraction connected to the two medium-pressure steam lines and is configured to deliver power to a CO2 compressor in the urea-producing unit of the plant. A method to distribute high-pressure steam in a steam network assembly for a plant including an ammonia-producing unit and a urea-producing unit and a method to revamp the steam network assembly for a plant including an ammonia-producing unit and a urea-producing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: YARA INTERNATIONAL ASA
    Inventors: Danny Franceus, Lino Giovanni Porro
  • Patent number: 11293413
    Abstract: Device for storing energy, using a physical object, such as a mass or buoyant object floating in fluid. A mass is repositioned to greater altitude in a gravitational field to a position of higher potential energy. A buoyant object is forcibly submerged into a fluid, displacing fluid, to a position of higher potential energy. The stored potential energy may be recovered with extremely low loss regardless of the state of charge of the system, or length of time of the storage. Maintaining the charge is indefinitely lossless.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Inventors: James Francis Kellinger, Michael Thane MacKay
  • Patent number: 11286898
    Abstract: The present application pertains to systems and methods for storing and generating power. In one embodiment the system pertains to a first storage reservoir near the surface of a body of water and configured to store a fluid which has a lower density than water. A second storage reservoir is located below the surface of the body of water and configured to store a fluid which has a higher density than water. A pump, generator, and the first and second reservoir are operatively connected such that power is stored by displacing the fluid which has a higher density than water in the second storage reservoir by pumping the fluid which has a lower density than water in the first storage reservoir to the second storage reservoir. Power is generated or discharged by allowing the fluid which has a lower density than water in the second storage reservoir to return to the first storage reservoir. The fluid which has a higher density than water may be in liquid form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Innovator Energy, LLC
    Inventor: Ethan J. Novek
  • Patent number: 11274660
    Abstract: A stand-alone long-distance closed-loop heat energy capture, conveyance, and delivery system, comprises three closed-loop modules in serial communication. The first module is in communication with a first closed-loop piping infrastructure interconnected with a source of heat energy, and has a LBP liquid circulating therein whereby the LBP liquid is converted into its gas phase when flowing through the source of heat energy thereby capturing a portion of heat energy therefrom, and is converted into its liquid phase when flowing through a first heat exchanger that transfers the captured-heat energy to a second closed-loop piping infrastructure wherein also is circulating a LBP liquid. The second closed-loop module may extend for long distances. The captured-heat energy in the second module is transferred to a third closed-loop piping infrastructure wherein is also circulating a LBP liquid. The captured-heat energy is transferred from the third module to a delivery site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Lochterra Inc.
    Inventor: Gerald Alvin Radke
  • Patent number: 11274792
    Abstract: A thermal storage subsystem may include at least a first storage reservoir disposed at least partially under ground configured to contain a thermal storage liquid at a storage pressure that is greater than atmospheric pressure. A liquid passage may have an inlet connectable to a thermal storage liquid source and configured to convey the thermal storage liquid to the liquid reservoir. A first heat exchanger may be provided in the liquid inlet passage and may be in fluid communication between the first compression stage and the accumulator, whereby thermal energy can be transferred from a compressed gas stream exiting a gas compressor/expander subsystem to the thermal storage liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Hydrostor Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Stradiotto, Cameron Lewis, Davin Young, Andrew McGillis
  • Patent number: 11274856
    Abstract: A new system for and a method of deploying a heat exchanger pipe. A bore hole is drilled from an access ditch location to a terminal ditch location using a piloted drill head powered via an umbilical attached to the piloted drill head. A casing is attached to the piloted drill head and disposed about the umbilical into the bore hole from the access ditch location to the terminal ditch location. At the terminal ditch location, the piloted drill head is removed from the casing and the umbilical and a heat exchanger pipe is attached to the umbilical. The umbilical is withdrawn from within the casing deployed in the bore hole to pull the heat exchanger pipe into the casing. The casing is then withdrawn from the bore hole leaving the heat exchanger pipe in the bore hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Inventor: Ari Peter Berman
  • Patent number: 11268440
    Abstract: The invention relates to a stabilization bearing system for a geared turbofan engine, in particular an aircraft engine, with a stabilization bearing for an input shaft device to an epicyclic gearbox device of the geared turbofan engine, the stabilization bearing being located axially in front of an input shaft device location bearing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & KG
    Inventor: Philip Brian Walker
  • Patent number: 11268476
    Abstract: An energy conversion apparatus may include an engine assembly, such as a monolithic engine assembly, that includes a first heater body and a first engine body. The first heater body may define a first portion of a first monolithic body or at least a portion of a first monolithic body-segment. The first engine body may define a second portion of the first monolithic body or at least a portion of a second monolithic body-segment operably coupled or operably couplable to the first heater body. The engine assembly may include a second heater body and/or a second engine body. The second heater body may define a portion of a second monolithic body or a third monolithic body-segment. The second engine body may define a portion of the second monolithic body or a fourth monolithic body-segment operably coupled or operably couplable to the second heater body and/or the first engine body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joshua Tyler Mook, Michael Thomas Gansler, Scott Douglas Waun, Kevin Michael VandeVoorde, Aigbedion Akwara, Michael Robert Notarnicola, Jason Joseph Bellardi, Mohammed El Hacin Sennoun, Mary Kathryn Thompson, Mohamed Osama
  • Patent number: 11255273
    Abstract: A turbomachine dual spool differential can include a gear assembly configured to combine a low pressure spool input and a high pressure spool input into a combination output to provide an output speed range smaller than a low pressure spool speed range alone. The gear assembly can include a ring gear, a sun gear, and a plurality of planetary gears disposed between the sun gear and the ring gear and meshed with the sun gear and the ring gear. The planetary gears can be rotationally connected to a carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Aaron M. Finke, Stephen Michael Bortoli, Jonathan C. Dell