Patents by Inventor Kripa Kiran Varanasi
Kripa Kiran Varanasi 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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Publication number: 20180197686Abstract: In certain embodiments, the invention relates to an electrochemical device having a liquid lubricant impregnated surface. At least a portion of the interior surface of the electrochemical device includes a portion that includes a plurality of solid features disposed therein. The plurality of solid features define a plurality of regions therebetween. A lubricant is disposed in the plurality of regions which retain the liquid lubricant in the plurality of regions during operation of the device. An electroactive phase comes in contact with at least the portion of the interior surface. The liquid lubricant impregnated surface introduces a slip at the surface when the electroactive phase flows along the surface. The electroactive phase may be a yield stress fluid.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2018Publication date: July 12, 2018Inventors: Brian Richmond Solomon, Xinwei Chen, Yet-Ming Chiang, Kripa Kiran Varanasi
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Publication number: 20170197187Abstract: Nanoscale emulsions can be made by means of condensing a liquid vapor onto another liquid. The precise size, chemical composition, and density of emulsions may be controlled through varying the experimental parameters, such as surfactant concentration, time of condensation, humidity, and temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2015Publication date: July 13, 2017Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Sushant Anand, Seyed Reza Mahmoudi, Ingrid Fuller Guha, Kripa Kiran Varanasi
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Publication number: 20160296985Abstract: Presented herein are articles and methods relating to manufactured superhydrophobic, superoleophobic, and/or supermetallophobic surfaces with macro-scale features (macro features) configured to induce controlled asymmetry in a liquid film produced by impinging phase (e.g., impinging droplet(s)) onto the surface, thereby further reducing the contact time between an impinging liquid and the surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2014Publication date: October 13, 2016Inventors: Rajeev Dhiman, James C. Bird, Hyuk-Min Kwon, Kripa Kiran Varanasi
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Publication number: 20150306642Abstract: In certain embodiments, the invention is directed to apparatus comprising a liquid-impregnated surface, said surface comprising an impregnating liquid and a matrix of solid features spaced sufficiently close to stably contain the impregnating liquid therebetween or therewithin, and methods thereof. In some embodiments, one or both of the following holds: (i) 0<??0.25, where ? is a representative fraction of the projected surface area of the liquid-impregnated surface corresponding to non-submerged solid at equilibrium; and (ii) Sow(a)<0, where Sow(a) is spreading coefficient, defined as ?wa??wo??oa, where ? is the interfacial tension between the two phases designated by subscripts w, a, and o, where w is water, a is air, and o is the impregnating liquid.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2013Publication date: October 29, 2015Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: J. David Smith, Sushant Anand, Srinivas Prasad Bengaluru Subramanyam, Konrad Rykaczewski, Kripa Kiran Varanasi
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Publication number: 20150179321Abstract: A method for precise control of movement of a motive phase on a lubricant-impregnated surface includes providing a lubricant-impregnated surface, introducing the motive phase onto the lubricant-impregnated surface, and exposing the droplets to an electric and/or magnetic field to induce controlled movement of the droplets on the surface. The lubricant-impregnated surface includes a matrix of solid features spaced sufficiently close to stably contain the impregnating lubricant therebetween or therewithin. The motive phase is immiscible or scarcely miscible with the impregnating lubricant.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2014Publication date: June 25, 2015Inventors: Karim Samir Khalil, Kripa Kiran Varanasi, Seyed Reza Mahmoudi
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Patent number: 9062563Abstract: A method of preventing thermal hydrocarbon degradation deposits on a surface of a gas turbine component, the method includes providing the turbine component comprising the surface configured for contacting a hydrocarbon fluid, wherein the substrate comprises a material having a nominal liquid wettability sufficient to generate, with reference to an oil, a nominal contact angle, disposing a plurality of features on the substrate to form an anti-deposition surface texture, wherein the plurality of features have a size, shape, and orientation selected such that the surface has an effective wettability sufficient to generate, with reference to an oil, an effective contact angle of greater than the nominal contact angle, and the features comprise a width dimension (a), and a spacing dimension (b), wherein the features prevent the hydrocarbon fluid from penetrating into the surface texture and thereby reduce the adhesion of the thermal hydrocarbon deposits to the surface.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2008Date of Patent: June 23, 2015Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Kripa Kiran Varanasi, Nitin Bhate, Jeffrey Scott Goldmeer, Geoffrey David Myers
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Patent number: 8845281Abstract: A centrifugal compressor comprises at least one stage suited to separate a liquid phase and a gas phase with the aid of at least one of a hydrophobic, super-hydrophobic, hydrophilic or super-hydrophilic surface layer, wherein the hydrophobic and/or super-hydrophobic surface layer is disposed on at least one of an inlet guide vane, impeller, return channel straight hub, or exiting hub bend; and the hydrophilic and/or super-hydrophilic surface is disposed on at least one of the impeller casing, diffuser casing, exiting casing bend, return channel straight hub, exiting hub bend, collection point, or drain.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2009Date of Patent: September 30, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Ciro Cerretelli, Kripa Kiran Varanasi, Michael Bernhard Schmitz, Emad Ahmad Obaid Gharaibah, Christopher Edward Wolfe
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Publication number: 20130258600Abstract: An article and method of forming the article is disclosed. The article includes a heat source, a substrate, and a thermal interface element having a plurality of freestanding nanosprings disposed in thermal communication with the substrate and the heat source. The nanosprings of the article include at least one inorganic material and also at least 50% of the nanosprings have a thermal conductivity of at least 1 watt/mK per nano spring.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2009Publication date: October 3, 2013Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Tao Deng, Todd Garrett Wetzel, Kripa Kiran Varanasi, Ambarish Jayant Kulkarni, Boris Russ
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Patent number: 8327752Abstract: Disclosed is an actuator that includes a cylinder having an input port, a piston disposed at least partially inside of the cylinder, and one or more piston rings disposed in a circumferential piston ring groove or grooves. The actuator also includes at least one spring, inserted into the circumferential piston ring groove adjacent to the one or more piston rings and a high pressure side of said piston ring. The spring preloads the one or more piston rings to seal between a low pressure face of the one or more piston rings and a low pressure face of the circumferential piston ring groove. The invention also includes a method for moving an adjustable seal in a radial direction using the piston-ring sealed actuator. The method includes moving the adjustable seal in an axial direction, breaking a primary axial contact between the adjustable seal and a primary sealing face.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2006Date of Patent: December 11, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Kripa Kiran Varanasi, Shorya Awtar, Frederick George Baily, Mark Edward Burnett, Farshad Ghasripoor, Imdad Imam, Norman Arnold Turnquist
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Publication number: 20110142607Abstract: A centrifugal compressor comprises at least one stage suited to separate a liquid phase and a gas phase with the aid of at least one of a hydrophobic, super-hydrophobic, hydrophilic or super-hydrophilic surface layer, wherein the hydrophobic and/or super-hydrophobic surface layer is disposed on at least one of an inlet guide vane, impeller, return channel straight hub, or exiting hub bend; and the hydrophilic and/or super-hydrophilic surface is disposed on at least one of the impeller casing, diffuser casing, exiting casing bend, return channel straight hub, exiting hub bend, collection point, or drain.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2009Publication date: June 16, 2011Inventors: Cerretelli Ciro, Kripa Kiran Varanasi, Michael Bernhard Schmitz, Emad Ahmad Obaid Gharaibah, Christopher Edward Wolfe
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Publication number: 20110088720Abstract: A method for removing sand particles from a substrate is described. The method includes the step of treating the substrate with an acid solution comprising HxAF6, wherein A is selected from the group consisting of Si, Ge, Ti, Zr, Al, and Ga; and wherein HxAF6 is present at a concentration in the range from about 5 weight percent to about 40 weight percent.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2009Publication date: April 21, 2011Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Kripa Kiran Varanasi, Lawrence Bernard Kool, Gabriel Kwadwo Ofori-Okai
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Patent number: 7919151Abstract: The present invention provides methods for manufacturing an article having a wetting-resistant surface. The method includes providing a substrate. The method further includes disposing a coating mixture on a surface of the substrate, wherein the coating mixture comprises a braze material and a texture-providing material. The method further includes heating the braze material to bond the texture-providing material to the surface of the substrate to form the article having the wetting-resistant surface.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2006Date of Patent: April 5, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Tao Deng, Pazhayannur Ramanathan Subramanian, Ming Feng Hsu, Yuk-Chiu Lau, Margaret L. Blohm, Wayne Charles Hasz, Nitin Bhate, Kripa Kiran Varanasi, Gregory Allen O'Neil
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Patent number: 7914856Abstract: The present invention provides methods for manufacturing an article having a wetting-resistant surface. The method includes providing a mixture comprising a plurality of micron-sized first particles and a plurality of nano-sized second particles, and a binder; depositing the mixture onto a substrate to form a wetting-resistant surface via a thermal spray process. The mixture is deposited without substantial melting of the first and second particles. The wetting-resistant surface has wettability sufficient to generate, with a reference fluid, a static contact angle of greater than about 90 degrees.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2007Date of Patent: March 29, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Tao Deng, Dennis Michael Gray, Todd Charles Curtis, Yuk-Chiu Lau, Dalong Zhong, Ming Feng Hsu, Nitin Bhate, Kripa Kiran Varanasi, Pazhayannur Ramanathan Subramanian, Margaret Louise Blohm
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Publication number: 20100326922Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides a subsea separation vessel for the separation of a mixture comprising oil and water comprising (a) at least one inlet for introducing a oil-water mixture; (b) a flow path for conducting the oil-water mixture; (c) at least one oil-water separation structure; and (d) at least one fluid outlet. The oil-water separation structure includes a multifunctional surface. The oil-water separation structure is located within the flow path and wherein the multifunctional surface is superhydrophobic with respect to water, and either oleophilic or superoleophilic with respect to oil. A method for separating oil from an oil-water mixture is also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2009Publication date: December 30, 2010Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Kripa Kiran Varanasi, Ambarish Jayant Kulkarni, Christopher Edward Wolfe
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Publication number: 20100294475Abstract: Disclosed herein is an heat transfer device comprising a shell; the shell being an enclosure that prevents matter from within the shell from being exchanged with matter outside the shell; the shell having an outer surface and an inner surface; and a porous layer disposed on the inner surface of the shell; the porous layer having a thickness effective to enclose a region between opposing faces; the region providing a passage for the transport of a fluid; the porous layer having a thermal conductivity of about 0.1 to about 2000 watts per meter-Kelvin and a mass flow rate of about 10?9 to about 10?4 kilograms per second.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 22, 2009Publication date: November 25, 2010Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Brian Magann Rush, Hendrik Pieter Jacobus de Bock, Tao Deng, Boris Alexander Russ, Kripa Kiran Varanasi, Stanton Earl Weaver, JR.
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Publication number: 20100294467Abstract: Disclosed herein is an heat transfer device that includes a shell; the shell being an enclosure that prevents matter from within the shell from being exchanged with matter outside the shell; the shell having an outer surface and an inner surface; and a particle layer disposed on the inner surface of the shell; the particle layer having a thickness effective to enclose a region for transferring a fluid between opposing faces; the particle layer including a first layer and a second layer; the second layer being disposed upon the first layer; the first layer having average particle sizes of about 10 to about 10,000,000 nanometers; the second layer having average particle sizes of about 10 to about 10,000 nanometers.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 22, 2009Publication date: November 25, 2010Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Kripa Kiran Varanasi, Pramod Chamarthy, Hendrik Pieter Jacobus de Bock, Lauraine Denault, Tao Deng, Aaron Jay Knobloch, Ambarish Jayant Kulkarni, Brian Magann Rush, Boris Alexander Russ, Stanton Earl Weaver, JR.
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ENCLOSURE FOR HEAT TRANSFER DEVICES, METHODS OF MANUFACTURE THEREOF AND ARTICLES COMPRISING THE SAME
Publication number: 20100294461Abstract: Disclosed herein is a heat transfer device that includes a shell; the shell being an enclosure that prevents matter from within the shell from being exchanged with matter outside the shell during the operation of the heat transfer device; the shell having an outer surface and an inner surface; and a porous layer disposed on the inner surface of the shell; the porous particle layer having a thickness effective to enclose a vapor space between opposing faces; the vapor space being effective to provide a passage for the transport of a fluid; the heat transfer device having a thermal conductivity of greater than or equal to about 10 watts per meter-Kelvin and a coefficient of thermal expansion that is substantially similar to that of a semiconductor.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 22, 2009Publication date: November 25, 2010Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Stanton Earl Weaver, JR., Shakti Singh Chauhan, Aaron Jay Knobloch, Ambarish Jayant Kulkarni, Kripa Kiran Varanasi -
Publication number: 20100136323Abstract: A protective shield for a device exposed to heat includes a granular fill layer, a nano particle layer, a metallic foam layer, a thermal barrier coating, or combinations thereof. The shield is configured for providing thermal resistance, and damping of vibrations, and acoustics to the device.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2008Publication date: June 3, 2010Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Kripa Kiran Varanasi, Farshad Ghasripoor, Tao Deng, Bala Corratiyil, Nitin Bhate, Thomas Lowell Steen, Sanket Sahebrao Mahajan
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Publication number: 20100096113Abstract: An article comprising a hybrid surface for promoting dropwise liquid condensation is disclosed herein. The article comprises an array, wherein the array comprises a plurality of raised structures. The plurality of raised structures comprise at least one geometric shape. The plurality of raised structures also comprise a hydrophobic surface. The article also comprises a plurality of hydrophilic pores interspersed between the plurality of raised structures. Methods for constructing a hybrid surface for promoting dropwise liquid condensation are disclosed herein. A heat transfer device comprising a hybrid surface for promoting dropwise liquid condensation is also disclosed herein.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2008Publication date: April 22, 2010Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Kripa Kiran Varanasi, Tao Deng
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Publication number: 20100086397Abstract: A turbine engine component includes at least one treated surface wherein the treated surface has a surface roughness (Ra) of less than 12 microinches; and a hard coating disposed on the superfinished surface, wherein the hard coating is a nitride and/or a carbide material at a thickness of less than 50 microns formed using electron beam physical vapor deposition, cathodic arc evaporation, or magnetron sputtering. disclosed are methods for substantially preventing micropitting on a surface of a turbine engine component.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2008Publication date: April 8, 2010Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Kripa Kiran Varanasi, Nitin Bhate, Michael David Carroll, Farshad Ghasripoor, Ambarish Jayant Kulkarni, Larry Steven Rosenzweig, Jerry Donald Schell, Dalong Zhong