Patents Assigned to Echogen Power Systems
  • Patent number: 9118226
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention disclosed herein generally provide heat engine systems and methods for generating electricity. In one configuration, a heat engine system contains a working fluid circuit having high and low pressure sides and containing a working fluid (e.g., sc-CO2). The system further contains a power turbine configured to convert thermal energy to mechanical energy, a motor-generator configured to convert the mechanical energy into electricity, and a pump configured to circulate the working fluid within the working fluid circuit. The system further contains a heat exchanger configured to transfer thermal energy from a heat source stream to the working fluid, a recuperator configured to transfer thermal energy from the low pressure side to the high pressure side of the working fluid circuit, and a condenser (e.g., air- or fluid-cooled) configured to remove thermal energy from the working fluid within the low pressure side of the working fluid circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Echogen Power Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander Steven Kacludis, Stephen R. Hostler, Steve B. Zakem
  • Patent number: 9091278
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention provided herein include heat engine systems, methods for generating electricity, and methods for starting a turbo pump. In some configurations, the heat engine system contains a start pump and a turbo pump disposed in series along a working fluid circuit and configured to circulate a working fluid within the working fluid circuit. The start pump may have a pump portion coupled to a motor-driven portion and the turbo pump may have a pump portion coupled to a drive turbine. In one configuration, the pump portion of the start pump is fluidly coupled to the working fluid circuit downstream of and in series with the pump portion of the turbo pump. In another configuration, the pump portion of the start pump is fluidly coupled to the working fluid circuit upstream of and in series with the pump portion of the turbo pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Echogen Power Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Michael Louis Vermeersch
  • Patent number: 9062898
    Abstract: A refrigeration cycle is operated in conjunction with various thermodynamic cycle working fluid circuits to cool a target fluid that may be used in a separate system or duty. In one embodiment, the refrigeration cycle includes an ejector that extracts a motive fluid from the working fluid cycles in order to entrain a suction fluid that is also extracted from the working fluid circuits. Expanding the suction fluid reduces the pressure and temperature of the suction fluid for cooling the target fluid in an evaporator, which evaporates the suction fluid before being entrained into the ejector by the motive fluid. A mixed fluid is discharged from the ejector and injected into the working fluid circuits upstream from a condenser that cools the mixed fluid and the working fluid circulating throughout the working fluid circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Echogen Power Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy James Held, Michael Louis Vermeersch, Tao Xie
  • Patent number: 9014791
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a system that enables one to address various thermal management issues in advanced gas turbine engines. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a method to extract heat from an air stream, utilize a significant fraction for on-board power generation, and reject a small quantity of heat to the fuel stream safely at, for example, a lower temperature. In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a method to extract heat from an air stream, utilize a significant fraction for on-board power generation, and reject a small quantity of heat to the fuel stream safely at, for example, a lower temperature with no potential air/fuel contact is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Echogen Power Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Timothy James Held
  • Patent number: 8869531
    Abstract: Systems and methods for recovering energy from waste heat are provided. The system includes a waste heat exchanger coupled to a source of waste heat to heat a first flow of a working fluid. The system also includes a first expansion device that receives the first flow from the waste heat exchanger and expands it to rotate a shaft. The system further includes a first recuperator coupled to the first expansion device and to receive the first flow therefrom and to transfer heat from the first flow to a second flow of the working fluid. The system also includes a second expansion device that receives the second flow from the first recuperator, and a second recuperator fluidly coupled to the second expansion device to receive the second flow therefrom and transfer heat from the second flow to a combined flow of the first and second flows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Echogen Power Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Timothy James Held
  • Patent number: 8857186
    Abstract: A system for converting thermal energy to work. The system includes a working fluid circuit, and a precooler configured to receive the working fluid. The system also includes a compression stages and intercoolers. At least one of the precooler and the intercoolers is configured to receive a heat transfer medium from a high temperature ambient environment. The system also includes heat exchangers coupled to a source of heat and being configured to receive the working fluid. The system also includes turbines coupled to one or more of the heat exchangers and configured to receive heated working fluid therefrom. The system further includes recuperators fluidly coupled to the turbines, the precooler, the compressor, and at least one of the heat exchangers. The recuperators transfer heat from the working fluid downstream from the turbines, to the working fluid upstream from at least one of the heat exchangers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Echogen Power Systems, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Timothy James Held
  • Patent number: 8813497
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally provide a heat engine system, a mass management system (MMS), and a method for regulating pressure in the heat engine system while generating electricity. In one embodiment, the MMS contains a tank fluidly coupled to a pump, a turbine, a heat exchanger, an offload terminal, and a working fluid contained in the tank at a storage pressure. The working fluid may be at a system pressure proximal an outlet of the heat exchanger, at a low-side pressure proximal a pump inlet, and at a high-side pressure proximal a pump outlet. The MMS contains a controller communicably coupled to a valve between the tank and the heat exchanger outlet, a valve between the tank and the pump inlet, a valve between the tank and the pump outlet, and a valve between the tank and the offload terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Echogen Power Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Katherine Hart, Timothy James Held
  • Patent number: 8794002
    Abstract: A method for converting thermal energy into mechanical energy in a thermodynamic cycle includes placing a thermal energy source in thermal communication with a heat exchanger arranged in a working fluid circuit containing a working fluid (e.g., sc-CO2) and having a high pressure side and a low pressure side. The method also includes regulating an amount of working fluid within the working fluid circuit via a mass management system having a working fluid vessel, pumping the working fluid through the working fluid circuit, and expanding the working fluid to generate mechanical energy. The method further includes directing the working fluid away from the expander through the working fluid circuit, controlling a flow of the working fluid in a supercritical state from the high pressure side to the working fluid vessel, and controlling a flow of the working fluid from the working fluid vessel to the low pressure side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Echogen Power Systems
    Inventors: Timothy J. Held, Stephen Hostler, Jason D. Miller, Brian F. Hume
  • Patent number: 8783034
    Abstract: A thermodynamic cycle is disclosed and has a working fluid circuit that converts thermal energy into mechanical energy on hot days. A pump circulates a working fluid to a heat exchanger that heats the working fluid. The heated working fluid is then expanded in a power turbine. The expanded working fluid is then cooled and condensed using one or more compressors interposing at least two intercooling components. The intercooling components cool and condense the working fluid with a cooling medium derived at ambient temperature, where the ambient temperature is above the critical temperature of the working fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Echogen Power Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Timothy James Held
  • Patent number: 8616001
    Abstract: Various thermodynamic power-generating cycles are disclosed. A turbopump arranged in the cycles is started and ramped-up using a starter pump arranged in parallel with the main pump of the turbopump. Once the turbopump is able to self-sustain, a series of valves may be manipulated to deactivate the starter pump and direct additional working fluid to a power turbine for generating electrical power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Echogen Power Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy James Held, Michael Louis Vermeersch, Tao Xie
  • Patent number: 8616323
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to hybrid power systems for vehicles. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to hybrid power systems for various types of transportation vehicles where the hybrid power systems is partially, or even totally, based on the use of at least one hydraulic system to provide supplemental, or even the primary, motion power for a hybrid vehicle. In another embodiment, the hybrid power systems of the present invention are capable of providing both motion power as well as cabin comfort heating and/or cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Echogen Power Systems
    Inventor: Michael H. Gurin
  • Patent number: 8613195
    Abstract: Various thermodynamic power-generating cycles employ a mass management system to regulate the pressure and amount of working fluid circulating throughout the working fluid circuits. The mass management systems may have a mass control tank fluidly coupled to the working fluid circuit at one or more strategically-located tie-in points. A heat exchanger coil may be used in conjunction with the mass control tank to regulate the temperature of the fluid within the mass control tank, and thereby determine whether working fluid is either extracted from or injected into the working fluid circuit. Regulating the pressure and amount of working fluid in the working fluid circuit helps selectively increase or decrease the suction pressure of the pump, which can increase system efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Echogen Power Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy J. Held, Stephen Hostler, Jason D. Miller, Michael Vermeersch, Tao Xie
  • Publication number: 20130036736
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally provide a heat engine system, a mass management system (MMS), and a method for regulating pressure in the heat engine system while generating electricity. In one embodiment, the MMS contains a tank fluidly coupled to a pump, a turbine, a heat exchanger, an offload terminal, and a working fluid contained in the tank at a storage pressure. The working fluid may be at a system pressure proximal an outlet of the heat exchanger, at a low-side pressure proximal a pump inlet, and at a high-side pressure proximal a pump outlet. The MMS contains a controller communicably coupled to a valve between the tank and the heat exchanger outlet, a valve between the tank and the pump inlet, a valve between the tank and the pump outlet, and a valve between the tank and the offload terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: Echogen Power System, LLC
    Inventors: Katherine Hart, Timothy James Held
  • Publication number: 20130033037
    Abstract: Embodiments provide a heat engine system containing working fluid (e.g., sc-CO2) within high and low pressure sides of a working fluid circuit and a heat exchanger configured to transfer thermal energy from a heat source to the working fluid. The heat engine system further contains an expander for converting a pressure drop in the working fluid to mechanical energy, a shaft coupled to the expander and configured to drive a device (e.g., generator or pump) with the mechanical energy, a recuperator for transferring thermal energy between the high and low pressure sides, and a cooler for removing thermal energy from the working fluid in the low pressure side. The heat engine system also contains a pump for circulating the working fluid, a mass management system (MMS) fluidly connected to the working fluid circuit, and a supply tank fluidly connected to the MMS by a supply line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2012
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: Echogen Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Held, Jason D. Miller
  • Patent number: 8281593
    Abstract: A waste heat recovery system and a method for operating a thermodynamic cycle using a working fluid in a working fluid circuit which has a high pressure side and a low pressure side. The system comprises a waste heat exchanger, a waste heat source, an expander, a recuperator, a cooler, a pump, and a mass management system connected to the working fluid circuit. The mass management system comprises a working fluid vessel connected to the low pressure side of the working fluid circuit and configured to passively control an amount of working fluid mass in the working fluid circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Echogen Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Held, Jason D. Miller
  • Patent number: 8096128
    Abstract: A waste heat recovery system, method and device executes a thermodynamic cycle using a working fluid in a working fluid circuit which has a high pressure side and a low pressure side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Echogen Power Systems
    Inventors: Timothy J. Held, Stephen Hostler, Jason D. Miller, Brian F. Hume
  • Patent number: 8099198
    Abstract: An integrated and hybrid energy provider and storage device system for enhancing the energy efficiency and minimizing greenhouse gas emissions particularly for systems that utilize energy in a discrete and discontinuous manner, such as plug-in hybrid vehicles is provided. The system provides automated means to generate power, distribute the preferably locally generated power to a multiplex array of energy storage devices in a dynamic manner. The system, when utilizing dynamic algorithms, preferably meets the complex demands of often conflicting energy storage device requirements and real-time demand loads in-conjunction with dynamic switching between energy storage devices to enhance the performance and effectiveness that is beneficial to both the aggregate energy efficiency and the individual owner demands of each energy storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Echogen Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael H. Gurin
  • Patent number: 7900450
    Abstract: A high efficiency thermodynamic power conversion cycle is disclosed using thermal storage, atmospheric heat exchangers, and wind channeling in a synergistic method. Using the preferred configuration with ground source water, solar collectors, and heat pump including the further preferred utilization of ionic liquids or electride solutions as the working fluid in the system, achieves optimal total energy efficiency and enables otherwise insufficient thermal differentials to effectively generate power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Echogen Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael H. Gurin