Patents by Inventor Natalie B. Levings
Natalie B. Levings 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: 10209015Abstract: A hybrid plate-fin heat exchanger for exchanging heat between a first fluid and a second fluid is disclosed. The hybrid plate-fin heat exchanger comprises a plurality of plates, each of which comprises channels for conveying the first fluid. Fins are brazed onto each plate, wherein the fins define a plurality of flow channels for the second fluid. The plates are joined to one another via friction-stir welding in such a way that the brazed regions are fluidically isolated from the first fluid during operation. As a result, the heat exchanger is suitable for use in applications that use a first fluid, such as seawater or geothermal fluid, which is corrosive for the brazed regions.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2010Date of Patent: February 19, 2019Assignee: Lockheed Martin CorporationInventors: Natalie B. Levings, Nicholas J. Nagurny, Michael R. Eller
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Patent number: 9670911Abstract: A heat-exchanger module that conveys a fluid through one or more heat exchangers with little or no pressure drop is presented. The heat-exchanger module comprises a first manifold that smoothly channels the fluid from a fluid source to each of the heat exchangers. The heat-exchanger module further comprises a second manifold that smoothly channels the fluid from the heat exchangers to a fluid sink. The manifolds are dimensioned and arranged to mitigate development of pressure drops in the fluid flow.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2011Date of Patent: June 6, 2017Assignee: Lockheed Martin CorporationInventors: Natalie B. Levings, Eugene C. Jansen, Jared D. Gilbert, Nicholas J. Nagurny
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Patent number: 9388798Abstract: A heat exchanger module for thermally coupling a first fluid and second fluid is disclosed. The heat exchanger module comprises a plurality of heat exchangers, each of which is fluidically coupled to a common seawater inlet and a common seawater outlet. The heat exchanger module is dimensioned and arranged for integrating with an OTEC system located on an offshore platform that is deployed in a body of water. The heat exchanger module physically and fluidically couples with ports included in pontoons attached to the offshore platform. The ports are individually controllable so that the module can be added or removed from the OTEC system without interrupting operation of other heat exchanger modules integrated with the OTEC system.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2011Date of Patent: July 12, 2016Assignee: Lockheed Martin CorporationInventors: Natalie B. Levings, Eugene C. Jansen, Jared D. Gilbert, Nicholas J. Nagurny, Robert J. Howard, Stephen L. Bailey
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Patent number: 8776538Abstract: A pontoon that includes infrastructure for fluidically coupling a heat exchanger or heat exchanger module into each of the seawater and working-fluid distribution systems of an OTEC power generation system is provided. In some embodiments, a pontoon comprises: (1) a first passage for conveying seawater between a first port and a second port at which a heat exchanger module can be connected; and (2) a conduit and connectors for connecting the heat exchanger module and the working fluid circulation system—even while the heat exchanger module is submerged. In some embodiments, pontoons in accordance with the present invention enable heat exchangers or heat exchanger modules to be added or removed to an OTEC system without disrupting the operation of other heat exchangers or heat exchanger modules in use in the OTEC system.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2011Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Lockheed Martin CorporationInventors: Nicholas J. Nagurny, Eugene C. Jansen, Natalie B. Levings, Stephen L. Bailey, Robert J. Howard
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Patent number: 8540012Abstract: A heat exchanger and a method for fabricating the heat exchanger are disclosed. The heat exchanger comprises a heat exchanger core that is formed from a plurality of stacked aluminum panels that are joined together via friction stir welding. Each panel in the core is formed from at least two aluminum extrusions that are joined to one another via friction stir welding.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2009Date of Patent: September 24, 2013Assignee: Lockheed Martin CorporationInventors: Nicholas J. Nagurny, Natalie B. Levings, Derek M. Beckner, Michael R. Eller, Patrick D. Grandelli, Joe Van Ryzin, Eliot Goldstein, Randy J. Brown, Leslie D. Kramer, Robert J. Howard
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Publication number: 20120125561Abstract: A heat exchanger module for thermally coupling a first fluid and second fluid is disclosed. The heat exchanger module comprises a plurality of heat exchangers, each of which is fluidically coupled to a common seawater inlet and a common seawater outlet. The heat exchanger module is dimensioned and arranged for integrating with an OTEC system located on an offshore platform that is deployed in a body of water. The heat exchanger module physically and fluidically couples with ports included in pontoons attached to the offshore platform. The ports are individually controllable so that the module can be added or removed from the OTEC system without interrupting operation of other heat exchanger modules integrated with the OTEC system.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2011Publication date: May 24, 2012Applicant: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATIONInventors: Natalie B. Levings, Eugene C. Jansen, Jared D. Gilbert, Nicholas J. Nagurny, Robert J. Howard, Stephen L. Bailey
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Publication number: 20120080164Abstract: A pontoon that includes infrastructure for fluidically coupling a heat exchanger or heat exchanger module into each of the seawater and working-fluid distribution systems of an OTEC power generation system is provided. In some embodiments, a pontoon comprises: (1) a first passage for conveying seawater between a first port and a second port at which a heat exchanger module can be connected; and (2) a conduit and connectors for connecting the heat exchanger module and the working fluid circulation system—even while the heat exchanger module is submerged. In some embodiments, pontoons in accordance with the present invention enable heat exchangers or heat exchanger modules to be added or removed to an OTEC system without disrupting the operation of other heat exchangers or heat exchanger modules in use in the OTEC system.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2011Publication date: April 5, 2012Applicant: Lockheed Martin CorporationInventors: Nicholas J. Nagurny, Eugene C. Jansen, Natalie B. Levings, Stephen L. Bailey, Robert J. Howard
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Publication number: 20120080175Abstract: A heat-exchanger module that conveys a fluid through one or more heat exchangers with little or no pressure drop is presented. The heat-exchanger module comprises a first manifold that smoothly channels the fluid from a fluid source to each of the heat exchangers. The heat-exchanger module further comprises a second manifold that smoothly channels the fluid from the heat exchangers to a fluid sink. The manifolds are dimensioned and arranged to mitigate development of pressure drops in the fluid flow.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2011Publication date: April 5, 2012Applicant: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATIONInventors: Natalie B. Levings, Eugene C. Jansen, Jared D. Gilbert, Nicholas J. Nagurny
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Publication number: 20110011570Abstract: A hybrid plate-fin heat exchanger for exchanging heat between a first fluid and a second fluid is disclosed. The hybrid plate-fin heat exchanger comprises a plurality of plates, each of which comprises channels for conveying the first fluid. Fins are brazed onto each plate, wherein the fins define a plurality of flow channels for the second fluid. The plates are joined to one another via friction-stir welding in such a way that the brazed regions are fluidically isolated from the first fluid during operation. As a result, the heat exchanger is suitable for use in applications that use a first fluid, such as seawater or geothermal fluid, which is corrosive for the brazed regions.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2010Publication date: January 20, 2011Applicant: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATIONInventors: Natalie B. Levings, Nicholas J. Nagurny, Michael R. Eller
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Publication number: 20110011572Abstract: A heat exchanger comprising helically wound tube bundles is disclosed. The helically wound tube bundles are joined with tube sheets to define a primary working fluid system that is fluidically isolated from a secondary working fluid system. The tube sheets and tubes are formed of the same material, which facilitates their joining by means of joints that are substantially galvanic corrosion-resistant joints.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 15, 2010Publication date: January 20, 2011Applicant: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATIONInventors: Nicholas J. Nagurny, Natalie B. Levings, Derek M. Beckner, Scott M. Maurer