Patents by Inventor David M. France
David M. France 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: 11499785Abstract: The invention provides a method for storing heat and continuously generating electricity, the method comprising a phase change material; first fluid conduit in thermal communication with the phase change material wherein the first conduit is adapted to receive a first fluid; a second fluid conduit in thermal communication with the phase change material, wherein the second conduit is adapted to receive a second fluid; and a turbine in thermal communication with the second fluid. Also provided is a method for continuously charging the energy power block portion of a combined thermal energy storage and heat exchanger unit with heated fluid generated by concentrated solar power, the method comprising intermittently storing heat in a phase change material; and continually directing the heat from the phase change material to a turbine such that the phase change material buffers the turbine against inconsistent solar heat inputs.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2019Date of Patent: November 15, 2022Assignee: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLCInventors: David M. France, Dileep Singh, Wenhua Yu
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Publication number: 20220168950Abstract: A method of depowdering objects (e.g., heat exchangers) having small and/or complex internal geometries and manufactured using an additive manufacturing technique performed with a powder material. The method includes applying a pressurized fluid to the objects via a pressurized fluid applicator operatively coupled to the object, thereby removing a portion of unbound powder material on or in the object. The method further includes applying vortex vibration to the object via a vortex vibration source operatively coupled to the object, thereby loosening a portion of the unbound powder material remaining on or in the object, and applying the pressurized fluid to the object via the pressurized fluid application, thereby removing a portion of the loosened, unbound powder material from the object. The latter two applying steps are repeated until a specified amount of the unbound powder material has been removed from the object.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2020Publication date: June 2, 2022Inventors: Wenhua Yu, Dileep Singh, David M. France, Wenchao Du
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Publication number: 20210278147Abstract: A heat exchanger adapted to receive high temperature, high pressure, and corrosive fluids including a body having an interior volume, a first set of channels extending through the body, a second set of channels extending through the body, a first set of headers, and a second set of headers. Each channel in the first set of channels having a first inlet aperture, a first inlet portion, a first outlet aperture, a first outlet portion, and a first conduit extending between the first inlet portion and the first outlet portion. Each channel in the second set of channels having a second inlet aperture, a second inlet portion, a second outlet aperture, a second outlet portion, and a second conduit extending between the second inlet portion and the second outlet portion. The first and second conduits having a uniform shape along its length.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2020Publication date: September 9, 2021Inventors: David M. France, Dileep Singh, Wenhua Yu
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Publication number: 20200363132Abstract: The invention provides a method for storing heat and continuously generating electricity, the method comprising a phase change material; first fluid conduit in thermal communication with the phase change material wherein the first conduit is adapted to receive a first fluid; a second fluid conduit in thermal communication with the phase change material, wherein the second conduit is adapted to receive a second fluid; and a turbine in thermal communication with the second fluid. Also provided is a method for continuously charging the energy power block portion of a combined thermal energy storage and heat exchanger unit with heated fluid generated by concentrated solar power, the method comprising intermittently storing heat in a phase change material; and continually directing the heat from the phase change material to a turbine such that the phase change material buffers the turbine against inconsistent solar heat inputs.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 15, 2019Publication date: November 19, 2020Applicant: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLCInventors: David M. France, Dileep Singh, Wenhua Yu
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Publication number: 20200041216Abstract: The invention provides a method for reclaiming heat from a fluid, the method having the steps of contacting the fluid to a phase change material for a time sufficient to increase the temperature of the material and or liquefy some of it; and contacting the material to a second fluid for a time sufficient to increase the temperature of the second fluid and to decrease the temperature of the material or to solidify some of it.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2019Publication date: February 6, 2020Applicant: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLCInventors: Dileep Singh, David M. France, Wenhua Yu
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Patent number: 10533808Abstract: The invention provides a method for storing and releasing heat having the steps of thermally contacting thermal transfer fluid to a mixture of foam and phase change material for a time sufficient for the material to change from a first phase to a second phase during a time when electricity rates are at a first price point; maintaining said material in the second phase until electricity rates are at a second point, wherein the second point is higher than the first price point; and thermally contacting the thermal transfer fluid to the composite in the second phase for a time sufficient for the material to change from the second phase to the first phase.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2017Date of Patent: January 14, 2020Assignee: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLCInventors: Dileep Singh, David M. France, Wenhua Yu
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Patent number: 10349563Abstract: The invention provides a single radiator cooling system for use in hybrid electric vehicles, the system comprising a surface in thermal communication with electronics, and subcooled boiling fluid contacting the surface. The invention also provides a single radiator method for simultaneously cooling electronics and an internal combustion engine in a hybrid electric vehicle, the method comprising separating a coolant fluid into a first portion and a second portion; directing the first portion to the electronics and the second portion to the internal combustion engine for a time sufficient to maintain the temperature of the electronics at or below 175° C.; combining the first and second portion to reestablish the coolant fluid; and treating the reestablished coolant fluid to the single radiator for a time sufficient to decrease the temperature of the reestablished coolant fluid to the temperature it had before separation.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2017Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Assignee: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLCInventors: David M. France, Wenhua Yu, Dileep Singh, Weihuan Zhao
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Patent number: 10330393Abstract: The invention provides a modular device for latent heat storage, which is made of a conduit with a first end and a second end; and a jacket that surrounds a portion of the conduit between the first end and the second end, wherein the jacket is comprised of at least one phase change material. The invention further provides a system for latent heat storage, comprising a thermally insulated enclosure adapted to receive at least one modular latent heat storage device and a HTF, wherein the HTF flows from an upstream heat source into each of the first ends of the conduit and out of each of the second ends of the conduit comprising the at least one module to a downstream heat exchanger.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2014Date of Patent: June 25, 2019Assignee: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLCInventors: David M. France, Wenhua Yu, Dileep Singh, Taeil Kim
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Publication number: 20190017751Abstract: The invention provides a method for reclaiming heat from a fluid, the method having the steps of contacting the fluid to a phase change material for a time sufficient to increase the temperature of the material and or liquefy some of it; and contacting the material to a second fluid for a time sufficient to increase the temperature of the second fluid and to decrease the temperature of the material or to solidify some of it. The invention also provides a system to reclaim heat from a first fluid, the system having a first void space containing phase changing material, and a second void space in thermal communication with the first void space. The system functions as an efficient thermal storage buffer when heat supplied from the first fluid is not equal to the heat received by the second fluid at any instant of time.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2017Publication date: January 17, 2019Applicant: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLCInventors: Dileep Singh, David M. France, Wenhua Yu
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Publication number: 20190003782Abstract: The invention provides a method for storing and releasing heat having the steps of thermally contacting thermal transfer fluid to a mixture of foam and phase change material for a time sufficient for the material to change from a first phase to a second phase during a time when electricity rates are at a first price point; maintaining said material in the second phase until electricity rates are at a second point, wherein the second point is higher than the first price point; and thermally contacting the thermal transfer fluid to the composite in the second phase for a time sufficient for the material to change from the second phase to the first phase.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2017Publication date: January 3, 2019Applicant: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLCInventors: Dileep Singh, David M. France, Wenhua Yu
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Publication number: 20180064002Abstract: The invention provides a single radiator cooling system for use in hybrid electric vehicles, the system comprising a surface in thermal communication with electronics, and subcooled boiling fluid contacting the surface. The invention also provides a single radiator method for simultaneously cooling electronics and an internal combustion engine in a hybrid electric vehicle, the method comprising separating a coolant fluid into a first portion and a second portion; directing the first portion to the electronics and the second portion to the internal combustion engine for a time sufficient to maintain the temperature of the electronics at or below 175° C.; combining the first and second portion to reestablish the coolant fluid; and treating the reestablished coolant fluid to the single radiator for a time sufficient to decrease the temperature of the reestablished coolant fluid to the temperature it had before separation.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2017Publication date: March 1, 2018Applicant: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLCInventors: David M. France, Wenhua Yu, Dileep Singh, Weihuan Zhao
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Patent number: 9826666Abstract: The invention provides a single radiator cooling system for use in hybrid electric vehicles, the system comprising a surface in thermal communication with electronics, and subcooled boiling fluid contacting the surface. The invention also provides a single radiator method for simultaneously cooling electronics and an internal combustion engine in a hybrid electric vehicle, the method comprising separating a coolant fluid into a first portion and a second portion; directing the first portion to the electronics and the second portion to the internal combustion engine for a time sufficient to maintain the temperature of the electronics at or below 175° C.; combining the first and second portion to reestablish the coolant fluid; and treating the reestablished coolant fluid to the single radiator for a time sufficient to decrease the temperature of the reestablished coolant fluid to the temperature it had before separation.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2015Date of Patent: November 21, 2017Assignee: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLCInventors: David M. France, Wenhua Yu, Dileep Singh, Weihuan Zhao
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Publication number: 20160200165Abstract: The invention provides a single radiator cooling system for use in hybrid electric vehicles, the system comprising a surface in thermal communication with electronics, and subcooled boiling fluid contacting the surface. The invention also provides a single radiator method for simultaneously cooling electronics and an internal combustion engine in a hybrid electric vehicle, the method comprising separating a coolant fluid into a first portion and a second portion; directing the first portion to the electronics and the second portion to the internal combustion engine for a time sufficient to maintain the temperature of the electronics at or below 175° C.; combining the first and second portion to reestablish the coolant fluid; and treating the reestablished coolant fluid to the single radiator for a time sufficient to decrease the temperature of the reestablished coolant fluid to the temperature it had before separation.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2015Publication date: July 14, 2016Applicant: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLCInventors: David M. France, Wenhua Yu, Dileep Singh, Weihuan Zhao
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Patent number: 9340720Abstract: A nanofluid of a base heat transfer fluid and a plurality of ceramic nanoparticles suspended throughout the base heat transfer fluid applicable to commercial and industrial heat transfer applications. The nanofluid is stable, non-reactive and exhibits enhanced heat transfer properties relative to the base heat transfer fluid, with only minimal increases in pumping power required relative to the base heat transfer fluid. In a particular embodiment, the plurality of ceramic nanoparticles comprise silicon carbide and the base heat transfer fluid comprises water and water and ethylene glycol mixtures.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2010Date of Patent: May 17, 2016Assignee: UChicago Argonne, LLCInventors: Dileep Singh, Jules Routbort, A.J. Routbort, Wenhua Yu, Elena Timofeeva, David S. Smith, David M. France
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Patent number: 9285170Abstract: A method and hybrid radiator-cooling apparatus for implementing enhanced radiator-cooling are provided. The hybrid radiator-cooling apparatus includes an air-side finned surface for air cooling; an elongated vertically extending surface extending outwardly from the air-side finned surface on a downstream air-side of the hybrid radiator; and a water supply for selectively providing evaporative cooling with water flow by gravity on the elongated vertically extending surface.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2013Date of Patent: March 15, 2016Assignee: UChicago Argonne, LLCInventors: David M. France, David S. Smith, Wenhua Yu, Jules L. Routbort
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Publication number: 20150241137Abstract: The invention provides a modular device for latent heat storage, which is made of a conduit with a first end and a second end; and a jacket that surrounds a portion of the conduit between the first end and the second end, wherein the jacket is comprised of at least one phase change material. The invention further provides a system for latent heat storage, comprising a thermally insulated enclosure adapted to receive at least one modular latent heat storage device and a HTF, wherein the HTF flows from an upstream heat source into each of the first ends of the conduit and out of each of the second ends of the conduit comprising the at least one module to a downstream heat exchanger.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2014Publication date: August 27, 2015Inventors: David M. France, Wenhua Yu, Dileep Singh, Taeil Kim
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Publication number: 20130233517Abstract: A method and hybrid radiator-cooling apparatus for implementing enhanced radiator-cooling are provided. The hybrid radiator-cooling apparatus includes an air-side finned surface for air cooling; an elongated vertically extending surface extending outwardly from the air-side finned surface on a downstream air-side of the hybrid radiator; and a water supply for selectively providing evaporative cooling with water flow by gravity on the elongated vertically extending surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2013Publication date: September 12, 2013Applicant: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLCInventors: David M. France, David S. Smith, Wenhua Yu, Jules L. Routbort
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Publication number: 20110001081Abstract: A nanofluid of a base heat transfer fluid and a plurality of ceramic nanoparticles suspended throughout the base heat transfer fluid applicable to commercial and industrial heat transfer applications. The nanofluid is stable, non-reactive and exhibits enhanced heat transfer properties relative to the base heat transfer fluid, with only minimal increases in pumping power required relative to the base heat transfer fluid. In a particular embodiment, the plurality of ceramic nanoparticles comprise silicon carbide and the base heat transfer fluid comprises water and water and ethylene glycol mixtures.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2010Publication date: January 6, 2011Inventors: Dileep SINGH, Jules Routbort, Wenhua Yu, Elena Timofeeva, David S. Smith, David M. France, Alexander Heifetz