Patents by Inventor Bill J. NESMITH

Bill J. NESMITH 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).

  • Temperature-staged thermal energy storage enabling low thermal exergy loss reflux boiling in full spectrum solar energy systems
    Patent number: 10116258
    Abstract: The efficiency of solar power collection is increased by adding a thermal energy storage stage to a sunlight concentrator and thermodynamic power generator system. The thermal energy storage includes tubes or capsules made of a phase change material that stores thermal energy in different temperature stages through a working fluid. The stored thermal energy is directed to the thermodynamic generator during off-sun periods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Terry Hendricks, Bill J. Nesmith, Juan Cepeda-Rizo
  • Heliostat with stowing and wind survival capabilities
    Patent number: 9863666
    Abstract: A low cost thin-film based heliostat with advanced stowing and wind survival capabilities. The heliostat may include a plurality of reflective surfaces held together via a plurality of double acting magnetic hinges. The heliostat may also include a drive mechanism attached to a post, and configured to stow the plurality of facets in any desired position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: Bill J. Nesmith
  • TEMPERATURE-STAGED THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE ENABLING LOW THERMAL EXERGY LOSS REFLUX BOILING IN FULL SPECTRUM SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS
    Publication number: 20170179879
    Abstract: The efficiency of solar power collection is increased by adding a thermal energy storage stage to a sunlight concentrator and thermodynamic power generator system. The thermal energy storage includes tubes or capsules made of a phase change material that stores thermal energy in different temperature stages through a working fluid. The stored thermal energy is directed to the thermodynamic generator during off-sun periods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Terry HENDRICKS, Bill J. NESMITH, Juan CEPEDA-RIZO