Patents by Inventor Thomas L. Pierson

Thomas L. Pierson 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: 9057288
    Abstract: A combined cycle power plant system and methods of operation so as to minimize consumption of cooling water utilizes exhaust from a combustion turbine to generate steam for power generation in a steam turbine topping cycle. The exhaust steam from the steam turbine topping cycle is utilized to vaporize an organic working fluid in an organic working fluid bottoming cycle, where vaporized organic working fluid expanded across a turbine generates additional power. Exhaust gas from the organic working fluid bottoming cycle is condensed utilizing an air-cooled heat exchanger. Heat exchange bundles of the air-cooled heat exchanger are preferably arranged horizontally relative to the ground to maximize efficiency. Turbine inlet cooling is employed at the combustion turbine to recapture energy lost in the system. A thermal energy storage tank may be utilized in conjunction with the turbine inlet cooling to supply chilling water to the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: TAS Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas L. Pierson, Herman Leibowitz
  • Publication number: 20130298568
    Abstract: A combined cycle power plant system and methods of operation so as to minimize consumption of cooling water utilizes exhaust from a combustion turbine to generate steam for power generation in a steam turbine topping cycle. The exhaust steam from the steam turbine topping cycle is utilized to vaporize an organic working fluid in an organic working fluid bottoming cycle, where vaporized organic working fluid expanded across a turbine generates additional power. Exhaust gas from the organic working fluid bottoming cycle is condensed utilizing an air-cooled heat exchanger. Heat exchange bundles of the air-cooled heat exchanger are preferably arranged horizontally relative to the ground to maximize efficiency. Turbine inlet cooling is employed at the combustion turbine to recapture energy lost in the system. A thermal energy storage tank may be utilized in conjunction with the turbine inlet cooling to supply chilling water to the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Inventors: Thomas L. Pierson, Herman Leibowitz
  • Patent number: 8534039
    Abstract: A combined cycle power plant system and methods of operation so as to minimize consumption of cooling water utilizes exhaust from a combustion turbine to generate steam for power generation in a steam turbine topping cycle. The exhaust steam from the steam turbine topping cycle is utilized to vaporize an organic working fluid in an organic working fluid bottoming cycle, where vaporized organic working fluid expanded across a turbine generates additional power. Exhaust gas from the organic working fluid bottoming cycle is condensed utilizing an air-cooled heat exchanger. Heat exchange bundles of the air-cooled heat exchanger are preferably arranged horizontally relative to the ground to maximize efficiency. Turbine inlet cooling is employed at the combustion turbine to recapture energy lost in the system. A thermal energy storage tank may be utilized in conjunction with the turbine inlet cooling to supply chilling water to the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: TAS Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas L. Pierson, Herman Leibowitz
  • Publication number: 20120324885
    Abstract: A geothermal power system includes a steam turbine and a closed loop working fluid system having a preheater, a vaporizer, a superheater, an expander, a condenser, and a pump and a working fluid disposed to pass sequentially through the preheater, vaporizer, superheater, expander, condenser, and pump. Geothermal fluid is separated into a steam stream and a brine stream. The steam is expanded across the steam turbine to generate power, and thereafter exhaust from the steam turbine passes through the vaporizer to vaporize the working fluid. Geothermal brine is first used to heat vaporized working fluid in the superheater and is then used to preheat liquid working fluid in the preheater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: Turbine Air Systems Ltd.
    Inventors: Thomas L. Pierson, Guofu Chen
  • Publication number: 20120247114
    Abstract: An intercooled gas turbine is provided having an air cooled heat exchanger and a chiller disposed to remove heat from the cooling medium of the intercooler heat exchanger. During peak hours when the turbine is in operation, the air cooled heat exchanger is used primarily to cool the cooling medium of the intercooler heat exchanger. During off peak hours when the turbine is idle, the air cooled heat exchanger is used to remove heat from the condenser of a chiller system associated with a gas turbine inlet air cooling system. An additional liquid to liquid heat exchanger may be provided in-line between the intercooler heat exchanger and the air cooled heat exchanger to further cool the intercooler heat exchanger cooling medium using chilled water before the cooling medium passes back into the intercooler heat exchanger. The chilled water may be provided directly from the chillers, or from a thermal energy storage tank, or from the cooling coils of a turbine inlet air cooling system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: Turbine Air Systems Ltd.
    Inventors: Thomas L. Pierson, Russell Thompson, Mark Linton
  • Patent number: 8233270
    Abstract: A modular data center is constructed utilizing two building modules, wherein each of two modules includes a computer rack disposed therein which computer rack is spaced apart from an exterior wall to define an exterior access space and spaced apart from an interior opening to define an interior access space. When the two building modules are joined so that the openings abut one another, the interior access spaces of the two modules form a contiguous space between the two computer racks, which space satisfies access requirements for each computer rack. The interior access space between the two computer racks may be enclosed to form an environment that can be separately cooled from the remainder of the modular data center. A method provides two building modules, each containing a computer rack, which modules are joined so that the access spaces for the computer racks overlap, wherein a portion of the computer rack access space of one module forms part of the computer rack access space of the other module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Turbine Air Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Thomas L. Pierson, Loyd Guillot, Michael Felker
  • Publication number: 20120023940
    Abstract: An air-cooled condenser system for an Organic Rankin Cycle power plant includes a support structure formed of a plurality of truss members that are coupled together in a spaced apart orientation to horizontally support a plurality of side-by-side condenser bundles. A plurality of fans are likewise supported by the truss members and are disposed above the condenser bundles to draw air across the condenser bundles. Each fan extends over at least two condenser bundles and preferably at least three bundles. An air plenum is provided to establish a minimum separation between each fan and its corresponding condenser bundles so as to fluidly couple each fan to at least two condenser bundles, while at the same time decoupling the air inlet and air exit for the system, thereby minimizing air recirculation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: TAS Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Kitz, Thomas L. Pierson, Stanleigh Cross, Ian Spanswick
  • Publication number: 20110122561
    Abstract: A modular data center is constructed utilizing two building modules, wherein each of two modules includes a computer rack disposed therein which computer rack is spaced apart from an exterior wall to define an exterior access space and spaced apart from an interior opening to define an interior access space. When the two building modules are joined so that the openings abut one another, the interior access spaces of the two modules form a contiguous space between the two computer racks, which space satisfies access requirements for each computer rack. The interior access space between the two computer racks may be enclosed to form an environment that can be separately cooled from the remainder of the modular data center. A method provides two building modules, each containing a computer rack, which modules are joined so that the access spaces for the computer racks overlap, wherein a portion of the computer rack access space of one module forms part of the computer rack access space of the other module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: Turbine Air Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Thomas L. Pierson, Loyd Guillot, Michael Felker
  • Patent number: RE44815
    Abstract: A method for cooling inlet air to a gas turbine is provided. For example, a method is described including passing inlet air through a cooling coil that includes an opening for receiving the inlet air and that is operably connected to a gas turbine power plant. The gas turbine power plant may include at least one gas turbine, and at least one gas turbine inlet which receives the inlet air. The method may further include passing circulating water through a water chiller at a first flow rate to reduce the temperature of the circulating water, the water chiller including a conduit through which the circulating water is capable of passing and passing the circulating water having the first flow rate through the cooling coil in an amount sufficient to lower the temperature of the inlet air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: TAS Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas L. Pierson