Patents by Inventor Blake Lance

Blake Lance 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: 20240210133
    Abstract: A header for a heat exchanger and method for cleaning a heat exchanger in a loop without disconnecting loop components is provided. The header is in flow communication with the heat exchanger for distributing fluid through a plurality of adjacent channels. The header is connected between a main heat exchanger inlet nozzle and a channel flow distributor. A filter element is disposed within the header between the nozzle and channel flow distributor. Under normal operation, the filter element removes particulates and fouling material from the main flow stream before it enters the heat exchanger channels. During the cleaning process, fluid is injected on or through the filter element to remove particulates and fouling material through at least one outlet port. The header arrangement allows the filter element to be ‘cleaned in place’ without draining the system and disconnecting the heat exchanger or other components from the flow loop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2023
    Publication date: June 27, 2024
    Inventors: Matthew David Carlson, Blake Lance, Parker Riley Lyons, Dereje Amogne, Aaron Wildberger
  • Patent number: 11835300
    Abstract: Apparatus for cooling a hot fluid by transferring heat to particles that are then cooled by air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventors: Blake Lance, Clifford K. Ho, Kevin Albrecht
  • Patent number: 11821696
    Abstract: A header for a heat exchanger and method for cleaning a heat exchanger in a loop without disconnecting loop components is provided. The header is in flow communication with the heat exchanger for distributing fluid through a plurality of adjacent channels. The header is connected between a main heat exchanger inlet nozzle and a channel flow distributor. A filter element is disposed within the header between the nozzle and channel flow distributor. Under normal operation, the filter element removes particulates and fouling material from the main flow stream before it enters the heat exchanger channels. During the cleaning process, fluid is injected on or through the filter element to remove particulates and fouling material through at least one outlet port. The header arrangement allows the filter element to be ‘cleaned in place’ without draining the system and disconnecting the heat exchanger or other components from the flow loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew David Carlson, Blake Lance, Parker Riley Lyons, Dereje Amogne, Aaron Wildberger
  • Publication number: 20210231387
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to dry cooling systems and methods that use particles to drastically increase air-side heat transfer for dry cooling. The systems may be used for the dry cooling of power plants and other industrial processes that require cooling. The systems further use moving particles to remove heat from a hot fluid or system through a heat exchanger of some form. This may be a fluidized bed or moving bed heat exchanger, or similar concept. The moving particles are then cooled easily with exposure to air, the ultimate heat sink. Particles enable thermal ‘cold’ storage that can increase cooling and power cycle efficiencies, especially in arid climates, by cooling particle storage at night. This novel cooling method decreases both capital and operating expenses compared with traditional air-cooled units by a factor of four and two, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: Blake Lance, Clifford K. Ho, Kevin Albrecht