Patents Assigned to Electric Power Research Institute, Inc.
  • Patent number: 11873921
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a metering valve for controlling the amount of a fluid passed through the valve and a servo-valve for controlling the metering valve, wherein the servo-valve is decoupled from the metering valve to thermally distance or thermally isolate the servo-valve from any heat from the fluid passing through the metering valve. The metering valve and servo-valve may be used to attemperate a steam stream in a power plant attemperation system, such as a system for attemperating a superheated steam gas stream from a power plant being used for a heat-recovery steam generator. An integrated metering valve and discharge valve for discharging fluid during periods of non-use is also provide. Changeable throttle plates are also provided that control the flow of the fluid through the control chamber of the metering valve and the discharge valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Electric Power Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: Hermann Josef Laumen, Mohamed Douch, Stanley Timothy Rosinski, Bill Gene Carson
  • Patent number: 11867397
    Abstract: A non-transitory computer readable medium with instructions stored thereon, the instructions executable by one or more processors for selecting infrequent or frequent autotuning of a combustor; and determining the health of a combustor. Also, a method of monitoring a combustor within a gas turbine engine system, comprising providing a gas turbine engine system, wherein the gas turbine engine includes an autotuning system; selecting infrequent or frequent autotuning of the combustor; and determining the health of the combustor; wherein said determining the health of a combustor comprises receiving real-time fuel gas temperature data from at least one thermocouple.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: ELECTRIC POWER RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.
    Inventors: Leonard Charles Angello, Benjamin Emerson, Timothy Charles Lieuwen, David Robert Noble, Jared Kee
  • Patent number: 11788834
    Abstract: Provided is a method for measuring surface characteristics of at least a portion of an object, including providing a light source; generating a first interference pattern on the at least a portion of the object; capturing an image of the first interference pattern; shifting the phase of the light source to generate a second interference pattern; capturing an image of the second interference pattern; filtering distortion from the interference patterns; extracting a wrapped phase of the at least a portion of the object based on the images; unwrapping the wrapped phase of the at least a portion of the object to generate an unwrapped phase; identifying a computed depth map distance to the at least a portion of the object; and fitting an ideal part to the computed depth map of the at least a portion of the object to measure the surface characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Electric Power Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: David Stoutamire, Dennis Hussey
  • Patent number: 11781449
    Abstract: The invention provides various designs of an apparatus and method for attemperating a gas stream temperature. The apparatus of the present invention provides a body through which a gas stream passes that permits, as desired, a second gas, such as gas outside of the gas duct or such as ambient air, to be added to the main gas stream to attemperate the temperature of the main gas stream. The body or device may be referred to as a variable eductor having a plurality of openings through which a second gas may pass into the main gas stream. The openings may be opened or closed, and the variable eductor provides control over which openings and the degree to which each opening is opened. In some designs the variable eductor is inserted between two portions of a gas duct. The variable eductor has widespread application, such as downstream of a gas turbine to attemperate the exhaust gas temperature during startup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Electric Power Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventor: Merrill Stanton Quintrell
  • Patent number: 11745608
    Abstract: An electrical connector apparatus that magnetically aligns electrical contacts in a suspended magnetic connector with mating electrical contacts in a vehicle magnetic connector and holds the connectors together during an electric vehicle charging process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Electric Power Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas D. Geist, Doni J. Nastasi
  • Patent number: 11738404
    Abstract: A method of eliminating dissimilar metal welds has been disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing a first part having a first alloy composition; providing a second part having a second alloy composition different from the first part; connecting a containment structure to the first part; pouring a powder into the containment structure such that the powder is in contact with the first part; positioning a portion of the second part in the containment structure such that the second part compresses the powder between the first and second parts; and performing hot isostatic pressing (HIP) to consolidate the powder and join the first and second parts together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Electric Power Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Sutton, David Wayne Gandy
  • Patent number: 11713725
    Abstract: A method for detecting blowout precursors in at least one gas turbine combustor comprising: receiving combustion dynamics acoustic data measured by an acoustic measuring device associated with the combustor in real time; performing wavelet analysis on the acoustic data using simplified Mexican Hat wavelet transform analysis; and determining the existence of a blowout precursor based at least in part on the wavelet analysis. Provided also is a system and a non-transitory computer readable medium configured to perform the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Electric Power Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: Leonard Charles Angello, David Robert Noble, Andrew Mueller, John Alexander Miltner, Benjamin Emerson, Scott Sheppard, Jared Kee, Timothy Charles Lieuwen
  • Patent number: 11714136
    Abstract: A method of determining battery degradation retroactively using historical data is disclosed. The method includes the steps of collecting state of charge (SOC) and DC ampere data for a predetermined time period; determining a delta (?) SOC based on the data collected; creating a set of SOC regimes having a size based on ?SOC; filtering the SOC data and determining a set of points which indicate a charging or discharging event; and calculating overall Coulombs associated with each charging or discharging event and for each event, producing a timestamp and Coulombs associated with each event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Electric Power Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Hunter Thompson, Peggy Pui Kei Ip, Miles Griffin Evans, Steven Frank Willard
  • Patent number: 11674328
    Abstract: An emergency restoration system is disclosed. The emergency restoration system including a base and a tower pivotally connected to the base. The tower including at least one tower section and at least one insulated tower section pivotally connected to the at least one tower section, the insulated tower section including at least one insulator pivotally connected thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: ELECTRIC POWER RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.
    Inventor: Jean-Pierre Henri Marais
  • Patent number: 11667548
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a ligated metal-organic framework (MOF) for use in removing both anionic and cationic species from a liquid or liquid stream. The present invention also provides methods for placing the MOF on a substrate to form a MOF-containing product that can be used in the removal of certain species from a given fluid. The MOF may be a Zr-based MOF, such as NU-1000, for removal of certain anions, such as oxy-anions, or having an attached thiosulfonyl-thiol (—SO2—S—R2—SH, where R2 is an alkyl group) ligand for complexation with certain cationic species in addition to the anions. The substrate may be any substrate to which a given MOF may be attached, including inert polypropylene polymer resin beads, a macroscopic fabric such as a mesh material or mesh filter, and a molecular fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Electric Power Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul L. Frattini, Keith Paul Fruzzetti
  • Publication number: 20220355682
    Abstract: An electrical connector apparatus that magnetically aligns electrical contacts in a suspended magnetic connector with mating electrical contacts in a vehicle magnetic connector and holds the connectors together during an electric vehicle charging process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2021
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Applicant: Electric Power Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas D. Geist, Doni J. Nastasi
  • Patent number: 11298774
    Abstract: A method of eliminating dissimilar metal welds has been disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing a first part having a first alloy composition; providing a second part having a second alloy composition different from the first part; connecting a containment structure to the first part; pouring a powder into the containment structure such that the powder is in contact with the first part; positioning a portion of the second part in the containment structure such that the second part compresses the powder between the first and second parts; and performing hot isostatic pressing (HIP) to consolidate the powder and join the first and second parts together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Electric Power Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Sutton, David Wayne Gandy
  • Patent number: 11225808
    Abstract: An emergency restoration system is disclosed. The emergency restoration system including a base and a tower pivotally connected to the base. The tower including at least one tower section and at least one insulated tower section pivotally connected to the at least one tower section, the insulated tower section including at least one insulator pivotally connected thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Electric Power Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventor: Jean-Pierre Henri Marais
  • Patent number: 11204303
    Abstract: A non-transitory computer readable medium with instructions stored thereon, the instructions executable by one or more processors for calculating base swirl in a gas turbine; and calculating relative swirl in the gas turbine. Also, a method for gas turbine maintenance, comprising identifying a combustor in need of repair or replacement within a gas turbine; and repairing or replacing the combustor; wherein said identifying comprises calculating base swirl of the gas turbine and calculating relative swirl of the gas turbine in order to associate a gas path from a thermocouple to the combustor in need of repair or replacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Electric Power Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: Leonard Charles Angello, Benjamin Emerson, Timothy Charles Lieuwen, David Robert Noble
  • Patent number: 11183048
    Abstract: A method of identifying a ballistic impact on a power transmission asset is disclosed. The method includes the steps of deploying a sensor assembly at the power transmission asset; using the sensor assembly to receive and process data at the power transmission asset; using an algorithm to compare the processed data to known data and determine if a ballistic impact has occurred on the power transmission asset; and triggering an alarm if a ballistic impact has occurred and dispatching personnel to the power transmission asset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: ELECTRIC POWER RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew John Phillips, James Wu, Drew Benton McGuire, J. Mark Major, Mark C. Webb
  • Patent number: 11168006
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a ligated metal-organic framework (MOF) for use in removing both anionic and cationic species from a liquid or liquid stream. The present invention also provides methods for placing the MOF on a substrate to form a MOF-containing product that can be used in the removal of certain species from a given fluid. The MOF may be a Zr-based MOF, such as NU-1000, for removal of certain anions, such as oxy-anions, or having an attached thiosulfonyl-thiol (—SO2—S—R2—SH, where R2 is an alkyl group) ligand for complexation with certain cationic species in addition to the anions. The substrate may be any substrate to which a given MOF may be attached, including inert polypropylene polymer resin beads, a macroscopic fabric such as a mesh material or mesh filter, and a molecular fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Electric Power Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul L. Frattini, Keith Paul Fruzzetti
  • Patent number: 11136660
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a finished metal object or product having a corrosion resistant layer integral to or within a top portion of at least one of its surfaces that would be exposed to a corrosive environment. In one embodiment, the method for manufacturing is directed to a finished metal tubing product having a corrosion resistant layer within its inside surface that is exposed to a fluid and wherein the corrosion resistant layer is a zinc-metal oxide layer, such as a zinc-chromium oxide layer, or a zinc-mixed metal oxide layer. In addition to methods of manufacturing, the present invention provides finished metal objects or products having a corrosion resistant layer integral to or within a top portion of at least one surfaces that would be exposed to a corrosive environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Electric Power Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: John Morrison Riddle, Carola Annemarie Gregorich, Daniel M. Wells
  • Patent number: 11022583
    Abstract: The invention comprises methods for fabricating and using a plurality of sensors on a substrate surface, such as ultrasonic sensor probes. The methods for fabricating sensors directly on the substrate surface includes the use of a template to dispose sensor material in an array and form a first layer on the substrate surface and a second template to dispose sensor electrode material in a corresponding array to form a second layer on top of the first layer. The invention provides a sensor housing that electrically connects the sensors and a computing device. The sensor housing may comprise a flexible circuit having a plurality of sensor electrode contact points corresponding to each of the sensors, at least one spring plate, a force distribution plate, and a plurality of cable wires attached to the flexible circuit and corresponding to each of sensor electrode contact points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Electric Power Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventor: Luke Justin Breon
  • Patent number: 10994361
    Abstract: A weld with a stepped configuration is provided. The stepped configuration may be machined from a substrate to form a weld preparation which may accommodate a stepped weld. The weld with a stepped configuration and a controlled procedure exhibits improved service life and improved damage tolerance. A welded joint with a stepped configuration, a joined component with a stepped configuration, and method of welding a stepped configuration are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Electric Power Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: John Albert Siefert, Jonathan David Parker
  • Patent number: 10991479
    Abstract: A cable for transmitting electricity may include a core including a first conductive material, a core shield surrounding the core, an insulation layer surrounding the core shield, the insulation layer comprising a material providing electrical insulating properties, an insulation shield surrounding the insulation layer; and at least one of the following at least partially surrounding the insulation shield: (a) a bedding layer including a first semi-conductive material, (b) a tape layer including a metallic tape intercalated with an insulating tape, and (c) a protection layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Electric Power Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: Tiebin Zhao, Jay A. Williams, Richard W. Allen, Jr., Frank Frentzas, Ronald J. Knapwurst, Mohammad Anwar Pasha, Mark Rogers Smith