Patents Examined by Hoang M. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 11965599
    Abstract: A brush seal includes an annular plate assembly defining a radially inner diameter having an inner central axis and a radially outer diameter having an outer central axis. The inner central axis and the outer central axis are spaced apart from each other by an offset, such that the radially inner diameter and the radially outer diameter are eccentric with respect to each other. The brush seal further includes a bristle pack. The bristle pack includes a plurality of bristles defining a bristle bore having a bristle bore central axis. The bristle bore central axis is aligned with the inner central axis and the bristle bore central axis is offset from the outer central axis. Moreover, the brush seal is disposed around a rotating component. The bristle bore central axis is aligned with a component axis of the rotating component and the bristle pack engages with the rotating component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Inventors: Gervas Franceschini, Maciej T. Pietrzak
  • Patent number: 11965443
    Abstract: Gas flow and sound control valve for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine comprising a housing including an inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet, and a valve member arranged within the housing for forming a first conduit connecting the inlet to the first outlet and/or a second conduit from the inlet to the second outlet, wherein the valve member can be moved relative to the housing between a first predetermined position in which the valve member closes the second conduit and a second predetermined position in which the valve member closes the first conduit, whereby the valve member is rotatable around a valve axis aligned parallel, in particular coaxial, to a centerline of the inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Akrapovic D.D.
    Inventors: Jure Penca, Igor Akrapovic
  • Patent number: 11959466
    Abstract: Systems and methods for generating and a controller for controlling generation of geothermal power in an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) operation to thereby supply electrical power to one or more of in-field operational equipment, a grid power structure, and an energy storage device. In an embodiment, during hydrocarbon production, a temperature of a flow of heated fluid from a source or working fluid may be determined. If the temperature is above a vaporous phase change threshold of the working fluid, heat exchanger valves may be opened to divert flow of heated fluid to heat exchangers to facilitate heat transfer from the flow of wellhead fluid to working fluid through the heat exchangers, thereby to cause the working fluid to change from a liquid to vapor, the vapor to cause a generator to generate electrical power via rotation of an expander.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: ICE Thermal Harvesting, LLC
    Inventors: Adrian Benjamin Bodishbaugh, Carrie Jeanne Murtland
  • Patent number: 11952922
    Abstract: Operation of an energy storage system comprising a thermodynamic cycle including first and second thermal reservoirs and a turbomachinery as energy converter for two-way conversion between electrical energy and thermal energy. For controlling the temperature in the system, the compression ratio of the turbomachinery is adjusted in real-time during charging on the basis of temperature measurements downstream of the compression and/or during discharging on the basis of temperature measurements downstream of the expansion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Stiesdal Storage A/S
    Inventor: Henrik Stiesdal
  • Patent number: 11952919
    Abstract: The application relates to a binary cycle power system for generating electrical power. The system comprises a heat exchanger for evaporating a first fluid, a turbine converter, an electrical generator, and a first condenser for condensing the evaporated first fluid. The turbine converter converts energy of the evaporated first fluid to mechanical energy and the electrical generator generates the electrical power from the mechanical energy. The heat exchanger is a second conderser, which is a part of a heat pump that transfers heat from a second fluid circulating in the heat pump to the first fluid so that the first fluid evaporates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: WERESCO OY
    Inventor: Juha Reidar Wermundsén
  • Patent number: 11946458
    Abstract: According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, since the pressure space of the cylinder is bisected into a vacuum state and a pneumatic state to alternately form a pressure difference, it is possible to generate the kinetic energy of the piston and convert the kinetic energy into other necessary energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Inventor: Byeongsik Kim
  • Patent number: 11946441
    Abstract: The invention relates to an outer turbine system (OTS) comprising an outer envelope having first and second ends with an axial inflow and a radial and/or axial outflow of a working gas or liquid. Inner turbine blades are disposed at an inner side of the envelope to rotate the turbine. The envelope and the blades can have a defined shape. The blades can be detachably attachable, adjustable, comprise hollow spaces. The envelope can comprise (adjustable) through openings. The turbine can be mounted in a housing, can include a defined feed casing and one or more stages. The turbine can be supported at defined portions, can be variably mounted, can work bidirectionally, can use regenerative power, can pump and can be fabricated from a defined material. The blades can be provided with a defined cooling system. The turbine can be coupled with another turbine, a mechanocomponent and/or an electrocomponent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Inventor: Kamil Podhola
  • Patent number: 11946679
    Abstract: The present invention provides a working fluid re-liquefaction system driven by recovered exhaust gas energy of a prime mover with heat rejection via a magneto-caloric liquefier to atmosphere for distributed electric generation and motor vehicle application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Inventor: Jay Stephen Kaufman
  • Patent number: 11939902
    Abstract: An apparatus of purifying exhaust gas of a hybrid vehicle includes an electric supercharger disposed on an air intake line, a post-treatment unit disposed on an exhaust gas line and including an electrically-heated catalyst, an exhaust gas recirculation unit including an exhaust gas recirculation cooler disposed on a recirculation line connecting the post-treatment unit and the intake line and an exhaust gas recirculation valve disposed on the recirculation line, a three-way valve disposed at a position at which the recirculation line diverges into a front end portion and a rear end portion of the intake line, and a controller electrically connected to the three-way valve and configured for controlling the three-way valve connecting the intake line and the recirculation line at the front end portion of the electric supercharger to be selectively opened or closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventor: Il Suk Yang
  • Patent number: 11939965
    Abstract: A system and a process for producing gas and generating power is disclosed herein. The system may be configured to include a produced gas, a production pipe, an indirect heat exchange system, a heat exchange medium, a concentrated solar power system, an energy conversion device, and a heat exchange circulation system. The process may include producing a gas from a reservoir that has a first temperature, heating the produced, via indirect heat exchange with a heat exchange medium, to a second temperature. This indirect heat exchange may produce a cooled heat exchange medium that may be heated again via concentrated solar power. The heated produced gas may be then expanded across an energy conversion device to produce electricity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventor: Basel Ata Alsubaity
  • Patent number: 11933230
    Abstract: An aircraft turbomachine having a longitudinal axis includes a high-pressure (HP) body, a low-pressure (LP) body, a fan, and a reduction gear having an epicyclic gear train. The turbomachine includes three modules: a first module having the LP turbine and the LP shaft, a second module having the LP compressor and a journal secured to the rotor of the LP compressor, and a third module having an input shaft of the reduction gear, this input shaft having an upstream end for coupling to a sun gear of the reduction gear and a downstream end comprising first splines that are oriented parallel to the axis and are configured to be engaged in second complementary splines of said second module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Safran Aircraft Engines
    Inventors: Paul Ghislain Albert Levisse, Olivier Belmonte
  • Patent number: 11933275
    Abstract: A wind turbine blade comprising an electro-thermal heating element with a tapering width. The electro-thermal heating element comprises: electrically resistive sheet material; a first electrode which is in electrical contact with the sheet material and positioned at a first end of the element; and a second electrode which is in electrical contact with the sheet material and positioned at a second end of the sheet material. An electrically conductive strip extends across a width of the element. The sheet material has a first part on a first side of the strip and a second part on a second side of the strip. The strip is in electrical contact with the first and second parts of the sheet material. The first part of the sheet material has a first width, and the second part of the sheet material has a second width which is different to the first width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Luke Spandley, Paul Badger
  • Patent number: 11927131
    Abstract: The present disclosure is related to systems and/or methods for energy storage in desert environments. Various embodiments described herein include a system for subterranean energy storage. The system can comprise a subterranean flexible storage vessel coupled to a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger can be configured to supply a cooled compressed gas stream to the subterranean flexible storage vessel. Further, the subterranean flexible storage vessel can be at least partially surrounded by sand. Additionally, the system can comprise a turbine generator coupled to the subterranean flexible storage vessel. The subterranean flexible storage vessel can be configured to supply a pressurized gas stream that is heated by the sand to the turbine generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Ghaida Ahmed Al-Juhani, Faisal Mostafa, Khadijah Alshadly, Louai Altorkestani, Mohammed Al-Khawajah
  • Patent number: 11927117
    Abstract: A method for converting heat to mechanical work including providing incoming heat transfer fluid (HTF) at a first temperature to a mixing chamber, providing incoming compressed gas at a second temperature to the mixing chamber, enabling the gas and the HTF to mix, producing a gas-and-HTF mix, enabling the HTF in the gas-and-HTF mix to heat the gas and isothermal expansion of the gas in the gas-and-HTF mix, limiting volume of the gas-and-HTF mix, thereby increasing pressure of the gas and causing acceleration of a flow of the gas-and-HTF mix, causing the gas-and-HTF mix to eject through a nozzle, thereby converting the heat of the HTF to kinetic energy, and using the kinetic energy to produce mechanical work. Related apparatus and methods are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: TECHNION RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION LIMITED
    Inventors: Carmel Rotschild, Joseph Cassell
  • Patent number: 11927130
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for pump control of a closed thermodynamic cycle system, such as a Brayton cycle. Operational parameters such as working fluid temperature, thermal fluid temperature, stream pressure, and power generation may be the basis for controlling a thermal fluid pump rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: MALTA INC.
    Inventors: Raj Apte, Philippe Larochelle
  • Patent number: 11920551
    Abstract: A unique point absorber type wave energy conversion device is disclosed that includes a Power Take Off (PTO) which uses a torsion spring to return a vertical shaft to its original position after being rotated by a rope or cord that pulls a reel via a guide system. This spring return allows the PTO and housing to stay stationary under the wave energy while a buoy at the surface provides an oscillating linear movement. The oscillating rotary motion caused by the interaction of the buoy and spring is converted into a one directional motion via a one-way clutch and is transmitted to generators using a gearbox that increases rotational speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: University of Massachusetts
    Inventors: Gregory E. Browne, Christopher M. Meninno, William G Michaud, Nicholas D. White, Daniel G. MacDonald, Mehdi Raessi
  • Patent number: 11913436
    Abstract: There is provided a method of driving a shape memory alloy haptic assembly comprising an actuator comprising shape memory alloy that is arranged on actuation to provide a haptic effect, the method comprising supplying drive current to the actuator successively during a pre-heating period in which the temperature of the shape memory alloy is raised without causing the shape memory alloy to provide the haptic effect and during an actuation period in which the temperature of the shape memory alloy is raised so as to cause the shape memory alloy to provide the haptic effect. A shape memory alloy haptic assembly is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: CAMBRIDGE MECHATRONICS LIMITED
    Inventors: Mark Easton, Andrew Benjamin Simpson Brown, Marc-Sebastian Scholz
  • Patent number: 11912946
    Abstract: Various embodiments that pertain to fuel processing are described. A fuel processor can produce an endothermic reaction that cools a substance and produces a processed fuel from a raw fuel. A generator can employ the processed fuel to produce an electricity. The generator can supply the electricity to a load that uses the electricity to function. The load can become hot due to its functioning and can benefit from being cooled. The substance cooled by the fuel processor can cool load and in the process the substance can rise in temperature. This warmer substance can be transferred to the fuel processor to be cooled again and this cycle can continue. Further, the fuel processor can use the warmer substance to achieve the endothermic reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: The Government of the United States, as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Michael Seibert, Richard Scenna, Terry DuBois
  • Patent number: 11913679
    Abstract: A geothermal system is used for obtaining heated heat transfer fluid, such as steam, via heat transfer with an underground reservoir of magma. The geothermal system includes a wellbore extending between a surface and into an underground chamber formed in a reservoir of magma. The chamber may be formed by injecting a fluid at an increased pressure into underground magma to form a cavity that acts as the underground chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: EnhancedGEO Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Greg Lindberg, Kimberly C. Conner, Scott Hall
  • Patent number: 11905856
    Abstract: A geothermal district heating (DH) system includes a plurality of DH conduits each of the conduits extending to a corresponding heat consumer; means for delivering a DH-usable fluid through said plurality of DH conduits; a fluid circuit through which a geothermal fluid is flowable; and at least two heat exchangers, each of the heat exchangers configured to transfer heat directly or indirectly from the geothermal fluid to said DH-usable fluid with a total heat influx provided by the at least two heat exchangers to said DH-usable fluid that is sufficiently high to raise a temperature of the DH-usable fluid to a predetermined DH-usable temperature without need for any supplemental fossil fuel derived waste heat to be transferred to said DH-usable fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Ormat Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Dan Batscha