Patents by Inventor David Vandor

David Vandor 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: 7870746
    Abstract: Systems and methods for releasing and replacing stored energy comprise capturing inlet air from the ambient environment so the inlet air flows in a first general direction. Released liquid air flows in a second general direction, the second general direction being substantially opposite to the first general direction. The released liquid air is pumped to pressure, and the released liquid air and inlet air flow past each other such that heat exchange occurs. The inlet air warms the released liquid air such that the released liquid air is substantially vaporized, and the released liquid air cools the inlet air. Moisture and carbon dioxide are removed from the inlet air, and the inlet air is compressed and cooled such that the inlet air is substantially liquefied. The substantially liquefied air replaces a portion of the released liquid air; and the substantially vaporized released liquid air is combusted with fuel to produce electricity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Expansion Energy, LLC
    Inventor: David Vandor
  • Publication number: 20110000256
    Abstract: Systems and methods for storing and releasing energy comprising directing inlet air into a vertical cold flue assembly having an air inlet at or near its top into which inlet air is directed and an exit at or near its bottom. The air is cooled within the cold flue assembly and a portion of moisture is removed from the air within the cold flue assembly. The air is directed out the exit of the cold flue assembly and compressed. The remaining moisture is substantially removed and the carbon dioxide is removed from the air by adsorption. The air is cooled in a main heat exchanger such that it is substantially liquefied using refrigerant loop air, the refrigerant loop air generated by a refrigerant loop process. The substantially liquefied air is directed to a storage apparatus. The refrigerant loop air is cooled by a mechanical chiller and by a plurality of refrigerant loop air expanders.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: Expansion Energy, LLC
    Inventor: David Vandor
  • Patent number: 7821158
    Abstract: Systems and methods for storing and releasing energy comprising directing inlet air into a vertical cold flue assembly, a portion of moisture being removed from the air within the cold flue assembly. The air is directed out of the cold flue assembly and compressed. The remaining moisture is substantially removed and the carbon dioxide is removed from the air by adsorption. The air is cooled in a main heat exchanger such that it is substantially liquefied using refrigerant loop air, The substantially liquefied air is directed to a storage apparatus. The refrigerant loop air is cooled by a mechanical chiller and by a plurality of refrigerant loop air expanders. In energy release mode, working loop air warms the released liquid air such that the released liquid air is substantially vaporized, and the released liquid air cools the working loop air such that the working loop air is substantially liquefied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Expansion Energy, LLC
    Inventor: David Vandor
  • Publication number: 20100084256
    Abstract: Systems and methods of capturing and sequestering carbon dioxide, comprising mixing a substantially non-aqueous solvent and an alkali such that the solvent and alkali form a solvent suspension, mixing water and a flue gas containing carbon dioxide with the solvent suspension such that a reaction occurs, the reaction resulting in the formation of a carbonate, water and heat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicant: EXPANSION ENERGY, LLC
    Inventor: David Vandor
  • Publication number: 20090293502
    Abstract: Systems and methods for releasing and replacing stored energy comprise capturing inlet air from the ambient environment so the inlet air flows in a first general direction. Released liquid air flows in a second general direction, the second general direction being substantially opposite to the first general direction. The released liquid air is pumped to pressure, and the released liquid air and inlet air flow past each other such that heat exchange occurs. The inlet air warms the released liquid air such that the released liquid air is substantially vaporized, and the released liquid air cools the inlet air. Moisture and carbon dioxide are removed from the inlet air, and the inlet air is compressed and cooled such that the inlet air is substantially liquefied. The substantially liquefied air replaces a portion of the released liquid air; and the substantially vaporized released liquid air is combusted with fuel to produce electricity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: Expansion Energy, LLC
    Inventor: David Vandor
  • Publication number: 20090293503
    Abstract: Systems and methods for storing and releasing energy comprising directing inlet air into a vertical cold flue assembly having an air inlet at or near its top into which inlet air is directed and an exit at or near its bottom. The air is cooled within the cold flue assembly and a portion of moisture is removed from the air within the cold flue assembly. The air is directed out the exit of the cold flue assembly and compressed. The remaining moisture is substantially removed and the carbon dioxide is removed from the air by adsorption. The air is cooled in a main heat exchanger such that it is substantially liquefied using refrigerant loop air, the refrigerant loop air generated by a refrigerant loop process. The substantially liquefied air is directed to a storage apparatus. The refrigerant loop air is cooled by a mechanical chiller and by a plurality of refrigerant loop air expanders.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: Expansion Energy, LLC
    Inventor: David Vandor
  • Publication number: 20090226308
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improving the efficiency of gas-fired power systems that include heat exchange between at least two fluid streams comprise a vertical cold flue assembly comprising a plate fin heat exchanger and having a top and a bottom such that at least one fluid sinks through the top of the cold flue assembly, through the plate fin heat exchanger and sinks through the bottom of the cold flue assembly. An absorption chiller may be in fluid connection with the cold flue assembly and may use at least some waste heat from an exhaust stream to provide energy to produce refrigeration. The absorption chiller directs refrigerant into the cold flue assembly, the refrigerant rises within the plate fin heat exchanger and cools the at least one fluid including air as the air sinks through the plate fin heat exchanger, and the cooled air sinks through the bottom of the cold flue assembly and into the air compressor of the power system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicant: EXPANSION ENERGY, LLC
    Inventor: David Vandor
  • Publication number: 20090113928
    Abstract: A method and system for the small-scale production of LNG.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2007
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Inventors: David Vandor, Ralph Greenberg
  • Patent number: 7464557
    Abstract: A method of cold recovery in a cold compressed natural gas cycle, the method comprising: compressing air; drying air; heat exchanging air with cold compressed natural gas from a storage vessel, in a first heat exchanger, thereby forming cooled air; heat exchanging the cooled air with liquid methane, in a second heat exchanger, such that the cooled air becomes liquid air and the liquid methane becomes methane; heat exchanging the liquid air with natural gas from a pipeline, in a third heat exchanger, such that the natural gas cools to a cold compressed natural gas and the liquid air becomes air in a gaseous state; discharging the air in a gaseous state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Inventors: David Vandor, Ralph Greenberg
  • Publication number: 20080216510
    Abstract: A combined cycle power plant comprising: a first cycle comprising: a prime mover; a prime mover exhaust in fluid communication with the prime mover; a second cycle comprising: a liquid air supply; a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the liquid air supply and the prime over exhaust; a turbo expander in fluid communication with the heat exchanger; wherein liquid air is heated to gaseous air by the heat exchanger, and the gaseous air is expanded in the turbo expander thereby producing work. A liquid air combined cycle method comprising: providing pressurized liquid air; heating the pressurized liquid air to pressurized gaseous air; expanding the pressurized gaseous air with a turbo expander; using work from the expansion of the pressurized gaseous air to compress ambient air; heating the expanded pressurized gaseous air; sending the heated expanded air to a turbine combustion chamber; and using waste heat from a turbine to heat pressurized liquid air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Inventors: David Vandor, Ralph Greenberg
  • Publication number: 20070186563
    Abstract: A method of cold recovery in a cold compressed natural gas cycle, the method comprising: compressing air; drying air; heat exchanging air with cold compressed natural gas from a storage vessel, in a first heat exchanger, thereby forming cooled air; heat exchanging the cooled air with liquid methane, in a second heat exchanger, such that the cooled air becomes liquid air and the liquid methane becomes methane; heat exchanging the liquid air with natural gas from a pipeline, in a third heat exchanger, such that the natural gas cools to a cold compressed natural gas and the liquid air becomes air in a gaseous state; discharging the air in a gaseous state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2006
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventors: David Vandor, Ralph Greenberg
  • Publication number: 20060254287
    Abstract: A method of transporting or storing a natural gas. The method comprises: compressing and chilling the natural gas; changing a state of the natural gas into a cold compressed state; pumping the natural gas to an appropriate transportation pressure or storage pressure and maintaining the natural gas in the cold compressed state. A system for the transportation of a cold compressed natural gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2005
    Publication date: November 16, 2006
    Inventors: Ralph Greenberg, David Vandor