Patents by Inventor Charles E. Andraka
Charles E. Andraka has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 8674280Abstract: A system and method for optimizing at least one mirror of at least one CSP system is provided. The system has a screen for displaying light patterns for reflection by the mirror, a camera for receiving a reflection of the light patterns from the mirror, and a solar characterization tool. The solar characterization tool has a characterizing unit for determining at least one mirror parameter of the mirror based on an initial position of the camera and the screen, and a refinement unit for refining the determined parameter(s) based on an adjusted position of the camera and screen whereby the mirror is characterized. The system may also be provided with a solar alignment tool for comparing at least one mirror parameter of the mirror to a design geometry whereby an alignment error is defined, and at least one alignment unit for adjusting the mirror to reduce the alignment error.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2010Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventor: Charles E. Andraka
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Patent number: 8459865Abstract: Innovative tracking heat flux sensors located at or near the solar collector's focus for centering the concentrated image on a receiver assembly. With flux sensors mounted near a receiver's aperture, the flux gradient near the focus of a dish or trough collector can be used to precisely position the focused solar flux on the receiver. The heat flux sensors comprise two closely-coupled thermocouple junctions with opposing electrical polarity that are separated by a thermal resistor. This arrangement creates an electrical signal proportional to heat flux intensity, and largely independent of temperature. The sensors are thermally grounded to allow a temperature difference to develop across the thermal resistor, and are cooled by a heat sink to maintain an acceptable operating temperature.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2010Date of Patent: June 11, 2013Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventors: Charles E. Andraka, Richard B. Diver, Jr.
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Patent number: 7124507Abstract: Heat pipe wick structure wherein a stout sheet of perforated material overlays a high performance wick material such as stainless steel felt affixed to a substrate. The inventive structure provides a good flow path for working fluid while maintaining durability and structural stability independent of the structure (or lack of structure) associated with the wick material. In one described embodiment, a wick of randomly laid ˜8 micron thickness stainless steel fibers is sintered to a metal substrate and a perforated metal overlay.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2003Date of Patent: October 24, 2006Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventors: Charles E. Andraka, Douglas R. Adkins, James B. Moreno, K. Scott Rawlinson, Steven K. Showalter, Timothy A. Moss
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Patent number: 6739136Abstract: A combustion system for a hybrid solar receiver comprises a pre-mixer which combines air and fuel to form an air-fuel mixture. The mixture is introduced tangentially into a cooling jacket. A burner plenum is fluidically connected to the cooling jacket such that the burner plenum and the cooling jacket are arranged in thermal contact with one another. The air-fuel mixture flows through the cooling jacket cooling the burner plenum to reduce pre-ignition of the air-fuel mixture in the burner plenum. A combustion chamber is operatively associated with and open to the burner plenum to receive the air-fuel mixture from the burner plenum. An igniter is operatively positioned in the combustion chamber to combust the air-fuel mixture, releasing heat. A recuperator is operatively associated with the burner plenum and the combustion chamber and pre-heats the air-fuel mixture in the burner plenum with heat from the combustion chamber.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2002Date of Patent: May 25, 2004Assignee: Midwest Research InstituteInventors: Mark S. Mehos, Kenneth M. Anselmo, James B. Moreno, Charles E. Andraka, K. Scott Rawlinson, John Corey, Mark S. Bohn
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Patent number: 6648063Abstract: Heat pipe wick structure wherein a stout sheet of perforated material overlays a high performance wick material such as stainless steel felt affixed to a substrate. The inventive structure provides a good flow path for working fluid while maintaining durability and structural stability independent of the structure (or lack of structure) associated with the wick material. In one described embodiment, a wick of randomly laid ˜8 micron thickness stainless steel fibers is sintered to a metal substrate and a perforated metal overlay.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2000Date of Patent: November 18, 2003Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventors: Charles E. Andraka, Douglas R. Adkins, James B. Moreno, K. Scott Rawlinson, Steven K. Showalter, Timothy A. Moss
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Publication number: 20030136398Abstract: A combustion system for a hybrid solar receiver comprises a pre-mixer which combines air and fuel to form an air-fuel mixture. The mixture is introduced tangentially into a cooling jacket. A burner plenum is fluidically connected to the cooling jacket such that the burner plenum and the cooling jacket are arranged in thermal contact with one another. The air-fuel mixture flows through the cooling jacket cooling the burner plenum to reduce pre-ignition of the air-fuel mixture in the burner plenum. A combustion chamber is operatively associated with and open to the burner plenum to receive the air-fuel mixture from the burner plenum. An igniter is operatively positioned in the combustion chamber to combust the air-fuel mixture, releasing heat. A recuperator is operatively associated with the burner plenum and the combustion chamber and pre-heats the air-fuel mixture in the burner plenum with heat from the combustion chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2002Publication date: July 24, 2003Inventors: Mark S. Mehos, Kenneth M. Anselmo, James B. Moreno, Charles E. Andraka, K. Scott Rawlinson, John Corey, Mark S. Bohn
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Patent number: 6487859Abstract: A hybrid high-temperature solar receiver is provided which comprises a solar heat-pipe-receiver including a front dome having a solar absorber surface for receiving concentrated solar energy, a heat pipe wick, a rear dome, a sidewall joining the front and the rear dome, and a vapor and a return liquid tube connecting to an engine, and a fossil fuel fired combustion system in radial integration with the sidewall for simultaneous operation with the solar heat pipe receiver, the combustion system comprising an air and fuel pre-mixer, an outer cooling jacket for tangentially introducing and cooling the mixture, a recuperator for preheating the mixture, a burner plenum having an inner and an outer wall, a porous cylindrical metal matrix burner firing radially inward facing a sodium vapor sink, the mixture ignited downstream of the matrix forming combustion products, an exhaust plenum, a fossil-fuel heat-input surface having an outer surface covered with a pin-fin array, the combustion products flowing through theType: GrantFiled: July 31, 2001Date of Patent: December 3, 2002Assignee: Midwest Research InstituteInventors: Mark S. Mehos, Kenneth M. Anselmo, James B. Moreno, Charles E. Andraka, K. Scott Rawlinson, John Corey, Mark S. Bohn
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Publication number: 20020059798Abstract: A hybrid high-temperature solar receiver is provided which comprises a solar heat-pipe-receiver including a front dome having a solar absorber surface for receiving concentrated solar energy, a heat pipe wick, a rear dome, a sidewall joining the front and the rear dome, and a vapor and a return liquid tube connecting to an engine, and a fossil fuel fired combustion system in radial integration with the sidewall for simultaneous operation with the solar heat pipe receiver, the combustion system comprising an air and fuel pre-mixer, an outer cooling jacket for tangentially introducing and cooling the mixture, a recuperator for preheating the mixture, a burner plenum having an inner and an outer wall, a porous cylindrical metal matrix burner firing radially inward facing a sodium vapor sink, the mixture ignited downstream of the matrix forming combustion products, an exhaust plenum, a fossil-fuel heat-input surface having an outer surface covered with a pin-fin array, the combustion products flowing through theType: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2001Publication date: May 23, 2002Inventors: Mark S. Mehos, Kenneth M. Anselmo, James B. Moreno, Charles E. Andraka, K. Scott Rawlinson, John Corey, Mark S. Bohn
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Patent number: 5080559Abstract: An electrical pump for pumping liquid metals to high pressures in high temperature environments without the use of magnets or moving mechanical parts. The pump employs a non-porous solid electrolyte membrane, typically ceramic, specific to the liquid metal to be pumped. A DC voltage is applied across the thickness of the membrane causing ions to form and enter the membrane on the electrically positive surface, with the ions being neutralized on the opposite surface. This action provides pumping of the liquid metal from one side of the non-porous solid electrolyte membrane to the other.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 1990Date of Patent: January 14, 1992Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of EnergyInventors: Joseph P. Abbin, Charles E. Andraka, Laurance L. Lukens, James B. Moreno
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Patent number: 4868072Abstract: A liquid metal thermal electric converter which converts heat energy to electrical energy. The design of the liquid metal thermal electric converter incorporates a unique configuration which directs the metal fluid pressure to the outside of the tube which results in the structural loads in the tube to be compressive. A liquid metal thermal electric converter refluxing boiler with series connection of tubes and a multiple cell liquid metal thermal electric converter are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 1988Date of Patent: September 19, 1989Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of EnergyInventors: Joseph P. Abbin, Charles E. Andraka, Laurance L. Lukens, James B. Moreno