Patents by Inventor Andrew J. Zillmer
Andrew J. Zillmer has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20100175687Abstract: A solar power generation system includes a fluid housing, a solar collector, and a heating system. The fluid housing contains a heat transfer medium. The solar collector concentrates solar energy onto the heat transfer medium. The heating system includes at least one gas tank containing a gas and fluidically connected to a first catalyst. The first catalyst is configured to catalyze gas from the gas tank to create hot gas. The heating system also includes a first hot gas pipe fluidically connected to the first catalyst and positioned with respect to the fluid housing such that hot gas flowing through the first hot gas pipe comes into thermal contact with the heat transfer medium within the fluid housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2009Publication date: July 15, 2010Applicant: Hamilton Sundstrand CorporationInventors: Andrew J. Zillmer, Alfred Little
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Publication number: 20100175689Abstract: A heating system for heating a fluid pipe in an industrial process system includes at least one gas tank fluidically connected to a first catalyst via a gas supply pipe. A first pipe heating zone is fluidically connected to the first catalyst via a first hot gas pipe. The first pipe heating zone has at least one passage extending along a first portion of the fluid pipe, in thermal contact with the fluid pipe.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2009Publication date: July 15, 2010Applicant: Hamilton Sundstrand CorporationInventors: Andrew J. Zillmer, Alfred Little
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Publication number: 20100170500Abstract: An air drying system for use in a concentrated solar power generation system using a fluid heat transfer medium includes a first vent pipe and a first desiccant pack. The first vent pipe extends from the concentrated solar power generation system and includes a first inlet open to ambient air, and a first outlet open to an interior of the solar power generation system in fluid communication with the fluid heat transfer medium. The first desiccant pack is positioned within the first vent pipe between the first inlet and first outlet and is positioned to reduce moisture content of ambient air flowing into the first vent pipe.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 7, 2009Publication date: July 8, 2010Applicant: Hamilton Sundstrand CorporationInventors: Andrew J. Zillmer, Daniel P. Cap
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Publication number: 20100170498Abstract: An air quality instrumentation system for a concentrated solar power generation system using a fluid heat transfer medium includes a pipe, a window and a spectroscope. The pipe extends from the concentrated solar power generation system and contains system air from within the concentrated solar power generation system. The window is positioned within the pipe to permit light to pass through the pipe and the system air. The spectroscope is positioned adjacent the window to assess concentration of a constituent within the system air, the concentration of the constituent providing an indication of an operating condition of the concentrated solar power generation system.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 7, 2009Publication date: July 8, 2010Applicant: Hamilton Sundstrand CorporationInventors: Andrew J. Zillmer, Joseph P. Carroll
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Publication number: 20100078061Abstract: A heat rejection system includes a plurality of panel subassemblies and a solid state heat pipe flex joint. Each panel subassembly includes a fin, a solid state heat pipe manifold, a first solid state heat pipe tube operatively connected to the solid state heat pipe manifold and secured to the fin, a second solid state heat pipe tube operatively connected to the solid state heat pipe manifold adjacent to the first solid state heat pipe and secured to the fin. The solid state heat pipe flex joint operably connects the solid state heat pipe manifolds of two of the plurality of panel subassemblies in a hermetically sealed configuration, and is configured to permit repositioning of the two panel subassemblies relative to each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2008Publication date: April 1, 2010Applicant: Hamilton Sundstrand CorporationInventors: Cheng-Yi Lu, James A. McClanahan, Joseph P. Carroll, William Determan, Patrick E. Frye, Charles Thomas Kudija, Rick L. Howerton, Kenneth John Metcalf, Andrew J. Zillmer
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Patent number: 7685820Abstract: A solar-powered supercritical carbon dioxide turbine system includes a supercritical carbon dioxide turbine system and a solar heating system. The solar heating system has a molten salt heat transfer fluid for providing thermal energy to the supercritical carbon dioxide turbine system.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2006Date of Patent: March 30, 2010Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Robert Z. Litwin, Andrew J. Zillmer, Nathan J. Hoffman, Alan V. von Arx, David Wait
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Publication number: 20100028725Abstract: An instrumentation system utilizes a single light source collimated through windows through a gas line in communication with a fuel cell. As each beam passes through each window, the gas stream will attenuate each beam. A diffraction grating disperses each attenuated beam and transmits particular wavelength bands through a focusing system to a detector. The measured concentration in the gas stream may then be utilized by a controller to determine the amount of power produced by the cell, determine potential leaks, or determine incomplete reaction.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2007Publication date: February 4, 2010Inventors: Andrew J. Zillmer, Joseph P. Carroll
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Publication number: 20100024421Abstract: A solar-powered supercritical carbon dioxide turbine system includes a supercritical carbon dioxide turbine system and a solar heating system. The solar heating system has a molten salt heat transfer fluid for providing thermal energy to the supercritical carbon dioxide turbine system.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2006Publication date: February 4, 2010Applicant: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Robert Z. Litwin, Andrew J. Zillmer, Nathan J. Hoffman, Alan V. von Arx, David Wait
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Publication number: 20090293938Abstract: A fluid tube routes a fluid adjacent to a source of heat to heat the fluid. The heated fluid is passed adjacent to cells which receive infrared radiation from the heated fluid. An anti-corrosion member is positioned on a portion of the tube adjacent to the cells. The anti-corrosion member is spaced from an outer periphery of the tube to provide a chamber between the portion of the tube and the anti-corrosion member.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2008Publication date: December 3, 2009Inventors: Andrew J. Zillmer, Bryan W. McEnerney
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Patent number: 7622726Abstract: A dual neutron-gamma ray source comprises a compact neutron generator, a shield, a collimator, and an internal gamma target. The shield surrounds the compact neutron generator. The collimator traverses the shield from the compact neutron generator to a collimator port. The internal gamma target is positioned within the collimator to generate gamma rays from the neutrons.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2007Date of Patent: November 24, 2009Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand CorporationInventors: Andrew J. Zillmer, Nathan J. Hoffman, David Wait
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Patent number: 7622709Abstract: A variable-ratio neutron-gamma ray source comprises a neutron generator, a shield, a collimator, and an external gamma target. The neutron generator generates neutrons and the shield reduces external radiation exposure. The collimator collimates the neutrons into a neutron beam that traverses the shield. The external gamma target generates a dual neutron-gamma ray beam from the neutron beam, wherein the dual neutron-gamma ray beam has a variable neutron-gamma ratio as a function of a thickness of the external gamma target.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2007Date of Patent: November 24, 2009Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand CorporationInventors: Andrew J. Zillmer, Nathan J. Hoffman, Gregory A. Johnson
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Publication number: 20090117429Abstract: A direct carbon fuel cell includes a vessel having a liquid anode region and a separation device connected with the liquid anode region for separating constituents from a liquid anode material circulating through the liquid anode region.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2007Publication date: May 7, 2009Inventors: Andrew J. Zillmer, Charles Thomas Kudija
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Publication number: 20090065712Abstract: A dual neutron-gamma ray source comprises a compact neutron generator, a shield, a collimator, and an internal gamma target. The shield surrounds the compact neutron generator. The collimator traverses the shield from the compact neutron generator to a collimator port. The internal gamma target is positioned within the collimator to generate gamma rays from the neutrons.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2007Publication date: March 12, 2009Applicant: Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, Inc.Inventors: Andrew J. Zillmer, Nathan J. Hoffman, David Wait
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Publication number: 20090065713Abstract: A variable-ratio neutron-gamma ray source comprises a neutron generator, a shield, a collimator, and an external gamma target. The neutron generator generates neutrons and the shield reduces external radiation exposure. The collimator collimates the neutrons into a neutron beam that traverses the shield. The external gamma target generates a dual neutron-gamma ray beam from the neutron beam, wherein the dual neutron-gamma ray beam has a variable neutron-gamma ratio as a function of a thickness of the external gamma target.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2007Publication date: March 12, 2009Applicant: Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, Inc.Inventors: Andrew J. Zillmer, Nathan J. Hoffman, Gregory A. Johnson
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Publication number: 20080311420Abstract: A structure and a method of forming the structure in high temperature sections of next generation nuclear and solar power plants where the structure consists of piping, ducting and enclosures fabricated from oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS) alloys joined by friction stir welding (FSW) to other ODS alloys or any alloy.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 15, 2007Publication date: December 18, 2008Applicant: Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, Inc.Inventors: Andrew J. Zillmer, Nathan J. Hoffman, Sherwin Yang, Robert Zachary Litwin
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Patent number: 7391031Abstract: A system for detecting a compound in a sample includes a neutron source, at least one gamma ray detector positioned proximate the sample, and a signal processor. The neutron source directs a neutron beam toward the sample. The gamma ray detector collects gamma rays emitted from the sample and the signal processor determines the compounds in the sample based on the gamma rays collected by the gamma ray detector. The compound is selected from the group consisting of peroxides and superoxides.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2006Date of Patent: June 24, 2008Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, Inc.Inventors: Andrew J. Zillmer, Gregory A. Johnson
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Publication number: 20080142722Abstract: A system for detecting a compound in a sample includes a neutron source, at least one gamma ray detector positioned proximate the sample, and a signal processor. The neutron source directs a neutron beam toward the sample. The gamma ray detector collects gamma rays emitted from the sample and the signal processor determines the compounds in the sample based on the gamma rays collected by the gamma ray detector. The compound is selected from the group consisting of peroxides and superoxides.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2006Publication date: June 19, 2008Applicant: Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, Inc.Inventors: Andrew J. Zillmer, Gregory A. Johnson
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Publication number: 20080121389Abstract: A power supply system for converting heat to energy includes a heat source, a converter, a heat pipe, a heat transfer structure surrounding the heat pipe, and a mechanism for moving the heat pipe as a function of electrical power generated by the converter between a first position spaced from the converter and a second position adjacent to the converter. The converter is positioned adjacent the heat source and uses heat from the heat source. The heat pipe has a first end and a second end and is capable of withdrawing heat from the converter.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2006Publication date: May 29, 2008Applicant: United Technologies CorporationInventor: Andrew J. Zillmer
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Publication number: 20080000231Abstract: A high temperature solar power tower system includes a molten salt heat transfer medium, a high temperature solar receiver, and an energy conversion system. The molten salt heat transfer medium is capable of being heated to a temperature of at least approximately 1200 degrees Fahrenheit by the high temperature solar receiver. The energy conversion system uses the heated molten salt to generate power.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2006Publication date: January 3, 2008Applicant: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Robert Z. Litwin, Andrew J. Zillmer, Nathan J. Hoffman