Patents by Inventor Lars Harald Heggen

Lars Harald Heggen 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).

  • Publication number: 20230203981
    Abstract: The invention pertains to gas exchange in internal combustion engines using low to zero-emission fuels. The combustion engine has the ability to regulate the quantity of air/fuel mixture in the cylinder using one or more exhaust valve(s) (2) that can have adjustable opening times in order to control the gas exchange in the cylinder so that exhaust and alternatively also air can be expelled into the exhaust system. By reducing the quantity of air and thus the quantity of fuel for each cycle, that combined with reduced compression pressure means that engines can operate with a higher expansion ratio by leaving the exhaust valve(s) (2) open through a part of the compression stroke to reduce the amount of air to the combustion and reduce compression and then pressure rise before combustion. Air volume and gas exchange are regulated by compressor(s) (5) as well as opening and closing of exhaust valve(s) (2) with the exhaust valve control (4); alternatively, also intake valves for 4-stroke engines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2021
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Inventor: Lars Harald Heggen
  • Publication number: 20230010644
    Abstract: A hybrid system for drones and other modes of transport. A combustion engine provides range and/or lifting capacity for drones while electric motors/generators provide both control and maneuverability. One or more combustion engines, in conjunction with one or more electric motors/generators form a propulsion system whereby each is connected to and drives its own driving pinion in one or more planetary gear sets, and provide continuously variable transmission for driving propellers or driveshafts. The combustion engine may be connected directly to one of the planetary gear's driving pinions, or can drive one of the planetary gear's driving pinions. If the propellers are only driven by either a combustion engine, or an electric motor/generator, the other engine/motor will be kept at rest by a braking device for a combustion engine or a braking device for an electric motor/generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Publication date: January 12, 2023
    Inventor: Lars Harald Heggen
  • Patent number: 11542878
    Abstract: Aspects relate to zero-emission propulsion systems and generators using ammonia (NH3) as fuel for engines and power plants. While ammonia has poor flammability, mixing hydrogen with ammonia (NH3) may improve flammability and thus facilitate the ignition of an air/ammonia mixture in engines or power plants. Alternatively, hydrogen (H2) may be supplied in a separate fuel system as a pilot fuel for pilot ignition of an air/ammonia mixture. Hydrogen can also be used in air independent systems along with oxygen (O2) from an oxygen tank. In addition to hydrogen, other bio or fossil fuels can be used as pilot fuel for pilot ignition of an air/ammonia mixture. An advantage of using existing bio or fossil fuels for pilot ignition is that engines or power plants will have a pilot fuel system with sufficient capacity to maintain normal operations if ammonia is not available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Inventor: Lars Harald Heggen
  • Publication number: 20220056856
    Abstract: Aspects relate to zero-emission propulsion systems and generators using ammonia (NH3) as fuel for engines and power plants. While ammonia has poor flammability, mixing hydrogen with ammonia (NH3) may improve flammability and thus facilitate the ignition of an air/ammonia mixture in engines or power plants. Alternatively, hydrogen (H2) may be supplied in a separate fuel system as a pilot fuel for pilot ignition of an air/ammonia mixture. Hydrogen can also be used in air independent systems along with oxygen (O2) from an oxygen tank. In addition to hydrogen, other bio or fossil fuels can be used as pilot fuel for pilot ignition of an air/ammonia mixture. An advantage of using existing bio or fossil fuels for pilot ignition is that engines or power plants will have a pilot fuel system with sufficient capacity to maintain normal operations if ammonia is not available.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Inventor: LARS HARALD HEGGEN
  • Patent number: 11149662
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a zero emission propulsion system and generator sets using ammonia (NH3) as fuel for engines and power plants such as steam boilers (5) for steam turbines (7), piston engines (9), fuel cells (10) or Stirling engines (11). Due to the poor flammability of ammonia (NH3), a hydrogen reactor (4) can split ammonia (NH3) into hydrogen (H2) and nitrogen (N2). The hydrogen (H2) can be placed in a hydrogen tank (8) for intermediate storage and the nitrogen can be stored in a nitrogen tank (6). The hydrogen (H2) could be mixed with ammonia (NH3) to improve flammability and thus facilitate the ignition of an air/ammonia (NH3) mixture in engines or power plants (5, 9, 11). Alternatively, hydrogen (¾) may be supplied in a separate fuel system (5-1, 9-5, 11-8) as a pilot fuel for pilot ignition of an air/ammonia (NH3) mixture. The hydrogen (H2) can also be used in AIP systems along with oxygen (O2) from an oxygen tank (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Inventor: Lars Harald Heggen
  • Publication number: 20210164407
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a zero emission propulsion system and generator sets using ammonia (NH3) as fuel for engines and power plants such as steam boilers (5) for steam turbines (7), piston engines (9), fuel cells (10) or Stirling engines (11). Due to the poor flammability of ammonia (NH3), a hydrogen reactor (4) can split ammonia (NH3) into hydrogen (H2) and nitrogen (N2). The hydrogen (H2) can be placed in a hydrogen tank (8) for intermediate storage and the nitrogen can be stored in a nitrogen tank (6). The hydrogen (H2) could be mixed with ammonia (NH3) to improve flammability and thus facilitate the ignition of an air/ammonia (NH3) mixture in engines or power plants (5, 9, 11). Alternatively, hydrogen (¾) may be supplied in a separate fuel system (5-1, 9-5, 11-8) as a pilot fuel for pilot ignition of an air/ammonia (NH3) mixture. The hydrogen (H2) can also be used in AIP systems along with oxygen (O2) from an oxygen tank (22).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Inventor: LARS HARALD HEGGEN
  • Patent number: 9345986
    Abstract: A method for evaporation and possibly distillation of liquids by means of a heat pump is provided. By using a heat pump (2), energy is taken from energy reservoir(s) (1) such as rivers, sea water, air, or ground heat. However, it is difficult to obtain temperatures high enough to evaporate water at atmospheric conditions. According to the invention, low temperature heat is utilized by means of a heat pump by using the condenser of the heat pump to evaporate liquids in an evaporator (4?) at a pressure lower than atmospheric pressure, and thus at a lower evaporation temperature. Furthermore, the saturation of the evaporated liquids is eliminated before the evaporated liquids enter the compressor (10) by the further heating of the evaporated liquids leaving the liquids evaporator (4?) in a heat exchanger (11) that utilizes the peak temperature of the refrigerant that leaves the heat pump's refrigerant compressor (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Inventors: Ola Heggen, Lars Harald Heggen