Patents by Inventor Benjamin R. Bollinger

Benjamin R. Bollinger 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).

  • Publication number: 20250122828
    Abstract: A system including: (i) a pumped-heat energy storage system (“PHES system”), wherein the PHES system is operable in a charge mode to convert electricity into stored thermal energy in a hot thermal storage (“HTS”) medium; (ii) an electric heater in thermal contact with the hot HTS medium, wherein the electric heater is operable to heat the hot HTS medium above a temperature achievable by transferring heat from a working fluid to a warm HTS medium in a thermodynamic cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2024
    Publication date: April 17, 2025
    Inventors: Benjamin R. Bollinger, Bao H. Truong
  • Publication number: 20250116211
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides pumped heat energy storage systems that can be integrated with a Coal Fired Energy Generation Unit (CF-EGU) to repurpose CF-EGUs as thermal energy storage systems. A pumped heat energy storage system of the present disclosure can store thermal energy by operating as a heat pump with heat discharge occurring as a result of heat engine operation of the pumped heat energy storage system and/or a steam cycle of the CF-EGUs to provide heating thereto. For example, thermal energy can be exchanged via working fluids flowing between the pumped heat energy storage systems and the CF-EGUs to drive turbines that provide power to generators while repurposing equipment from the CF-EGUs to create energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2022
    Publication date: April 10, 2025
    Inventors: Bao H. TRUONG, Benjamin R. BOLLINGER
  • Publication number: 20250116210
    Abstract: A method including: (i) operating a pumped-heat energy storage system (“PHES system”) in a charge mode to convert electricity into stored thermal energy in a hot thermal storage medium (“HTS medium”) by transferring heat from a working fluid to a warm HTS medium, resulting in a hot HTS medium, wherein the PHES system is further operable in a generation mode to convert at least a portion of the stored thermal energy into electricity; and (ii) heating the hot HTS medium with an electric heater above a temperature achievable by transferring heat from the working fluid to the warm HTS medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2024
    Publication date: April 10, 2025
    Inventors: Benjamin R. BOLLINGER, Bao H. TRUONG
  • Publication number: 20250101912
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides pumped heat energy storage systems that can be used to store and/or extract electrical energy. A pumped heat energy storage system of the present disclosure can store energy by operating as a heat pump, whereby net work input can be used to transfer heat from the cold side to the hot side. A working fluid of the system is capable of efficient heat exchange with heat storage fluids on a hot side of the system and on a cold side of the system. Such pumped energy storage systems can be beneficially integrated with thermal plants to provided heat transfer to and/or from the thermal plants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2024
    Publication date: March 27, 2025
    Inventors: Benjamin R. BOLLINGER, Bao H. TRUONG
  • Publication number: 20250084773
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides pumped thermal energy storage systems that can be used to store and extract electrical energy. A pumped thermal energy storage system of the present disclosure can store energy by operating as a heat pump or refrigerator, whereby net work input can be used to transfer heat from the cold side to the hot side. A working fluid of the system is capable of efficient heat exchange with heat storage fluids on a hot side of the system and on a cold side of the system. The system can extract energy by operating as a beat engine transferring heat from the hot side to the cold side, which can result in net work output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2024
    Publication date: March 13, 2025
    Inventors: Benjamin R. BOLLINGER, Sebastian W. FREUND, Mert GEVECI
  • Publication number: 20250043718
    Abstract: A method including: operating a pumped-heat energy storage (“PHES”) system in a generation mode to generate electricity; and responsive, at least in part, to a determination that a power generation plant will reduce supply of electricity to an electrical grid by a reduction amount of electricity, changing modes of the PHES system from the generation mode to operate in a charge mode. Operating in the charge mode can include receiving a charge amount of electricity, at least equal to the reduction amount of electricity, into the PHES system from the power generation plant and converting at least a portion of the charge amount of electricity to stored thermal energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2024
    Publication date: February 6, 2025
    Inventors: Benjamin R. BOLLINGER, Bao H. TRUONG
  • Patent number: 12173643
    Abstract: A system including: (i) a pumped-heat energy storage system (“PHES system”), wherein the PHES system is operable in a charge mode to convert electricity into stored thermal energy in a hot thermal storage (“HTS”) medium; (ii) an electric heater in thermal contact with the hot HTS medium, wherein the electric heater is operable to heat the hot HTS medium above a temperature achievable by transferring heat from a working fluid to a warm HTS medium in a thermodynamic cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: MALTA INC.
    Inventors: Benjamin R. Bollinger, Bao H. Truong
  • Patent number: 12173648
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides pumped heat energy storage systems that can be used to store and/or extract electrical energy. A pumped heat energy storage system of the present disclosure can store energy by operating as a heat pump, whereby net work input can be used to transfer heat from the cold side to the hot side. A working fluid of the system is capable of efficient heat exchange with heat storage fluids on a hot side of the system and on a cold side of the system. Such pumped energy storage systems can be beneficially integrated with thermal plants to provided heat transfer to and/or from the thermal plants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: MALTA INC.
    Inventors: Benjamin R. Bollinger, Bao H. Truong
  • Patent number: 12123327
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides pumped heat energy storage systems that can be used to store and extract electrical energy. A pumped heat energy storage system of the present disclosure can store energy by operating as a heat pump, whereby net work input can be used to transfer heat from the cold side to the hot side. A working fluid of the system is capable of efficient heat exchange with heat storage fluids on a hot side of the system and on a cold side of the system. The system can also extract energy by operating as a heat engine transferring heat from the hot side to the cold side, which can result in net work output. Shared powertrains and reversible powertrains are disclosed to circulate the working fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: MALTA INC.
    Inventors: Mert Geveci, Benjamin R. Bollinger, Samar J. Shah
  • Patent number: 12123347
    Abstract: A method including: operating a pumped-heat energy storage (“PHES”) system in a generation mode to generate electricity; and responsive, at least in part, to a determination that a power generation plant will reduce supply of electricity to an electrical grid by a reduction amount of electricity, changing modes of the PHES system from the generation mode to operate in a charge mode. Operating in the charge mode can include receiving a charge amount of electricity, at least equal to the reduction amount of electricity, into the PHES system from the power generation plant and converting at least a portion of the charge amount of electricity to stored thermal energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: MALTA INC.
    Inventors: Benjamin R. Bollinger, Bao H. Truong
  • Publication number: 20240301821
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides pumped heat energy storage systems that can be used to store and/or extract electrical energy. A pumped heat energy storage system of the present disclosure can store energy by operating as a heat pump, whereby net work input can be used to transfer heat from the cold side to the hot side. A working fluid of the system is capable of efficient heat exchange with heat storage fluids on a hot side of the system and on a cold side of the system. Such pumped energy storage systems can be beneficially integrated with steam plants to provided heating to the steam cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2024
    Publication date: September 12, 2024
    Inventors: Benjamin R. BOLLINGER, Bao H. TRUONG, Michael GEYER, Frederick REDELL
  • Publication number: 20240159167
    Abstract: A method including: (i) operating a pumped-heat energy storage system (“PHES system”) in a charge mode to convert electricity into stored thermal energy in a hot thermal storage medium (“HTS medium”) by transferring heat from a working fluid to a warm HTS medium, resulting in a hot HTS medium, wherein the PHES system is further operable in a generation mode to convert at least a portion of the stored thermal energy into electricity; and (ii) heating the hot HTS medium with an electric heater above a temperature achievable by transferring heat from the working fluid to the warm HTS medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2024
    Publication date: May 16, 2024
    Inventors: Benjamin R. BOLLINGER, Bao H. TRUONG
  • Publication number: 20240159168
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides pumped thermal energy storage systems that can be used to store and extract electrical energy. A pumped thermal energy storage system of the present disclosure can store energy by operating as a heat pump or refrigerator, whereby net work input can be used to transfer heat from the cold side to the hot side. A working fluid of the system is capable of efficient heat exchange with heat storage fluids on a hot side of the system and on a cold side of the system. The system can extract energy by operating as a heat engine transferring heat from the hot side to the cold side, which can result in net work output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2023
    Publication date: May 16, 2024
    Inventors: Benjamin R. BOLLINGER, Sebastian W. FREUND, Mert GEVECI
  • Patent number: 11982228
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides pumped heat energy storage systems that can be used to store and/or extract electrical energy. A pumped heat energy storage system of the present disclosure can store energy by operating as a heat pump, whereby net work input can be used to transfer heat from the cold side to the hot side. A working fluid of the system is capable of efficient heat exchange with heat storage fluids on a hot side of the system and on a cold side of the system. Such pumped energy storage systems can be beneficially integrated with steam plants to provided heating to the steam cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: MALTA INC.
    Inventors: Benjamin R. Bollinger, Bao Truong, Michael Geyer, Frederick Redell
  • Patent number: 11885244
    Abstract: A method including: (i) operating a pumped-heat energy storage system (“PHES system”) in a charge mode to convert electricity into stored thermal energy in a hot thermal storage medium (“HTS medium”) by transferring heat from a working fluid to a warm HTS medium, resulting in a hot HTS medium, wherein the PHES system is further operable in a generation mode to convert at least a portion of the stored thermal energy into electricity; and (ii) heating the hot HTS medium with an electric heater above a temperature achievable by transferring heat from the working fluid to the warm HTS medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: MALTA INC.
    Inventors: Benjamin R. Bollinger, Bao H. Truong
  • Patent number: 11852043
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides pumped thermal energy storage systems that can be used to store and extract electrical energy. A pumped thermal energy storage system of the present disclosure can store energy by operating as a heat pump or refrigerator, whereby net work input can be used to transfer heat from the cold side to the hot side. A working fluid of the system is capable of efficient heat exchange with heat storage fluids on a hot side of the system and on a cold side of the system. The system can extract energy by operating as a heat engine transferring heat from the hot side to the cold side, which can result in net work output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: MALTA INC.
    Inventors: Benjamin R. Bollinger, Mert Geveci, Bao H. Truong, Erhan Karaca, Sebastian W. Freund, David M. Brantzeg, James J. Underwood, John S. Bowen, Roy T. Collins
  • Publication number: 20230279786
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides pumped heat energy storage systems that can be used to store and extract electrical energy. A pumped heat energy storage system of the present disclosure can store energy by operating as a heat pump, whereby net work input can be used to transfer heat from the cold side to the hot side. A working fluid of the system is capable of efficient heat exchange with heat storage fluids on a hot side of the system and on a cold side of the system. The system can also extract energy by operating as a heat engine transferring heat from the hot side to the cold side, which can result in net work output. Shared powertrains and reversible powertrains are disclosed to circulate the working fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2023
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Inventors: Mert GEVECI, Benjamin R. BOLLINGER, Samar J. SHAH
  • Publication number: 20230272741
    Abstract: A system including: (i) a pumped-heat energy storage system (“PHES system”), wherein the PHES system is operable in a charge mode to convert electricity into stored thermal energy in a hot thermal storage (“HTS”) medium; (ii) an electric heater in thermal contact with the hot HTS medium, wherein the electric heater is operable to heat the hot HTS medium above a temperature achievable by transferring heat from a working fluid to a warm HTS medium in a thermodynamic cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2023
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Inventors: Benjamin R. Bollinger, Bao H. Truong
  • Publication number: 20230203969
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides pumped heat energy storage systems that can be used to store and extract electrical energy. A pumped heat energy storage system of the present disclosure can store energy by operating as a heat pump, whereby net work input can be used to transfer heat from the cold side to the hot side. A working fluid of the system is capable of efficient heat exchange with heat storage fluids on a hot side of the system and on a cold side of the system. The system can also extract energy by operating as a heat engine transferring heat from the hot side to the cold side, which can result in net work output. Shared powertrains and reversible powertrains are disclosed to circulate the working fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2023
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Inventors: Mert GEVECI, Benjamin R. BOLLINGER, Samar J. SHAH
  • Publication number: 20230091879
    Abstract: A system including: (i) a pumped-heat energy storage system (“PHES system”), wherein the PHES system is operable in a charge mode to convert electricity into stored thermal energy in a hot thermal storage (“HTS”) medium; (ii) an electric heater in thermal contact with the hot HTS medium, wherein the electric heater is operable to heat the hot HTS medium above a temperature achievable by transferring heat from a working fluid to a warm HTS medium in a thermodynamic cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Inventors: Benjamin R. Bollinger, Bao H. Truong