Surface Patents (Class 122/32)
  • Patent number: 11918771
    Abstract: A vaporization capsule including a liquid active agent absorbed in or adsorbed to a substrate, which may be operated so as to vaporize the liquid active agent. The vaporization capsule includes a capsule body defining a first volume and a second volume. A first cover sealingly engages the capsule body at a first end thereof. The first cover includes an exterior perimeter, an interior wall including a hollow defined between the exterior perimeter and the interior wall portion, and at least one indentation disposed in the interior wall portion, fluidly connecting the first volume and the second volume via the hollow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: NOVOMIC LTD
    Inventor: Zvi Yemini
  • Patent number: 11536448
    Abstract: The steam generating unit of dual circuit reactor with blowdown and drain system is implemented in the close loop, without any conventional blowdown expansion tanks and is designed for maximum pressure of the steam generator (SG) working medium. The SG blowdown water is combined into a single line, cooled down in the regenerative heat exchanger, then in the blowdown aftercooler and drain cooling line and taken out of the tight shell. Out of the tight shell, the SG blowdown water is supplied for treatment to the SG blowdown water treatment system designed for maximum pressure of the steam generator (SG) working medium. After treatment, the water returns to the tight shell and, via the regenerative heat exchanger, to the feed pipelines of each SG. The invention provides increased SG blowdown that leads to the accelerated chemical condition normalization even with considerable deviations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: JOINT STOCK COMPANY “ATOMENERGOPROEKT”
    Inventors: Konstantin Vladimirovich Dorokhin, Andrei Viktorovich Shestakov
  • Patent number: 11499785
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for storing heat and continuously generating electricity, the method comprising a phase change material; first fluid conduit in thermal communication with the phase change material wherein the first conduit is adapted to receive a first fluid; a second fluid conduit in thermal communication with the phase change material, wherein the second conduit is adapted to receive a second fluid; and a turbine in thermal communication with the second fluid. Also provided is a method for continuously charging the energy power block portion of a combined thermal energy storage and heat exchanger unit with heated fluid generated by concentrated solar power, the method comprising intermittently storing heat in a phase change material; and continually directing the heat from the phase change material to a turbine such that the phase change material buffers the turbine against inconsistent solar heat inputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: David M. France, Dileep Singh, Wenhua Yu
  • Patent number: 11306912
    Abstract: In the present invention, a recuperator is used in a refrigerant cycle to make a heat exchange between a refrigerant generated in a condenser and a refrigerant before flowing into a compressor, thereby supercooling the refrigerant to minimize the quality of the refrigerant introduced into an evaporator, elevating temperatures at an inlet and an outlet of the compressor, and increasing condensed heat of the condenser. In the present invention, a recuperator is used to increase condensed heat of the condenser, leading to increasing the heat which circulation water circulating in a steam producing cycle receives from the condenser, whereby steam production efficiency can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: KOREA INSTITUTE OF ENERGY RESEARCH
    Inventors: Beom Joon Lee, Gil Bong Lee, Young Jin Baik, Hyung Ki Shin, Jun Hyun Cho, Chui Woo Roh, Ho Sang Ra, Eun Seok Wang, Young Soo Lee
  • Patent number: 11293666
    Abstract: Provided are a superhigh temperature heat pump system and method capable of preparing boiling water not lower than 100° C., belonging to the technical field of heat pumps. The system comprises a compressor (1), primary and secondary evaporators (5, 6), an expansion mechanism (4), primary and secondary condenser/coolers (2, 3), water pumps (7, 8, 13), water tanks (9, 10), and a valve (14). The solution is based on the compressor exhaust heat enthalpy utilization minimum entropy gain principles/technology, and utilizes exhaust heat enthalpy sensible heat and latent heat in stages. The present invention has an output water temperature higher than 100° C., expands the functions of current heat pump water heaters which can only prepare hot water lower than 100° C., and can replace electric water heaters, save energy and increase energy utilization rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: NANJING UNIVERSITY OF AERONAUTICS AND ASTRONAUTICS
    Inventors: Wenqing Xia, Zhuoran Huang, Yuhang Lou
  • Patent number: 11226159
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a plurality of heat transfer tubes (3) and a centrally arranged bypass tube (4), which are held each between a tube plate (5) of a gas inlet chamber (7) and a tube plate (6) of a gas outlet chamber (8) that are connected to a cylindrical jacket. A coolant (11) is introduced into the jacket space (9) enclosing the tubes (3, 4). A control device (16), includes a throttle valve (18) and a drive (19), sets a gas outlet temperature range of the heat exchanger (1). A discharge rate and a discharged quantity of an uncooled process gas stream (14) from the bypass tube is controlled by the throttle valve, at an outlet end (17) of the bypass tube and is adjustable via the control device. The throttle valve is formed of a material resistant to high-temperature corrosion in a temperature range sensitive for high-temperature corrosion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Borsig GmbH
    Inventor: Jan Müggenburg
  • Patent number: 11168922
    Abstract: A heat exchanger tube for transferring a heat of an exhaust gas to a fluid to be heated includes a turn-back portion formed in an intermediate portion of the heat exchanger tube and a reciprocating conduit portion. The reciprocating conduit portion includes a conduit portion leading from a starting end of the heat exchanger tube to the turn-back portion, and a conduit portion leading from the turn-back portion to a terminal end of the heat exchanger tube. A space equal to or greater than the outer diameter of the conduit portions is provided between these conduit portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: PURPOSE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Aoki, Tetsuya Oishi
  • Patent number: 11143456
    Abstract: A heat exchanger, comprising: a top cover (2) which is provided with a top cavity (21); a liquid-collecting chamber (1) which is provided with a liquid-collecting cavity (11); a housing (3) which is provided with a receiving cavity (31), neither of the liquid-collecting cavity (11) nor the top cavity (21) being in connection with the receiving cavity (31); an upper tube plate (4); a lower tube plate (5); and a heat exchange tube (6) which sequentially passes through the top cavity (21), the upper tube plate (4), the receiving cavity (31), the lower tube plate (5), and the liquid-collecting cavity (11); the two ends of the heat exchange tube (6) are in connection with the liquid-collecting cavity (11) and the top cavity (21), respectively; sealing members (8) are provided between the outer circumference of the heat exchange tube (6) and the upper tube plate (4) and between the outer circumference of the heat exchange tube (6) and the lower tube plate (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignees: KEYON PROCESS CO., LTD, RUI HUANG
    Inventors: Long Cen, Binbin Fei, Xiaojian Wang, Hao Wang, Qiang Ma
  • Patent number: 11037376
    Abstract: A plant or refinery may include equipment such as condensers, regenerators, distillation columns, rotating equipment, compressors, pumps, turbines, or the like. Different operating methods may impact deterioration in equipment condition, thereby prolonging equipment life, extending production operating time, or providing other benefits. Mechanical or digital sensors may be used for monitoring equipment to determine whether problems are developing. For example, sensors may be used in conjunction with one or more system components to perform invariant mapping, monitor system operating characteristics, and/or predict pressure, volume, surges, reactor loop fouling, gas quality, or the like. An operating condition (e.g., of one or more pieces of equipment in the plant or refinery) may be adjusted to prolong equipment life or avoid equipment failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Michael Van de Cotte, Ian G. Horn
  • Patent number: 10955202
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to a system with a primary body in communication with at least one heat source. A chamber housed within the primary body includes a boundary to separate the heat source from fluid contact and a secondary body housed in the chamber. The secondary body includes a conduit and a cover in communication with the conduit wherein the cover has a fluid flow inlet extending into the conduit and the conduit includes a series of convection ports to exhaust fluid into the chamber. Upon surging through the convection ports, the fluid comes in contact with the plenum of the primary body and dissipates the heat generated from the heat source and transferred to the primary body. An outlet, separate from the inlet, removes the fluid from the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Advanced Thermal Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Kaveh Azar, Bahman Tavassoli-Hojati, Anatoly Pikovsky
  • Patent number: 10773880
    Abstract: A heating assembly for heating a liquid storage tank includes a heat exchanger tank supported in one wall of the storage tank to extend into the storage tank in contact with liquid stored therein. The heat exchanger tank contains a heat exchanger fluid therein which is heated by a burner tube extending through the heat exchanger tank whereby heat is only transferred to the liquid in the storage tank through the heat exchanger fluid. A controller actuates the burner head of the burner tube to maintain temperature of the heat exchanger fluid between upper and lower temperature limits. The operation of the burner head is interrupted in response to temperature of the liquid in the storage tank exceeding an upper limit, or fluid level in the heat exchanger tank being below a lower limit as determined by respective sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Viro Rentals, Inc.
    Inventor: Lester James Thiessen
  • Patent number: 10720250
    Abstract: The invention relates to the nuclear energy field, including pressurized water reactor containment internal passive heat removal systems. The invention increases heat removal efficiency, flow stability in the circuit, and system reliability. The system has at least one cooling water circulation circuit comprising a heat exchanger inside the containment and including an upper and lower header interconnected by heat-exchange tubes, a riser pipeline and a downtake pipeline connected to the heat exchanger, a cooling water supply tank above the heat exchanger outside the containment and connected to the downtake pipeline, a steam relief valve connected to the riser pipeline and located in the water supply tank and hydraulically connected to the latter. The upper and lower header of the heat exchanger are divided into heat exchange tube sections on the assumption that: L/D?20, L being the header section length, D being the header bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Joint-Stock Company Scientific Research and Design Institute for Energy Technologies Atomproekt
    Inventors: Vladimir Victorovich Bezlepkin, Sergey Evgenivich Semashko, Igor Mihaylovich Ivkov, Sergey Borisovich Alekseev, Teymuraz Georgievich Vardanidze, Yuriy Yurievich Petrov, Aleksander Sergeevich Solodovnikov, Yuriy Vladimirovich Krylov
  • Patent number: 10706974
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a passive cooling system of a containment building, to which a plate-type heat exchanger is applied. A passive cooling system of a containment building comprises: a containment building; a plate-type heat exchanger provided to at least one of the inside and the outside of the containment building and comprising channels respectively provided to the both sides of a plate so as to be arranged dividedly from each other such that the plate-type heat exchanger carries out mutual heat exchange between the internal atmosphere of the containment building and a heat exchange fluid while maintaining a pressure boundary; and a pipe connected to the plate-type heat exchanger by penetrating the containment building so as to form the path of the internal atmosphere of the containment building or the heat exchange fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: KOREA ATOMIC ENERGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Young In Kim, Cheon Tae Park, Seung Yeob Ryu, Young Min Bae, Joo Hyung Moon, Soo Jai Shin, Hun Sik Han, Kyung Jun Kang, Young Soo Kim, Tae Wan Kim, Ju Hyeon Yoon, Keung Koo Kim, Jae Joo Ha
  • Patent number: 10685752
    Abstract: A steam generation system may include a plurality of heat transfer tubes configured to circulate a secondary coolant of the steam generation system. The steam generation system may be thermally coupled to a reactor vessel, and the reactor vessel may be configured to house a primary coolant. Heat generated from within the reactor vessel may be transferred from the primary coolant to the secondary coolant. The steam generation system may further include an inclined tube sheet fluidly coupled to the plurality of heat transfer tubes. The inclined tube sheet may be attached to a wall of the reactor vessel in a non-horizontal orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: NUSCALE POWER, LLC
    Inventor: Tamas Liszkai
  • Patent number: 10605544
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes first fluid passages that each have a first inlet that communicates into a first core passage and then a first outlet. The first inlet has a first inlet cross-sectional perimeter. The first core passage has a first core cross-sectional perimeter. Second fluid passages are interleaved with the first fluid passages. Each of the second passages have a second inlet that communicates into a second core passage and then a second outlet. The second inlet has a second inlet cross-sectional perimeter. The second core passage has a second core cross-sectional perimeter. The first and second core cross-sectional perimeters are larger than their respective first and second inlet cross-sectional perimeters. The first and second core passages are undivided from their respective first and second inlets to their respective first and second outlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark A. Zaffetti, Jeremy M. Strange
  • Patent number: 10605448
    Abstract: The boiler using a liquid metal as a working medium according to the present invention is comprises: a combustion furnace, in which the working medium is supplied and heated; a heat exchange part, which is connected to the combustion furnace and to which the working medium heated in the combustion furnace is supplied; a heat medium injection part, which is positioned in the heat exchange part; and a supply part, which is connected to the heat exchange part and supplies the heat medium to the heat medium injection part. In the heat exchange part, the heat exchange between the heat medium supplied to the heat medium injection part and the heated working medium is performed. The heat medium reaches high temperature and high pressure states at a threshold point or higher by means of the heat exchange. In addition, the working medium is a liquid metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: KOREA INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Uen Do Lee, Won Yang, Byung Ryeul Bang, Soo Hwa Jeong, Ji Hong Moon
  • Patent number: 10514183
    Abstract: An exhaust gas latent-heat recovery device includes: a heat transfer tube disposed inside a duct through which exhaust gas flows, the heat transfer tube having a water supply inlet into which water to be heated for recovering latent heat of the exhaust gas is supplied and a water supply outlet through which the water to be heated is discharged; and a water supply control part configured to control supply of the water to be heated to the water supply inlet. The water supply control part is configured to control supply of the water to be heated from the water supply inlet so that an outlet temperature being a temperature of the water to be heated at the water supply outlet is at a set temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HITACHI POWER SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Naoki Koumoto, Tomohiro Harada, Hiroyuki Yagita, Akitoshi Sugiyama, Tarou Ichihara, Kimio Konno, Yukimitsu Sasaki
  • Patent number: 10510453
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrical energy generation facility comprising: —a steam generation device (1) that is suitable for producing saturated steam (VI) from a heat source and is arranged in a chamber (10); —a set of one or more separators (13) that is/are connected downstream to the steam generation device (1) and is/are suitable for removing most of the water from the steam (VI) generated by the device (1), said set being arranged in the chamber (10); —a set of one or more dryers (14) which is connected upstream to the set of separators (13) and is suitable for collecting the water droplets suspended in the steam (V2) that is discharged from the set of separators so as to generate dry steam (V3); —a steam turbine (2) comprising at least one body (20) for expanding dry steam (V3), the steam turbine being suitable for producing electricity from the dry steam (V3); —a set of exchangers (23, 7) suitable for operating as steam superheaters or for reheating supply water; the set of one or more dryers (14)
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventors: Guy-Marie Gautier, Pierre Allegre
  • Patent number: 10510452
    Abstract: A nuclear steam supply system utilizing gravity-driven natural circulation for primary coolant flow through a fluidly interconnected reactor vessel and a steam generating vessel. In one embodiment, the steam generating vessel includes a plurality of vertically stacked heat exchangers operable to convert a secondary coolant from a saturated liquid to superheated steam by utilizing heat gained by the primary coolant from a nuclear fuel core in the reactor vessel. The secondary coolant may be working fluid associated with a Rankine power cycle turbine-generator set in some embodiments. The steam generating vessel and reactor vessel may each be comprised of vertically elongated shells, which in one embodiment are arranged in lateral adjacent relationship. In one embodiment, the reactor vessel and steam generating vessel are physically discrete self-supporting structures which may be physically located in the same containment vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: SMR Inventec, LLC
    Inventors: Krishna P. Singh, Joseph Gearald Leo Rajkumar
  • Patent number: 10480778
    Abstract: An energy recovery system is provided. The energy recovery system may comprise an inductive heating coil configured to have a cooling fluid flow through the inductive heating coil and a heat exchanger fluidly coupled to the inductive heating coil and configured to produce a steam source. The steam source drives a pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventor: Timothy Centa
  • Patent number: 10415897
    Abstract: A cross-flow heat exchanger for gas turbine engines which may be utilized to transfer heat from one fluid flow to a second independent fluid flow wherein one of the fluid flows has a high differential inlet pressure and temperature. The heat exchanger has robust construction to inhibit mixing of the fluid flows during a single burst duct event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Kupiszewski, Mehdi Milani Baladi, John Andrew Kemme, Christopher Charles Glynn, Steven Douglas Johnson, Michael Jay Epstein
  • Patent number: 10378757
    Abstract: In a method for reducing the oxygen content in the flow volume of tubes of erected and installed tube wall regions or tube wall segments of a steam generator or steam boiler of a power station fired, in particular, with carbon-containing fuel, a solution is to be provided which eliminates or at least diminishes the problem of the incorporation of atmospheric oxygen into the boiler water which arises when tubes of the steam generator wall are being filled with boiler water and/or when boiler water is being discharged from these tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Technology GMBH
    Inventors: Horst Trabhardt, Juergen Mueller, Frank-Udo Leidich
  • Patent number: 10371452
    Abstract: A tubular heat exchanger includes a first flow path to receive a first fluid flow, wherein the first flow path is defined by a conduit, and a support structure with a plurality of support structure openings, wherein the support structure supports the first flow path, the plurality of support structure openings define a second flow path to receive a second fluid flow, and the first flow path is in thermal communication with the second flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Leo J. Veilleux, Jr., Lubomir A. Ribarov
  • Patent number: 10309518
    Abstract: A gear unit comprises shafts (101, 102) for connecting to an external mechanical system, at least one gear stage (103) between the shafts, a lubricant oil room (104) for storing lubricant oil, an oil channel (105) for transporting the lubricant oil from the lubricant oil room to the at least one gear stage, and an immersion heater (106) for heating the lubricant oil flowing in the lubricant oil room towards an inlet of the oil channel. The gear unit further comprises a mechanical flow guide (108) located in the lubricant oil room and configured to modify flow of the lubricant oil flowing towards the inlet of the oil channel so as to increase flow velocity of the lubricant oil on the surface of the immersion heater. The increased flow velocity on the surface of the immersion heater makes it possible to use higher heating power without damaging the lubricant oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: MOVENTAS GEARS OY
    Inventors: Mikko Koponen, Tuomas Vuolle-Apiala
  • Patent number: 10267577
    Abstract: The invention relates to a shell-and-tube apparatus comprising a housing (3) having a bundle (9) of tubes accommodated therein, where the tubes (15) are joined on one side to a first tube plate (11) and on the side opposite the first tube plate (11) to a second tube plate (13), with the first and second tube plates (11, 13) being fastened detachably in the housing (3). The side of the first tube plate (11) opposite the tubes (15) rests against a stop (31) on the housing (3) and is fixed on the stop (31) and the second tube plate (13) is installed with a sealing element (41) in the housing (3). The invention further relates to the use of the shell-and-tube apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Wolfgang Gunkel, Frank-Friedrich Pape, Klaus Fouquet
  • Patent number: 10267574
    Abstract: A heat exchanger transfers heat between first and second material streams. The heat exchanger includes a body portion including vent channels configured to pass the first material stream through the body portion. The body portion further includes feed channels configured to pass the second material stream through the body portion. The feed channels are spaced from and in thermal communication with the vent channels such that at least one of the first and second material streams transfer heat with another one of the first and second material streams. Each of the feed channels has an inlet having a crosssectional area with the cross-sectional area of the inlet of at least one of the feed channels different than the cross-sectional area of the inlet of another one of the feed channels for normalizing a flow rate of the second material stream through the feed channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: HEMLOCK SEMICONDUCTOR OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: John C. Oliva, Brad Werner, Michael Zalar
  • Patent number: 10211626
    Abstract: System controller and method for protecting a power converter. The system controller includes a first controller terminal configured to output a drive signal to a switch to affect a first current flowing through a primary winding of a power converter. The power converter further includes a secondary winding coupled to the primary winding, and the drive signal is associated with one or more switching periods. Additionally, the system controller includes a second controller terminal configured to receive a sensing voltage from a sensing resistor. The sensing voltage represents a magnitude of the first current flowing through the primary winding of the power converter. The system controller is configured to process information associated with the sensing voltage and a reference voltage, and determine whether an average output current of the power converter is larger than a current threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: On-Bright Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dongze Yang, Xiaomin Huang, Xiaozhi Kang, Yuan Lin, Huawei Lyu, Lieyi Fang
  • Patent number: 10182513
    Abstract: A heat sink includes a core body. The core body defines a coolant plenum, sealed first and second chambers, and first and second coolant conduits. The sealed first and second chambers each house a phase change material. The first and second coolant conduits are separated from one another by the coolant plenum and are in fluid communication with the coolant plenum for transferring heat between coolant flowing through the core body and the phase change material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Space Systems International, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Quinn, Jesse J. Stieber, Mark A. Zaffetti
  • Patent number: 10175007
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a ceramic heat exchange plate and a ceramic heat exchange core assembled thereby. The ceramic heat exchange core comprises sealing strips, and the ceramic heat exchange plate. A plurality of ceramic heat exchange plates A and a plurality of ceramic heat exchange plates B are alternately superimposed. Side sealing strips are arranged inside top linear sealing grooves of the ceramic heat exchange plates A and bottom linear sealing grooves of the ceramic heat exchange plates B. Side sealing strips are arranged inside top linear sealing grooves of the ceramic heat exchange plates B and bottom linear sealing grooves of the ceramic heat exchange plates A. A plurality of ceramic heat exchange plates A, a plurality of ceramic heat exchange plates B and a plurality of sealing strips are assembled to form a ceramic heat exchange core. The ceramic heat exchange core is integrally sintered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: CAS SUPER ENERGY TECHNOLOGY JINGJIANG LTD.
    Inventors: Fengze Wang, Xinyu Zhang, Zhongyu Xia, Yu Zhang
  • Patent number: 10168101
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a ceramic heat exchange plate and an air pre-heater assembled thereby. The air pre-heater comprises a housing, the housing being provided with a lining therein and an access hole thereon. A heat exchange core is arranged inside the lining, and consists of a plurality of ceramic heat exchange plates, side connecting bolt assemblies, corner connecting bolt assemblies and side sealing strips, which are superimposed in a staggered manner; the plurality of ceramic heat exchange plates form a flue gas channel and an air channel which are intersected crisscross, and the flue gas channel and the air channel are not communicated to each other; a flue gas inlet and a flue gas outlet are arranged on a front surface and a rear surface of the housing, respectively; and an air inlet and an air outlet are arranged on a left surface and a right surface of the housing, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: CAS SUPER ENERGY TECHNOLOGY JINGJIANG LTD.
    Inventors: Xinyu Zhang, Fengze Wang, Lei Zhang, Pei Zhu
  • Patent number: 10139148
    Abstract: An assembly for cooling a liquid inside a portable container. According to some implementations the portable container has a heat exchanger assembly disposed therein with the heat exchanger assembly including a coolant pre-cooling assembly. According to the same or other implementations a tortuous coolant fluid passage that runs through at least a portion of the heat exchanger assembly includes one or more constrictions for controlling the evaporation temperature of the coolant along the length of the passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: ICEJET, S.L.
    Inventors: Gustavo Pérez López, José María Nacenta Anmella
  • Patent number: 10021891
    Abstract: An apparatus for making cheese including a whey conduit, a milk conduit, and a heat exchange device between the whey conduit and the milk conduit. Preferably, the heat exchange device includes a heat transfer circuit including a heat transfer conduit, heat transfer medium in the heat transfer conduit, a whey heat exchanger between the whey conduit and the heat transfer conduit, and a milk heat exchanger between the heat transfer conduit and the milk conduit. A thermal storage device can be in thermal contact with the heat exchange device to allow heat energy from the whey to be accumulated and stored for future use in heating incoming milk. The thermal storage device includes a thermal storage conduit, a thermal storage heat exchanger between the heat exchange device and the thermal storage conduit, thermal storage medium in the thermal storage conduit, and a thermal storage tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Rohde Brothers, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael E. Rohde
  • Patent number: 10018377
    Abstract: A solar light (heat) absorption material which has an excellent solar light (heat) absorbing ability and a simple structure, and may be used as a low-cost and high-performance heat absorption/accumulation material. Also, a solar light (heat) absorption/control building component including the solar light (heat) absorption material that allows for easy change of its solar light (heat) absorption/control ability. The material includes particles dispersed into a liquid medium having a specific heat ranging from 0.4 to 1.4 cal/g/° C. and a melting point of 5° C. or lower. The dispersed particles have L*value of 30 or less as determined by the CIE-Lab color system (light source D65).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignees: University of the Ryukyus, Osaka Gas Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Kondo, Masami Ueno, Yoshinobu Kawamitsu, Junichiro Tsutsumi
  • Patent number: 9945616
    Abstract: A fluid heating apparatus may comprise a fluid pumping assembly configured to increase a pressure characteristic of the fluid between the fluid inlet and fluid outlet, and a heating assembly configured to heat the fluid between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. The heating assembly may define a first portion of a gas path such that exhaust gases from combustion in the heating assembly enter the gas path. The apparatus may also comprise a heat recovery assembly configured to recover heat from the exhaust gases and transfer recovered heat to fluid moving through the fluid path. The heat recovery assembly may define a second portion of the gas path in fluid communication with the first portion of the gas path. An exhaust gas movement device may be configured to pull exhaust gases through the first and second portions of the gas path to the gas movement device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Inventor: Patrick G. Wingen
  • Patent number: 9922740
    Abstract: A nuclear power generation system and related power cycle are disclosed, in one embodiment, the system includes primary coolant circulation through a hydraulically interconnected reactor containing nuclear fuel and a steam generating vessel collectively defining a steam supply system. Liquid secondary coolant for the power cycle flows through the steam generating vessel and is converted to steam by the primary coolant to drive a low pressure turbine of a turbine-generator set. Steam exiting the turbine is condensed and heated prior to return to the steam supply system, thereby completing a secondary coolant flow loop. In one embodiment, a majority of the secondary coolant heating occurs within the steam generating vessel via heat exchange with the primary coolant rather than externally in the secondary coolant flow loop. This creates a temperature differential between the primary and secondary coolant sufficient to create natural thermally induced convective circulation of the primary coolant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Inventors: Krishna P. Singh, Joseph Rajkumar
  • Patent number: 9903535
    Abstract: A cryogenic liquid conditioning system with flow driven by head pressure of liquid contained in a cryogenic storage tank, and a cryogenic liquid delivery system with flow driven by pressure in the vapor space of the cryogenic storage tank. A heat exchanger, coupled to the cryogenic storage tank located below the liquid level of the tank, operates as a portion of both the conditioning system and delivery system. A piping system moves cryogenic liquid to the heat exchanger where it is vaporized, and then moves vaporized liquid to the vapor space of the cryogenic tank and an application. The piping system includes a controller and valve(s) for controlling flow through the system. A sensor for measuring the saturated pressure of cryogenic liquid is coupled to the storage tank or piping system, and is in communication with the flow controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Green Buffalo Fuel, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth Leo Snyder, Robert Francis Desjardins, Nathaniel Eaton Allen, James Joseph Donovan, Mark Ray Nuernberger, Peter Maurice Coleman
  • Patent number: 9846262
    Abstract: Disclosed therein are an inspection apparatus for a thermo-hygrometer based on phase change and methods for controlling and inspecting the same which can simultaneously inspect a thermometer and a hygrometer through a simple method using a phase change of reactants. The thermo-hygrometer based on phase change includes: reactants of at least two kinds; a plurality of cylinder type cells; a reactor body having a temperature sensor hole and a plurality of cell holes; a flow pipe in which a first gas circulates by a circulation pump; a relative humidity chamber which has a relative humidity sensor disposed therein; and a temperature control unit which is mounted below the reactor body, wherein when a phase change of a first reactant is induced, the relative humidity sensor is inspected based on the relative humidity of the first gas, and the temperature sensor is inspected based on the phase change temperature of the first reactant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science
    Inventors: Yong-Gyoo Kim, Byung Il Choi, Sang Bong Woo, Jong Cheol Kim, Sang Wook Lee
  • Patent number: 9833819
    Abstract: A system for the storage of a radioactive waste product, wherein the radioactive waste product is located in a container and where one or more containers are stored in a bore hole drilled beneath a surface and having a bottom, wherein following placement of the one or more containers in the bore hole closer to the bottom, a fluid is added to the bore hole to a height above the upper most container, and wherein an upper cover is located above the upper most container and above the fluid to seal in the one or more containers and a non-permeable material is placed above the upper cover, a container storage area being formed within the bore hole beneath the upper cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Safe Nuclear Solutions, LLC
    Inventor: John Burget
  • Patent number: 9835380
    Abstract: A heat exchanger that includes an input cavity defined by inlet cavity walls; a heat exchanger portion in fluid communication with the input cavity and defined between a first side and a second side, and wherein a plurality of baffles are positioned within the heat exchanger portion; and an outlet cavity in fluid communication with the heat exchanger portion and defined by outlet cavity walls. The heat exchanger portion comprises: a plurality of first fluid paths defined between the baffles and extending from the input cavity to the outlet cavity, and a plurality of tubes extending through the heat exchanger portion from the first side to the second side. Each tube extends through the baffles so as to define a second fluid path through the heat exchanger portion. Heat exchanger systems are also generally provided, along with methods for cooling a hot fluid input with a heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Kupiszewski, Jeffrey Douglas Rambo, James F. Bonar, Jared Wolfe
  • Patent number: 9791146
    Abstract: A novel processed vapor make-up water subsystem that uses a make-up water boiler to boil and purify make-up water and its method of use are described. Upon vaporization, dissolved solids remain in the liquid water in the bottom of the make-up boiler and the solids free steam is introduced into the main boiler loop through a deaerator. Periodically, the water in the bottom of the make-up boiler is blown down when the amount of dissolved solids in the water reach a predetermined level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Inventor: Ellis Young
  • Patent number: 9765993
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention utilize the geothermal energy exchanger and battery (GEEB) to recover and store thermal energy from the dwelling, from the ground, and from the Earth's atmosphere, reuse the thermal energy in another season of the year, and consume electrical energy to heat and cool the structure at electrical Off Peak time periods. The GEEB may be constructed of a compact steel, ribbed and waterproof permanent container that is set at a depth beneath the surface of the ground where the normal soil temperature is virtually constant year round. The container can then be encased in poured concrete, with the exception of piping or conduits. The container is then filled with a heat transfer fluid so that the entire thermal mass of the GEEB and heat transfer fluid reaches the ambient ground temperature and efficiently couples the load and source sides of a heating and cooling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Inventor: Daniel M. Gandy
  • Patent number: 9739194
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a charge air cooling system of an engine. In one example, a turbocharger arrangement includes an internal combustion engine, a turbocharger for supercharging the internal combustion engine, a charge-air intercooler located in an intake tract between the turbocharger and the internal combustion engine, and an auxiliary cooling system including a first feed line for supplying a first coolant to the charge-air intercooler, the first feed line positioned upstream of the charge-air intercooler and downstream of a cooling element, the first feed line including a heat recovery element. The heat recovery element may exchange heat between the first coolant and a heat transfer medium, the heat transfer medium including one of engine coolant or exhaust gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Andreas Kuske, Franz Arnd Sommerhoff, Hans Guenter Quix
  • Patent number: 9677831
    Abstract: A device with a heat exchanger with a feed pipe for a medium leading from a medium inlet to the heat exchanger entrance and with a discharge pipe leading away from the heat exchanger exit is characterized in that it has a first bypass from the medium inlet to the discharge pipe and a second bypass from the feed pipe to the medium outlet and valves, so that the medium can also flow from the heat exchanger exit to the heat exchanger entrance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Martin GmbH fuer Umwelt—und Energietechnik
    Inventors: Johannes Martin, Robert von Raven, Alexander Seitz
  • Patent number: 9605662
    Abstract: A solar heat boiler is provided which is capable of avoiding damage to heat transfer tubes without increasing facility cost and construction cost. The solar heat boiler includes: a low-temperature heating device by which water supplied from a water supply pump is heated by heat of sunlight; a steam-water separation device by which two-phase fluid of water and steam generated in the low-temperature heating device is separated into water and steam; a high-temperature heating device by which the steam separated by the steam-water separation device is heated by the heat of sunlight; and a circulation pump by which the water separated by the steam-water separation device is supplied to the low-temperature heating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Marumoto, Tetsuo Sikata, Kenso Arita, Jun Kashima
  • Patent number: 9581356
    Abstract: A remotely operated vehicle mountable hot water injection skid comprises skid frame, one or more floats, a power interface, one or more subsea power transformers, one or more electrical power interfaces, one or more data communication interfaces, one or more heater skid telemetry systems, a predetermined set of integration equipment, a water collection and heating container, a pumping and circulation system, and a hot seawater circulation flying lead or spray wand which allows delivery of heated fluid directly to a subsea asset using heated seawater delivered through a common hydraulic hot stab or directly to via a pressurized spraying wand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Oceaneering International, Inc.
    Inventor: Kosta Papasideris
  • Patent number: 9400145
    Abstract: A guide tube pitch adjustment apparatus for aligning distal ends of lance guide tubes in registry with tube openings in a heat exchanger tube sheet is disclosed. A guide tube pitch clamp assembly carried within and supported from a housing. The pitch clamp assembly has at least two V-blocks fastened to a threaded rod. One V-block is fastened to a portion of the threaded rod having right hand threads, and another V-block is fastened to another portion of the threaded rod having left hand threads. Each of the V-blocks supports a portion of one of the guide tubes, and a cross bar clamp within the housing is oriented to span across the V-blocks and adjustably hold the portions of the guide tubes in a spaced relationship such that spacing between the distal ends of adjacent guide tubes may be adjusted by rotation of the threaded rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: STONEAGE, INC.
    Inventors: Todd Mathis, Damon Martin Gilbert
  • Patent number: 9366476
    Abstract: A system and method for the concurrent condensation of a nitrogen-rich vapor and vaporization of an oxygen-rich liquid in a distillation column based air separation unit is provided. The disclosed system includes a condenser-reboiler heat exchanger located between a lower pressure column and a higher pressure column and configured to condense a nitrogen-rich vapor from the higher pressure column and partially vaporize an oxygen-rich liquid from the lower pressure column. Within the condenser-reboiler heat exchanger, the nitrogen-rich vapor flows in an upward direction such that any non-condensables present in the nitrogen-rich vapor will accumulate proximate the upper portion or top of the condenser-reboiler modules where they can be easily removed through venting by means of a venting apparatus having a plurality of perforated tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: PRAXAIR TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Hanfei Tuo, Karl K. Kibler, Maulik R. Shelat
  • Patent number: 9230697
    Abstract: A steam generator for a nuclear reactor comprises plenums proximate with a first plane, wherein the first plane intersects a bottom portion of a riser column of a reactor vessel. The steam generator may further comprise plenums proximate with a second plane, approximately parallel with the first plane, wherein the second plane intersects a top portion of the riser column of the reactor vessel. The steam generator may further include a plurality of steam generator tubes that convey coolant from a plenum located proximate with the first plane to one of the plenums proximate with the second plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: NUSCALE POWER, LLC
    Inventors: John T. Groome, Sooyun Joh, James Allan Nylander
  • Patent number: 9114406
    Abstract: The system and method for steam production for oil production. The method includes generating steam from an indirect heat exchange system, mixing the steam with water containing solids and organics, separating solids, and injecting the steam through an injection well or using it above ground for oil recovery, such as for generating hot process water. The system includes a steam drive direct contact steam generator. The water feed can be hot produced water separated from a produced oil emulsion and/or low quality water salvaged from industrial plants, such as refineries and tailings from an oilsands mine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: EX-TAR TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventor: Maoz Betzer Tsilevich
  • Publication number: 20150096506
    Abstract: The invention relates to a commercially viable modular ceramic oxygen transport membrane system for utilizing heat generated in reactively-driven oxygen transport membrane tubes to generate steam, heat process fluid and/or provide energy to carry out endothermic chemical reactions. The system provides for improved thermal coupling of oxygen transport membrane tubes to steam generation tubes or process heater tubes or reactor tubes for efficient and effective radiant heat transfer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Sean M. Kelly, Gervase Maxwell Christie, Charles Robinson, Jamie R. Wilson, Javier E. Gonzalez, Uttam R. Doraswami