Patents by Inventor Ragnar A. Hermanstad

Ragnar A. Hermanstad 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).

  • Patent number: 6540487
    Abstract: A pressure exchanger for simultaneously reducing the pressure of a high pressure liquid and pressurizing a low pressure liquid. The pressure exchanger has a housing having a body portion; with end elements at opposite ends of the body portion. A rotor is in the body portion of the housing and in substantially sealing contact with the end plates. The rotor has at least one channel extending substantially longitudinally from one end of the rotor to the opposite end of the rotor with an opening at each end. The channels of the rotor are positioned in the rotor for alternate hydraulic communication with 1) high pressure liquid and 2) low pressure liquid, in order to transfer pressure between the high pressure liquid and the low pressure liquid. Because of the high pressures and the high angular velocities, this is a highly cavitation prone structure, In order to prevent cavitation, there are one or more grooves in one or both of the end plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Energy Recovery, Inc.
    Inventors: Thanos Polizos, Thomas Babcock, Leif J. Hauge, Ragnar A. Hermanstad
  • Publication number: 20020025264
    Abstract: A pressure exchanger for simultaneously reducing the pressure of a high pressure liquid and pressurizing a low pressure liquid. The pressure exchanger has a housing having a body portion; with end elements at opposite ends of the body portion. A rotor is in the body portion of the housing and in substantially sealing contact with the end plates. The rotor has at least one channel extending substantially longitudinally from one end of the rotor to the opposite end of the rotor with an opening at each end. The channels of the rotor are positioned in the rotor for alternate hydraulic communication with 1) high pressure liquid and 2) low pressure liquid, in order to transfer pressure between the high pressure liquid and the low pressure liquid. Because of the high pressures and the high angular velocities, this is a highly cavitation prone structure, In order to prevent cavitation, there are one or more grooves in one or both of the end plates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Publication date: February 28, 2002
    Inventors: Thanos Polizos, Thomas Babcock, Leif J. Hauge, Ragnar A. Hermanstad