Patents Examined by Mickey H France
  • Patent number: 11608795
    Abstract: A constant density heat exchanger is provided. The constant density heat exchanger includes a housing extending between a first end and a second end and defining a chamber having an inlet and an outlet. A first flow control device is positioned at the inlet of the chamber and movable between an open position in which a working fluid is permitted into the chamber and a closed position in which the working fluid is prevented from entering the chamber. A second flow control device is positioned at the outlet of the chamber and movable between an open position in which the working fluid is permitted to exit the chamber and a closed position in which the working fluid is prevented from exiting the chamber. A heat exchange fluid imparts thermal energy to the volume of working fluid held at constant density within the chamber by the first and second control devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael Robert Notarnicola, Joshua Tyler Mook, Kevin Michael VandeVoorde, Aigbedion Akwara, Mohammed El Hacin Sennoun, Mary Kathryn Thompson, Scott Douglas Waun, Michael Thomas Gansler
  • Patent number: 11609026
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods to control particle mass flow rate in solar receivers and associated heat exchangers based on feedback from one or more temperatures of particles in the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventors: Clifford K. Ho, Kevin Albrecht
  • Patent number: 11598261
    Abstract: To produce power using the cold in a stored fluid in a cold condensed state (for example, LNG or liquid air), the fluid is initially pumped, heated, and expanded to generate a first amount of power and form initially expanded fluid, which is then re-condensed, re-pumped, re-heated, and re-expanded to generate a second amount of power, where the initially expanded fluid is re-condensed against the pumped fluid from the initial pumping. The technique can be used to store excess energy in the cold condensed fluid using excess energy generation capacity for subsequent recovery when energy is either deficient or otherwise more expense to generate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: JUST IN TIME ENERGY CO.
    Inventor: James E. Berry
  • Patent number: 11598226
    Abstract: An energy storage system converts variable renewable electricity (VRE) to continuous heat at over 1000° C. Intermittent electrical energy heats a solid medium. Heat from the solid medium is delivered continuously on demand. An array of bricks incorporating internal radiation cavities is directly heated by thermal radiation. The cavities facilitate rapid, uniform heating via reradiation. Heat delivery via flowing gas establishes a thermocline which maintains high outlet temperature throughout discharge. Gas flows through structured pathways within the array, delivering heat which may be used for processes including calcination, hydrogen electrolysis, steam generation, and thermal power generation and cogeneration. Groups of thermal storage arrays may be controlled and operated at high temperatures without thermal runaway via deep-discharge sequencing. Forecast-based control enables continuous, year-round heat supply using current and advance information of weather and VRE availability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Rondo Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: John Setel O'Donnell, Peter Emery von Behrens, Chiaki Treynor, Jeremy Quentin Keller, Matthieu Jonemann, Robert Ratz, Yusef Desjardins Ferhani
  • Patent number: 11591940
    Abstract: The invention relates to an emissions control device for a combustion engine aftertreatment arrangement, the emissions control device comprising: a housing configured for accommodating an emissions control substrate; and at least one first opening in the housing, which at least one first opening is configured for receiving a threaded assembling element, which threaded assembling element is configured for assembly of the emissions control device in a cavity of the aftertreatment arrangement. The emissions control device further comprises at least one second opening in the housing, wherein the at least one second opening is provided with a thread, configured for receiving a threaded disassembling element, which threaded disassembling element is configured for disassembly of the emissions control device from the cavity of the aftertreatment arrangement. The invention further relates to a combustion engine aftertreatment arrangement for a vehicle and a method for disassembling an emissions control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Scania CV AB
    Inventors: Gustav Jonsson, Amir Halilovic, Oskar Larsson
  • Patent number: 11591974
    Abstract: Methods and systems for calibrating an engine having a rotating shaft are provided. Readings from a plurality of speed sensors provided in one of a plurality of configurations about the shaft are obtained over a plurality of rotations of the shaft, the readings indicative of the passage of position markers and associated with a first precision level. A parameter indicative of relative spacing between the plurality of speed sensors is determined by applying a statistical algorithm to the readings, the parameter being associated with a second precision level higher than the first precision level. The parameter is compared to reference parameters associated with the plurality of configurations to identify an actual speed sensor configuration from amongst the plurality of configurations. The engine is calibrated based on the actual speed sensor configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventor: Jason Tremblay
  • Patent number: 11591932
    Abstract: A casing for a bearing of a gas turbine engine includes a shaft extending along an axial direction. The casing includes an attachment feature at a radially outermost portion of the casing. The attachment feature is configured to be coupled to a static frame of the gas turbine engine. The casing further includes a plurality of support arms extend from the attachment feature to a radially innermost portion of the casing. At least one support arm of the plurality of support arms defines an internal cavity. Further, the radially innermost portion of the casing is configured to be coupled to an outer race of the bearing. The casing additionally includes a reinforcing member housed at least partially within the internal cavity of at least one support arm. Moreover, the reinforcing member includes a shape memory alloy material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ravindra Shankar Ganiger, Praveen Sharma, Shivam Mittal, Bhujabal Prashant Mahadeo, Weize Kang, Richard Schmidt
  • Patent number: 11585527
    Abstract: The technical outcome of the proposed geothermal energy device is to increase its efficiency (CE), to simplify and cheapen the construction. The geothermal energy device contains downstream and upstream pipes, which are filled with fluid thermal agent and placed in the borehole, which is unilaterally closed from the ground surface; the pipes are connected to each other with a heat exchanger in the depth of the borehole. The downstream pipe is equipped with several mechanical non-return valves; on the same pipe there is also installed a down pushing pump of the thermal agent (e.g. isobutane). The end of the upstream pipe on the ground surface is directed towards the condensation type steam turbine, equipped with the controlled (e.g. electromagnetic) valve, and turned towards the mentioned turbine by the Laval nozzle. The energy device additionally contains the device of the frequency/duration control to lock and unlock the mentioned controlled valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Inventors: Solomon Ioramashvili, Shalva Kochladze, Enriko Beridze
  • Patent number: 11585316
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a renewable energy generator including a housing formed to float in a body of water, a main generator unit, frame(s) fixed internally of the housing at intervals, a main rotating shaft for linking the main generator unit rotatably to the frame(s), and a controller for operating the pendulum by driving the main motor, and controlling the main generator unit to cause the housing to behave due to the pendulum operation. The main generator unit includes an inner housing, a pendulum moving inside the inner housing, a pendulum rotation shaft vertically connected to the pendulum and fixed to the inner housing, a main motor for converting kinetic energy of the pendulum into electrical energy, and a gear unit linked to the pendulum rotation shaft and transmitting the kinetic energy of the pendulum to the main motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dong Hyun Ha, Jung Hun Choi, Jae Wung Jung
  • Patent number: 11578704
    Abstract: An energy power generator includes an energy source having a solar energy source further having at least one or more parabolic mirrors for focusing solar energy in a predetermined direction or focal point, an enclosed fluid circuit including a medium supply tank, a pump coupled to the medium supply tank, a boiler tank coupled to the pump, a turbine and generator coupled to the boiler tank, and a condenser having an output of the turbine as an input and the condenser further providing an output used as a feedback input to the medium supply tank. The generator can further include one or more parabolic mirrors oriented or focused towards the predetermined focal point on or through the boiler tank, where the boiler tank has heat applied to increase the pressure used to operate the turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Cosmic Energy Power Inc.
    Inventors: William E. Heary, Frederick M. Heary
  • Patent number: 11560829
    Abstract: A recirculation system for a power system is disclosed. The recirculation system may determine, according to a sequence for individually activating a plurality of turbochargers of an engine, that a designated turbocharger of the plurality of turbochargers is to be activated. The recirculation system may cause a recirculation valve of a recirculation line to open to increase an airflow between an intake manifold and a compressor of the designated turbocharger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy Byrd, Eric Lee Schroeder, David Andrew Pierpont, Brian R. Bell, Deborah Lee Ribordy, Jared P. Tolan, Craig P. Hittle
  • Patent number: 11560817
    Abstract: A system for mobile carbon capture, preferably including a capture module, a regeneration module, and a storage module 130. The system can optionally include a thermal control module and/or a dehumidifier. A method for mobile carbon capture, preferably including adsorbing a target species, desorbing the target species, and storing the target species. The method can optionally include pre-treating input gas, offloading stored species, and/or regenerating desiccators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Echeneidae Inc.
    Inventors: Christina Reynolds, Eric Harding, Paul Gross
  • Patent number: 11561559
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media that improve flow of a multiphase mixture in a fluid transport system by determining pressure drop of low-liquid loading flows are provided. The method includes obtaining physical dimensions of a pipe that transports a multiphase flow. The method also includes obtaining physical parameters of the multiphase flow in the pipe. The method further includes determining an effective toughness of a liquid film of the multiphase flow on an interior wall of the pipe using the physical dimensions of the pipe and the physical parameters of the multiphase flow. Additionally, the method includes determining a pressure drop in the pipe using the effective roughness of the liquid film. Moreover, the method includes determining operating parameters of the system based on the pressure drop in the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Dag Biberg
  • Patent number: 11560880
    Abstract: A heat recovery apparatus, system and method of using the same. The heat recovery apparatus includes a particulate inlet, a particulate distributor in fluid communication with the particulate inlet, a cavity in fluid communication with the particulate distributor, a plurality of pipes contained within the cavity and configured for transmission of a heat transfer fluid therethrough, and a particulate outlet in fluid communication with the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS ON BEHALF OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
    Inventor: Peiwen Li
  • Patent number: 11555478
    Abstract: A deep-sea multi-energy integrated platform for complementary power generation, production, living and exploration includes a platform body and a sustainable power supply system, where the platform body includes a column cabin, an upper platform housing, a lower platform housing and a current guide column; the column cabin, the current guide column, the lower platform housing and the upper platform housing are mutually connected to form a triangular platform with a hollow cavity, and a net is disposed in the hollow cavity to form a mariculture zone; the sustainable power supply system includes a wind-driven generator disposed at an end of a top surface of the upper platform housing, a solar panel disposed above a middle portion of the top surface of the upper platform housing, a wave power generation apparatus disposed on the current guide column, and several tidal current power generation apparatuses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: GUANGZHOU INSTITUTE OF ENERGY CONVERSION, CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
    Inventors: Songwei Sheng, Kunlin Wang, Yin Ye, Hongjun Lin, Zhenpeng Wang, Bing Du
  • Patent number: 11549402
    Abstract: Systems and generating power in an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) operation to supply electrical power. In embodiments, an inlet temperature of a flow of gas from a source to an ORC unit may be determined. The source may connect to a main pipeline. The main pipeline may connect to a supply pipeline. The supply pipeline may connect to the ORC unit thereby to allow gas to flow from the source to the ORC unit. Heat from the flow of gas may cause the ORC unit to generate electrical power. The outlet temperature of the flow of the gas from the ORC unit to a return pipe may be determined. A flow of working fluid may be adjusted to a percentage sufficient to maintain temperature of the flow of compressed gas within the selected operating temperature range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: ICE Thermal Harvesting, LLC
    Inventors: Adrian Benjamin Bodishbaugh, Carrie Jeanne Murtland
  • Patent number: 11549222
    Abstract: A vertical ground heat exchanger for reducing the temperature in the carbonaceous shale rock mass and preventing roadbed frost heave includes a heating mechanism, a heat releasing component respectively connected to both ends of the heating mechanism and a refrigeration heat exchange mechanism. The refrigeration heat exchange mechanism is connected to the lower end of the heating mechanism through a heat transfer pipeline and communicates with the heat releasing component. The heat releasing component includes a double-layer heat exchange tube component, a gas-liquid separator and a branch tube, wherein the double-layer heat exchange tube component is respectively connected to the both ends of the heating mechanism, the gas-liquid separator is connected to the double-layer heat exchange tube component, and the branch tube is connected between the gas-liquid separator and the refrigeration heat exchange mechanism. The double-layer heat exchange tube component includes an upper bellows and a lower bellows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Baolong Zhu, Xin Li
  • Patent number: 11530626
    Abstract: An energy storage system converts variable renewable electricity (VRE) to continuous heat at over 1000° C. Intermittent electrical energy heats a solid medium. Heat from the solid medium is delivered continuously on demand. An array of bricks incorporating internal radiation cavities is directly heated by thermal radiation. The cavities facilitate rapid, uniform heating via reradiation. Heat delivery via flowing gas establishes a thermocline which maintains high outlet temperature throughout discharge. Gas flows through structured pathways within the array, delivering heat which may be used for processes including calcination, hydrogen electrolysis, steam generation, and thermal power generation and cogeneration. Groups of thermal storage arrays may be controlled and operated at high temperatures without thermal runaway via deep-discharge sequencing. Forecast-based control enables continuous, year-round heat supply using current and advance information of weather and VRE availability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Rondo Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: John Setel O'Donnell, Peter Emery von Behrens, Chiaki Treynor, Jeremy Quentin Keller, Matthieu Jonemann, Robert Ratz, Yusef Desjardins Ferhani
  • Patent number: 11530668
    Abstract: A closed cycle regenerative heat engine has a housing defining a chamber. A displacer is housed in the chamber. A power piston is housed in the chamber. The displacer is resiliently deformable from a rest condition in response to displace the working fluid in the chamber. The displacer may be a multi-start volute spring. The displacer may be provided with a heat storage reservoir to store heat received from a working fluid as the working fluid is displaced from a heating location in the chamber to a cooling location in the chamber and reject heat to the working fluid when the working fluid is displaced from the cooling location to the heating location. The resiliently deformable displacer may comprise two components with an air space defined between the two components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Stirling Works Global LTD
    Inventors: Michael Dann, Graham Nicholson
  • Patent number: 11525375
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide a method for operating a combined cycle power plant (CCPP). The method may include creating a variant control profile for the CCPP for a power plant model of the CCPP. The method may include modifying the variant control profile in response to the variant control profile not reducing the fuel consumption or meeting the quality threshold. The method may also include adjusting the CCPP to use the variant control profile in response to the variant control profile reducing the fuel consumption and meeting the quality threshold. Using the variant control profile adjusts a turbine section inlet temperature schedule or an exhaust temperature schedule for the CCPP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Nilesh Tralshawala, David Spencer Ewens, Difei Wang, Karthik Subramanyan, Anthony Bruce Campbell