Patents by Inventor David McGrane

David McGrane 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).

  • Patent number: 10712048
    Abstract: A molten salt central receiver arrangement for transferring heat from panels to a molten salt that flows through the panels. A control device allows to change the condition of at least one of the panel arrangements of the molten salt central receiver arrangement depending on at least an operating parameter of at least one panel and/or depending on an environment signal that characterizes the actual or forecast available heat for the heat transfer to the molten salt. In normal operation passes, each having one or more panels, are connected in series such that molten salt flows in a serpentine or alternating way upward and downward through subsequent passes. In a parallel flow condition, molten salt may flow upward through all of the panels in parallel. In a drain condition, the molten salt is forced out of one or more panels and replaced by compressed air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Technology GmbH
    Inventors: John David McGrane, Pedro Israel Inigo, Apurba Kumar Das, Rahul Jayant Terdalkar, Abhinaya Joshi, Michael M. Clark, Joseph W. Quinn, Gary Pashko, Robert Derosa
  • Patent number: 10539339
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a solar receiver having improved heliostat field control. The solar receiver includes a plurality of receiver panels arranged adjacent to one another. Each receiver panel includes a plurality of receiver tubes aligned tangentially to one another. Further, each of the plurality of receiver tubes includes an inlet and an outlet. In addition, at least one of the inlets or outlets of the plurality of receiver tubes are arranged at a center of the receiver panel along a height thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Technology GmbH
    Inventors: Germain Felicien Augsburger, Apurba Kumar Das, Pedro Inigo, John David McGrane, Sunil Satyanarayana Murthy
  • Publication number: 20190264951
    Abstract: A molten salt central receiver arrangement for transferring heat from panels to a molten salt that flows through the panels. A control device allows to change the condition of at least one of the panel arrangements of the molten salt central receiver arrangement depending on at least an operating parameter of at least one panel and/or depending on an environment signal that characterizes the actual or forecast available heat for the heat transfer to the molten salt. In normal operation passes, each having one or more panels, are connected in series such that molten salt flows in a serpentine or alternating way upward and downward through subsequent passes. In a parallel flow condition, molten salt may flow upward through all of the panels in parallel. In a drain condition, the molten salt is forced out of one or more panels and replaced by compressed air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventors: John David MCGRANE, Pedro Israel INIGO, Apurba Kumar DAS, Rahul Jayant TERDALKAR, Abhinaya JOSHI, Michael M. CLARK, Joseph W. QUINN, Gary PASHKO, Robert DEROSA
  • Publication number: 20170363329
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a solar receiver having improved heliostat field control. The solar receiver includes a plurality of receiver panels arranged adjacent to one another. Each receiver panel includes a plurality of receiver tubes aligned tangentially to one another. Further, each of the plurality of receiver tubes includes an inlet and an outlet. In addition, at least one of the inlets or outlets of the plurality of receiver tubes are arranged at a center of the receiver panel along a height thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: Germain Felicien Augsburger, Apurba Kumar Das, Pedro Inigo, John David McGrane, Sunil Satyanarayana Murthy
  • Patent number: 9765992
    Abstract: A solar receiver, designed to use a heat transfer medium, includes a plurality of panels. Each panel is arranged and configured to enable the heat transfer medium to flow in at least one flow direction, one flow direction defining a pass, to obtain unique mass flux in each pass to optimize the heat flux capability of the pass while minimizing pressure drop across the selected passes of the heat transfer surface. A method thereof is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Technology GmbH
    Inventors: Apurba Das, David McGrane, Marco Simiano, Erik Boschek, Xiao-Peng Gan
  • Patent number: 9719696
    Abstract: A solar receiver configuration (receiver) adapted to include a plurality of receiver heat transfer passes. Each pass includes a plurality of panels. Further, each panel includes a plurality of tubes, tangentially arranged, vertically extending between horizontally placed lower and upper headers. The headers, which are pipe assemblies with closed ends, of adjacent panels are horizontally and vertically offset one to another to form a substantially continuous tube surface. Such continuous tube surface enables solar heating of the fluid flow therefrom in at least a parallel flow arrangement and a serpentine flow arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Lech, Ronald Girard Payne, John Tweedie, Gary Pashko, Apurba Kumar Das, Lin Deng, David McGrane, Pedro Inigo, Rahul Jayant Terdalkar
  • Publication number: 20150362218
    Abstract: A solar receiver configuration (receiver) adapted to include a plurality of receiver heat transfer passes. Each pass includes a plurality of panels. Further, each panel includes a plurality of tubes, tangentially arranged, vertically extending between horizontally placed lower and upper headers. The headers, which are pipe assemblies with closed ends, of adjacent panels are horizontally and vertically offset one to another to form a substantially continuous tube surface. Such continuous tube surface enables solar heating of the fluid flow therefrom in at least a parallel flow arrangement and a serpentine flow arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Inventors: Christopher J. Lech, Ronald Girard Payne, John Tweedie, Gary Pashko, Apurba Kumar Das, Lin Deng, David McGrane, Pedro Inigo, Rahul Jayant Terdalkar
  • Publication number: 20150176863
    Abstract: A solar receiver, designed to use a heat transfer medium, includes a plurality of panels. Each panel is arranged and configured to enable the heat transfer medium to flow in at least one flow direction, one flow direction defining a pass, to obtain unique mass flux in each pass to optimize the heat flux capability of the pass while minimizing pressure drop across the selected passes of the heat transfer surface. A method thereof is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2013
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Applicant: ALSTOM Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Apurba DAS, David McGrane, Marco Simiano, Erik Boschek, Xiao-Peng Gan