Patents by Inventor Brian T. Spangler

Brian T. Spangler 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: 20240006085
    Abstract: A power-generation system for a nuclear reactor includes a power unit, a heat exchanger, and a temperature control system. The power unit produces compressed air that is heated by the nuclear reactor via the heat exchanger. The temperature control system includes a heat transfer fluid and a heat exchanger fluidly connected with the compressed air to transfer heat between the compressed air and heat transfer fluid to control the power level of the power unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2023
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Inventors: Daniel G. Edwards, Alexander Michalik, Andrew J. Eifert, Brian T. Spangler
  • Patent number: 11776702
    Abstract: A power-generation system for a nuclear reactor includes a power unit, a heat exchanger, and a temperature control system. The power unit produces compressed air that is heated by the nuclear reactor via the heat exchanger. The temperature control system includes a heat transfer fluid and a heat exchanger fluidly connected with the compressed air to transfer heat between the compressed air and heat transfer fluid to control the power level of the power unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel G. Edwards, Alexander Michalik, Andrew J. Eifert, Brian T. Spangler
  • Patent number: 11499474
    Abstract: A power generation system for a nuclear reactor includes an externally-heated turbine engine, a reactor heat exchanger, and a heat recuperating system. The externally-heated turbine engine produces compressed air that is heated by the reactor heat exchanger. The heat recuperating system includes a heat exchanger thermally connected to the externally-heated turbine engine to transfer heat to the compressed air to supplement the reactor heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Michalik, Daniel G. Edwards, Andrew J. Eifert, Brian T. Spangler
  • Publication number: 20220252006
    Abstract: A power generation system for a nuclear reactor includes an externally-heated turbine engine, a reactor heat exchanger, and a heat recuperating system. The externally-heated turbine engine produces compressed air that is heated by the reactor heat exchanger. The heat recuperating system includes a heat exchanger thermally connected to the externally-heated turbine engine to transfer heat to the compressed air to supplement the reactor heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Inventors: Alexander Michalik, Daniel G. Edwards, Andrew J. Eifert, Brian T. Spangler
  • Publication number: 20220254526
    Abstract: A power-generation system for a nuclear reactor includes a power unit, a heat exchanger, and a temperature control system. The power unit produces compressed air that is heated by the nuclear reactor via the heat exchanger. The temperature control system includes a heat transfer fluid and a heat exchanger fluidly connected with the compressed air to transfer heat between the compressed air and heat transfer fluid to control the power level of the power unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Inventors: Daniel G. Edwards, Alexander Michalik, Andrew J. Eifert, Brian T. Spangler
  • Patent number: 10746440
    Abstract: A thermal management system for regulating dissipation of multiple thermal loads during operation of an apparatus includes a two-phase pump loop (TPPL), a vapor cycle system (VCS), and a liquid thermal energy storage (TES) system integrated together to maintain the apparatus at a constant temperature. The TPPL is configured to remove heat from the apparatus; the TES system is configured to provide thermal energy storage and temperature regulation; and the VCS is configured to transfer heat to the environment. The multiple thermal loads include a primary thermal load in the form of heat from the apparatus and a secondary thermal load in the form of at least one of a housekeeping thermal load or a power electronics thermal load. The primary and secondary loads are at different temperatures with each being independently selected to be transient or steady state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignees: ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES, INC., ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eric S. Donovan, Michael J. Head, Ken S. Rubel, Brian T. Spangler, Douglas J. Snyder, Aric Acius
  • Publication number: 20190316817
    Abstract: A thermal management system for regulating dissipation of multiple thermal loads during operation of an apparatus includes a two-phase pump loop (TPPL), a vapor cycle system (VCS), and a liquid thermal energy storage (TES) system integrated together to maintain the apparatus at a constant temperature. The TPPL is configured to remove heat from the apparatus; the TES system is configured to provide thermal energy storage and temperature regulation; and the VCS is configured to transfer heat to the environment. The multiple thermal loads include a primary thermal load in the form of heat from the apparatus and a secondary thermal load in the form of at least one of a housekeeping thermal load or a power electronics thermal load. The primary and secondary loads are at different temperatures with each being independently selected to be transient or steady state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Publication date: October 17, 2019
    Inventors: Eric S. Donovan, Michael J. Head, Ken S. Rubel, Brian T. Spangler, Douglas J. Snyder, Aric Acius