Patents by Inventor Edward J. Kroliczek
Edward J. Kroliczek 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).
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Patent number: 10259064Abstract: A two-phase heat transfer system includes an evaporator unit configured to receive heat from a source, a liquid line fluidly connected to the evaporator unit, a vapor line fluidly connected to the evaporator unit, and a condenser. The condensing unit includes a thermal capacitance device and a condenser integrated with the thermal capacitance device. Methods of forming a thermal storage unit include preparing a honeycomb core to receive a phase change material, metallurgically bonding end pieces to the core, to thermally link the end pieces to the core, and bonding the end pieces together to form a seal for holding the phase change material within the core.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2015Date of Patent: April 16, 2019Assignee: Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems, Inc.Inventors: David C. Bugby, Edward J. Kroliczek, Jessica Maria Kester
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Patent number: 9631874Abstract: A thermodynamic system includes a cyclical heat exchange system and a heat transfer system coupled to the cyclical heat exchange system to cool a portion of the cyclical heat exchange system. The heat transfer system includes an evaporator. The evaporator includes a wall configured to be coupled to a portion of the cyclical heat exchange system and a primary wick coupled to the wall. The heat transfer system further includes a condenser coupled to the evaporator to form a closed loop that houses a working fluid.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2012Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignee: Orbital ATK, Inc.Inventors: Edward J. Kroliczek, Michael Nikitkin, David A. Wolf, Sr.
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Patent number: 9273887Abstract: A heat transfer system includes an evaporator having a heated wall, a liquid barrier wall containing working fluid, a primary wick positioned between the heated wall and an inner side of the liquid barrier wall, a vapor removal channel located at an interface between the primary wick and the heated wall, and a liquid flow channel located between the liquid barrier wall and the primary wick. Methods of transferring heat include applying heat energy to a vapor barrier wall, flowing liquid through a liquid flow channel, pumping the liquid from the liquid flow channel through a primary wick, and evaporating at least some of the liquid at a vapor removal channel.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2012Date of Patent: March 1, 2016Assignee: Orbital ATK, Inc.Inventors: Edward J. Kroliczek, Michael Nikitkin, David A. Wolf, Sr.
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Publication number: 20160016246Abstract: A two-phase heat transfer system includes an evaporator unit configured to receive heat from a source, a liquid line fluidly connected to the evaporator unit, a vapor line fluidly connected to the evaporator unit, and a condenser. The condensing unit includes a thermal capacitance device and a condenser integrated with the thermal capacitance device. Methods of forming a thermal storage unit include preparing a honeycomb core to receive a phase change material, metallurgically bonding end pieces to the core, to thermally link the end pieces to the core, and bonding the end pieces together to form a seal for holding the phase change material within the core.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2015Publication date: January 21, 2016Inventors: David C. Bugby, Edward J. Kroliczek, Jessica Maria Kester
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Patent number: 9200852Abstract: An evaporator may include an outer enclosure and a wick within the outer enclosure. The wick may have an outer lateral side surface positioned adjacent to the outer enclosure and may comprise a plurality of circumferential grooves formed in the outer lateral side surface of the wick and a plurality of channels fluidly connected to the plurality of circumferential grooves. The evaporator may include an outer enclosure and an end cap bonded directly to the outer enclosure, contacting the wick, and having a thermal conductivity that is less than the thermal conductivity of the outer enclosure.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2011Date of Patent: December 1, 2015Assignee: Orbital ATK, Inc.Inventors: Edward J. Kroliczek, Dmitry Khrustalev, Michael J. Morgan
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Patent number: 9146058Abstract: A two-phase heat transfer system includes an evaporator unit configured to receive heat from a source, a liquid line fluidly connected to the evaporator unit, a vapor line fluidly connected to the evaporator unit, and a condenser. The condensing unit includes a thermal capacitance device and a condenser integrated with the thermal capacitance device. Methods of forming a thermal storage unit include preparing a honeycomb core to receive a phase change material, metallurgically bonding end pieces to the core, to thermally link the end pieces to the core, and bonding the end pieces together to form a seal for holding the phase change material within the core.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2011Date of Patent: September 29, 2015Assignee: ORBITAL ATK, INC.Inventors: David C. Bugby, Edward J. Kroliczek, Jessica Maria Kester
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Patent number: 9103602Abstract: A two-phase heat transfer system includes an evaporator, a condenser, a vapor line, and a liquid return line. The evaporator includes a liquid inlet, a vapor outlet, and a capillary wick having a first surface adjacent the liquid inlet and a second surface adjacent the vapor outlet. The condenser includes a vapor inlet and a liquid outlet. The vapor line provides fluid communication between the vapor outlet and the vapor inlet. The liquid return line provides fluid communication between the liquid outlet and the liquid inlet. The wick is substantially free of back-conduction of energy from the second surface to the first surface due to an increase in a conduction path from the second surface to the first surface and due to suppression of nucleation of a working fluid from the second surface to the first surface to promote liquid superheat tolerance in the wick.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2013Date of Patent: August 11, 2015Assignee: Orbital ATK, Inc.Inventors: Edward J. Kroliczek, Kimberly R. Wrenn, David A. Wolf, Sr.
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Patent number: 8752616Abstract: A system includes a primary evaporator facilitating heat transfer by evaporating liquid to obtain vapor. The primary evaporator receives a liquid from a liquid line and outputs the vapor to a vapor line. The primary evaporator also outputs excess liquid received from the liquid line to an excess fluid line. A condensing system receives the vapor from the vapor line, and outputs the liquid and excess liquid to the liquid line. The excess liquid is obtained at least partially from a reservoir. A primary loop includes the condensing system, the primary evaporator, the liquid line, and the vapor line, and provides a heat transfer path. Similarly, a secondary loop includes the condensing system, the primary evaporator, the liquid line, the vapor line, and the excess fluid line. The secondary loop provides a venting path for removing undesired vapor within the liquid or excess liquid from the primary evaporator.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2011Date of Patent: June 17, 2014Assignee: Alliant Techsystems Inc.Inventors: Edward J. Kroliczek, James Soekgeun Yun, David C. Bugby, David A. Wolf, Sr.
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Patent number: 8549749Abstract: An evaporator includes a liquid barrier wall made of a ceramic material, a vapor barrier wall made of a ceramic material, and a wick made of a ceramic material and being positioned between the liquid barrier wall and the vapor barrier wall.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2010Date of Patent: October 8, 2013Assignee: Alliant Techsystems Inc.Inventors: Walter R. Zimbeck, Edward J. Kroliczek, David C. Bugby
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Patent number: 8397798Abstract: A two-phase heat transfer system includes an evaporator, a condenser, a vapor line, and a liquid return line. The evaporator includes a liquid inlet, a vapor outlet, and a capillary wick having a first surface adjacent the liquid inlet and a second surface adjacent the vapor outlet. The condenser includes a vapor inlet and a liquid outlet. The vapor line provides fluid communication between the vapor outlet and the vapor inlet. The liquid return line provides fluid communication between the liquid outlet and the liquid inlet. The wick is substantially free of back-conduction of energy from the second surface to the first surface due to an increase in a conduction path from the second surface to the first surface and due to suppression of nucleation of a working fluid from the second surface to the first surface to promote liquid superheat tolerance in the wick.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2005Date of Patent: March 19, 2013Assignee: Alliant Techsystems Inc.Inventors: Edward J. Kroliczek, Kimberly R. Wrenn, David A. Wolf, Sr.
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Publication number: 20120175087Abstract: A heat transfer system includes an evaporator having a heated wall, a liquid barrier wall containing working fluid, a primary wick positioned between the heated wall and an inner side of the liquid barrier wall, a vapor removal channel located at an interface between the primary wick and the heated wall, and a liquid flow channel located between the liquid barrier wall and the primary wick. Methods of transferring heat include applying heat energy to a vapor barrier wall, flowing liquid through a liquid flow channel, pumping the liquid from the liquid flow channel through a primary wick, and evaporating at least some of the liquid at a vapor removal channel.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2012Publication date: July 12, 2012Applicant: ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS INC.Inventors: Edward J. Kroliczek, Michael Nikitkin, David A. Wolf, SR.
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Publication number: 20120131932Abstract: A thermodynamic system includes a cyclical heat exchange system and a heat transfer system coupled to the cyclical heat exchange system to cool a portion of the cyclical heat exchange system. The heat transfer system includes an evaporator including a wall configured to be coupled to a portion of the cyclical heat exchange system and a primary wick coupled to the wall and a condenser coupled to the evaporator to form a closed loop that houses a working fluid.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 6, 2012Publication date: May 31, 2012Applicant: ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS INC.Inventors: Edward J. Kroliczek, Michael Nikitkin, David A. Wolf, SR.
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Patent number: 8136580Abstract: A heat transfer system includes an evaporator having a heated wall, a liquid barrier wall containing working fluid, a primary wick positioned between the heated wall and an inner side of the liquid barrier wall, a vapor removal channel located at an interface between the primary wick and the heated wall, and a liquid flow channel located between the liquid barrier wall and the primary wick. Methods of transferring heat include applying heat energy to a vapor barrier wall, flowing liquid through a liquid flow channel, pumping the liquid from the liquid flow channel through a primary wick, and evaporating at least some of the liquid at a vapor removal channel.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2003Date of Patent: March 20, 2012Assignee: Alliant Techsystems Inc.Inventors: Edward J. Kroliczek, Michael Nikitkin, David A. Wolf, Sr.
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Patent number: 8109325Abstract: A thermodynamic system includes a cyclical heat exchange system and a heat transfer system coupled to the cyclical heat exchange system to cool a portion of the cyclical heat exchange system. The heat transfer system includes an evaporator including a wall configured to be coupled to a portion of the cyclical heat exchange system and a primary wick coupled to the wall and a condenser coupled to the evaporator to form a closed loop that houses a working fluid.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2009Date of Patent: February 7, 2012Assignee: Alliant Techsystems Inc.Inventors: Edward J. Kroliczek, Michael Nikitkin, David A. Wolf, Sr.
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Publication number: 20120024497Abstract: A heat transfer system includes a first loop and a second loop. The first loop includes a condenser having a vapor inlet and a liquid outlet, a vapor line in fluid communication with the vapor inlet of the condenser, a liquid line in fluid communication with the liquid outlet of the condenser, and primary evaporators fluidly coupled in series with the liquid line and in parallel with the vapor line. The second loop includes a reservoir, a secondary evaporator having a vapor outlet coupled to the vapor line and a fluid inlet coupled to the reservoir, and a sweepage line in fluid communication with the reservoir and the primary evaporators.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2011Publication date: February 2, 2012Applicant: ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS INC.Inventors: Edward J. Kroliczek, Dmitry Khrustalev, Michael J. Morgan
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Publication number: 20120017625Abstract: A system including a primary evaporator facilitating heat transfer by evaporating liquid to obtain vapor is disclosed. The primary evaporator receives a liquid from a liquid line and outputs the vapor to a vapor line. The primary evaporator also outputs excess liquid received from the liquid line to an excess fluid line. A condensing system receives the vapor from the vapor line, and outputs the liquid and excess liquid to the liquid line. The excess liquid is obtained at least partially from a reservoir. A primary loop includes the condensing system, the primary evaporator, the liquid line, and the vapor line, and provides a heat transfer path. Similarly, a secondary loop includes the condensing system, the primary evaporator, the liquid line, the vapor line, and the excess fluid line. The secondary loop provides a venting path for removing undesired vapor within the liquid or excess liquid from the primary evaporator.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2011Publication date: January 26, 2012Applicant: ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS INC.Inventors: Edward J. Kroliczek, James Yun, David Bugby, David A. Wolf, SR.
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Patent number: 8066055Abstract: A system including a primary evaporator facilitating heat transfer by evaporating liquid to obtain vapor is disclosed. The primary evaporator receives a liquid from a liquid line and outputs the vapor to a vapor line. The primary evaporator also outputs excess liquid received from the liquid line to an excess fluid line. A condensing system receives the vapor from the vapor line, and outputs the liquid and excess liquid to the liquid line. The excess liquid is obtained at least partially from a reservoir. A primary loop includes the condensing system, the primary evaporator, the liquid line, and the vapor line, and provides a heat transfer path. Similarly, a secondary loop includes the condensing system, the primary evaporator, the liquid line, the vapor line, and the excess fluid line. The secondary loop provides a venting path for removing undesired vapor within the liquid or excess liquid from the primary evaporator.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2009Date of Patent: November 29, 2011Assignee: Alliant Techsystems Inc.Inventors: Edward J. Kroliczek, James S. Yun, David C. Bugby, David A. Wolf, Sr.
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Patent number: 8047268Abstract: A heat transfer system includes a first loop and a second loop. The first loop includes a condenser having a vapor inlet and a liquid outlet, a vapor line in fluid communication with the vapor inlet of the condenser, a liquid line in fluid communication with the liquid outlet of the condenser, and primary evaporators fluidly coupled in series with the liquid line and in parallel with the vapor line. The second loop includes a reservoir, a secondary evaporator having a vapor outlet coupled to the vapor line and a fluid inlet coupled to the reservoir, and a sweepage line in fluid communication with the reservoir and the primary evaporators.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2006Date of Patent: November 1, 2011Assignee: Alliant Techsystems Inc.Inventors: Edward J. Kroliczek, Dmitry Khrustalev, Michael J. Morgan
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Publication number: 20110132576Abstract: A two-phase heat transfer system includes an evaporator unit configured to receive heat from a source, a liquid line fluidly connected to the evaporator unit, a vapor line fluidly connected to the evaporator unit, and a condenser. The condensing unit includes a thermal capacitance device and a condenser integrated with the thermal capacitance device. Methods of forming a thermal storage unit include preparing a honeycomb core to receive a phase change material, metallurgically bonding end pieces to the core, to thermally link the end pieces to the core, and bonding the end pieces together to form a seal for holding the phase change material within the core.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2011Publication date: June 9, 2011Applicant: ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS INC.Inventors: David C. Bugby, Edward J. Kroliczek, Jessica Maria Garzon
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Patent number: 7931072Abstract: An evaporator includes an outer fluid enclosure, a liquid inlet port extending through the outer fluid enclosure, a liquid-distribution structure, a wick, and a vapor removal channel. The liquid-distribution structure is joined to the outer fluid enclosure to form a fluidly sealed hermetic chamber. The liquid-distribution structure includes a vapor barrier wall having an outer heat-receiving surface and the liquid-distribution structure is configured to distribute liquid over an inner surface of the vapor barrier wall. The wick is positioned inside the fluidly sealed hermetic chamber and is coupled to a liquid inlet port. The vapor removal channel is defined by and is in fluid communication with the wick and the liquid-distribution structure, and is near the outer heat-receiving surface of the vapor barrier wall. A thermal conductance of the liquid-distribution structure is higher than a thermal conductance of the wick.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2006Date of Patent: April 26, 2011Assignee: Alliant Techsystems Inc.Inventors: Edward J. Kroliczek, Dmitry Khrustalev, Michael J. Morgan