Patents by Inventor Clarence Zener

Clarence Zener 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).

  • Recovery of enthalpy from hot fluids
    Patent number: 4448024
    Abstract: Enthalpy is recovered from hot industrial effluents by converting a working fluid into a foam in a flashing unit and using the foam to propel a turbine located within or at the output of the flashing unit. For liquid effluents the effluent itself serves as the working fluid. For gaseous effluents a liquid is heated by the gas and then the liquid is used as the working fluid. If the effluents contain undesirable levels of pollutants working fluid is cleaned before it is flashed. The specification discloses both impulse and reactive turbines which the foam can propel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1984
    Inventors: Alberto E. Molini, Clarence Zener
  • Method and apparatus for foam lubrication
    Patent number: 4431016
    Abstract: The specification discloses a method and apparatus for preventing breakdown of a column of foam moving in a vessel wherein a fluid is applied to the interior surface of the vessel walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1981
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1984
    Inventor: Clarence Zener
  • Recovery of enthalpy from hot industrial effluents
    Patent number: 4308722
    Abstract: Pollutants are removed from a hot industrial effluent after which enthalpy is recovered from the hot effluent by converting a working fluid into a foam in a flashing unit and using the foam to propel a turbine. For liquid effluents the effluent itself serves as the working fluid. For gaseous effluents the scrubbing fluid used to remove pollutants is used as the working fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1979
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1982
    Inventors: Alberto E. Molini, Clarence Zener
  • Method and apparatus for obtaining electrical power from sea water and other liquids
    Patent number: 4249383
    Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for producing electricity utilizing the enthalpy released by a rising foam in a plurality of closed environments to generate power to drive a turbine. The closed environments are interconnected in a manner to permit the effluent from each closed environment to be used in an adjacent closed environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1979
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1981
    Inventors: Alberto E. Molini, Clarence Zener
  • Method and apparatus for obtaining electrical power from sea water
    Patent number: 3995160
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing electricity utilizing a foam formed from ocean water at ambient temperatures. The method and apparatus utilize the enthalpy released by a rising foam to generate the power to drive a turbine for power export.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1975
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1976
    Assignee: Carnegie-Mellon University
    Inventors: Clarence Zener, John G. Fetkovich