Patents by Inventor Karthik Nithyanandam
Karthik Nithyanandam 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: 11536488Abstract: Thermal energy storage systems are disclosed in this application. Systems of the inventive subject matter are designed to reduce maintenance requirements by sequestering, for example, corrosive fluids that might otherwise damage difficult-to-fix internal components are kept out of those components by introducing a non-corrosive heat transfer fluid to facilitate heat transfer between a thermal energy storage medium (e.g., molten sulfur) and a potentially corrosive working fluid. Thus, the potentially corrosive fluid is kept out of a thermal energy storage tank containing the thermal energy storage medium, which, by design, is difficult to repair when internal components corrode or otherwise require maintenance.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2020Date of Patent: December 27, 2022Assignee: Element 16 Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Hamarz Aryafar, Karthik Nithyanandam, Parker Wells
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Patent number: 11280518Abstract: Thermal energy storage systems are disclosed in this application. Systems of the inventive subject matter are designed to reduce maintenance requirements by sequestering, for example, corrosive fluids that might otherwise damage difficult-to-fix internal components are kept out of those components by introducing a non-corrosive heat transfer fluid to facilitate heat transfer between a thermal energy storage medium (e.g., molten sulfur) and a potentially corrosive working fluid. Thus, the potentially corrosive fluid is kept out of a thermal energy storage tank containing the thermal energy storage medium, which, by design, is difficult to repair when internal components corrode or otherwise require maintenance.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2020Date of Patent: March 22, 2022Assignee: Element 16 Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Hamarz Aryafar, Karthik Nithyanandam, Parker Wells
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Publication number: 20210071910Abstract: Thermal energy storage systems are disclosed in this application. Systems of the inventive subject matter are designed to reduce maintenance requirements by sequestering, for example, corrosive fluids that might otherwise damage difficult-to-fix internal components are kept out of those components by introducing a non-corrosive heat transfer fluid to facilitate heat transfer between a thermal energy storage medium (e.g., molten sulfur) and a potentially corrosive working fluid. Thus, the potentially corrosive fluid is kept out of a thermal energy storage tank containing the thermal energy storage medium, which, by design, is difficult to repair when internal components corrode or otherwise require maintenance.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2020Publication date: March 11, 2021Inventors: Hamarz Aryafar, Karthik Nithyanandam, Parker Wells
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Patent number: 10935327Abstract: A thermal energy storage (TES) component includes a shell having first and second ports, and at least a first set of thermally conductive sealed containers that contain a TES media for storing thermal energy. A first set of sealed tubes containing a first TES media are in a first section of the shell, and a second set of sealed tubes containing a different TES media are in a second section of the shell. Electric heating elements are immersed in at least some of the tubes, and may extend only from one end of the tube. In some embodiments more than one heating element is immersed in the TES media and positioned to enhance convective flow. In some embodiments electric heating elements are disposed externally on the sealed tubes. Some tubes are tapered or frustoconical, with heating elements provided in a larger-diameter portion of the tubes.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2017Date of Patent: March 2, 2021Assignee: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Richard E. Wirz, Amey Barde, Karthik Nithyanandam
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Patent number: 10876765Abstract: Thermal energy storage systems are disclosed in this application. Systems of the inventive subject matter are designed to reduce maintenance requirements by sequestering, for example, corrosive fluids that might otherwise damage difficult-to-fix internal components are kept out of those components by introducing a non-corrosive heat transfer fluid to facilitate heat transfer between a thermal energy storage medium (e.g., molten sulfur) and a potentially corrosive working fluid. Thus, the potentially corrosive fluid is kept out of a thermal energy storage tank containing the thermal energy storage medium, which, by design, is difficult to repair when internal components corrode or otherwise require maintenance.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2019Date of Patent: December 29, 2020Assignee: Element 16 Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Hamarz Aryafar, Karthik Nithyanandam, Parker Wells
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Publication number: 20200386445Abstract: Thermal energy storage systems are disclosed in this application. Systems of the inventive subject matter are designed to reduce maintenance requirements by sequestering, for example, corrosive fluids that might otherwise damage difficult-to-fix internal components are kept out of those components by introducing a non-corrosive heat transfer fluid to facilitate heat transfer between a thermal energy storage medium (e.g., molten sulfur) and a potentially corrosive working fluid. Thus, the potentially corrosive fluid is kept out of a thermal energy storage tank containing the thermal energy storage medium, which, by design, is difficult to repair when internal components corrode or otherwise require maintenance.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 25, 2020Publication date: December 10, 2020Inventors: Hamarz Aryafar, Karthik Nithyanandam, Parker Wells
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Publication number: 20200166244Abstract: Thermal energy storage systems are disclosed in this application. Systems of the inventive subject matter are designed to reduce maintenance requirements by sequestering, for example, corrosive fluids that might otherwise damage difficult-to-fix internal components are kept out of those components by introducing a non-corrosive heat transfer fluid to facilitate heat transfer between a thermal energy storage medium (e.g., molten sulfur) and a potentially corrosive working fluid. Thus, the potentially corrosive fluid is kept out of a thermal energy storage tank containing the thermal energy storage medium, which, by design, is difficult to repair when internal components corrode or otherwise require maintenance.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2019Publication date: May 28, 2020Inventors: Hamarz Aryafar, Karthik Nithyanandam, Parker Wells
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Publication number: 20200018503Abstract: Systems and methods for implementing air conditioning and water store systems that are configured such that a direct expansion of a heat transfer material allows for both hot and cold thermal storage are provided. In such systems, an included cold thermal energy storage unit can be cooled to a temperature lower than the temperature desired for a target space while the target space is simultaneously cooled to the desired temperature, such that the temperature desired for the target space can subsequently be established and/or maintained by the cold thermal energy storage unit irrespective of whether the cold thermal energy storage unit is being principally relied on to cool the target space or whether an included powered condensing unit is being relied on to cool the target space. In conjunction with this, hot thermal units and water in a water store can be heated. In short, the system allows for the capture of normally ejected heat in the water store.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2019Publication date: January 16, 2020Applicant: Axiom Exergy Inc.Inventors: Anthony Diamond, Karthik Nithyanandam, Marc Khalaf, John Lerch, Nikhil Saralkar, Amrit Robbins
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Publication number: 20190072339Abstract: A thermal energy storage (TES) component includes a shell having first and second ports, and at least a first set of thermally conductive sealed containers that contain a TES media for storing thermal energy. A first set of sealed tubes containing a first TES media are in a first section of the shell, and a second set of sealed tubes containing a different TES media are in a second section of the shell. Electric heating elements are immersed in at least some of the tubes, and may extend only from one end of the tube. In some embodiments more than one heating element is immersed in the TES media and positioned to enhance convective flow. In some embodiments electric heating elements are disposed externally on the sealed tubes. Some tubes are tapered or frustoconical, with heating elements provided in a larger-diameter portion of the tubes.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2017Publication date: March 7, 2019Applicant: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Richard E. Wirz, Amey Barde, Karthik Nithyanandam