Patents Assigned to StarRotor Corporation
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Publication number: 20240092659Abstract: According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a desalination system includes a latent heat exchanger, a hydroclone, a compressor, and a quiescent vertical column. The latent heat exchanger is configured to receive saltwater. The latent heat exchanger includes tubes with an interior that are configured to circulate supersaturated brine with suspended salts. The hydroclone is configured to receive a flow from the latent heat exchanger. And, the hydrocodone has a flow that is substantially steam exiting the top and a flow that is substantially liquid exiting the bottom. The compressor that receives at least a portion of the flow that is substantially steam exiting the top of the hydroclone. An output of the compressor recirculating at least a portion of the flow back to the latent heat exchanger.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2021Publication date: March 21, 2024Applicant: STARROTOR CORPORATIONInventor: Mark Holtzapple
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Publication number: 20170321698Abstract: A system and method are presented for improved performance of gerotor compressors and expanders. Certain aspects of the disclosure reduce porting losses in a gerotor system. Other aspects of the disclosure provide for reduced deflection in lobes of an outer rotor of a gerotor system. Still other aspects of the disclosure provide for reduced leakage through tight gaps between components of a gerotor system.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2017Publication date: November 9, 2017Applicant: StarRotor CorporationInventors: Mark T. Holtzapple, Jeffrey J. Breedlove, Daniel J. Micka
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Patent number: 9429069Abstract: According to one embodiment, an open brayton bottoming cycle includes a heat exchanger configured between a compressor and an expander. The heat exchanger is configured to receive heat from a heat source and supply at least a portion of the exhaust heat to an expander using a fluid. The compressor configured to supply compressed fluid to the heat exchanger. The expander has a shaft connected to the compressor and configured to supply energy to the compressor. At least one of the compressor or the expander has an efficiency greater than 80 percent.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2013Date of Patent: August 30, 2016Assignee: StarRotor CorporationInventors: Dan Price, Mark T. Holtzapple
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Publication number: 20150267702Abstract: A system and method are presented for improved performance of gerotor compressors and expanders. Certain aspects of the disclosure reduce porting losses in a gerotor system. Other aspects of the disclosure provide for reduced deflection in lobes of an outer rotor of a gerotor system. Still other aspects of the disclosure provide for reduced leakage through tight gaps between components of a gerotor system.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 13, 2015Publication date: September 24, 2015Applicant: STARROTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Mark T. Holtzapple, Jeffrey J. Breedlove, Daniel J. Micka
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Publication number: 20150211788Abstract: A system and method for liquefying gas are provided. The method includes combining an input gas and a first recycle stream to form a first blended stream, and producing a cooled first blended stream and a heated second blended stream by passing the first blended stream and a second blended stream through a heat exchanger. The method also includes producing a mixture of gas and liquefied gas from the cooled first blended stream using a first expander, and producing the liquefied gas at an outlet. The method further includes producing a second recycle stream from the gas from the output of the first expander using a first compressor, and combining the second recycle stream and a third recycle stream to form the second blended stream. The method still further includes producing the first recycle stream from the heated second blended stream using a second compressor, and producing the third recycle stream from the first recycle stream using a second expander.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2015Publication date: July 30, 2015Applicant: STARROTOR CORPORATIONInventor: Mark T. Holtzapple
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Patent number: 8753099Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a gerotor apparatus includes a first gerotor, a second gerotor, and a synchronizing system operable to synchronize a rotation of the first gerotor with a rotation of the second gerotor. The synchronizing system includes a earn plate coupled to the first gerotor, wherein the cam plate includes a plurality of cams, and an alignment plate coupled to the second gerotor. The alignment plate includes at least one alignment member, wherein the plurality of cams and the at least one alignment member interact to synchronize a rotation of the first gerotor with a rotation of the second gerotor.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2010Date of Patent: June 17, 2014Assignees: The Texas A&M University System, Starrotor CorporationInventors: Mark T. Holtzapple, George A. Rabroker, Michael K. Ross
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Publication number: 20130192192Abstract: According to one embodiment, an open brayton bottoming cycle includes a heat exchanger configured between a compressor and an expander. The heat exchanger is configured to receive heat from a heat source and supply at least a portion of the exhaust heat to an expander using a fluid. The compressor configured to supply compressed fluid to the heat exchanger. The expander has a shaft connected to the compressor and configured to supply energy to the compressor. At least one of the compressor or the expander has an efficiency greater than 80 percent.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2013Publication date: August 1, 2013Applicants: The Texas A&M University System, StarRotor CorporationInventors: StarRotor Corporation, The Texas A&M University System
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Patent number: 8022586Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention, an electric machine comprises a stator and a rotor. The stator has at least one stator pole with a first leg and a second leg. The rotor has at least one rotor pole. The rotor rotates relate to the stator. The at least one rotor is configured to rotate between the first leg and the second leg of the at least one stator pole.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2010Date of Patent: September 20, 2011Assignees: The Texas A&M University System, StarRotor CorporationInventors: Mark T. Holtzapple, George A. Rabroker, Babak Fahimi, Mehrdad Ehsani
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Publication number: 20100213786Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention, an electric machine comprises a stator and a rotor. The stator has at least one stator pole with a first leg and a second leg. The rotor has at least one rotor pole. The rotor rotates relate to the stator. The at least one rotor is configured to rotate between the first leg and the second leg of the at least one stator pole.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 15, 2010Publication date: August 26, 2010Applicants: The Texas A&M University System, StarRotor CorporationInventors: Mark T. Holtzapple, George A. Rabroker, Babak Fahimi, Mehrdad Ehsani
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Patent number: 7708865Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a vapor-compression evaporation system includes a plurality of vessels in series each containing a feed having a nonvolatile component, a mechanical compressor coupled to the last vessel in the series and operable to receive a vapor from the last vessel in the series, a pump operable to deliver a cooling liquid to the mechanical compressor, a tank coupled to the mechanical compressor and operable to separate liquid and vapor received from the mechanical compressor, a plurality of heat exchangers coupled inside respective ones of the vessels, the heat exchanger in the first vessel in the series operable to receive the vapor from the tank, at least some of the vapor condensing therein, whereby the heat of condensation provides the heat of evaporation to the first vessel in the series, and wherein at least some of the vapor inside the first vessel in the series is delivered to the heat exchanger in the next vessel in the series, whereby the condensing, evaporating, aType: GrantFiled: September 17, 2004Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignees: Texas A&M University System, StarRotor CorporationInventors: Mark T. Holtzapple, Gary P. Noyes, George A. Rabroker
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Patent number: 7695260Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, an engine system comprises a housing, an outer gerotor, an inner gerotor, a tip inlet port, a face inlet port, and a tip outlet port. The housing has a first sidewall, a second sidewall, a first endwall, and a second endwall. The outer gerotor is at least partially disposed in the housing and at least partially defines an outer gerotor chamber. The inner gerotor is at least partially disposed within the outer gerotor chamber. The tip inlet port is formed in the first sidewall and allows fluid to enter the outer gerotor chamber. The face inlet port is formed in the first endwall and allows fluid to enter the outer gerotor chamber. The tip outlet port is formed in the second sidewall and allows fluid to exit the outer gerotor chamber.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2005Date of Patent: April 13, 2010Assignees: The Texas A&M University System, StarRotor CorporationInventors: Mark T. Holtzapple, Andrew Rabroker, Michael Kyle Ross, Steven D. Atmur, Gary P. Noyes
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Publication number: 20080253901Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a jet ejector method includes providing a primary jet ejector having a primary inlet stream, coupling one or more secondary jet ejectors to the primary jet ejector such that all of the jet ejectors are in a cascaded arrangement, bleeding off a portion of the primary inlet stream and directing the portion of the primary inlet stream to the secondary jet ejector that is closest to the primary jet ejector in the cascaded arrangement, and directing a motive fluid into the secondary jet ejector that is farthest from the primary jet ejector in the cascaded arrangement. The method further includes, at each secondary jet ejector, receiving at least some of the portion of the primary inlet stream and at least some of the motive fluid to create respective mixtures within the secondary jet ejectors, and at each secondary jet ejector, directing at least a portion of the respective mixture to adjacent jet ejectors in the cascaded arrangement.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2008Publication date: October 16, 2008Applicants: The Texas A&M University System, Highland Interests, Inc., StarRotor CorporationInventors: Mark T. Holtzapple, Gary P. Noyes, George A. Rabroker
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Patent number: 7328591Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a jet ejector method includes providing a primary jet ejector having a primary inlet stream, coupling one or more secondary jet ejectors to the primary jet ejector such that all of the jet ejectors are in a cascaded arrangement, bleeding off a portion of the primary inlet stream and directing the portion of the primary inlet stream to the secondary jet ejector that is closest to the primary jet ejector in the cascaded arrangement, and directing a motive fluid into the secondary jet ejector that is farthest from the primary jet ejector in the cascaded arrangement. The method further includes, at each secondary jet ejector, receiving at least some of the portion of the primary inlet stream and at least some of the motive fluid to create respective mixtures within the secondary jet ejectors, and at each secondary jet ejector, directing at least a portion of the respective mixture to adjacent jet ejectors in the cascaded arrangement.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2004Date of Patent: February 12, 2008Assignees: The Texas A&M University System, StarRotor Corporation, Highland Interests, Inc.Inventors: Mark T. Holtzapple, Gary P. Noyes, George A. Rabroker
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Publication number: 20080026855Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a system for maintaining relative axial positioning between two rotating assemblies comprises a first rotatable assembly and a second rotatable assembly. The first rotatable assembly has captor plates. The captor plates form a cavity between a first of the captors plates and a second of the captor plates. The second rotatable assembly has a thrust plate. The thrust plate comprises a disc positioned within the cavity of the captor plates. The first rotatable assembly is axially positioned with respect to the second rotatable assembly through a rolling interaction between the thrust plate and the captor plates, or the second rotatable assembly is axially positioned with respect to the first rotatable assembly through a rolling interaction between the thrust plate and the captor plates.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2007Publication date: January 31, 2008Applicants: The Texas A&M University System, StarRotor CorporationInventors: Mark T. Holtzapple, George A. Rabroker
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Patent number: 7008200Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a gerotor apparatus includes an outer gerotor having an outer gerotor chamber, an inner gerotor, at least a portion of which is disposed within the outer gerotor chamber, and a synchronizing apparatus operable to control the rotation of the inner gerotor relative to the outer gerotor. The inner gerotor includes one or more entrance passages operable to communicate a lubricant into the outer gerotor chamber.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2003Date of Patent: March 7, 2006Assignees: The Texas A&M University System, StarRotor CorporationInventors: Mark T. Holtzapple, George A. Rabroker, Thomas J. Beck, Mark Ehsani, Matthew M. Whiteacre, Michael Kyle Ross, Gary P. Noyes
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Publication number: 20030215345Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a gerotor apparatus includes an outer gerotor having an outer gerotor chamber, an inner gerotor, at least a portion of which is disposed within the outer gerotor chamber, and a synchronizing apparatus operable to control the rotation of the inner gerotor relative to the outer gerotor. The inner gerotor includes one or more entrance passages operable to communicate a lubricant into the outer gerotor chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2003Publication date: November 20, 2003Applicants: Texas A&M University Systems, StarRotor CorporationInventors: Mark T. Holtzapple, George A. Rabroker, Thomas J. Beck, Mark Ehsani, Matthew M. Whiteacre, Michael Kyle Ross, Gary P. Noyes